No reasonably priced bass boats?

[Bluebasser86]

Even used is a rough market right now. I just sent my wife one yesterday as a joke. '99 Champion 20' with an '04 200hp Mercury. Single axle trailer (seems like a huge boat for a single axle?) not a ton of upgrades, no poles, 20k and lots of people interested. 

 

12 hours ago, gunsinger said:

Speaking of entry level boats, if someone hasn't already posted a thread on here to help guide new bass rig buyers through what to look for when they buy, someone should do that. 

 

[E-rude dude]

4 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

 

 

There is.  It's called a Tracker.  Maybe not "great", but they have the market cornered on budget priced boats.

Even a tracker rigged with quality 7-8” graphs, anchor pole, and a spot lock troller is mid to upper $30,000’s

[Catt]

Want vs need

 

Do you really need a 21' bass boat or could an 18' be a better choice?

 

I'm looking at a 2021 Xpress 

H18 w/ Yamaha VF115LA for $26,295.

 

Everyone tells me an 18' boat isn't big enough for Toledo Bend. I simply say if it's to rough for an 18' boat I don't need to be on the main lake.

[Junk Fisherman]

11 hours ago, slonezp said:

What don't you like about the Tuffy?

 

 

I want a bass boat instead of a multi-species deep V.  

[S Hovanec]

2 hours ago, E-rude dude said:

Even a tracker rigged with quality 7-8” graphs, anchor pole, and a spot lock troller is mid to upper $30,000’s

 

Then they are no longer budget boats once you add those items.  You can get on the water in a tracker bass boat for $17k.  Is it we'll equipped?  No, but do you need all that?  I've been fishing in my boat for 16 years without spot lock.  I also have no anchor poles. They are not necessary.  I do have good electronics. They are old also though.

[Krux5506]

There are so many pieces to the puzzle with this question that there is no concise answer. You're getting into a realm of quite a long line of products that comprise an entire boat, from raw materials up to electronics and everything in between. 

 

 In my mind there are so many things that drive costs in a boat market beyond simply "what someone is willing to pay" (but yes demand is the end result as well) that I think I would end up violating the bass resource forum rules by saying what I truly feel which is in a nutshell many, many "crazy costs" are artificially created by the powers that be. Look into an employer's cost of compliance per employee, for example. Especially in manufacturing industries like this. 

 

 

3 hours ago, E-rude dude said:

Even a tracker rigged with quality 7-8” graphs, anchor pole, and a spot lock troller is mid to upper $30,000’s

 

True, but do what I did...Buy a boat, and year by year as you are able to afford it, just add something each season. It's kinda like owning a house - you improve things little by little unless you just have piles of cash you're willing to drop at once. 

[Junk Fisherman]

46 minutes ago, S Hovanec said:

 

Then they are no longer budget boats once you add those items.  You can get on the water in a tracker bass boat for $17k.  Is it we'll equipped?  No, but do you need all that?  I've been fishing in my boat for 16 years without spot lock.  I also have no anchor poles. They are not necessary.  I do have good electronics. They are old also though.

 

Agreed.  This is how their marketing warps our concept of what we "need."  I caught lots of fish 20 years ago without side-imaging, forward-imaging sonar, spot-lock trolling motors, and shallow water anchors.  But we see the videos and what others have and naturally want these items and then complain when a fully equipped bass boat costs 70K.  I do the same thing but I am fighting it.  I have been looking hard at Panoptix or Active Target sonar but am having trouble justifying paying for it.  

 

But I will say that a spot-locking trolling motor has definitely resulted in me catching more fish.  

[DogBone_384]

19 hours ago, gunsinger said:

I can remember mooning over a Tracker years ago that was $8k.  Now their cheapest is more than double that.

Ranger is comparable.  I found a '17 RT178 in 'like new' condition for $14,500 last Summer.  I added a pair of Lowrance Elite TI2's and Ranger's website has their '21 model priced at $27K as I've got mine outfitted.

 

My Lowrance Ghost is scheduled to show up today... 

 

I guess that's they way capitalism works. ?

[S Hovanec]

7 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

But I will say that a spot-locking trolling motor has definitely resulted in me catching more fish.  

 

I plan on upgrading to one of those either when my existing TM dies, or I have to replace the cover on the boat, whichever comes first.

 

I have a brand new LSS1 unit still in the box, bought it when Gander went out of business the first time.  Don't know if I want to install it or sell it.

[TnRiver46]

This dilemma is a lot like the gasoline thing. If people would just remain calm, don’t desire things just because you hear they are in short supply, and don’t constantly mention the short supply, then there will be plenty for everyone 

[Krux5506]

I also think boats, like fishing in general, can be as cheap as you want or as expensive as you want. 

[gunsinger]

44 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

 

Agreed.  This is how their marketing warps our concept of what we "need."  I caught lots of fish 20 years ago without side-imaging, forward-imaging sonar, spot-lock trolling motors, and shallow water anchors.  But we see the videos and what others have and naturally want these items and then complain when a fully equipped bass boat costs 70K.  I do the same thing but I am fighting it.  I have been looking hard at Panoptix or Active Target sonar but am having trouble justifying paying for it.  

 

But I will say that a spot-locking trolling motor has definitely resulted in me catching more fish.  

My wife says I have FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) because my buddies all have Livescope and I would like to have it.  And I would, but, there are other things I'd like to have more such as a spot lock TM.  But, like you say, can you justify the cost?

[J Francho]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

Want vs need

 

Do you really need a 21' bass boat or could an 18' be a better choice?

 

I'm looking at a 2021 Xpress 

H18 w/ Yamaha VF115LA for $26,295.

 

Everyone tells me an 18' boat isn't big enough for Toledo Bend. I simply say if it's to rough for an 18' boat I don't need to be on the main lake.

I preferred going out in Lake Erie with mine over my 22' Bullet.  Your last statement is 1001% correct sir.

[TnRiver46]

This is one of the best bass boats I’ve ever owned, bought used for $315 in 2008 or so. Still runs like the day I bought it 

[Junk Fisherman]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

 

 

Everyone tells me an 18' boat isn't big enough for Toledo Bend. I simply say if it's to rough for an 18' boat I don't need to be on the main lake.

 

I completely agree.  I bought my boat because I love big water smallmouth on the Great Lakes and I bought a boat ideal for that kind of fishing.  But the reality is if it is too windy to fish relatively comfortably, I don't go out on the big water.  I don't fish tournaments on big water so I never really push it.  1 time in 5 years I have been much happier that I was in my deep V on Lake Michigan compared to a bass boat but I still would have made it in that day in a bassboat.  But there have numerous times I was shallow water largemouth fishing and wish I was closer to the water.  So my next boat is probably going to be another 19'er but a bassboat.   

[Leacrab]

Look at the new Gamblers. Quality and class in an 80+Mph boat!

[Catt]

@J Francho & @Junk Fisherman

 

Unlike the Great Lakes, Toledo Bend has numerous creeks arms that can be fished regardless of wind direction, I know all the public boat launches & some private launches I can use.

 

I simply trailer ?

[J Francho]

58 minutes ago, Catt said:

@J Francho & @Junk Fisherman

 

Unlike the Great Lakes, Toledo Bend has numerous creeks arms that can be fished regardless of wind direction, I know all the public boat launches & some private launches I can use.

 

I simply trailer ?

It isn't exactly the same, but we have a bunch protected bays along the south shore that work much the same.  Many like me trailer as well.  We usually launch at one of these bays, and fish largemouth.  They are usually anywhere from 20 to 75' deep, and much more eutrophic than the lake proper.  If it's nice in the big lake, then we shoot out there for smallies.

 

That little unmarked bay in the east, north of Wolcott is where I grew up, and where many of my on the water pictures are from.  Irondequoit bay to the west is walking distance from my house, and what I commonly call the "City Dump."  That thin slice of blue to the left of the City Dump is the mighty Genesee River, where Genny Light Beer comes from, lol.  The finger lakes are just a few minutes south of this map.

 

[gim]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

Everyone tells me an 18' boat isn't big enough for Toledo Bend. I simply say if it's to rough for an 18' boat I don't need to be on the main lake.

This was my thought process to when I bought a mod V 18 foot aluminum bass boat in 2015 too. For 75% of the fishing I do, it’s ideal. The other 25% I have to be more observant of the conditions if I’m on a larger lake. In rough conditions, I wouldn’t want to be out there anyways.

[schplurg]

One day soon Amazon will have some Piscifun, or Souyanglingding, or BigFunYouGoFishDumDum brand bass boats for practically nothing, plus free shipping.

[desmobob]

16 hours ago, J Francho said:

That thin slice of blue to the left of the City Dump is the mighty Genesee River, where Genny Light Beer comes from, lol. 

I just bought a 30-pack of Cream Ale.  I hope they filter the river water before brewing with it!  ?

 

When deciding to try a bass boat, I knew I had an extremely limited budget.  In 2014 I decided to buy a new Tracker Pro170 aluminum boat w/40HP Mercury outboard.  I have been very happy with it and have no regrets.  I paid less than $15K, ready-to-fish.  The only upgrade I felt necessary was to add a Garmin ECHOmap 93sv.

 

I'm not saying I don't fantasize about having a top-line boat, but I can't afford to spend that kind of money on my primary road vehicle, let alone a recreational boat.

 

It seems that Tracker has the market cornered on budget/entry level bass boats, and they sell a bunch of them.  Maybe there's room in that market for some competition, especially in the fiberglass segment...

 

 

 

[J Francho]

53 minutes ago, desmobob said:

I just bought a 30-pack of Cream Ale.

I'm sure it will all be fine, you won't feel a thing.

[desmobob]

19 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I'm sure it will all be fine, you won't feel a thing.

I'm bringing it on a Cape Cod saltwater fly fishing trip Saturday... it's sold as a premium beer there; it's even packaged with a fancier label than we get in NY!

 

Our label in NY:

 

Fancy, out-of-state label:

[J Francho]

I've seen that label here too.  I think it's the old label.  Maybe they are producing it still for "exports."  

 

To keep it topic related, do you think any of these Genny cans make into a Tracker hull?

[desmobob]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I've seen that label here too.  I think it's the old label.  Maybe they are producing it still for "exports."  

 

To keep it topic related, do you think any of these Genny cans make into a Tracker hull?

I think I downed enough Genny Cream Ale ("screamers") in my younger days to provide enough aluminum to make my Tracker's hull and maybe another one or two...

 

Seriously though... my only complaint with my Tracker is with the trailer, not the boat (swing-away feature getting lots of wear/slop).  I have not had a single issue or complaint.  (And my rod locker is 7.5')  I don't think it's anything to avoid as an entry level or budget option.

 

They've gone up $2K in price since I purchased mine seven years ago but they've added a few things like a painted hull, VersaTrack mounting rails, etc.