Looking to buy a Bass boat in the Spring

[Stingray23]

Any particular name brands I should stay away from? I seem to lean toward Nitros for some reason. Maybe because I always see them in Bass Pro shops.

[shimanogloomis man]

Imo i would buy a used boat between 2 to 4 years old theres no point in buying a brand new boat cause u know your ganna bang it up a little, rub on docks maybe hit the prop on rocks ect....my 1st boat was a bass tracker18 ft was a great beginner boat but really i would get a fiberglass boat due to ride and quality...this year i went to a dealer which is a ranger dealer they had a  01 ranger and an 06 stratos 200 pro xl for the same price and to me i took the stratos yea i know they say rangers the best boat they ride the best and hold their value the best but the boats were the same price so i took the stratos... motor had low hours was in mint shape and had a 225 e tec... the ranger was perfect as well but had more hours and the motor was older design... I know the ranger is a better boat but for my price i was looking to spend the stratos is more then i need....  ;D .... like said before look at different boats and youll see better details , designs and if posible take the boat out before u buy cause some ride and handle better then others....

[Stingray23]

what do you guys think about a pre-owned Nitro 901 CDX? I saw a 2005 model with under 100 hrs. Looks great.

[bassnleo]

Hey bassnelo that is a really nice boat for someone who is looking to buy their first... I bought a brand new tracker 175 txw and I must say that if I had to do it all over again I wouldnt buy a boat with an aluminum hull. When the wind starts it is very hard to stay in one place. Dont get me wrong I love the fact that I actually own a boat, I just would have done my homework a little more thoroughly before my purchase. Good Luck :-?

Thanks. It was my first glass boat and it definately will make someone a great first boat

[atrocity]

I would never buy a boat with a long term loan on it for 10-15 years. Boats depreciate...FAST. If something happens within the first 5 years that would make you need to sell it, you're going to wind up owing money after you've sold it. A lot of money. If you wind up not liking it and want to change, the same thing.

Due to the economy right now, there are plenty of used boats out there that are going for bargain basement prices. Many are relatively newer models the owner can't afford the payment on anymore and need to get rid of it.

i don't get it, how do you sell a boat if you don't have the title to it? If someone could explain how that works.

[cart7t]

I would never buy a boat with a long term loan on it for 10-15 years. Boats depreciate...FAST. If something happens within the first 5 years that would make you need to sell it, you're going to wind up owing money after you've sold it. A lot of money. If you wind up not liking it and want to change, the same thing.

Due to the economy right now, there are plenty of used boats out there that are going for bargain basement prices. Many are relatively newer models the owner can't afford the payment on anymore and need to get rid of it.

i don't get it, how do you sell a boat if you don't have the title to it? If someone could explain how that works.

I don't know how it works in all states but in mine I would have the title even if I had a loan on it. On the title though, it would have the banks name and address as the lien holder. In order to pass that title on legally, I'd have to settle with the bank to get them to release the title. In the event I was selling the boat for less than the note I had secured by the boat,  I'd have to make up the difference.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

Any particular name brands I should stay away from? I seem to lean toward Nitros for some reason. Maybe because I always see them in Bass Pro shops.

OK apparently nobody else is going to say it....

While they are good fishing platforms and they perform well, Nitros should be avoided.  Bass Pro is the main retailer for Tracker/Nitro which has caused these boats to be rushed out the door, while most are still fine boats there are those with problems.  Unfortunately the BPS warranty dictates that you need to take the boat back to BPS where it will be sent around for repairs that could take months and are often done poorly.  Many of the smaller dealers/repair shops that do great work won't work on a BPS-bought Nitro because BPS is driving Nitro prices down and making it hard on the local shops.  If you do buy a Nitro try to buy one from a local dealer and not BPS, if you do go with BPS make sure your local shops will work on it even if it is bought from BPS.

[Stingray23]

If Nitros arent any good how about Triton, Stratos? I see tons of them for sale. They seem more pricey though when compared to Nitros.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

It's not that Nitro's are bad its that their quality control is not as good as some of the competition and their warranty work can be notoriously bad.

Stratos and Triton make great boats.

[cart7t]

If Nitros arent any good how about Triton, Stratos? I see tons of them for sale. They seem more pricey though when compared to Nitros.

I would also agree on the Nitro's if buying new.  If buying, get one from a independant Nitro dealer and not BPS themselves.  Independant dealers normally have someone on staff to make repairs or have an independant craftsman that does stuff like fiberglass work.  They're more likely to work out your problems quicker.  A BPS store out sources EVERYTHING and the quality of work is lacking and inconsistant so I've heard and experienced from those who have dealt with them.

As for the boats themselves?  The fit and finish is really lacking.  Much of it is noticeable on visual inspection.  If the obvious stuff is rather sloppy, I worry about the stuff you can't see like the overall construction of the hull.  

[Stingray23]

Wow! I would have never thought that about Nitro boats. They seem to be popular though. I saw a used 2005 Nitro 901 CDX with under 100 hrs for a reserve of $13K on Ebay. I'm really considering it but now you guys got me thinking twice. I look at all the other brands like Ranger,Stratos, and Triton and they seem very expensive. Used boats from 2000-2002 are in the high teens to low 20's. Thats a lot for a used 7-8 yr old boat.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

The Nitros have notoriously bad resale value because of their reputation and the sheer number of them that have been produced.  Only buy a used Nitro after having a boat mechanic perform a thorough inspection.

[Stingray23]

Thanks for all the feedback. You guys have any suggestions as to what to do? Which brand to trust?

[Jig Man]

I live right in the middle of Nitro land. Believe all these guys have posted.

My top three brands are Champion, Bass Cat and Ranger.

Champion because it has a great ride and good fishing platform. It is well made and will last a long time.

Bass Cat has a good ride and is pretty good for fishing. It is family made instead of big Corp.

Ranger has the best fishing platform though it lacks in other areas.

Please finance for the shortest term possible. If you go long term you will always be upside down in your loan.  Also go for credit union or bank financing.  Dealerships get all sorts of kickbacks on any deal that they put together and guess who winds up paying for all that.

[Its a big one]

I have a Nitro 2002 901 cdx "bought it new" no probems at all. I fish the rough waters of Pickwick, Kentucky lake, and Wheeler a lot. Smooth dry ride. 200hp. will give you 73mph or so. I have driven and fish out of a lot of boats "nitro is one of the best". As for resale Nitro does not cost as much as some of the over priced boats so it just seems to look that way. With other boats you are paying for big commissions and fees because of being small dealerships so you take a big hit as soon as you drive of the lot. Just look at what a insurance co. will give you if you total your new Ranger 6 months after you bought it compared to what you would loose with a Nitro. Over the years the over priced boats depreciate more because they were over priced like the housing bubble . If you buy a used boat do not pay more then a insurance co. will pay if you total it the next day.

[shimanogloomis man]

I live right in the middle of Nitro land. Believe all these guys have posted.

My top three brands are Champion, Bass Cat and Ranger.

Champion because it has a great ride and good fishing platform. It is well made and will last a long time.

Bass Cat has a good ride and is pretty good for fishing. It is family made instead of big Corp.

Ranger has the best fishing platform though it lacks in other areas.

Please finance for the shortest term possible. If you go long term you will always be upside down in your loan. Also go for credit union or bank financing. Dealerships get all sorts of kickbacks on any deal that they put together and guess who winds up paying for all that.

i would also include skeeter and stratos as well.... ;D

[Bass-N-Miner]

If Nitros arent any good how about Triton, Stratos? I see tons of them for sale. They seem more pricey though when compared to Nitros.

Take your time and look around...pick out 2-3 and spend a weekend traveling to see for yourself. I purchased a 2005 Triton after about 3 months of looking. The boat was owned by a retired man who had passed and it was absolutely spotless with plenty of warranty left on the motor. Good deals are out there...don't settle for less than you want...you're likely to find it in the price range you can afford if your patient.