Need advice for small used bass boat for me and 2 kids

[pauldconyers]

I've been saving up to buy a small used bass boat with trailer for me and my young sons. I have a 7 year old son who is crazy about fishing and a 3 year old who will be soon, I am sure.

 

I do not want to spend a lot of money on it, need to keep it under $1K. I have to seat three, me and my two sons. I certainly understand at my price point it will not be anything fancy.

 

Looking for something that will not be a lot of maintenance. Just load up and go and it answers the bell. Mostly we would use it on small lakes or coves/ offshoots of larger lakes here in Missouri.

 

As for my boat-owning experience my parents have owned a pontoon for years but I am looking for something for us to specifically bass fish out of. For a few years I owned a 2 person, all plastic, flat bottomed, pond prowler powered by a battery and a trolling motor. I really liked that and if it weren't for the fact that one day down the road soon I will have to carry three of us I would get another one.

 

After all the money I have seen my dad spend to keep his motor going I am kind of scared about getting a small gas engine. Because I certainly see it having a trolling motor if I can get away with it I would use that at the only source of propulsion. While speed would obviously be nice I don't want a boat so big that after  hour and only with a trolling motor it is dead.

 

V-bottom or flat bottom easier to use or safer with two smaller kids?

 

Any advice? Other factors to consider?

[Scott F]

I’d say any boat with a trailer you find in your price range is going to need a lot of work to make it safe. Batteries, a trolling motor, life jackets, titles, registrations, trailer plates and taxes will take a big bite out of your budget. Old, cheap used boats will probably have old trailers that need tires and bearings, the boat will be leaky and often have rotten transoms.  

Do youself a favor. If money is an issue, don’t waste it on something that will be a money pit. Wait until you can afford to spend two or three times your initial $1000 budget so you’ll have something more reliable and safe for your family. If you have the talent, you can get a used boat in you price range that you can rebuild into a bass boat but it will take a lot of time to get it into shape. 

[pauldconyers]

I am certainly hesitant to "buy someone else's problem" as it were. I was hoping to find a real sweetheart deal and if I don't find one to keep socking away money. Forget the money aspect for now, based upon my above criteria and questions what advice or counsel would you guys give me?

[slonezp]

Define bass boat. I paid less than a grand for this bad boy

[pauldconyers]

22 hours ago, slonezp said:

Define bass boat. I paid less than a grand for this bad boy

Yes, something like this is what I am envisioning. I certainly understand there will not be a ton of bells and whistles and that I will have to skimp on some things. I am just looking for pointers as to what kind of things or types to look for or avoid.

 

[Brad in Texas]

The "perfect" vessel for you would be a Meyers Sportspal S-13.

 

Start out just using a two-bladed paddle, just one, to move you and your kids around, but you could later pick up a small TM to be mounted to its square stern. The S-13 and S-15 (photo below, mine) have sterns ready to mount either TMs or small outboards (up to 5 HP for the S-15).

 

I mention the S-13 because at 57 pounds, you can carry it around by hand, car top it, or throw it in the back of a truck bed.

 

Standability? Go look at YouTube and watch Carl and another man using an S-14 (double pointed) and both standing and fishing at the same time. I often paddle mine out over a mile and back standing the whole way.

 

What a super fishing platform for small lakes and ponds and slow rivers. No fuss, lasts forever, hand-me-down to the kids when they are older.

 

Brad

 

 

[Spyder7723]

Craigslist.   I watched Craigslist for 2 months being patient and finally saw a great deal on an 1990 16 ft pro V tracker with a 55 hp 1977 evinrude.  1200 bucks, plus a coyote more doing title transfer and registration on boat and trailer and i was in the water.   Now I've spent d**n near twice that outfitting it with electronics, and a new trolling motor plus new trolling motor battery, but none of that was required.  The only required money i had to put into it was 2 new spark plugs and ten bucks to change out the lower unit oil.  It even came with an extra set of carbs and spare tire.  

 

If you have any basic mechanical knowledge at all, i wouldn't be scared of an older gas engine. They are pretty simple to diagnose and work on.   

[bobbyg]

I grew up fishing with my dad or grandfather and my brother in a 16 foot aluminum v hauled lund fishing boat. It was nothing fancy, but it started as just a basic bench style boat as slonezp posted a picture of, just a bit deeper. My grandfather covered the front area and made a fishing deck in front with a chair in the front and it worked great. I have always felt the v shape were better for kids. moving around in the boat doesn't make it feel like it will tip over as much.

 

Yes, Craigslist is where I would go to find one at the right price. I have seen many on there for less than a grand that with a little elbow grease would be perfect for your situation.