Boat recommendations/advice

[Kyle S]

What type of boat would you get if you were me?

 

I'm aware that this question gets asked frequently however since advice given is always dictated by each poster's circumstances, I'd like to share my own and ask for some help! Thanks in advance

 

I'll try and list anything I can think of that will help with a recommendation

 

-This would be my first motorized boat, outside of jon boats with trolling motors

-Don't plan on tournament fishing...ever

-My tow vehicle is a 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 double cab v6 with a rated towing capacity of 6500lbs

-It would be mainly myself, and occasionally one other person

-Going fast is certainly not something I prioritize

-Bass is my primary species

-Will not be a family boat

-I'd be fishing the James River, Chickahominy River and Lake, and potentially the Rappahannock river as well.

-I don't have a set budget, however $12,000 seems like a fair budget. I would be financing.

 

Other thoughts...

-I've considered jon boat with a tiller, but rented one last spring and was not a fan...

-New Vs, Used?...New seems more appealing simply from a reliability standpoint however theirs the potential to get more 'bang' for my buck when buying used if i'm willing to gamble on a used vessel. 

-I plan on keeping the boat for as long as possible.

-The bass tracker classic seems like it would fit the bill however i'd rather have the 175txw for the various storage options. Any regrets from tracker owners?? I've seen some people praise them, and others despise them.

-In a perfect world, I'd like to have a Lund pro v bass, or an 'RT' series Ranger, Sadly though this is the real world.

-fiberglass or aluminum? Aluminum seems like the obvious choice given my budget. 

 

Please feel free to correct any of my assumptions or inform me.

 

Thanks again

 

 

[A-Jay]

Nicely Done ~ 

I say you're on track with your thinking.

I am a fan of new; never liked the idea of purchasing someone else's abuse & neglect.

I am always willing to pay for that along with the warranty that comes with it. 

Get whatever you can afford.

Take care of it.

As long as the rig is safe for where & how you fish, getting out and actually going fishing is the goal.

Good Luck to you on your search and impending purchase.

A-Jay

[SuperDuty]

I think if you moved up to the 15k range you could get into something new that would fit ya well. 

 

New 2017 Alumacraft 175 PROWLER, 39501 Gulfport - Boat Trader
https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2017-alumacraft-175-prowler-7130468/

 

 

[NHBull]

If it were me I would be looking for a used Lund Renegade. You can get away with small motors and They fish much bigger.  I think you would have to find a couple more thousand though

[jbsoonerfan]

I was recently in the same situation. I wanted a glass boat in the 18-20 ft range and had about your same budget. I looked at a ton of boats and there was always "something" wrong about them or something I didn't like. I finally found one at a dealership that was an 03 Triton tr186. It had no TM or graphs so they were going to set it up for me and get me a price. After some negotiating and changing this and changing that I was able to get something I wanted. I ended up with the boat with a 150 Mercury that runs really well. Has a hotfoot, tilt/trim on the steering, Minn Kota Terrova 80lb 24v, 2 Humminbird Helix 8's Mega Si and Mega Di, ram mounts, 2 new Interstate deep cycle batteries, new Interstate cranking battery, new lights on trailer, boat buckles on trailer and a full tank of gas for $14,000. A part of me wishes I would have went up to the Ultrex on the TM and a Helix 10 on the console, but hindsight is 20/20. 

 

I would have LOVED to buy a new boat, but I would have spent $40,000 or more on a new boat to get what I got. Not sure what a TRX18 is, but maybe close to that. So far, so good with mine and overall I am happy. I feel lucky to have found this boat. Like I said, I looked at a bunch and there was always something I wanted different about each of them. 

 

Good luck and be patient before you make a decision. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

For 12k you are not going to get much of a new boat.

 

I would suggest a 2000+ Ranger 185VS or 518 Comanche.

 

There are lots of them in excellent shape, just got to have a little patience.

 

Also, if you plan to keep it indefinitely then I would get the nicest and biggest hull that you can (of course there will be some limits with the Tacoma).

 

I strongly suggest against letting electronics and trolling motors be a part of the equation. You can easily add those things for much less of a cost than upgrading a boat if it doesn’t meet your needs.

 

***edit*** if you plan on doing lots of river fishing an aluminum boat might serve you better than glass. However plenty of people fish rivers in glass. 

[slonezp]

To get what you want,  you need to buy used or increase your budget. We're it me, and all I had was 12k, I think I'd opt for a 4 or 5 year old 16-17ft aluminum boat already rigged with a trolling motor and graphs.

[NHBull]

Check out the Lund FB page

[bassfisher444]

I just got a used one owner Tracker 175 TXW with a 90 HP Mercury for $8500. I looked at the new ones and it was 24K for a new Tracker 175 with a 75 HP motor which is the largest you can get on a 175 anymore. You can get a lot more for your money when you buy used if you know what to look for. 

[Goldstar225]

Since you plan to keep it for quite some time I would look for a good used Tracker 175 TXW or similar designed boat in your price range.  The 175 will ride choppy water better than the classic and have better storage.  Despite the disdain some have for the tracker brand I can only say that my brothers and I have owned six trackers over the years and have been completely satisfied with them.  

[John O]

I'm a big fan of Triton boats they have nice metal boats...

[Shimano_1]

I personally favor the Triton/ranger tin boats for the money.  However,  I've never talked to anyone that's actually owned a tracker that had many bad things to say about em. I also believe in buying new if ur budget can afford it. The 175 tracker should serve your needs well, but I would check other companies similar offerings and whichever offered me the most for my dollar is where I'd go. Good luck!