Looking into getting a boat

[ohiobassfishing]

I am looking into getting a new boat. I'm thinking between 18-20 feet. I mainly fish inland lakes and larger rivers but may go out onto Lake Erie once in a while. My budget is around 20k, any recommendations.

 

Ive been looking into the ranger rt188, Lund 1750 rebel xs, and used glass boats. 

[12poundbass]

You thinking aluminum or a glass boat? Deep v mod v? What kind of fish do you mainly chase after? Answers to those questions will narrow your search.

[ohiobassfishing]

I mainly fish for bass and would like a glass boat but to get one in my budget I would have to look at early 2000s boats which I don't really want to do. I guess if I found the right deal, an older glass boat would be good. And for the modv vs deep v l, I was hoping for some input from other bass recource users.

[Jm526]

I would buy a used glass boat. You will save a lot of $$$

[12poundbass]

If you're looking for a bass boat then the deep v is out. If you look hard enough you could find a glass boat in the mid 2000's or later in your budget. If you want to go with aluminum then you could get one brand new or fairly new. Ranger, Triton, Tracker, and many others make awesome aluminum boats. Ranger and Triton (in my opinion are the higher end) but all are good boats. With the input of the guys on here and time spent doing your own research will land you a boat you'll be happy with. I personally have a Tracker I fish smaller lakes and have a smaller budget than most so Tracker suits me just fine and I haven't had an issue with them. Check out the Tracker Pro Team 190.

[A-Jay]

Do you fish Lake Erie regularly now ?

 

And if so what type & size of a vessel are you usually out in ?

 

A-Jay

[ohiobassfishing]

Thanks, I'll take another look for used glass boats around me!

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Do you fish Lake Erie regularly now ?

 

And if so what type & size of a vessel are you usually out in ?

 

A-Jay

I don't own a boat now but do go out on Erie a few times a year either with a rental boat or on a friends boat.

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, ohiobassfishing said:

Thanks, I'll take another look for used glass boats around me!

I don't own a boat now but do go out on Erie a few times a year either with a rental boat or on a friends boat.

 

Nice ~

What type & size are the boats you've been out on Lake Erie in ?

A-Jay

[ohiobassfishing]

6 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

Nice ~

What type & size are the boats you've been out on Lake Erie in ?

A-Jay

Generally 17 ft Lund or trackers

[ohiobassfishing]

30 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

If you're looking for a bass boat then the deep v is out. If you look hard enough you could find a glass boat in the mid 2000's or later in your budget. If you want to go with aluminum then you could get one brand new or fairly new. Ranger, Triton, Tracker, and many others make awesome aluminum boats. Ranger and Triton (in my opinion are the higher end) but all are good boats. With the input of the guys on here and time spent doing your own research will land you a boat you'll be happy with. I personally have a Tracker I fish smaller lakes and have a smaller budget than most so Tracker suits me just fine and I haven't had an issue with them. Check out the Tracker Pro Team 190.

I took a look at trackers but the reviews made me turn away. How have your experiences been.

[12poundbass]

10 minutes ago, ohiobassfishing said:

I took a look at trackers but the reviews made me turn away. How have your experiences been.

Mine have been good. I've seen some bad reviews too, but I've yet to have an issue. Like with everything you're going to have some issues/bad reviews. You can look anywhere on line and find what you want good or bad. I'm not giving you a sales pitch or say they're the greatest boat out there I'm just giving my experience. They are a good boat and they're extremely affordable for guys like me. 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 

Nice ~

What type & size are the boats you've been out on Lake Erie in ?

A-Jay

 

1 hour ago, ohiobassfishing said:

Generally 17 ft Lund or trackers

 

 Going out onto Lake Erie in a 17 ft of any type craft will need to pick & choose your weather days very carefully.

Good Luck with your boat search & future purchase.

A-Jay

[ohiobassfishing]

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

Mine have been good. I've seen some bad reviews too, but I've yet to have an issue. Like with everything you're going to have some issues/bad reviews. You can look anywhere on line and find what you want good or bad. I'm not giving you a sales pitch or say they're the greatest boat out there I'm just giving my experience. They are a good boat and they're extremely affordable for guys like me. 

The price is hard to beat, and thy don't seem to be bad boats but if I were to need the warranty I've heard about many issues with all tracker marine group boats.

45 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

 

 Going out onto Lake Erie is a 17 ft of any type craft will need to pick & choose your weather days very carefully.

Good Luck with your boat search & future purchase.

A-Jay

I know I would need to watch weather on day I would go out but would an aluminum mod v be capable to go on Erie?

[A-Jay]

26 minutes ago, ohiobassfishing said:

 

I know I would need to watch weather on day I would go out but would an aluminum mod v be capable to go on Erie?

 

"Capable to go on Erie" may mean something different to each boater. 

My own Lund Pro V Bass boat is just under 19 ft.  It's an aluminum very deep V hull (when compared to most traditional bass boat configurations).   Although this Lund is very capable on any & all of the larger inland lakes I fish, the big lakes get dangerously nasty fast. And although I'm surrounded by the Great Lakes, my boat will never seen one.  There's a ton of other & safer water for me to fish so I choose not to intentionally take on that much risk.   Just no need.    The boat that is truly safe on the Big Lakes, may actually be too big for many of the mid to smaller waters I current fish.  

 

There are several "I'm looking for a new boat" threads available in the BR forum for a motivated searcher - I'd encourage you to read through a few.   

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/search/?q="New Boat"&type=forums_topic&sortby=relevancy&search_in=titles

 

A-Jay

 

 

[12poundbass]

Even if I had a 20'+ bass boat I still wouldn't go on the Great Lakes in rough conditions. I've seen the Elite anglers on tv with waves crashing all sides of the boat or the waves lift the bow so high the prop of the trolling motor is a couple feet out of the water, or making a run and the entire boat is several feet out of the water. That's not my cup of tea and never would be in any bass boat.

[slonezp]

The amount of time you fish Erie should determine the type of boat you are looking for. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and be screwed. An aluminum bass boat has no business being out on the Great Lakes and a glass bass boat is not the best choice either. An aluminum or glass deep v is what you should be looking at. As mentioned earlier, the Great Lakes can turn on a dime, and you need to be equipped if, for nothing more, to make it back to shore safely. The other option is to continue to rent when you fish Erie and just use your boat for inland waters.

 

The whole Tracker boats being crap is a misnomer. They get the most complaints because they sell the most units. Compounded with a weak customer service network they get a bad rep All manufacturers put out lemons on occasion. I have a 20ft Lund which, is arguably the finest aluminum fishing boat manufactured, and experienced by far, the worst possible customer service experience ever, over a warranty paint problem.

 

Due your due diligence and research all brands and models you might be interested in and once you've narrowed it down, then research the dealer network. If you buy used, research the dealers and mechanics. You don't want to buy a Suzuki when the local mechanics only work on Mercury's and vice versa.

Good Luck

[ohiobassfishing]

48 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

"Capable to go on Erie" may mean something different to each boater. 

My own Lund Pro V Bass boat is just under 19 ft.  It's an aluminum very deep V hull (when compared to most traditional bass boat configurations).   Although this Lund is very capable on any & all of the larger inland lakes I fish, the big lakes get dangerously nasty fast. And although I'm surrounded by the Great Lakes, my boat will never seen one.  There's a ton of other & safer water for me to fish so I choose not to intentionally take on that much risk.   Just no need.    The boat that is truly safe on the Big Lakes, may actually be too big for many of the mid to smaller waters I current fish.  

 

There are several "I'm looking for a new boat" threads available in the BR forum for a motivated searcher - I'd encourage you to read through a few.   

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/search/?q="New Boat"&type=forums_topic&sortby=relevancy&search_in=titles

 

A-Jay

 

 

I was thinking about it and it would probably be best if I stayed of of Erie for the most part. There are plenty of other lakes to fish within an hour or two of Cleveland. Thanks for the help!

[A-Jay]

Just now, ohiobassfishing said:

I was thinking about it and it would probably be best if I stayed of of Erie for the most part. There are plenty of other lakes to fish within an hour or two of Cleveland. Thanks for the help!

 

I'd encourage that. 

You're Welcome & Good Luck

A-Jay

[ohiobassfishing]

26 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Even if I had a 20'+ bass boat I still wouldn't go on the Great Lakes in rough conditions. I've seen the Elite anglers on tv with waves crashing all sides of the boat or the waves lift the bow so high the prop of the trolling motor is a couple feet out of the water, or making a run and the entire boat is several feet out of the water. That's not my cup of tea and never would be in any bass boat.

 I also would never think of going out on a Great Lake with questionable conditions. No fish is worth dyin for.

24 minutes ago, slonezp said:

The amount of time you fish Erie should determine the type of boat you are looking for. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and be screwed. An aluminum bass boat has no business being out on the Great Lakes and a glass bass boat is not the best choice either. An aluminum or glass deep v is what you should be looking at. As mentioned earlier, the Great Lakes can turn on a dime, and you need to be equipped if, for nothing more, to make it back to shore safely. The other option is to continue to rent when you fish Erie and just use your boat for inland waters.

 

The whole Tracker boats being crap is a misnomer. They get the most complaints because they sell the most units. Compounded with a weak customer service network they get a bad rep All manufacturers put out lemons on occasion. I have a 20ft Lund which, is arguably the finest aluminum fishing boat manufactured, and experienced by far, the worst possible customer service experience ever, over a warranty paint problem.

 

Due your due diligence and research all brands and models you might be interested in and once you've narrowed it down, then research the dealer network. If you buy used, research the dealers and mechanics. You don't want to buy a Suzuki when the local mechanics only work on Mercury's and vice versa.

Good Luck

The plan was never to go out on Erie too much so with reading some other comments I think I'll be looking at mainly bass boats. Thanks for the help!