Beginning the purchasing process

[nocluefisher]

So I am pretty set on buying a boat. That is as far as I have gotten. Budget from 18-35k. Lower end if I go aluminum, higher end if I do fish and ski glass.  Not in a rush time wise, I have made it 45 years without a boat, not having one in the next few months won't kill me.Quoted 2016 nitro z7 sport 29.5k, 2017 triton escape 186 for 34k. Looking at every Tin boat manufacturer. Like the crestliner vt17, Lowe stinger 175, Lund renegade, tracker 190, ranger rt178.Must haves are 24v tm and decent electronics. My wife requires a flat spot to lay out. I dont tournament  fish, but am open to giving it a try one day. This will be my first boat. Will probably dock at a family camp on a lake most of the summer. Unfortunately there is currently no open water to test anything, everything is a iced up and probably will be for several more weeks. Thoughts or input?

[J Francho]

56 minutes ago, nocluefisher said:

Thoughts or input?

 

Buy in late summer/early fall if you want the best deal.

[sully420]

You might want aluminum if your boat is going to be in the water for long periods of time. Pick out all the additional options and have them installed and financed in like electronics and TM. 

[nocluefisher]

Crestliner vt17 with 60 ho, 24v tm, lowrance elite 5 chirp for $19995,crestliner vt 18 with a 115, 24v tm, hook3 $22500(would want to upgrade the hook)both are 2016. Bass tracker 190 with 115, 12v tm, hook4 $21925. Would have to pay sales tax on top so add a grand to each. Triton tx17 with 60hp 24v Tm hook5 for $20500. Prices so far, still a lot more research and haggling. Haven't really haggled at all so far, hopefully numbers are a little negotiable.

[fishnkamp]

  I own a Lowe Stinger 170 ( a 2010 and that model was discontinued) The difference between the Stinger 170 and a Stinger 175 is in the floorplan. The 175 has a livewell/baitwell up front and loses a ton of storage.  Do not get that boat .  Also do not get the VT 17 either. Again it has limited storage. Go for the VT18. Itis not that much more boat to handle and will serve you much better.

[Tin Man]

Just closed the deal on a 2017 Lowe Stinger 17.5. Very happy with it. Bringing it home tomorrow. My first boat too. Wish it had two rod lockers but other than that, very satified.

.

[A-Jay]

Congrats on the new rig ~

A-Jay

[RHuff]

Congrats man I got my first boat last year its a Triton Aluminum VT-17 Tournament Sport in White and I absolutely love it!

[nocluefisher]

Let's see some better pictures without the cover. 

 

I am am still taking it slow, going to go to a ranger dealer and triton dealer today. I am contemplating between a 17ft and a 60hp or th 18ft and a 115. I really want to drive a few before narrowing down my choices. Still not much open water around here.

[fishnkamp]

If you cab swing the larger boat and engine do it

 

[Tin Man]

Left Dundee MI. this morning heading back to TN. / Kentucky Lake. Love the way it tracks. You don't even know it's back there. Now to install a third battery, the electronics, the quick connects and bolt kits for the Talons and I should be good to go.

.

[nocluefisher]

My wife has talked me into waiting until next season to get a boat. I am the type of person who gets fixated on anything I put my mind into, so she did well to postpone the purchase. Now it has opened up all kinds of possibilities of what I might buy. As much as I would be happy with tin, I love looking at the new glass boats. Ranger z175 and z185 really have my attention as well as nitro z18. I really don't want anything bigger than 19ft, with the 18ft really catching my eye, but I think I could be satisfied with a 17ft with a 115 as well. I am all over the place in what I want, with a focus on whatever I decide to go with to at least ensure a good trolling motor upgrade. Preferably something with spot lock. As much as I would love to order a boat I will keep my eyes open to leftovers in the fall.

[fishnkamp]

The Rangers are nice boats but also check out the Phoenix 618 as well.

[PECo]

I'm really happy with my 2017 Triton 179 TrX. Don't be fooled by the model number; it's 18' 6" long. I was shopping for a smaller bass boat at the same time as a couple of my buddies. They both got Nitro Z17s with Mercury 150 four-strokes. I have less of a need for speed and the Mercury 115 Pro XS four-stroke on my Triton easily drives the boat at 45 to 50 miles per hour. The Nitros will do 55 to 60 miles per hour. The fit and finish, and the quality of the components used, are better on the Triton. While the Nitros drive slightly better, their more radical hulls are more susceptible to hull slap when stopped. In the end though, one of my primary concerns was the width of the boat on the trailer, because I garage my boat and my garage door opening is only 104 inches wide. On the trailer, the Triton is 98 inches wide and the Nitro is 102 inches wide. I really like being able to easily back my boat right into the garage.

[nocluefisher]

I have been playing on the triton website as well, the 179 and 189 both look nice, for a decent price.

[SDoolittle]

18 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

The Rangers are nice boats but also check out the Phoenix 618 as well.

And the Charger 176.

[nocluefisher]

I wish I had access to all of the different manufacturers. Unfortunately Ranger, Triton and Nitro are the only manufacturers of glass boats that have dealers in my state that I am aware of. And even those have little to no stock on hand. I am going to have to travel just to see the boats I am interested in as it is a few hundred miles at least.

[fishnkamp]

I feel your pain. I live in MD and we have basically one dealer to visit as well.  Last April I drove to Tennessee for vacation.  I stopped at a bunch of dealers along the way.  They are spoiled out there.

[adrenalnjunky]

 

I saw that you've been given the order to belay the boat shopping, but we all know that one simply doesn't stop wanting to look at boats, regardless of if you have the green light to pull the trigger or not. 

 

Just throwing this out there, but you mentioned that you'd be looking at a standard layout in aluminum hull, but a fish & ski in glass.  Kinda curious why? 

 

When you mention that she wants a deck to lay out on, I think you'd be able to offer her more real estate with a standard front and rear decked bass boat than in a Fish & Ski.  Look at that Nitro F&S you mentioned vs. a Z19, or even a Z18 - there's more rear deck, since the cockpit isn't trying to squeeze in seating for 4, and dual consoles, and windshields.  Plus you get a larger fishing deck up front.  Same goes for the aluminum models.  

 

Unless you'd just have to have the extra seating - I'd stay in the bass boat styles all day long and better meet her laying out criteria. At least that's how I'd sell it. 

 

[nocluefisher]

2 hours ago, adrenalnjunky said:

 

I saw that you've been given the order to belay the boat shopping, but we all know that one simply doesn't stop wanting to look at boats, regardless of if you have the green light to pull the trigger or not. 

 

Just throwing this out there, but you mentioned that you'd be looking at a standard layout in aluminum hull, but a fish & ski in glass.  Kinda curious why? 

 

When you mention that she wants a deck to lay out on, I think you'd be able to offer her more real estate with a standard front and rear decked bass boat than in a Fish & Ski.  Look at that Nitro F&S you mentioned vs. a Z19, or even a Z18 - there's more rear deck, since the cockpit isn't trying to squeeze in seating for 4, and dual consoles, and windshields.  Plus you get a larger fishing deck up front.  Same goes for the aluminum models.  

 

Unless you'd just have to have the extra seating - I'd stay in the bass boat styles all day long and better meet her laying out criteria. At least that's how I'd sell it. 

 

 

I agree with you, I am going to try and sell on pure bass boat, but I need to pretend the boat will serve other purposes. From what I have seen, a fish and ski is neither a good fishing boat or a good ski boat. The fact is I will be using the boat the most, but I need to give an appearance that everyone has a use for it. 

[nocluefisher]

I found a leftover 2016 stratos 386fx

Here are specs 

 

 

2016 Stratos 386 XF - PSS02241G516
2016 Evinrude 150HGX - 05444270
2016 Stratos Custom Trailer - 567SSBM28GF086292

386 XF
Having to choose between a family boat and a fishing boat has gotten a lot easier. Choose the 386XF™ and get the best of both worlds.

PLEASE ASK ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF NO MONEY DOWN FINANCING!!!!!!

- INCLUDED OPTIONS -

- Custom Color Package - 
- Jensen Stereo with 2 Speakers - 
- Additional Folding Chair - 
- Air Ride Suspension -
- Stainless Steel Handrails -
- Spare Tire with Aluminum Wheel -
- Lowrance HDS- 9 @ Console - 
- Lowrance Struture Scan - 
- MinnKota Charger MK-30 -
- MinnKota Terrova 80 with iPilot -
- Deck Extension - 
- Boat Cover - 
- Tandem Axle with Fiberglass Fenders - 

- CAPACITIES -

- Overall Hull Length: 18' 6"
- Beam w/o Rubrail: 99"
- Beam w/Rubrail: 100 1/2"
- Maximum HP: 200
- Engine Shaft Length: 25"
- Inside Depth: 25" 
- Total Persons, Motor, Gear (lbs): 1900
- Approx. Boat Weight (lbs) - Dual Console: 1940
- Fuel Tank: 31Gallons

- ROD BOX LENGTHS - 

- Center Rod Box Length: 7' 6" 
- Port Gunnel Rod Storage Length: 8' 


- TRAILER - 

- Trailer GVWR (lbs): 4200
- Approx. Length On Trailer w/Motor Down: 22' 7" 
- Approx. Length On Trailer w/Motor Down & Swing-Away Tongue Open: 20' 11"
- Width On Trailer: 101"
 

[TOXIC]

Okay, so you are back to the F&S over a bass rig.  It will be a good boat for rough water.  Will get blown around more than a straight bass boat (higher freeboard) and you'll need a good long handled net for ease of landing fish.  You will draft deeper and by the looks of the layout, your wife will not have a platform for sunning.  I only say that because you can remove the rear pedestal seat in a bass boat and the rear deck is completely open.  Fish & Skis have cockpit seating for 4 and a recessed front deck most of the time.   

 

My position on boat buying has always been to let someone else eat the "drive off the lot" depreciation just for that new glass smell.  I buy a boat a couple of years old low hours and well maintained and get more boat for less money than if I was buying new.  

[nocluefisher]

http://www.portharbormarine.com/default.asp?page=xNewInventoryDetail&id=1721883&p=1&s=Year&d=D&t=new&sq=NITRO&fr=xNewInventory

 

this is at a local marina, $27995 plus a $1000 BPS card, and 5 year mercury warrantee. I am all over the place in what I want, but this is appealing. The Nitro horror stories weigh on my mind a little bit, but every brand has its issues.

[nocluefisher]

the marina is bringing this boat(nitro z18) down from one of there other sites so I can take it for a ride. This is a lot more boat than I have ever driven, so I am a little nervous about pulling the trigger.

[TOXIC]

That's a nice rig.  As with any boat you need to make sure EVERYTHING works as advertised and your water test will be a great time to do that.  All pumps, lights, gauges, graphs, etc.... and don't forget the trailer, check out all the lights, bunks, straps and feel the bearings to see if they are hot to the touch.  Let whoever brings it to you run it up on plane and show you how to work the trim, etc.  Make sure they fill the livewells and get it on plane as well.  As for the horror stories, just make sure everything works BEFORE you drive away with it and you will get a good response on getting things repaired.  Looks like you are also buying from a dealer and not Bass Pro.  That's a plus, I have found that dealers (good dealers) can make the entire process  painless and are more willing to work after the sale.  As with any boat, there are bugs that will need to be worked out.  If the motor hasn't been broken in make sure you get Mercs instructions on that and do it by the book!!