Wanting A Bass Boat 2024
RHuff reply :
Got the itch hard for a bass boat. I don't even care of it is a used boat that is older that runs good. I have a family that includes three small kids. Money is tight and we always try to budget. How in the world to some people go out and by big expensive boats? How do you save money for a boat? How do you go about buying a first bass boat?
Choporoz reply :
Sell the kids
tomustang reply :
Many new boats are on 10-15 years loans, that's how lol
Do the research first about boat sizes with what motors. You might look into a walleye/multispecies boat
EmersonFish reply :
First of all. it's important to remember that a lot of guys you see with those "big expensive boats" you mentioned are not really able to "afford" them in the sense of the word you or I might consider affording them. They might be able to make the payment, but they did not make a sound financial decision when they bought the boat. Obviously many people CAN afford new trucks and boats, but not as many as you see out on the lakes and highways. So if money is tight, you are budget conscious, and you are looking for a boat that runs great and is big enough to accommodate your family needs, you can forget about keeping up with the Joneses. By the time you save enough money, the kid part will take care of itself, that is for sure.
You'll need to look for a good, quality used boat, and with three small kids, a bass specific boat might not be ideal from a safety perspective. Like tomustang mentioned, a boat with a front deck but fishes a little deeper out of the middle and the back might be better for now. As far as buying a used boat; do your research, don't get in a rush, look for information online as to what questions to ask and what to look at when you are checking out boats that are for sale, and if you can, have some cash in your hands while you are out shopping. Prices tend to come down when people see greenback stacks.
buzzed bait reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 2:06 AM, Choporoz said:Sell the kids
i just lost it......
NotnatsSamoht reply :
Me and my wife are considering kayaks, less maintenance and still put us on the water, I get mad when I have to fix the car, if my boat broke I'd lose my mind.
badhatharry reply :
Some of the best fishing, and memories, I ever had were in a 10 fiberglass rowboat. Start with what you can afford and work your way up. I doubt very much that those youngins care what kind of boat they're sitting in, as long as they're fishing with Dad. Believe me, I know. And BTW, I was 50 years old before I got my first "bass boat".....it was a used tin boat 10 years old.
Way2slow reply :
Well, when I started, the term bass boat had just come to be and those were the Bomber boats.
From how you describe your situation, I would strongly recommend staying away from anything you have to finance more than a couple of years. Also understand, unless you pick up a good deal from an individual, anything you buy is not going to be resale able for near what you paid for it, and the longer you finance it, the more upside down you are going to be, and for a much longer time. That's why you see people advertising just take over payments, and it's not even worth what they still owe on it then. The auction companies make big bucks every year off repossessed boats because the buyer finds out what it really cost to have and operate one and can't get out from under financial burden.
You also have to realize, just buying the boat is only part of the expense. If it's a very large boat, it takes a fairly large vehicle to tow it. If towing very far, cost of gas gets expensive, not counting what the boat is going to burn. If it's financed, you have the insurance you must carry on it. Then you have the expense of just maintaining one. Two or three batteries at $100 or more each, every few years. Engine maintenance and if the motor happens to break, it can be super expensive to get them worked on/repaired, and most any are subject to break.
Find you some kind of a 15'-17' aluminum boat for starters from the early 90's to the early 2,000s that has a 40 - 70hp motor on it, have it checked out by someone that knows their stuff. There are some great deals to be had, if you are patient, and now is when you want to start looking. The season is coming to an end soon and people will want to start getting rid of them while there is time. Then you have Christmas coming soon and people are looking at them out there in the yard, thinking that would be some quick Christmas money, and right behind that comes taxes due.
Further North reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 2:03 AM, RHuff said:Got the itch hard for a bass boat. I don't even care of it is a used boat that is older that runs good. I have a family that includes three small kids. Money is tight and we always try to budget. How in the world to some people go out and by big expensive boats? How do you save money for a boat? How do you go about buying a first bass boat?
Here you go: http://www.skeeterboatcenter.com/InventoryDetail.aspx?boattype=Used-Boats&model=&stocknumber=S1518A
RHuff reply :
I appreciate the advice. I was thinking of trying to find a Bass Tracker 160 or 170 from the mid to early 90s. My kids won't be fishing with me much for a long time. This is Daddy's toy lol. I just feel like every single boat I look at is just a hair outside my budget. If fact, i have no budget right now.
Further North reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 2:45 AM, EmersonFish said:First of all. it's important to remember that a lot of guys you see with those "big expensive boats" you mentioned are not really able to "afford" them in the sense of the word you or I might consider affording them. They might be able to make the payment, but they did not make a sound financial decision when they bought the boat. Obviously many people CAN afford new trucks and boats, but not as many as you see out on the lakes and highways. So if money is tight, you are budget conscious, and you are looking for a boat that runs great and is big enough to accommodate your family needs, you can forget about keeping up with the Joneses. By the time you save enough money, the kid part will take care of itself, that is for sure.
You'll need to look for a good, quality used boat, and with three small kids, a bass specific boat might not be ideal from a safety perspective. Like tomustang mentioned, a boat with a front deck but fishes a little deeper out of the middle and the back might be better for now. As far as buying a used boat; do your research, don't get in a rush, look for information online as to what questions to ask and what to look at when you are checking out boats that are for sale, and if you can, have some cash in your hands while you are out shopping. Prices tend to come down when people see greenback stacks.
Great advice!
Further North reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 8:54 AM, RHuff said:I appreciate the advice. I was thinking of trying to find a Bass Tracker 160 or 170 from the mid to early 90s. My kids won't be fishing with me much for a long time. This is Daddy's toy lol. I just feel like every single boat I look at is just a hair outside my budget. If fact, i have no budget right now.
Your budget is the key point...what can you really afford?
What are your COL (cost of living expenses), What are you setting aside for retirement (hint: We've done 20% - 30% for 30-some years and that'll work out well), what percentage of the left-over discretionary income does it take to keep the wife/family happy...what is left over is what you get to spend...
BaitMonkey1984 reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 3:27 AM, NotnatsSamoht said:Me and my wife are considering kayaks, less maintenance and still put us on the water, I get mad when I have to fix the car, if my boat broke I'd lose my mind.
You wouldn't like used boats than hahah.
Way2slow reply :
I recently help a friend sell his 93, 17' Bass Tracker with a 40 on it for $2,000. Very low hours on it and it had been sitting under a shed for five years. Three years ago, was paying a guy to replace the carpet and redo the seats, and some other stuff to get it back in nice shape. Just after the guy got it all stripped apart, he got killed in a car wreck and left the boat in a mess, but nothing a little time and TLC couldn't fix. Then my friend had triple bypass surgery and finally decided he was done with fishing. Several times I considered just paying him for it and keeping it, but that small motor turned me off, plus with five boats, I don't really need another. I just keep thinking a small, easy to handle tin can might make it more enjoyable to go by myself.
Further North reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 5:54 AM, Way2slow said:Well, when I started, the term bass boat had just come to be and those were the Bomber boats.
From how you describe your situation, I would strongly recommend staying away from anything you have to finance more than a couple of years. Also understand, unless you pick up a good deal from an individual, anything you buy is not going to be resale able for near what you paid for it, and the longer you finance it, the more upside down you are going to be, and for a much longer time. That's why you see people advertising just take over payments, and it's not even worth what they still owe on it then. The auction companies make big bucks every year off repossessed boats because the buyer finds out what it really cost to have and operate one and can't get out from under financial burden.
You also have to realize, just buying the boat is only part of the expense. If it's a very large boat, it takes a fairly large vehicle to tow it. If towing very far, cost of gas gets expensive, not counting what the boat is going to burn. If it's financed, you have the insurance you must carry on it. Then you have the expense of just maintaining one. Two or three batteries at $100 or more each, every few years. Engine maintenance and if the motor happens to break, it can be super expensive to get them worked on/repaired, and most any are subject to break.
Find you some kind of a 15'-17' aluminum boat for starters from the early 90's to the early 2,000s that has a 40 - 70hp motor on it, have it checked out by someone that knows their stuff. There are some great deals to be had, if you are patient, and now is when you want to start looking. The season is coming to an end soon and people will want to start getting rid of them while there is time. Then you have Christmas coming soon and people are looking at them out there in the yard, thinking that would be some quick Christmas money, and right behind that comes taxes due.
More great advice.
dcmclassic reply :
A good tin rig in the 17ft to 18ft range is a great start. On the other hand so is a flatbottom with a tiller handle or a kayak. I've caught fish from all those and the bank too. A good option just to get on the water may be a basic tin boat with a tiller, there are tons of modifications you can do to one. I still find myself fishing from my flatbottom even though I have my Bass Cat.
To answer your other question I can comfortably afford a bass boat because I'm blessed to have a good paying job, low mortgage(compared to some buddies), and my truck is on a lease program with work. I had the option to finance or pay cash, I chose to finance for 5 years. The one I have now is my first new one. Started from the bank and bumming rides lol, then flatbottoms then glass boats.
Anything would be a start, and you don't have to start with a 35k or higher glass boat. I promise you can catch just as many fish from a yak or tin rig, and probably more fish than me 
Further North reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 9:39 AM, BaitMonkey1984 said:You wouldn't like used boats than hahah.
If you do your homework (what they call "due diligence" in business), used boats are an excellent choice.
...But I've walked away from a lot of boats...and cars, trucks, and other stuff...because they did not meet my requirements.
Gotta be willing to do that. Just because it's a "great deal" doesn't mean its a good choice.
BaitMonkey1984 reply :
Your budget would be helpful. However, if you do your research, and are patient, with a bit of luck you will find an affordable deal to suit your needs. I purchased my first bass boat 10 years old but mint condition 19ft Ranger with 150hp. Does everything I need it to do and was big step up from my aluminum in regards to fishability. Hull, Motor, and trolling motor is the order of importance in my opinion.
Surfcaster reply :
I to am trying to keep my eye out for a good deal on a good used bass boat. My sons (14yrs and 9yrs) and myself are starting to outgrow our Old Town Tripper canoe and would like something easier for 3 people to fish out of. But even used fiberglass bass boats from the 90s seem to fetch in the 4-6 thousand dollar range here which seems to me too high, but then again a brand new fiberglass boat is in the 30-50 thousand range. I will tell you if money were not an issue I think I would seriously consider a Lund aluminum boat. After reading a post on here about Lund boats I went on their website and feel like they could be some of the best fishing boats available. They seem to be more prevalent in the north. I think there is one Lund dealer in NC. But the canoe has served us well and you may want to consider one or a simple fishing boat first just to get on the water.
BaitMonkey1984 reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 9:45 AM, Further North said:If you do your homework (what they call "due diligence" in business), used boats are an excellent choice.
...But I;ve walked away from a lot of boats...and cars, trucks, and other stuff...because they did not meet my requirements.
Gotta be willing to do that. Just because it's a "great deal" doesn't mean its a good choice.
I agree they are excellent choices and although I probably could afford new boats in the next year or so, I do not see that ever happening.
My quote simply meant that boats have issues, things wear, things break, and there are mishaps. I take great care of my boat- waxing it once a month, always covered, always charged batteries but used boats have used items. Use cocktail of additives in every fuel up with premium gas.
However, used items wear out. Trailer bearings need to be greased, motors tuned up, trailer tires replaced, batteries replaced, trolling motors replaced, electronics replaced and this is all barring the expensive motor issues. Therefore, I simply meant that they require upkeep and repair and the post I responded to here, not the OP, stated that he would get mad if he had to pay to fix his boat. That is all.
Further North reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 8:53 AM, Further North said:Here you go: http://www.skeeterboatcenter.com/InventoryDetail.aspx?boattype=Used-Boats&model=&stocknumber=S1518A
I posted this...not because I think you're gonna buy it...you're in WV, I'm in NW WI...but because it's exactly what a results focused buyer will zero in on.
It's a flawed boat (Purple? Really?) offered by an exceptionally reputable seller, where a fair amount of due diligence will reveal that it's a great value for dollars spent.
...the last boat I bought - the one I'll have until I die, unless something stupid happens - Was the same kind of deal - a little above market...until I dug into it. 10 years old, set up like a wanted, and virtually unused (literally less than 4 hours on the motor) good performance, great components...I had it inspected by a dealer I selected...and I wrote the check...
Logan S reply :
Bring
Out
Another
Thousand
Surprised no one said it yet 
. Seriously though, there is some good advice in here so I'll just add this....If you are prepared for the unexpected expenses and don't overextend yourself to buy it, you'll be doing fine. Just remember that it's a whole package. Boat, motor, and trailer...All need to be vetted and all need to maintained regularly.
I have done my best with my boats and they have still left me headaches and empty wallets every now and again...But I can't imagine not having mine.
As for affording it, only you can answer that. The biggest mistake you can make is overextending yourself to buy it, because it will add an extra layer of stress when something goes wrong. You need to go in expecting to lose money, because you will. Not meant to be doom-and-gloom, just reality....I love owning my boat despite the expense, that's just part of it for me.
Further North reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 9:52 AM, BaitMonkey1984 said:I agree they are excellent choices and although I probably could afford new boats in the next year or so, I do not see that ever happening.
My quote simply meant that boats have issues, things wear, things break, and there are mishaps. I take great care of my boat- waxing it once a month, always covered, always charged batteries but used boats have used items. Use cocktail of additives in every fuel up with premium gas.
However, used items wear out. Trailer bearings need to be greased, motors tuned up, trailer tires replaced, batteries replaced, trolling motors replaced, electronics replaced and this is all barring the expensive motor issues. Therefore, I simply meant that they require upkeep and repair and the post I responded to here, not the OP, stated that he would get mad if he had to pay to fix his boat. That is all.
Well said, and right on target.
We have to have a realistic assessment of potential costs - both operational and replacement - before we jump off the ownership cliff.
What will it cost to put gas into, and maintain that sweet 20 ft, 250 HP bass boat with 900 hours on it?
If the motor blows up - because the seller overstated how well it was taken care of (true about 80% of the time), what will it cost to replace?
Are the electronics OK...or will I need to replace them with something more modern? What might that cost?
What is the quality of the post-purchase installations that have been done? That's a solid indicator of the level of care and attention to detail the previous owner(s) put into the boat...if you find a wire connection under the dash to a top-of-the line piece of electronics that is only done with twisting wires together and wrapped with tape...you know it's not been treated the best.
Do a thorough inspection - if you're not fully qualified, hire someone who is. A couple hundred buck that gets you out from under a potentially bad deal is money well spent, no matter how things shake out.
K_Mac reply :
Way2slow offers great advice. Most first time boat owners have no idea of the cost of ownership. For others the passion for fishing comes and goes, while payments for a high-end rig can go on seemingly forever. Buy what you can afford. If you can't afford something now, find someone you can fish with and share expenses. Good luck.
Ski213 reply :
You're getting a lot of great advice here.
As has already been brought up, purchase price is only the beginning. You're way better off spending little on a smaller boat that doesn't require a ton of capital to operate and maintain but still gets you out on the water catching fish.
I've always heard boat stands for break out another thousand. I've learned that is based on math, it's not just a saying.
You've got to have a toy, just heed the advice others are giving and make sure you get a toy that you can play with without it stressing you out.
Further North reply :
Break Out Another Thousand...is true...if you don't do your homework.
I had it happen one time...and I got lucky because I bought the boat for a good price to begin with...broke even...but it was a tense coupla weeks...
Way2slow reply :
B.O.A.T. is oh so true if you can't fix them yourself and even when you can, they are still dam expensive.
I do a all my own work on my boats and vehicles also, and other than my wife's (our main family car) I never buy anything new. I find a steal with a bad engine or other problems and fix it. My 1999, 20' Javelin Renegade 20DC with a 225 Evinrud I bought at auction about eight years ago for $5,000 and spent $1,100 getting it in good condition. So, for approximately $6,000 I had $15,000 bass boat. Just like a 2001 4WD, Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab I recently bought for $1,000. Like new inside, great paint, and no dents in body. After a $3,400 total investment ($900 of which was tires) I have a very nice truck that could easily sell for twice what I have in it. Even being able to do this, just buying parts, that I get wholesale, is getting too dang expensive to work on them.
Another old saying that's very true about boats, "The bigger the boat, the bigger the hole it makes in the water to throw money in".
slonezp reply :
Does it have to be a bass boat? What is the duration of time you are planning to own this boat? A year? 2 years? 5 years? Longer? What type of fishing? Fun? Tourney? Wife and kids going for a ride any amount of time? Will it fit in your garage/parking or does it need to be stored? If you are going to make payments, Is your job secure?
EmersonFish reply :
On 9/15/2015 at 8:54 AM, RHuff said:I appreciate the advice. I was thinking of trying to find a Bass Tracker 160 or 170 from the mid to early 90s. My kids won't be fishing with me much for a long time. This is Daddy's toy lol. I just feel like every single boat I look at is just a hair outside my budget. If fact, i have no budget right now.
You mentioned an early to mid 90s Tracker 160 or 170? With an early 90s boat, we are now looking at something that has been around for over 20 years. It will have to been very well maintained. I have a Tracker Pro Team 185 that we bought new in 2000, and we have never had a problem with it, but we have babied that thing since the day we towed it off the lot. Not everyone does that, particularly guys who are at that stage when they are looking to get rid of them. With older boats, it's not so much a matter of how many hours they have on them, but of how well they were taken care of when they were off the water. Concentrate on how it was stored in the off-season, ask him about his maintenance routine/winterization process, look inside every compartment, look at every wire, see if he appears to be the type who does half-butt wiring jobs on things if he did any rewiring, step on every square inch of the floor you can, if you find old leaves everywhere you look inside the boat, just move on, etc... You can probably find a comprehensive checklist of these sort of things before you go look at older boats for sale.
You might only be able to afford a boat with problems initially, but you probably can't afford a boat with problems going forward. And worse yet; boats that are always in need of work are no fun, and having fun is the whole point.
thomas15 reply :
I don't think it can be said enough that the cost of the actual boat is only the beginning. My boat is a fairly simple tin and not in bad shape but it seems like there is always something abit something small that needs to be fixed or replaced. Small thing I know but before it goes in the water next I have to figure out why the right trun signal on the trailer doesn't work. Might be the bulb, might be the wiring, will have to see.
Every time I think that my 16' tin is a bit small I remind myself that an 18' glasser would mean getting a heftier tow vehicle. So $15K for a new boat and $25K or there abouts for a new vehicle is the actual cost. And yet the largest lake around here is 6K acres, my local pond is 1K acres, I can get 35mph out of my boat on a lake that has a 45 mph max speed. That's good enough and I have no debt on this craft.
Having said this having the boat has really increased my enjoyment of the sport and I don't have any regrets.
GetJigginWithIt reply :
As many have said, start off small. I bought a 1976 boat with a 1976 merc 500 thunderbolt. The engine was terrible but the hull was sound as can be. When I was testing it, to me it seemed like it was starving for fuel. I took the cover off and pumped the primer bulb and watched fuel spray out the hose. I replaced all fuel lines and fittings and it runs like new. So I spent $750 on boat and $9 on parts and now I am fishing. Start off small to get you going. It has a hardly used min kota power drive that will go on next boat purchase along with finders. This will bring costs down for next one. I figure I can get at least a couple of years out of it before I move into something nicer. It floats and gets me off the bank.
jitterbug127 reply :
I'd look for something you cam just pay cash for. I paid 500 for my whole set up. It is nice
Jed Cutshall Fishing reply :
When you are looking for your first bass boat it is important that you find one that is preferably light, easy to drive, and simple to fish out of. It also is a big plus if you don't have to break the bank to buy it. With all this in mind, an aluminum boat is an obvious choice. In my opinion, G3 makes the best aluminum boats on the market. I have had a G3 for quite some time now and I am very impressed with it. It is easy to take to the lake by myself for a fun day of fishing. It is easy on gas and the light weight aluminum makes it super simple to launch with just one person. But I fish some pretty big tournaments out of this boat too. Next year I've got about 10 tournaments on my schedule with around 400 competitors each. My seventeen foot G3 is all the boat I need to get the job done. It rides smooth and takes rough water pretty well for a short boat. So if you are serious about getting your first bass boat, whether you fish for fun or you're looking into entering some big tournaments, G3 is worth taking a look at.
www.G3boats.com
RHuff reply :
I looked at some G3's at a local dealer and for the 17 foot new they were asking $18,000. I can order a new Ranger RT 178 cheaper than that. I thought they were highly expensive for Aluminum.
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