padon Posted January 26, 2023 Posted January 26, 2023 10 hours ago, Bird said: I get asked all the time why I haven't bought a new bass boat since I've retired. My fishing partner beat me to it ? Affordability and justification are entirely different and even more so in the eyes of the beholder. yeah thats kind of what im saying, can i afford a 100k dollar boat? probably not. i can certainly afford 60k though ... and theres still no way im paying that. 2 Quote
Super User islandbass Posted January 26, 2023 Super User Posted January 26, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 8:08 PM, gimruis said: Hit up the Minneapolis Boat Show today for a few hours. I am currently not in the market for a new boat, I just like looking at them. It gives me a small taste of spring, if only for a short period of time, in the middle of a Midwest winter. Some of the prices are just outlandish. They had a Ranger Z series tournament bass boat 55 year anniversary special edition that was 111,000 bucks. I had to sit in it. A guy can dream, right? Wow that is nice! So did you hear any whispering voices saying things like, “Buy me… You know you want too — I’m yours,” lol. 2 Quote
Functional Posted January 26, 2023 Posted January 26, 2023 Not that its comparable to the prices talked about here but in 2013 I bought my Tracker 175 txw for $13K out the door. Same exact boat today is $23K+. I was on a kick about 2 years ago to get a new glass boat until I finally sat down and realized i'd be paying 3-4x the amount I paid in 13 to have the same capability but be flashier and a bit faster (although with all the d**n wake boats now who can really go fast and not tempt death). I enjoy fishing but I dont want to stress about a payment for fun. 1 Quote
Super User Bankc Posted January 26, 2023 Super User Posted January 26, 2023 I've been trying to use this as an example to my wife of how $40,000 for a bass boat is a bargain. She's not hearing it though. Hopefully they'll come out with a $200,000 bass boat soon. That might do the trick. 2 Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted January 28, 2023 Super User Posted January 28, 2023 When I was a senior in high school (1966) I was taking home $40 a week and bought a new 14" GlassMaster fiberglass boat, 65hp Mercury motor and the trailer for $1,427 drive out price. When I retired in 2011 I was making $1,600 a week. Based on income, that made me pay the equivalent of over $57,000 for that boat in 1966. About twice what I could have bought it for in 2011. 1 Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 28, 2023 Super User Posted January 28, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 10:24 AM, Bankc said: I've been trying to use this as an example to my wife of how $40,000 for a bass boat is a bargain. She's not hearing it though. Hopefully they'll come out with a $200,000 bass boat soon. That might do the trick. LOL. Eye candy in the show room has long been a way to upsell folks to the second or third tear product from something in the mid range, bass anglers actually think Stellas and the like are for sale... . Quote
Susky River Rat Posted January 28, 2023 Posted January 28, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 8:38 AM, Functional said: Not that its comparable to the prices talked about here but in 2013 I bought my Tracker 175 txw for $13K out the door. Same exact boat today is $23K+. I was on a kick about 2 years ago to get a new glass boat until I finally sat down and realized i'd be paying 3-4x the amount I paid in 13 to have the same capability but be flashier and a bit faster (although with all the d**n wake boats now who can really go fast and not tempt death). I enjoy fishing but I dont want to stress about a payment for fun. I hate to say it but you nailed it. You’re 175 will do just about anything a 100k boat will. The three biggest reasons I am looking to get a new boat in 2024 is I want a tunnel hull. I want a center console. I want a bigger boat because I have some what out grew my 16’ side console. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 28, 2023 Super User Posted January 28, 2023 18 minutes ago, Darnold335 said: 175 will do some of the things a 100k boat will. Fixed that one for you. The 75K difference has to be providing something. A-Jay 2 Quote
Susky River Rat Posted January 28, 2023 Posted January 28, 2023 1 minute ago, A-Jay said: The 75K difference has to be providing something I would think comfort and speed would be the two biggest things. I was just getting at I don’t believe a boat will make him fish the same areas any differently. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 28, 2023 Super User Posted January 28, 2023 4 minutes ago, Darnold335 said: I would think comfort and speed would be the two biggest things. I was just getting at I don’t believe a boat will make him fish the same areas any differently. I get it ~ A different rig may offer safe access to waters previously unavailable as well. A-Jay 2 Quote
Functional Posted January 28, 2023 Posted January 28, 2023 6 minutes ago, A-Jay said: I get it ~ A different rig may offer safe access to waters previously unavailable as well. A-Jay Agreed, the extra weight would get me some more stability and handle rough water better but the areas I fish I don't have those issues. If I was fishing more of the tributaries or something like the great lakes I'd probably have pulled the trigger. Definitely some pros but it wasn't enough for me to justify picking up a new payment. 1 1 Quote
Susky River Rat Posted January 28, 2023 Posted January 28, 2023 21 minutes ago, A-Jay said: A different rig may offer safe access to waters previously unavailable as well. No doubt on that. I was just doing apples to apples. I am very limited with my boat but, for around here it’s very good. If I wanted to fish other areas I wouldn’t have the rig I have. Quote
Super User gim Posted January 28, 2023 Author Super User Posted January 28, 2023 I usually go by the 75-75 rule when considering a boat purchase. Will the rig effectively and safely function 75% of the time on 75% of the waters I intend to fish? If that answer is yes, I think you’ve found the watercraft for you. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted January 29, 2023 Super User Posted January 29, 2023 If you pay 5X more for a boat than the average guy, that automatically makes you a 5X better fisherman. If you add the $10,000 worth of electronics, that automatically elevates you to a professional level fisherman. Doesn't matter if the guy with his 14' jon boat with a 9.9, and only has a good Sonar, (his whole rig cost less than your TM) catches three times more fish than you. I've never known of a fish that checks out what kind of rig the angler has before he takes his bait. Don't get me wrong, I had hellava lot rather fish out of my Javalin R20DC I had than my 14' jon. With the jon, you feel like you've put in a days work after fishing. With the Javalin, you feel like you had a good day on the water. Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 29, 2023 Super User Posted January 29, 2023 On 1/28/2023 at 1:18 PM, gimruis said: I usually go by the 75-75 rule when considering a boat purchase. Will the rig effectively and safely function 75% of the time on 75% of the waters I intend to fish? If that answer is yes, I think you’ve found the watercraft for you. I just signed you up for Operational Risk Management, logical thinking, and math classes... Quote
RHuff Posted January 30, 2023 Posted January 30, 2023 I’ve been fishing out of a 17ft aluminum with a 50HP for 5 years. Paid cash for it used when I bought it. I added two Garmins and a motorguide trolling motor with gps lock. It’s easy to tow, easy on gas, I can run 32 mph with myself in good conditions and 29 mph with a partner. I’ve ran this little boat down the Tennessee river from Dayton to Chester Frost on Chickamauga, although it was a long run each way. It fits comfortably in the garage too beside the tractor. I’ve fished several tournaments with it. In some, I wasn’t the smallest and in some I was by far the smallest boat in the field. More times than not though, I did not finish last. I’d like to have something a little bigger, around 19ft with a 150-200HP to take my son, who is now 8, in that is a little safer and a little more roomy to fish from. It’s a hard choice, do I keep what I have or take on additional debt?? 1 Quote
Recurve1 Posted February 2, 2023 Posted February 2, 2023 I know folks who's medical school tuition was less than that bass boat! Here is my new bass boat I bought when I retired - it gets me places where motor boats can't (go): http://www.hemlockcanoe.com/uploads/5/1/2/5/51256169/kestrel-prem-sage-2_orig.jpg Quote
airshot Posted February 6, 2023 Posted February 6, 2023 On 1/21/2023 at 9:10 AM, BrianMDTX said: Too $$$ for my blood. Nice if you have the scratch for it, but OMG that’s big coin for a bass boat. I’d want to be able to sleep IN it for that money. I am afraid for that anount of money I would expect more from it than be able to sleep in it !!! It would have to love me back !!!! Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.