1991 Astro Vs 1989 Skeeter

[(='_'=)]

hey... im looking into purchasing a boat, and i have these two options right now (since they are the only local boats for sale):

 

1) 1989 Skeeter, 18 feet, 150 HP... has a cheap fishfinder, a hand controlled TM, up holstery and carpets look good (in pics). they are asking $4000 (my other post says 3300 but that was a mistake on my part)

 

2) 1991 Astro, 19 feet, 200 HP, has 2 fishfinders (dont know the brand or anything), foot controlled TM (dont know which one), and again, upholstery and carpets look good in pics... they are asking $4300...

 

im thinking for $300 i should go with the bigger one, asuming both of the motors are in similar working conditions... however, i think i could lower the price of the Skeeter when i tell him for $300 i can get a bigger boat... maybe i could offer $3300 or so and see what he says...

 

so, which one would be better?? i have not been able to find much information on the Astro... also, my local lake (the one 20 minutes from home) is really small, my current 85HP is more than enough... i fish about once a month in a bigger lake, but is also not that big, its only 6 miles long... and im trying to go at least twice a year to a big lake, 45 miles from end to end, and the ramp is located at one end... so there i could use the bigger motor, but im thinking 150 HP would be more than enough???

 

now, assuming the same moderate speed, would the 200 HP consume much more fuel than the 150 HP when fishing on the 2 smaller lakes?? i would like to have the bigger motor for when i fish big waters, but due to the fact that 90% of my fishing is in small lakes where i have been doing fine with 85 HP, im not sure if the 200 would be too big and a waste of money and fuel...

[Nitrofreak]

This is something you will have to see for yourself, even though the boats sound like they are in good condition, I do not trust what they say until I see them for myself, as for the difference between length and engine size, you really won't notice a "huge" difference, so to speak, but the difference may be just enough to make you swing one way or the other, once you get them on the water you will notice the total difference between the two.

 

If the 150 will work just fine for you vs. the 200, then it may come down to parts and the prices of parts for each, you may want to look up some things just to use as a comparison and how available some of those parts might be, like power packs for example, lower units, etc...the 150's in my area are quite common and I can locate parts almost anywhere, usually it ends up being cheaper than fixing a 200,  don't just stop there though, look up parts for each of the vessels and see which is easier, that may also help with the decision. 

 

The beam on the 19' vs. the 18' "may" be something you find interesting, a little more room on the deck could be something worth thinking about but here again it's something you will need to investagate for yourself, It's the little things that may not be so little too you, that you will find helps with that decision. 

 

Plan a day and go see them both before you start even thinking about either one of these boats, there may be some things you like about each and some you wont, but until you see them up close, you will have nothing to do but wonder about each.

[(='_'=)]

thanx!!

 

well, where i live, bass boats are not that common... remember im in Mexico, the lower unit of my 85HP Johnson i had to get it from the US... buying online in the US is not much of a problem for me... so, im pretty sure i will have a hard time getting spare parts for either motor or boat...

 

 

now, about the difference in HP, how much more gas will the 200 consume againts the 150, at moderate speed (say 45 mph)?? is it significant??  with gas price going up every month, this is something i have to cnsider... however if the difference is not that much i would like to have the bigger motor for when i go to bigger lakes, twice a year maybe....

[Nitrofreak]

I do remember where you are located lol!

If a couple or a few gallons is no big deal then yes you can get the 200 if you wish, breaking it down there is really not a big difference if your only talking a couple of weekends, here and there, if your talking running miles at a wide open pace every weekend then yes it will be significant, but for what conditions you are describing, there wont be a significant difference imo.

[(='_'=)]

thanx!!

 

well, sometimes i only put $20 on the boat, and that will last a full day on the 6 mile long lake, we dont move much when we find fish... so if the 200 would requiere $30, i think its a good tradeoff for a bigger boat, and i like knowing i can venture in the 45 mile lake easier and faster, as they say the best fishing is on the other end of the lake but i dont dare going there with my smaller boat...

[(='_'=)]

well..... im about to make the desision, so i would like some more input on the Astro... does anybody here has one??how good/bad are them?? any special concerns or things i should note when i take her for a test ride??  and, whats the beam of the boat??

 

BTW i just noticed on the pics, the motor is a 200 HP Black Max... 

 

another thing to consider is i would be towing with an Xterra.... it currenty tows my small boat, a 77 King Fisher with an 85 HP, with no problems, but im guessing this 19´ boat would be considerably heavier...