2018 fishing boat roundup

Need (want — is there a difference?) a new watercraft to power your angling adventures? Read on for the hottest trends coming our way. Today's buyer has unparalleled choice when it comes to boat size, type, style, and optional upgrades. To narrow your search slightly, we've taken a scan of the newest releases in multi-species rigs, bass boats, big-water beasts, pontoons, fish-and-skis, and kayaks. What’s trending Big is, well, a big theme. A lot of new 19-plus-foot boats hit the market this season, including bass and multi-species models featuring massive front casting decks, and big-water boats with plenty of walk-in space and roomy transoms for working downriggers and trolling spreads. And big doesn’t stop there. Roomier consoles and cockpits along with larger rod lockers and storage boxes have made their way on to several new rigs. It’s no surprise electronic features are booming, too. Consoles outfitted with digital and touchscreen instrumentation and space for 15- and 16-inch- screen, flush-mounted fish finders are built into several new models. And, interior LEDs and docking lights are becoming common in midrange and high-end boats, as is navigation lighting that turns on automatically to help boaters stay visible at night. We’re seeing dual-purpose models offering professional-level fishing features with high-performance ski boating attributes. Rod and cup holders aren’t cutting the mustard anymore, as serious anglers expect a comfortable, fuel-efficient fishing rig that’s also capable of ripping around the lake with a few wake boarders in tow. Granted, there’s a cost associated with upsizing, upgrading, and innovating — a fact not lost on manufacturers. Several brands offer options in the 17-foot-and-under category that provide standard fishing features and reliable performance at affordable prices. Buyers will find good variety across brands with packaged deals versus optional features. Fish finders, charging systems and batteries, trolling motors, and outboard jack plates, to name a few, can be included in the total buy. (We’ve only listed motor and trailer inclusions in our MSRP breakdown.) From giant budgets and big boats, to simple, affordable fishing rigs, there are plenty of choices for boat-buying anglers in 2018. Motors Increased power and performance, substantial savings at the gass pump, and eco-friendly propane are on offer. Evinrude Evinrude’s new iDock joystick piloting system is available for boats with twin Evinrude E-TEC G2 150- to 300-hp engines. It’s the newest addition to the Evinrude Intelligent Piloting System, which already offers iSteer, iTrim, and iControl. Using