Tips when buying a second hand fishing ski.

So you’ve decided to get yourself a 2nd hand fishing ski or you are in the market to get another one, here are a few things to look out for before handing over your hard earned cash.

• If you think the deal is too good to be true … it usually is.
• Make sure the ski you are looking at fits you, most fishing ski’s were custom made before the introduction of adjustable foot pedals…. Sit in the ski and feel comfortable, if your knees are around your ears the ski’s to short!!
• Fishing ski’s take a good beating so look at what repairs have been done… patches under the hull towards the nose are common as this area wears thin over time most guys drag their skis backwards down the each and the sand acts as sand paper.
• The seams are a different story, if you find that the seams have been patched this is not a good thing, the seam should be one of the strongest parts of the ski as it is where the deck and the hull have been joined. Run your hand along the trim on the seam and make sure you get a smooth feel all round the ski… if you don’t the trim could be hiding a patch job on the seam. A Ski that has popped its seam has had its overall strength compromised and is more than likely going to break again… one good wipe out and you can kiss your cash good bye.
• The Rudder area is also a very vulnerable area on a ski….check out under the rudder, where it goes into the ski. There is a sleeve that runs through the ski from the cables at the top to the rudder at the bottom. Check to see that this sleeve has not been knocked back into the bottom of the ski…. This is an area that will take water and is a common problem on older skis. It can be fixed but will mean that the ski has to have an extra inspection hatch cut out on the deck… if there is already an extra hatch cut out  you know that the ski has had rudder problems in the past.
• The trim is an epoxy resin that not only makes the ski look good but also adds extra strength to the seam… often this gets chipped with wear and tear. This is not necessary a problem but I suggest that you get it sanded back and re-applied… any little nick in the trim could cost you your dream fish…. If your line touches it with a fish on it’ll cut the line like a knife. 
• The Hatch can hide a multitude of sins…. Take a torch with you and have a good look inside the hatch. It’s common for a gaff or rod to puncture the hatch …. It can be easily fixed but it’s going to cost you some more money.
• Have a look at the rudder cables and open the cover-plate hiding the rudder… cables are easily replaced but have a look at the sleeves that the cables run through. These sleeves can push back into the ski and then you have a problem… this area will leak and it makes fitting new cables almost impossible without cutting open the top deck.
• Look at the pedal system and the state of the screws that hold the pedals in place. If you need to change the pedals or want to upgrade them are you going to be able to loosen them?
• Check the ski has a manufacturer’s buoyancy Certificate; this can also help you date the ski.
• I have found the best times of the year to buy a second hand ski are just after Christmas when the guy’s who got a Fishing Ski from their wives and girlfriends realise it’s not as easy as they thought it would be and then in Winter when the fishing is a bit slower….
• You can get some good deals but don’t rush into it!!

Cheers Anton