1st boat purchase advice

[ryancompetition2]

Hello,

I live in the pacific northwest and have been Bass fishing for a year now. I have been fly-fishing for many years but the fun I've had this past year tells me that this sport/hobby is something I want to pursue.

I am looking at buying a boat and wanted advice. My goal for the next year or two is to be on the water as much as possible and gain experience. After that, I'd like to start on the local tournament scene and see where things go.

Currently, I'm looking for a boat in the 15-20K price range and the 17-19 foot length range as well. I would like something that would give me the flexibility to fish various areas that I could learn with. Probably use it to get started on the tournament scene at a local level but would probably get something more specific for competition as I develop.

So, the question is what would you recommend? I'd like to hear from people that have followed the same path from newbie to local tournament level as I'd like to gain insight from their advice.

Thanks for your time, -Todd

[fishfordollars]

Get the larger boat(19')

Do not under power it.

Minimum 150 H.P.

No 115H.P. or 135 H.P. motors will do.

If you decide to go with a larger boat(20')

Nothing less than 200H.P.

The boat will perform to it's high end range and if you decide to sell it it will be easier to sell.

Check the transom, floor, and stringers

Have a certified mechanic check the motor. Best money you will spend.

Put the boat in the water and fish it. Don't just drop it for a few minutes and put it back on the trailer.

Power up all electrical components.

Go over the trailer from end to end.

Make sure the titles are current and available.

If the transom is weak, stay away from it. It's a minimum of $4,000.00 to repair.

Compression should be within 10% on all cylinders.

Good luck,

Jack

[Fishing Rhino]

New boat, or used boat?

I'm not thinking about pursuing tournament fishing, but I am serious about fishing.

Number one.  The man in the boat is more important than the boat the man is in.

Number two.  If you can't find 'em, you can't catch 'em.

No boat by itself will help you find the fish, I don't care if it's a boat you paddle around, or a glitzy boat that will do eighty mph.

You need to see, and learn to read the bottom over which you travel.  That means electronics.  The best your budget will allow.

A fifty thousand dollar boat with inadequate electronics is worth less than a twenty thousand dollar boat with the best electronics, when it comes to catching fish.

My suggestion is to research, and select your electronics.  For your goals, side scanning and bottom scanning is a must have.  GPS features as well cannot be overemphasized, particularly those that show the bottom in relief, rather than just a chart with depth lines.

Once you have settled on the electronics that show you the bottom and reveal fish habitat on the bottom, then spend the rest of your budget on the most boat you can get.

What is between your ears is the most important piece of equipment that you have.  It needs data to process.  No boat alone can provide that data, no matter how big, fast or glitzy it may be.

[Kenny418]

I made the mistake of starting out with a boat that was 17' long. While it was great to have one, I quickly outgrew it. If you are serious about fishing and can afford it go with at least 18.5 with a 150 hp.

[done]

I would ask new or used.

IF you go new, look at the tracker line. They are 15k new and come with the complete package. You will want to upgrade electronic and TM first on those. With the 60 HP OB you will get a feel for a boat moving fast (not real fast but fast enough to learn), you will get an idea of how to use electronics, position your boat in wind, and overall get some good fishing in.

That being said, IF you buy used, I would definitely take the time to read the ton of threads on here on what to look for when purchasing a used boat. The guys on here have some awesome advice on what to look for.

Couple questions that might help out too. How big is the water you plan to fish on? What's it like (Depth, wind, etc)?

[simplejoe]

If you want to start tourney fishing at some point and spending that kind of money I wouldn't get anything smaller than a 18'6". I started out with a 16' with a 110 Hp. motor and it was perfect for me. Until my family got bigger and started Tournament fishing ( I had all the co-angler stuff in the boat also.) Went to a 17'6" boat same size motor, a little better but still too small. I currently fish out of a 20' F&S with a 200 Hp. motor and it's working fine, for now.

[Jig Man]

"Get the larger boat(19')

Do not under power it.

Minimum 150 H.P.

No 115H.P. or 135 H.P. motors will do.

If you decide to go with a larger boat(20')

Nothing less than 200H.P.

The boat will perform to it's high end range and if you decide to sell it it will be easier to sell.

Check the transom, floor, and stringers

Have a certified mechanic check the motor. Best money you will spend.

Put the boat in the water and fish it. Don't just drop it for a few minutes and put it back on the trailer.

Power up all electrical components.

Go over the trailer from end to end.

Make sure the titles are current and available.

If the transom is weak, stay away from it. It's a minimum of $4,000.00 to repair.

Compression should be within 10% on all cylinders."

This is sound advice.

[cart7t]

I don't know what the market is like in the Pacific northwest but $15-20k in the midwest opens LOTS of doors to get a really nice boat in the 19' range. Follow Fishfordollars advice. 

[ryancompetition2]

Thanks for all the replies, definitely gives me insight into what to think about.

The waters I'm thinking I'll be on are in Washington state primarily. I live in Spokane which gives me access to the Columbia River, Snake River, Spokane River, Long Lake, Moses Lake & Potholes, Liberty Lake (Joey Nania territory), and other variuous areas. Everything around here takes us 20-40 minutes to travel end to end with my buddy's Prohawk w/90 HP, this doesn't include going through dam locks of course. Depths are up to the 50'+ range I believe.

Wind is usually pretty manageable (5-15mph) for most days.

I'd like to be able to store the boat in my garage which is 21.5' deep.

Local dealers sell Triton, Skeeter, Ranger, and Stratos boats. I was thinking new but $23K gets you about a 17' boat w/115HP. A 2006 used 18' would probably be in the $18K range.

I was thinking all welded aluminum hulled models for their resistance to abrasions (rocks, docks, etc...) but I've been told the glass boats are much better performing.

Thanks again for all the info. -Todd

[WCCT]

Ryan, it would do you good to go talk to Jeff Priester at Nixon's Marine down in Walla Walla.  Check out his website too.  He will treat you right and get you into something that is right for you.  He really takes care of his customers too.  They are Triton/ Skeeter dealership, but also have some other used brands on the lot. 

[Glenn]

Get the largest boat you can afford.  Banks, Potholes, and especially the Columbia can get pretty hairy when the wind kicks up, and that's when you'll be thankful for the larger boat.

Since you're in Spokane, make a short trip over to Spokane Valley Marine.  They usually have a great selection of new and used boats to choose from.

Whichever boat you decide on, make sure you thoroughly read the manuals and understand how to operate and maintain your equipment.  I knew a guy once who bought a used boat and then blew the motor a month later because he didn't realize he had to add oil to the gas tank for that particular model.

[Brian B]

I agree 100% with Fishing Rhino.  Find a good solid boat (good motor, looks good, solid structure) and then customize it.  Get good electronics, get a powerful trolling motor, and go from there.  Set aside money for those things BEFORE you purchase the boat.  When I bought my boat I looked for a boat that had a trouble free motor, structure, and storage.  Then I customized the rest from there to make it a better fish finding tool.  Remember that you dont need to outrun the fish, just find them.

[JohnnyBigger]

I just bought my first Bassboat in may of last years and I got exactly what I wanted 19.5' 200hp and let me tell you the difference between that and a 07 ranger 18' 150hp, I was on okeechobee and I thought my insides were going to come out on small white caps, then I'm on walk-in-water with worse conditions and just skipped across the top like it was nothing. 1 foot difference and 50hp, I only gave $9,500 for mine its a 1998. If you have a price range up to 20k you should easily be under that but i wouldn't go below 19' if you can help it. a 21' garage will not even fit 18' strait in you will have to go  corner to corner. get your measurements and then get total length of boat motor and trailer, most of them you will add 2-3 feet in length to the transom so a 18' hull will be 20-21 feet depending on the trailer.