First Time Boat Buyer

[ZB85]

Hey guys, On Saturday Im going to go look at a used boat for sale that im interested in.  Its a 1990 blazer bass boat.  It has a 175hp Mariner motor, 2 live wells, 74lb thrust minnkota, trailer with new tires, fishfinder, fresh main battery, tri bank charger, and has a hotfoot throttle.  Im a first time buyer of a boat that is this size and caliber.  My biggest fear is buying a lemon.  I know the motor is the most important thing when buying a used boat but not sure what to look for since this is my first time.  Any advice is greatly appreciated!  My Dad and Uncle seem to think that a 175hp is to much.  Im looking for a boat that I can possibly fish tournaments with and I would like a boat that I can be confident in on any lake.  Do you guys think 175hp is too much for a first timer?

[CKFishin]

I'm 27 currently My first one I bought 3 years ago and it has a 200. Now I should preface that I have been around boats prior to this. But, Its still a big learning curve. First and foremost those boats have wood stringers and transoms if I read right. First you need to make sure the floors and transom are solid. Then go to the motor.You dont need the 175 to fish tourneys my buddy has fished with a z6 and a 115 its all about knowing how the boat reacts. I rode passenger in my boat for a day before I even got into the driver seat with someone who has run boats for 30+ years so I was sure it would function and he could explain what and why he was doing it. Don't rush a boat purchase find a solid boat that might not have as much power over the boat that has issues but a bigger motor.

[BassnChris]

Take it to a marine mechanic to have it checked out......if you don't it's really a crap shoot.

I bought my first couple of years ago.

The finish is below par and will cost a fair penny to have professionally repaired.

Does not affect anything but looks.

The motor in my opinion is the main part of the equation........I would steer clear of boats with wood.

Good luck.

[slonezp]

You have more to be concerned with on a 25 year old boat than just the motor. The boat needs to be structurally sound.

[A-Jay]

A 25 year old boat that is built and designed around a wooden frame - is a heart ache waiting to happen.

 

Unless this vessel has been stored inside by a collector (one owner) I would not even consider it.

 

 Wood & water and that much time - is rarely a good thing. 

 

You came here looking for advice -

 

Here's mine - run away. 

 

There are PLENTY of good buys - keep looking.

 

A-Jay

[Smokinal]

^^^ I think I would agree with this.

[ZB85]

A 25 year old boat that is built and designed around a wooden frame - is a heart ache waiting to happen.

 

Unless this vessel has been stored inside by a collector (one owner) I would not even consider it.

 

 Wood & water and that much time - is rarely a good thing. 

 

You came here looking for advice -

 

Here's mine - run away. 

 

There are PLENTY of good buys - keep looking.

 

A-Jay

I didn't realize the boat had a wood frame. 

[A-Jay]

I didn't realize the boat had a wood frame. 

 

Is this the boat ?

 

http://omaha.craigslist.org/boa/4172194569.html

 

Regardless - the best thing to do is to locate and copy down the Hull Identification number off the transom of this boat.

 

Then call Blazer Bass Boat and ask them about the design and construction of your prospective purchase.

 

Some additional research on my part shows my initial assessment may have been incorrect.

 

For that I apologize, but you can not go wrong if you contact the people that built the boat.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[ZB85]

Is this the boat ?

 

http://omaha.craigslist.org/boa/4172194569.html

 

Regardless - the best thing to do is to locate and copy down the Hull Identification number off the transom of this boat.

 

Then call Blazer Bass Boat and ask them about the design and construction of your prospective purchase.

 

Some additional research on my part shows my initial assessment may have been incorrect.

 

For that I apologize, but you can not go wrong if you contact the people that built the boat.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

Yep that's the boat

[ZB85]

I asked the owner and he said its fiberglass.

[A-Jay]

I asked the owner and he said its fiberglass.

 

 

Buyer beware

 

A-Jay

[tbone1993]

Hey guys, On Saturday Im going to go look at a used boat for sale that im interested in.  Its a 1990 blazer bass boat.  It has a 175hp Mariner motor, 2 live wells, 74lb thrust minnkota, trailer with new tires, fishfinder, fresh main battery, tri bank charger, and has a hotfoot throttle.  Im a first time buyer of a boat that is this size and caliber.  My biggest fear is buying a lemon.  I know the motor is the most important thing when buying a used boat but not sure what to look for since this is my first time.  Any advice is greatly appreciated!  My Dad and Uncle seem to think that a 175hp is to much.  Im looking for a boat that I can possibly fish tournaments with and I would like a boat that I can be confident in on any lake.  Do you guys think 175hp is too much for a first timer?

If you buy the first boat you find you are going to have problems. Case in point: friends bought a fiberglass tracker with a 150 on the back. The motor blew on their second outing, trolling motor went out, livewell went out. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The motor was a small fix but it ended their day on the water. They have the money to fix the boat so that really isnt the issue. The issue comes with upgrading a boat they bought for $2999. If you put on a $500 TM  $800 depth finder plus other accessories why wouldnt you look at a boat in the $5000 range that is more sound then go from there. My buddy bought his boat for around that price and has put the same into it. Its his first boat but he treats it like a $75,000 ranger. Im just waiting for him to graduate grad school and land a job so he can buy that $75,000 ranger and take me fishing lol. Take everything I say with a grain of salt there are much better boat experts on this forum than me. 

[ZB85]

The budget I'm working with is a little over $3000 so my options are slim.

[Megastink]

The budget I'm working with is a little over $3000 so my options are slim.

Sounds like you can't afford a boat...

 

I feel your pain, brother. I pay close to $700/month in student loans (plus rent and ALL of the other bills) and cannot afford payments on a tow vehicle or boat, not to mention the real money pit, maintenance... My goal is to get my payments down to $450/month, then look at an aluminum. Otherwise, I just can't afford one.....

[CKFishin]

I asked the owner and he said its fiberglass.

Its a fiberglass boat with wood encased in glass in the stringers and Transom

[ZB85]

My other option I guess is tricking out a Jon boat......

[J Francho]

I wouldn't be so put off by this Blazer.  Blazer, Bullet, Gambler, Allison, Stroker, are not sprayed in hulls.  They are hand laid.  I have a nearly 20 year old Bullet.  Yes, it has wood stringer and transom, Balsa wood in fact.  This boat is more solid than many lesser boats of the era.  Blazers use a very similar hull to Bullet.  I'd be checking the hull for any UV crazing or damage.  This type of hand made (not chop gun) performance boat is one case where the hull can out last the motor.  Take it to a mechanic and a fiberglass repair shop for evaluation, and make your decision from there. 

[CKFishin]

I wouldn't be so put off by this Blazer.  Blazer, Bullet, Gambler, Allison, Stroker, are not sprayed in hulls.  They are hand laid.  I have a nearly 20 year old Bullet.  Yes, it has wood stringer and transom, Balsa wood in fact.  This boat is more solid than many lesser boats of the era.  Blazers use a very similar hull to Bullet.  I'd be checking the hull for any UV crazing or damage.  This type of hand made (not chop gun) performance boat is one case where the hull can out last the motor.  Take it to a mechanic and a fiberglass repair shop for evaluation, and make your decision from there. 

 

I just want to clarify I am not dogging it my 91 201 Pro is wood constructed I just want him to understand why we are saying to look it over.

[J Francho]

Always get it checked out by someone that knows what they're looking at.  There's just some misconception about "wood" in boats.  Our '62 Penn Yan was completely constructed of wood.  Aside form a coat of paint and shelack every three years, that thing was a tank.  Can't say the same for some even ten year old "fiberglass" boats.  It's all in the initial construction and care by the owner.

 

Those 201s were cool hulls.  I think that's a Bubba (Stroker) designed hull, if I'm not mistaken.

[CKFishin]

Those 201s were cool hulls.  I think that's a Bubba (Stroker) designed hull, if I'm not mistaken.

Yeah, It's no race boat like some of you have but she holds her own.

[ZB85]

I definitely appreciate the feedback so far. I did plan on looking over the boat before making a decision. I'm going to take my brother in law with me who knows a little about boats. Since I'm going in Saturday I'm not sure if any marine mechanics will be open but I'm looking into it.

[J Francho]

Ask the seller for a recent documented cylinder compression test as part of the terms of sale.  Pretty common stipulation for used boat sales.

[CKFishin]

I definitely appreciate the feedback so far. I did plan on looking over the boat before making a decision. I'm going to take my brother in law with me who knows a little about boats. Since I'm going in Saturday I'm not sure if any marine mechanics will be open but I'm looking into it.

If you're interested I would call a shop and ask if you can schedule a time to bring a boat by you're looking to purchase after you talk to the owner and let him know you'd like a mechanic to check it out. If he doesn't seem like he wants that there is probably issues...

[basshead1]

The budget I'm working with is a little over $3000 so my options are slim.

 

My other option I guess is tricking out a Jon boat......

Here is the answer..........

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/25442-any-pelican-bass-raider-owners-out-there/

 

 

Lots of happy Bass Raider owners on this board.

I love my Bass Raider.

 

Good luck.

[CKFishin]

Here is the answer..........

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/25442-any-pelican-bass-raider-owners-out-there/

 

 

Lots of happy Bass Raider owners on this board.

I love my Bass Raider.

 

Good luck.

This you can build a super nice tin rig that will get you into alot smaller water for 3k.