Time For Another Boat

[38 Super Fan]

I think it's about time for an upgrade. I bought my first boat about 4 years ago, a 16' 1984 Bass Tracker with 60hp Mercury, which to this day has been virtually trouble free for me. Pretty good for a boat I gave $1200 for.  But it is a small boat, rod storage is very limited, and it doesn't handle the wind and choppy water too well, so I'm thinking about something a little bigger and newer. The budget would be about $10K or so.

 

Up until recently I was sure that when I got another boat, I'd get another Bass Tracker, probably a 190 model. But while I've been searching around on Craigslist, I have been seeing a few fiberglass boats that have caught my attention. I'll link an example or two:

 

https://eastky.craigslist.org/boa/d/2003-ranger-185vs-150xr6/6253192159.html

 

And I really liked this Triton, even though it's a lot bigger than what I've been considering, and a bit above budget:

https://lexington.craigslist.org/boa/d/2002-triton/6276831251.html

 

Glass boats are totally new to me though, I've never fished out of one. One thing that concerns me is fuel usage. I don't have a clue how much gas a boat like that Triton uses. I'm guessing about double what a Tracker 190 would use? Maybe more?

 

Also, towing something that heavy concerns me a little. I have a V8 Explorer with a tow package which handles my Tracker great, but a boat like that Triton would weigh around double what my current Tracker weighs.

 

On the other hand, I'd be really curious to see how a big glass boat would handle choppy water when running, and handle the wind when I'm fishing along. Getting on my trolling motor constantly in the wind is getting old. So are those slow bumpy rides when the wind picks up and I'm trying to run. I'm sure a Tracker 190 would still be a nice improvement, but I'm starting to wonder if glass is the way to go? Any thoughts on the subject are welcome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fishing Rhino]

How much fuel would you use?  Like anything else, it's how you use it.  

 

If you are a run and gun, zoom off to a spot make a few casts.  No luck, off to the next spot.  Repeat.  You will use a lot of gas. But, if you are familiar with the lake/pond, you should spend a lot more time on the trolling motor than on the big outboard.

 

I've got a similar size boat and horsepower as the Triton.  I don't burn more than four or five gallons per day, most days less.  I cruise at 35 to 40 mph, even though it will do sixty mph.

 

Too many variables to give you a reasonable guess as the how much fuel you will burn.

 

The rule of thumb used to be one gallon of fuel per every ten horsepower at wide open throttle.  That would mean you could burn 20 gallons per hour.  You'd travel 60 miles.  That's why the average fiberglass bass boat can carry 45 to 65 gallons of fuel.

[38 Super Fan]

44 minutes ago, Fishing Rhino said:

How much fuel would you use?  Like anything else, it's how you use it.  

 

If you are a run and gun, zoom off to a spot make a few casts.  No luck, off to the next spot.  Repeat.  You will use a lot of gas. But, if you are familiar with the lake/pond, you should spend a lot more time on the trolling motor than on the big outboard.

 

I've got a similar size boat and horsepower as the Triton.  I don't burn more than four or five gallons per day, most days less.  I cruise at 35 to 40 mph, even though it will do sixty mph.

 

Too many variables to give you a reasonable guess as the how much fuel you will burn.

 

The rule of thumb used to be one gallon of fuel per every ten horsepower at wide open throttle.  That would mean you could burn 20 gallons per hour.  You'd travel 60 miles.  That's why the average fiberglass bass boat can carry 45 to 65 gallons of fuel.

Thanks Tom.

 

I know there are a lot of variables on fuel consumption, but I'd like to get a ballpark idea of what I'm getting into with a big glass boat. Just out of curiosity, how many miles would you say you cover on a day where you've burned 5 gallons?

 

 

[Fishing Rhino]

If I have to hazard a guess, maybe ten miles.  Keep in mind, I usually put more miles on the trolling motor than on the big motor.  Don't have a lot of big water, heck, don't have any big water around here except for the Atlantic Ocean.  The only water with over two thousand acres is the Quabbin Reservoir.

[slonezp]

Depending on driving habits figure you will get 2-7mpg Balls out figure 2-3mpg and 7mpg or so at cruising speed

[TheRodFather]

Being that I am new to boat ownership, take this with a grain of salt, but I would think the gas mileage and wear and tear on the tow vehicle when jumping up to something twice as heavy would/could be a bigger factor than gas mileage of the boat at the end of the day.  Most guys I see driving a big glass boat around, own trucks north of $50,000.

 

Again though, I'm still new to all this.

[IndianaOutdoors]

You should look up the weight of the boats you're considering as well as the towing capacity of your explorer.  Also check the rating on your hitch.  Whichever is the lower number is your limit.  Also pay attention to the max hitch weight.

[38 Super Fan]

2 hours ago, IndianaOutdoors said:

You should look up the weight of the boats you're considering as well as the towing capacity of your explorer.  Also check the rating on your hitch.  Whichever is the lower number is your limit.  Also pay attention to the max hitch weight.

Yep, I've looked into that. Even a big 21' glass boat is well within the tow capacity of my Explorer. My hitch and the ball are rated to 5K lbs so no problem there either.

 

I tow anywhere from 120-200 miles (round trip) to the lakes I fish the most, and it's common for me to fish a couple times a week, that's still a lot of wear on a vehicle over time even with an aluminum boat. It's also very mountainous around here, that sure doesn't help.

[Bulletman20XD]

The 150 XR6 on the Ranger will drink more gas than the 200 Optipop on the Triton will unless you keep your foot in it all the time. Both motors will drink more gas than your current rig simply because of the weight and HP of them but I would not think it would be a considerable difference. Your Explorer will drink more when hauling them around again because of the weight of the boats. BUT how far to you haul your boat now? Do you expect a cross-country trip or are the places you fish close-by? Are the lakes you fish very big or do you expect to spend more time motoring than you currently do just because you have a bigger boat? I personally would only worry about the tow vehicle. Unless your Explorer is old and on its last leg, it will pull either of those boats just fine. When looking for a used boat, after finding a few in your price range of what your looking for, hours on the motor should be your next concern. After that having the motor and boat checked out at a reputable shop. Pumps and other electrical items are easy and relatively cheap to replace if needed but one or more cylinders down on compression are deal breakers. Newer EFI motors can be checked at the shop and give you not only hours but at what RPMs the hours were accumulated. Most bass boats will show the greatest number of hours at low RPMs.

 

The info on both the boats you are interested from Craigslist are pretty weak but I guarantee you'd be more happy in the 20 footer. BUT not if the motor has 500-600 hours on it! A few things caught my eye with both boats. Ranger--From the 2 pictures it looks as though it has had little use and/or was taken care of very well, also could mean low hours on the motor--outdated electronics. But this could also simply be that both pictures were taken at a distance on purpose to keep someone from seeing it up close. No pictures of the interior. Could have worn out carpet and torn seats. The Triton has about $5000+ worth of goodies added (Electronics and Powerpole) but how old are they? Brand new trailer is a plus. Here lies the problem with the Triton. How old are the electronics and powerpole and what are they worth now? It has a new $3000+- trailer! That is a plus for the rig as a whole but it takes away from what the owner has placed in sale value of the boat!

 

I hope you can see buying a used boat is risky business--You really need to research anything your interested in thoroughly before buying. Don't make a big mistake buying one on impulse, it could cost you thousands in the long run!!

[38 Super Fan]

23 hours ago, Bulletman20XD said:

The 150 XR6 on the Ranger will drink more gas than the 200 Optipop on the Triton will unless you keep your foot in it all the time. Both motors will drink more gas than your current rig simply because of the weight and HP of them but I would not think it would be a considerable difference. Your Explorer will drink more when hauling them around again because of the weight of the boats. BUT how far to you haul your boat now? Do you expect a cross-country trip or are the places you fish close-by? Are the lakes you fish very big or do you expect to spend more time motoring than you currently do just because you have a bigger boat? I personally would only worry about the tow vehicle. Unless your Explorer is old and on its last leg, it will pull either of those boats just fine. When looking for a used boat, after finding a few in your price range of what your looking for, hours on the motor should be your next concern. After that having the motor and boat checked out at a reputable shop. Pumps and other electrical items are easy and relatively cheap to replace if needed but one or more cylinders down on compression are deal breakers. Newer EFI motors can be checked at the shop and give you not only hours but at what RPMs the hours were accumulated. Most bass boats will show the greatest number of hours at low RPMs.

 

The info on both the boats you are interested from Craigslist are pretty weak but I guarantee you'd be more happy in the 20 footer. BUT not if the motor has 500-600 hours on it! A few things caught my eye with both boats. Ranger--From the 2 pictures it looks as though it has had little use and/or was taken care of very well, also could mean low hours on the motor--outdated electronics. But this could also simply be that both pictures were taken at a distance on purpose to keep someone from seeing it up close. No pictures of the interior. Could have worn out carpet and torn seats. The Triton has about $5000+ worth of goodies added (Electronics and Powerpole) but how old are they? Brand new trailer is a plus. Here lies the problem with the Triton. How old are the electronics and powerpole and what are they worth now? It has a new $3000+- trailer! That is a plus for the rig as a whole but it takes away from what the owner has placed in sale value of the boat!

 

I hope you can see buying a used boat is risky business--You really need to research anything your interested in thoroughly before buying. Don't make a big mistake buying one on impulse, it could cost you thousands in the long run!!

Great info, thanks!

 

I do like the Triton more, and I may look a little deeper into that one. But I'm in no hurry, I know finding a good boat at a good price might take a little time, and that's just fine with me. I never jump into anything without doing a whole lot of research.