Time for an upgrade...best bang for my budget?

[lilbuddy]

Hi All.....I currently have a small 14ft bassboat....it gets the job done when its just me....however as I get more into tournament fishing I want to be able to be a "boater" vs. "non-boater"..... at any rate I was trying to keep my upgrade to under 10k....Looking on craigslist I dont see much or the ones I do see no one gets back to me. I'm looking for something around 18-19 feet with a swing arm tongue since I need to store this in my garage. 

 

Anyone have suggestions on where is the best place to look and is my budget unrealistic?  Any boats that are just awful and I should stay away from? 

[Avalonjohn44]

Craigslist and local want ads, and don't forget look at Craigslists for neighboring cities/areas. There are several used boat sites too (although I found navigating these slightly maddening...). Sometimes your local BPS will have used boats that they got as trade-ins.

If you are patient and willing to drive a ways, you should find a boat that suits your needs by the summer.

[lilbuddy]

I found a couple within my price range....looking at NADA price guide it seems misleading since you can't really account for addons.

 

Here are the two options I've found.

 

1.  https://eastnc.craigslist.org/boa/6043288312.html

 

  2.  https://greensboro.craigslist.org/boa/6043882524.html 

 

3.   https://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/boa/6093176518.html

 

Thanks for the help...the one I like the most is option 3 but I just dont think its worth the price. Even though he just probably dropped over 3k in new electronics and trolling motor..... what would you guys pay for each of these boats?

[fishnkamp]

Personally I would go look at the 2008 Triton 186. They were nice boats and it has the newest motor.  However the TR19 seems well cared for (garage kept)  I would go look at both.  One note the 19 footer has a Mercury 175 EFI.  It will suck more gas than the Opti on the 2008 boat. I ran a 1998 200 HP Merc EFI. It was the best engine I have ever owned and I ran it for 10 years. I loved the way it ran. The 150-175 and the 200s were the same basic engine.  Either way I would travel over to look at them.  If you can do it prearrange to meet them at a body of water. Ask them for a demo ride. I always offer to pay them some gas and pay the launch fee.  Watch what they do to get it launched and  get a ride on it.  If you fall in love with one explain that you want to get the engine checked out by a dealer and expect to pay for that, so only do it if you are serious.  On the OPti they can also download the computer.  it can tell you how it was run.

 

Now about price. Expect to pay full asking price, but so not offer to do so. In fact I rarely discuss that until I am sure I want it.  Always have the money ready.  All three boats are priced about where they should be. I realize the 19 footer is lder but it has been updated.

I sent you a pm.

[lilbuddy]

10 hours ago, lilbuddy said:

I found a couple within my price range....looking at NADA price guide it seems misleading since you can't really account for addons.

 

Here are the two options I've found.

 

1.  https://eastnc.craigslist.org/boa/6043288312.html

 

  2.  https://greensboro.craigslist.org/boa/6043882524.html 

 

3.   https://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/boa/6093176518.html

 

Thanks for the help...the one I like the most is option 3 but I just dont think its worth the price. Even though he just probably dropped over 3k in new electronics and trolling motor..... what would you guys pay for each of these boats?

 

Thanks for the info...this is very helpful