... You have to know what’s important to you. If you tend to fish alone or with one or two friends, size can be on the low end of the range. Remember that shallow water fishing is a lot different from deep sea. The distance you have to travel on the water in order to reach the fishing areas is also important. Obviously you need to carry enough fuel for a round trip with a reserve for emergencies. Speed also comes into play. You don’t want to spend half your day just getting to your location. And don’t forget to include storage for gear and items such as food. Fishing boat designs vary a lot and depend on intended use. Boats used in shallow waters will not work for deep seas. Shallow water boats have storage and holders for fishing poles, bait, tackle, and tanks designed to hold live fish. They also feature a large, open platform that allows an angler to work the rod on all sides of the boat. All purpose fishing boats are for those that fish primarily on lakes and streams. They come with space for fishing gear, several bench seats or a few pedestal chair-back seats, and a simple steering station. They can be aluminum, wood or fiberglass and are almost always outboard powered. Most are outfitted with a foot-operated electric trolling motor. Sizes range from about 15 to low 20’s and will carry up to 4 anglers with gear. This type is very popular and can be purchased both new and used at reasonable prices ...