Buying First Boat, The Small Things?

[IowaHusker28]

Within the next couple of weeks we will be buying our first boat. I have always fished off my buddy's boat and it's now time to buy our own. We are going used and I have an idea of what I want but I was just looking for a little inside info on the little things. Such as, from experience what would you of changed in your first boat? Or what do you have to have now that you didn't even think about on your first few purchases? This boat is going to get used quite a bit and in tournaments this year. I just don't want to be fishing a month later and think that I should of gotten something else because the boat is missing something and would like to own this for the next few years. But never the less I will be happy with something that floats and I can call it my own. 

[Stingray23]

First, what is your budget? and what do you have in mind as far as make and model?

[A-Jay]

As you already know in advance of this purchase how when and how you'll be using your new boat, perhaps making a list of; 1) feature you simply must have, 2) features that would be nice to have, and 3) items that are completely optional. Of course your budget will also guide your decision.

 This will give you a place to start and help you weed out / sift through the huge volume of used boats a bit quicker.

 Then it's a matter of try before you buy. 

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[IowaHusker28]

Somewhere around 15k or lower? We are going to look at an 06 Nitro 482 within the upcoming week. I know that will surpass my expectations and is pretty nice for a first boat. I would rather spend the money now and get a quality boat that we can have for a more than a few years than end up wanting something else next year. Thanks for the help in advance!

[PotomacBassin]

As described above, budget is key... With that issue aside, after my first boat, the little things that I wanted were: more space/storage, trolling motor battery run time, and safety.  Make sure you have enough space on board to be comfortable (again dependent on budget).  Safety is a big thing for me since I run on the Potomac.  Large swells develop on windy days here and I was running a 14 ft. jon boat with my 3 year old son (hugging the shorline).  I had enough of that and determined it wasn't worth it so I upgraded to a 19 footer where I can take the entire family on.  So I guess the biggest "little" thing for me was safety.

 

The trolling motor run time was for my second boat... I ended up adding another battery in parallel with my first one to have longer run time.

[slonezp]

It looks like that is an 18ft boat with a max hp rating of 150. I would go no less than that on an 18', especialy if you will be fishing with a partner. Also a 24v troling motor would suit you better than a 12v. As far as sonars go, that's something else you need to consider. Can you get by with just 2d or will you want gps, side and/or down imaging?  Single or dual console? The second console takes up space, but if you fish with a partner, it's a nice addition for him/her

[slonezp]

and trailers, bearing buddies or oil bath hubs are a plus. Single axle trailer is easier to maneuver by hand when your hooking it up to the hitch and a dual axle is more stable to tow. Speaking of towing, is your vehicle the right vehicle to tow with? Proper tow rating, oil cooler and trans cooler a big plus. Good brakes?

[RyneB]

get something withiin your budget that you wont outgrow. Nothing is worse than having a boat, but not having room for all of your gear. Not just your gear, but you have to factor in safety equipment and other boating necessities.

[Teal]

When i got my first boat, i was happy just to have "something that floats"

Boy i was wrong. I got a 17 Alumacraft with 40hp Mariner w/tiller. I bought it because i didnt want to spend alot of money and it was 3000 bucks and in terrific shape.

I wish had known better. I had ZERO storage. STORAGE IS A BIG DEAL

I had no electronics. ELECTRONICS ARE A BIG DEAL

It had a trolling motor that was 30thrust (i eventually bought a 50#)

it had Zero live wells.

Now this boat was great for fishing on the river and could get into spots on the lake that most tournament boats could not. However, as i progressed, and got away from fishin the rivers and more into traditional bass fishin, i knew that this boat would not do. I applaud you for doing your research and thinking ahead. Had i done my homework, i probably could have spent a few more bucks and gotten a 17 or 18a foot bass boat with decent electonics and the storage and versitility that i needed. I kicked my self for a while everytime i seen a decent bass boat selling for 4 or 5 grand.

Ill get to the point, spend you money ONCE. Go ahead a get everything you can that will fit you and you fishing style. You may have to be patient and wait to find "that" boat. It took me 7 years to find the one that i have now (i stole it!!)

Good luck!

[IowaHusker28]

The input has been great already! A little more info the Nitro has a 115 optimax and is a dual console boat with 2 fish finders and a 54lbs trolling motor. It's also a single axle trailer and I have an 05 F-150 to pull it, which will do it easy. Nothing is set in stone and we are looking every where for that right deal. We were interested in a Bass Tracker pro team 175 but knowing it has a 16 gallon livewell compared to the Nitro's 34 gallon doesn't seam right. That's why I was asking about the little things, something like that would make me upset during a tournament lol. 

[BassinB]

The input has been great already! A little more info the Nitro has a 115 optimax and is a dual console boat with 2 fish finders and a 54lbs trolling motor. It's also a single axle trailer and I have an 05 F-150 to pull it, which will do it easy. Nothing is set in stone and we are looking every where for that right deal. We were interested in a Bass Tracker pro team 175 but knowing it has a 16 gallon livewell compared to the Nitro's 34 gallon doesn't seam right. That's why I was asking about the little things, something like that would make me upset during a tournament lol. 

 Don't think I would enjoy driving an 18' Nitro with a 115 on it.  That is probably going to be a dog out of the hole.

[Goaltender]

I would focus on the boat and motor first. The add-on accessories you can improve on as you go. Make sure the motor is close to the max HP allowed on the boat of you will be very unhappy with the performance. Hull design is huge too depending on the water(s) you plan to fish. Some of the lower profile boats don't take kindly to chop and larger wave action (like I have at the Lake of the Ozarks when the cruisers go by).

[salmicropterus]

Agree with the post about the underpower concern. That boat was likely sold with the 115 at a teaser price with the view of the purchaser upgrading the motor to at least a 130 if not 150, which the first buyer didn't do.  A bass boat should be powered to at least 90% of the rated max. With your budget, you should be able to find a boat with an injected motor (therefore being able to be downloaded for engine history and current and historical fault codes). A history of overheats means look elsewhere. Also, on Opti's compressor failure is a common problem so get an invoice for a replacement because if it hasn't been done, it will need to be done after approx 175-200 hrs. Replacing that compressor is a $1000+ job.

If you are fishing T's this is important: adequate livewells, adequate storage and adequate TM thrust and wire system. Electronics are nice but my experience is that 90% of the anglers don't know 20% about the use of all the capabilities of what they have and I unhappily put myself into that group.

[Fishing Rhino]

The Z-6 is rated for a maximum of 115hp.  The boat comes standard with a 115 optimax.  The only option is a 115 optimax Pro XS.

[IowaHusker28]

The 482 is actually rated for a 150 though. I never really thought of it to be that big of deal but this is why i started this thread to get the info. Although most of the lakes around here are smaller than 1000 acres but bigger is better i suppose. 

[Shewillbemine]

The Z-6 is rated for a maximum of 115hp.  The boat comes standard with a 115 optimax.  The only option is a 115 optimax Pro XS.

 

This is correct.

[slonezp]

That 18 footer with you, a partner, gear, full livewells, full tank of gas is going to need power to get on plane and push you around the water. You could use a 5hp and a jonboat to navigate a 1000 acre lake. The size of the water is not the issue. The boats purpose is what you should be concerned with.  I tourney fished a 17' with a 90hp for 9 years. When I bought the boat, I hadn't even thought of fishing tourneys. If I had, I would have purchased something different.  If your going to drop 15k on a rig to fish tourneys you'll want the most bang for your buck. Another thing you should check is the organization holding the tourneys. Sometimes they have min and max horsepower requirements.

[Fishing Rhino]

My 2009 Z-7 was rated for 200 hp according to the plaque with the capacities listed.

 

In 2010, they dropped the maximum hp rating to 150 which is what came on the boat.  They also came out with the rapid planing system hull design.  It's much quicker getting up on plane than the prior hull design.

 

My 2011 Z-8 is rated for 250 hp.  I have a 200 ProXS.  For an additional 5000 dollars I could have had them hang a 250 on the transom.  To me, the extra eight to ten mph is not worth the additional five grand.  It will do 62 mph.  Most of the time I'm running it between 35 and 45 mph.  For an additional 3000 dollars I could have gotten a 225 hp ProXS.

 

No thank you.  I have never wished I had gotten a larger motor.

[mcipinkie]

Once you decide on a boat, get the biggest trolling motor you can afford and fit on the boat.  If you've got an extra grand or so, and room, get a 36v.  You'll never regret it.  So many things get easier with a big trolling motor.  You can jet across the cove on the trolling motor instead of pulling it up, putting on your life jacket, cranking up and then reversing all to get across a 100 yd wide cove.  You may only need that big power once or twice a year, but it's invaluable when you need it.  Plus you'll get longer battery life with the 36v system than 12 or 24.  I echo most of the rest of the ideas, certainly about not buying an underpowered boat. 

[IowaHusker28]

So we have been looking off and on for the past year but just getting serious and what I have found out about this process is that is hard to fulfill your boat wants and needs within a certain budget that you will be happy with. This all said everyone says they look for quite a while for the one and I know one will show up sometime. Thanks for all the help!

[PotomacBassin]

So we have been looking off and on for the past year but just getting serious and what I have found out about this process is that is hard to fulfill your boat wants and needs within a certain budget that you will be happy with. This all said everyone says they look for quite a while for the one and I know one will show up sometime. Thanks for all the help!

This goes without saying, but keep your eyes on craigslist and different areas of craigslist... Nice boats with good deals will pop up and go before you can blink.