Bass Boat Driving Virgin

[mike304]

I posted this on another forum, wanted to share it with guys on here too.

Hey guys,

Have to share this with you all, you'll understand and my wife really doesn't!

First of all, to understand this, I've wanted a bass boat since I was about 16(I'm 46) but still can't swing one.

So a local guy I've met a few times once told me that if I ever wanted the inside track on one of the local lakes to give him a call, since he's lived on it all his life.

So I finally got around to taking him up on his offer last night. He said meet him at the launch at 5. He pulls up in a fully rigged Triton xs 21 DC. I'm thinking, COOL!!!!!

So we are fishing, and I offer him a beer. He says yea what the hell, you're driving back. I thought he was kidding. About 2 hours later we decide to pack it in, I sit down in the passenger seat and he says to me," what are you doing. you're driving".

So needless to say, I get the thrill of my life( at least lately) driving his boat the few miles back to the dock. And we caught fish.

Awesome night, and an awesome guy for letting a newbie drive his $40k plus boat.

God I want one ! :'( :'(   

[Nitrofreak]

If you wait untill the dead of winter you can find some really good deals on bass boats.

I paid 500.00$ for my 170TF with a 115 rude, It ran but not smooth but no abnormal noise and needed a good bit of TLC.

[Nitrofreak]

To date I have only spent 1632.73$

[fishermantony]

Get one!  Life is to short!  I know that may be easier said then done and I don't know your situation but if there is a feasible way for you to do so, you should.  Look at that Nitro in the pics, fantastic deal on a nice boat! 

[Nitrofreak]

And yes I do understand the wife thing she said if I could find one for 500 that I could buy it.

We are now looking for a bigger bass boat because SHE can't get enough of it!!!

Good luck!!!

I posted this as one option if you choose to go this route instead of waiting for a new one.

[fishermantony]

My wife kept using the word "wait" and I realized I could end up waiting forever, so I pulled the trigger and got a nice used boat.  Now she is saying we need to go out on it every day when I get home and she regrets not going out with me alot more last summer.

[HuntFishAK]

I remember that day Tony.  I don't regret your wife not going with you more last summer.  ;D  My wife has said that I can get one when I retire.  I'm hoping to bump that up to my last duty station.  :

[Nitrofreak]

Get one! Life is to short! I know that may be easier said then done and I don't know your situation but if there is a feasible way for you to do so, you should. Look at that Nitro in the pics, fantastic deal on a nice boat!

Thanks!!!

[Way2slow]

Too bad you're not close to GA. I could probably make you a deal that would put a smile on your face.

Since my dad died over two years ago, I haven't had my 1999 Javelin Renegade 20DC with 225 OMC (modified to approx 280hp) in the water a half dozen times and giving real consideration to selling it for about $6,500. My wife, son and granddaughter says I'm not but I'm getting tired of it sitting there.

All you gotta do is learn how to drive it, it does let you learn first hand what chine walk is. It's very fast, and it will chine walk too bad to drive at WOT (well over 70 and even into 80's) until you learn how to drive.

[cart7t]

I just sold my Champion for $4k.  It had been completely redone.

There are good deals to be found in this economy.  Especially from guys like me needing the cash or others trying to get out from under a boat payment.

Don't wish about owning that boat, go out and get one. 

[Nitrofreak]

Too bad you're not close to GA. I could probably make you a deal that would put a smile on your face.

Since my dad died over two years ago, I haven't had my 1999 Javelin Renegade 20DC with 225 OMC (modified to approx 280hp) in the water a half dozen times and giving real consideration to selling it for about $6,500. My wife, son and granddaughter says I'm not but I'm getting tired of it sitting there.

All you gotta do is learn how to drive it, it does let you learn first hand what chine walk is. It's very fast, and it will chine walk too bad to drive at WOT (well over 70 and even into 80's) until you learn how to drive.

Way2slow Sorry to hear of your fathers passing and it sounds like a boat worth keeping I think you should listen to your family.

I am currently looking at a Ranger 20' that is older than my 90 but it has been garage kept all of it's life and has enough seating to be able to take my whole family with room to spare and enough power to get where I want to go...I have driven this boat other times and have recorded speeds over 70 mph and that is as fast as I ever need to go and I still had another 1/3 throttle before reaching WOT.

I am hoping he will sell it but he has not made up his mind yet.

The boat you have sounds like its worth a trip to Ga. My best friend has a jav and I like his a lot.

[fishermantony]

I remember that day Tony. I don't regret your wife not going with you more last summer. ;D My wife has said that I can get one when I retire. I'm hoping to bump that up to my last duty station. :

Yes, sure was nice having you take the 5 1/2 trip with me to pick it up, I'd probably still be missing!  And to think how we stumbled upon that boat........I brought you inside to show you the absolute lemon I was going to go rush and buy and happened to look at the Portland area and for a few hundred bucks and miles more.............love at first sight!  Even when I upgrade I'd like to keep that boat, maybe pass it on to my boys.

[Nitrofreak]

I just sold my Champion for $4k. It had been completely redone.

There are good deals to be found in this economy. Especially from guys like me needing the cash or others trying to get out from under a boat payment.

Don't wish about owning that boat, go out and get one.

I wish this economy was not so hard to deal with cause man I hate to hear that you had to sell your boat and I hope and pray the future holds bigger and better things for you and yours.

[Nitrofreak]

I remember that day Tony. I don't regret your wife not going with you more last summer. ;D My wife has said that I can get one when I retire. I'm hoping to bump that up to my last duty station. :

Yes, sure was nice having you take the 5 1/2 trip with me to pick it up, I'd probably still be missing! And to think how we stumbled upon that boat........I brought you inside to show you the absolute lemon I was going to go rush and buy and happened to look at the Portland area and for a few hundred bucks and miles more.............love at first sight! Even when I upgrade I'd like to keep that boat, maybe pass it on to my boys.

You got some pics?

Sure does sound like an interesting boat with a good story!

[mike304]

Hey Nitrofreak, the funny part of it is, without going in to a long story again, about 2 months ago a fishing acquaintance of mine offered to give me(yes give!) his old 95 Nitro 180 when he bought a different boat. Unfortunately 2 days later he changed his mind, and decided to fix what was wrong with it and sell it. It still sits next to his neighbors garage, I have to drive by it everyday. Easy come , easy go

By the way, great job rehabbing yours, it looks great.

[fishermantony]

I remember that day Tony. I don't regret your wife not going with you more last summer. ;D My wife has said that I can get one when I retire. I'm hoping to bump that up to my last duty station. :

Yes, sure was nice having you take the 5 1/2 trip with me to pick it up, I'd probably still be missing! And to think how we stumbled upon that boat........I brought you inside to show you the absolute lemon I was going to go rush and buy and happened to look at the Portland area and for a few hundred bucks and miles more.............love at first sight! Even when I upgrade I'd like to keep that boat, maybe pass it on to my boys.

You got some pics?

Sure does sound like an interesting boat with a good story!

I'm gone right now and don't have any pics with me, but I'll probably post some when I get home.  It's a 92 Ranger 372V with a 150 Merc XR6.  HuntFishspokane and I took a 5 1/2 hour trip through some of the most beautiful part of the country IMO, mostly along the Columbia River, met a real gentleman who couldn't have been more helpful, even after I got it home!  He held it for a couple of days for me and had people calling about it when we were test driving it.  Just special to me because it seems like someone was looking after me.  I came real close to buying a boat that I'm almost certain would have been a lemon and I would be miserable with it right now.

[Nitrofreak]

Hey thanks Mike,

You keep looking he may change his mind yet again and I hope you get one!!!

Just keep an eye out they are every where you look and one will fit your needs!!!

[Nitrofreak]

I remember that day Tony. I don't regret your wife not going with you more last summer. ;D My wife has said that I can get one when I retire. I'm hoping to bump that up to my last duty station. :

Yes, sure was nice having you take the 5 1/2 trip with me to pick it up, I'd probably still be missing! And to think how we stumbled upon that boat........I brought you inside to show you the absolute lemon I was going to go rush and buy and happened to look at the Portland area and for a few hundred bucks and miles more.............love at first sight! Even when I upgrade I'd like to keep that boat, maybe pass it on to my boys.

You got some pics?

Sure does sound like an interesting boat with a good story!

I'm gone right now and don't have any pics with me, but I'll probably post some when I get home. It's a 92 Ranger 372V with a 150 Merc XR6. HuntFishspokane and I took a 5 1/2 hour trip through some of the most beautiful part of the country IMO, mostly along the Columbia River, met a real gentleman who couldn't have been more helpful, even after I got it home! He held it for a couple of days for me and had people calling about it when we were test driving it. Just special to me because it seems like someone was looking after me. I came real close to buying a boat that I'm almost certain would have been a lemon and I would be miserable with it right now.

Cool I am looking forward to them and your right that guy was pretty good to you!! Congrads sounds like a great boat!!

[HuntFishAK]

I think I have a pic.  I can post it, if you don't mind Tony.

[fishermantony]

I think I have a pic. I can post it, if you don't mind Tony.

Please do!!

[HuntFishAK]

Here it is.  That was a great trip down to get it.  Saw some FLW tourney boats runnin' the Big C.  Calling out spots that we would hit if we were fishing.  The river being glass and if you know anything about the Columbia, that's a very rare thing.  It was a sign.  I wish I could have taken a pic of Tony when he drove it the first time.  Like a kid in a candy store.

[Nitrofreak]

Awesome, Really good looking Ranger!!!

And there is nothing like your first drive in your first boat!!

[fishermantony]

Thank you man!  That is the first time I have seen it at all in 6 months!  I am so exited!

[HuntFishAK]

Thank you man! That is the first time I have seen it at all in 6 months! I am so exited!

No problem brother.  Not long now, huh?  Man, I wish we could take one more trip out.  I'm not the same fisherman I was last time we went.  Learned a few more techniques and gotten better at "seeing" the water.

[Chaz Hickcox]

Just to reitorate what a lot of folks had said, get a good used one.  Last year I was almost in your shoes (my dad had a ranger when I was a kid).  Then I finally got to a duty station where I had the time and got one.  It has been worth it.  Look on craigslist.  That's where I found my 93 javelin 379DC with a 150 johnson for 3500.