Everything Sk8man said, plus the biggest decision is between a flipover or a hub. I had a small eskimo hub and it was really tough for me to get in and out of. Sold it and found a one man flipover. Worked way better for me. The plan was to be able to move more easily from spot to spot. I get lazy and a usually stay too long over NO fish however. I'd take a walk out to a popular spot and ask guys what the like and don't like about their setups. Way better information that most dealers can give and you can see first hand. . Lastly, with all of the snow this winter, a smitty sled is essential if you are pulling anything by had.