Looking for my first tournament boat.

[DewittBassmaster]

Hey,

I am 16 years old and just got my license.  For my 16th birthday my parents bought me a small 150 dollar inflatable boat.  I have a 30 lb thrust trolling motor on it, but I know i can not use that boat in any type of tournament.  So this summer i got a job and will be saving up for any type of bass boat with an outboard motor and live well so I can get into some tournaments.  I want to save up to 2000 dollars between the beginning of this summer and halfway through next summer.  I don't know if that will be enough for a bass boat of any type.  Just wondering if anybody knows if there is boats out there in that price range that I could fish tournaments.  

Thanks

[alabamabassmaster]

Personally, I recommend the Triton TS-18 for a Tournament boat. You may not be the fastest but you'll have everything you need to win a tournament. I would go with the 115hp Optimax which is the max. rating for this boat. It's awesome on gas and pushes this boat very nice.

With gas as high as it is, this is the best boat for the money I think. I have a buddy who has this boat with the 115hp Optimax and he said he gets right at 58 mph loaded. I have the TS-17 with a 90hp Optimax and I fish tournaments in it.

You can get this boat loaded with everything you need for about $21,000. From experience, upgrade the trolling motor to the 71lb thrust, add the Lowrance X52 on the bow and add the Automatic Bildge pump.

http://www.tritonboats.com/boat_detail_new.asp?bid=225

If you want a big boat and the money is right, you can't go wrong with a Ranger Bass Boat.

[Catt]

I've won many a tournament out of a 15' flat bottomed Jon boat; your problem will be no live well.  Keep an eye on local classifieds in the paper & check the following.

Boat Crazy.com, iboats.com, or ebay  

[Grey Wolf]

Personally, I recommend the Triton TS-18 for a Tournament boat. You may not be the fastest but you'll have everything you need to win a tournament. I would go with the 115hp Optimax which is the max. rating for this boat. It's awesome on gas and pushes this boat very nice.

With gas as high as it is, this is the best boat for the money I think. I have a buddy who has this boat with the 115hp Optimax and he said he gets right at 58 mph loaded. I have the TS-17 with a 90hp Optimax and I fish tournaments in it.

You can get this boat loaded with everything you need for about $21,000. From experience, upgrade the trolling motor to the 71lb thrust, add the Lowrance X52 on the bow and add the Automatic Bildge pump.

http://www.tritonboats.com/boat_detail_new.asp?bid=225

If you want a big boat and the money is right, you can't go wrong with a Ranger Bass Boat.

His price range is 2000. not 20000.

[gatorblazer]

16 and wanting to fish tournaments?  I would go as a no boater and learn from the older guys.  its cheaper and you get a lot more benefit from it.  That 2000 that you want to save will need to be used to fix a car from a wreck, breakdown, or college.  The wreck will happen, and I hope its a small nothing one, but 90% of the 16 year olds out there hit something within the first two years of driving.  And if you wreck you car, what will you use to pull that nice new boat with?

[SnowBass23]

I agree with what Gatorblazer says as far as a 'no boater'.  Not only can you get great experience that way, help split the costs, and you'll still be out there.  As far as the actual boat there are always good deals out there, it is just a matter of finding them.  Even from a jon boat you can install a relatively cheap livewell kit.  That way, you can be tourney qualified, spend low low low money, and have the pleasure of doing a lot of work yourself and not be completely broke.

Around here the best time to watch for used boats is approaching deer season.  It seems everybody wants to trade their old boats on atvs and hunting gear.  Every year we see a lot of decent older boats for all range of prices.  

[J_Zink]

Typically, a $2000 bass boat will wind up costing another $2000 in repairs and/or maintenance in order to make it safe and water ready.

Save your money and fish as a non-boater.

[MattStrykul]

Look around for smaller jon boat tournaments. That's what my brother and I do. Check out the website for it, it's so much fun. www.fountainheadbassclub.com .I'm 17 and he's 15 (16 on july 1st). We bought a jon boat for $350 with a 9.9hp and trailer. Cleaned her up and put another $500-$800 now she looks like this. (Tournaments we use the cooler as a livewell. It has an aeration system, and an oxygenator. We also fill it with Please release me)