Affording a Bass Boat at 22

[BlakeMolone]

17 hours ago, FishinBuck07 said:

Nothing wrong with that at all!  I use a float tube in a bunch of strip pit lakes and absolutely love it.  Not getting anywhere fast in it but makes you fish a spot more thoroughly.  

Got a new tube and I’m driving to the lake now to test it out, it’s 34 degrees out and I’ve never floated when it’s this cold so we will see how it goes ?

[cyclops2]

Life jacket FULLY ON !!! Tie yourself to the boat !!!!!   It can move much faster than you can swim.  Do NOT let go of the rod & fish !!!!!

[gim]

9 hours ago, Mbirdsley said:

If you had a dealer or mechanic do those simple things you would get hit with $500 bill or more per season.

I pay a certified Ranger dealer to winterize my boat every October and it costs me $225.

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I pay a certified Ranger dealer to winterize my boat every October and it costs me $225.

Same with the Lund / ProXS - especially while the motor is still under warranty (5 yrs)

A-Jay

[gim]

8 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

especially while the motor is still under warranty (5 yrs)

Is that the normal warranty or an extended warranty?  Mine was 2 years when I bought it in 2015.

[J Francho]

https://p.widencdn.net/kguoon/US--Canada-warranty-chart

[A-Jay]

21 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Is that the normal warranty or an extended warranty?  Mine was 2 years when I bought it in 2015.

I purchased this ProXS motor the first year it came out in 2018.

As part of an incentive re-power program and when using the in house Mercury Refinance deal, the new motors were being offered with a 5 year full warranty.

This made that deal even sweeter. 

Just check the current offer and it's 3 years.

(And @J Francho posted it above)

Either way I've already arranged with the dealer to trade this one in either at the end of this coming (2022) season or the beginning of the next, while it's still under warranty. 

Provided the can get me a new one in a somewhat timely manner.

Time will tell.

A-Jay

[Mbirdsley]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I pay a certified Ranger dealer to winterize my boat every October and it costs me $225.

I was including the bearing work too.  Single axle trailer your going to be about $250

[FishinBuck07]

5 hours ago, BlakeMolone said:

Got a new tube and I’m driving to the lake now to test it out, it’s 34 degrees out and I’ve never floated when it’s this cold so we will see how it goes ?

Neoprene waders are your best friend in that thing in cold water!  Fished last year in the end of November in Ohio in my float tube!

[Gera]

At 22 you should be doing the responsable thing and spend your hard earn money in beer, girls and trips not on monthly payments, repairs, interest and insurance for a bass boat, you will have time for that later. Everyone here has given you great advice, kayaks and being a co-angler are actually fantastic options that will get you in the water, teach you a lot a bout the sport and  leave your money for what should really matter at your age.

 

On 12/27/2021 at 7:48 PM, king fisher said:

Find yourself a girl whose father likes to bass fish, and has a nice bass boat.  Then Marry her.  Don't buy the ring, until you actually see the boat.  Pictures can be easily photo shopped.  

     

 

Its a trap!!!! 

 

[newbiedmv]

I was 42 when i got my sort of imitation bass boat.

I used a 1969 wards aluminum 13' row boat i got from my dad. I blew up the outboard the first time out. So a TM for 15 or more years. I still have it in a garage

 

[newbiedmv]

 

 

Oh forgot 

Going from around 300 LBS row boat to a 1000 lb bass crappie took years of learning. I still back off in the river if the current is above normal. Loading in high current can be scary.

 

[NYBasser]

I thought I'd add my opinion and observations as a collegiate angler. I've fished a couple MLF tournaments including the college national championship in 2021. From what I've seen, most guys who are fishing the collegiate tournaments are either running a boat provided by the school (some schools have programs that do this), running their parent's boat, or run their own boat/have a sponsorship deal. Most guys seem to run either a school boat or their parent's boat and the few guys who run their own boats are usually using smaller/older/aluminum rigs.