You have to be able to trailer it to and fro and launch and land it by yourself. Depending on where you live and where you plan to fish this can become very important. A great boat might become the boat you don’t care to take out much any more. Also, consider being able to go different places in the boat. I chose a center console for this very reason. Lakes, rivers, salt water, anywhere she wants to go we can go.
Many dealers will under size the engine to get the price point down. This is not what you want to buy, it is what he wants to sell you. Over sized engines are not better necessarily either. Try to read about what others get speed wise in similar boats. 50 mph is plenty fast for a fishing boat.
Try to find one and just sit in the thing for a while. Imagine yourself fishing. Does the boat work for your style of fishing? Do you feel like you will tumble over the side as you move about? Is the boat too small for your fishing locales?
Pontoon boats are awesome……. if you can keep it in the water. Lugging the thing over land, launching and landing can be trying affairs. I have seen too many people struggling with theirs. Like driving around with a parachute out the back of the truck.
Winds are difficult to manage. If you live in a place that is windy, consider a glass boat. My 20’ aluminum draws like 10” of water, but that also means that it struggles in windy choppy conditions. So I stay home those days. You might have to deal with winds.
Finally, take your time. You do not want to buy a boat, discover issues with the boat’s limitations, and have to do a trade in of some kind. Consider used boats. Many were bought during the flu epidemic, and I suppose many of those will be for sale at good prices. We haven’t seen a turn down in prices yet, but that doesn’t mean that individuals wouldn’t accept less.
Good Luck and post pictures when you get around to bringing one home.
Maybe they will bite this one……