Looking into buying my 1st Boat

[elfros]

Some basic questions.
Side council, Tiller, or full council?
Fish and ski or just fish?
Bass style full raised deck, floored deep v, or something between the two?
Bass Style, Modified V, or Deep V?
How big of a gas tank do you need to feed that 60hp motor so you don't run out of gas on your lakes?
Where in the boat do you want the livewell?
How many livewells do you want?
How many gallons per livewell?
What species of fish are you after?
Is this a tournament boat, weekend warrior, or utility boat?
Family, friends- how many per trip? Got enough seats and load capacity to carry them safely?
DO you need a Marine radio? Does a local police/ natural resources agency monitor a channel on the marine bands?
Do you need a weather radio?
What style of fishing do you want to do- trolling, spider rigging, anchor up over fish cribs, fish docks, fish bays/fingers, fish the main lake, etc.?
How many weekends/ days per month are you using the boat?

I watched a guy at the boat ramp last night. This story belongs in another thread, but you will understand while I posted it here.
Him backing the trailer to retrieve his boat from the water. Wife, and two young kids in the boat. Truck is a relatively new Suburban, decked out and loaded with the camping gear, including firewood on the roof rack. Boat, brand new Alumacraft Competitor model, fully loaded. It was pretty obvious he had limited in no experience backing the trailer. After the forth attempt, he stopped, opened the rear hatch so he could see. I was waiting for him to move so I could back in to unload my boat. My son standing on the dock waiting for me, watches as the guy stops suddenly during his fifth attempt to back up, and both coolers and half their clothes slide out the Suburban and onto the ramp, cooler pop open and everything ends up on the ramp. I was going to offer a hand as I back down the ramp around him, he barks at me for parking in the wrong place. I could tell he was frustrated and embarrassed and he just needed to vent. I offered to help. He said he had it. Unloaded and offered him a hand loading the boat. His 4 year old son comes to help him, slips on the ramp moss and lands on his butt. This guy was not having a good day at the ramp.
Don't be that guy.
When you get your boat, find a empty parking lot and learn to back up. Also, if your having trouble, don't be afraid to accept some help. We all learned the hard way, and the learning was easier when we had a friendly hand.

Sorry, I digress. The reason for all the questions is to help narrow down the boat selection process. While you may not know what you want, yet. Knowing how you plan to use the boat will help to figure out the boat that fits your needs. There are hundreds of models of boats out there, each one is different from the next. Who knows, you may be happy with a pontoon boat?

X2 plus boat on week days if possible to learn your boat and how to handle it before you encounter weather and heavy boat traffic

[bayoumonster]

Just remember that all outboards that run AT ALL, run good on the muffs in the driveway. Even if they're not running on all cylinders. A lake test is the only sure way of determining an outboards actual condition. It should crank easy, idle smooth warm or cold, not grind into gear, and not jump out of gear. It should accelerates smoothly and not bog or hesitate. At least check the compression (borrow a tester from a friend) and crack the lower unit oil drain and check the fluid. There should be clear oil--not water or coffee-looking oil. A compression test is done by screwing in a gauge to the spark plug hole with all the other spark plugs out of the cylinders and grounded, then cranking over the motor and taking the highest measurement the gauge reads. DO that on all cylinders. I like them to be within 5psi of each other, but within 10%
If a used boat, get a lake test!

There are a lot of people that buy a new boat after fishing with a friend that is very experienced, and find out that fishing is not at all as easy as it seemed. They rarely take out their boat and after a few years sell it taking a huge loss even though the boat is still in like new condition. That is the boat I suggest you look for. That way you'll have a nice rig, and not have a huge chunk of money in it.

Good luck!
JBJ

[Cane Pole]

Good advice bayou. Take it out and try it out. If you don't know much about boats, take someone with you who does know. Hey, they all look purdy. Heck, I went for a ride in a new one before I was convinced to drop a wad.

[Bobbyroy]

I would suggest you to explore Aluminum Boat Guide where you can reviews and compare pros and cons of different boats model.

[fishingarkansas]

Today I will be going to look at a repo that is a express that a friend told me about really like the xpress boats they se to be high quality I will let yall know how it goes!

[jeepguyjames]

Buy bigger and more hp than you think you need.......they some how shrink and get slower after a month or so......

[fishingarkansas]

Well I went by and looked at the boat def was not what I was looking for still on the hunt

[scout-j-m]

I agree with something mentioned earlier...ACCESSORIES. I for one seriously lack patience and I would consider looking into used alum. boats that have at least some of the accessories you want or is enough below your budget to add them after purchase. That being said, I have a 2011 Tracker PT 190 and have no complaints. I bought it used with 8 hours on the engine and got a great deal. For a first time owner, alum. is more forgiving and easier on the wallet.

I agree with this. Most boats out there are under equipped in terms of electronics, batteries, trolling motors, and other accessories. It's a good idea to consider what you may want to upgrade and what those will bring the total cost up to.

[fishingarkansas]

hey guys I think I might of found my boat let me know if you think it is a good deal a friend of mine is selling his 2012 pro team 175 twx 60hp bass tracker with 6 yrs of warranty left less than 15 hrs on boat he is wanting 13,500 is this a decent deal?

[Cmj]

hey guys I think I might of found my boat let me know if you think it is a good deal a friend of mine is selling his 2012 pro team 175 twx 60hp bass tracker with 6 yrs of warranty left less than 15 hrs on boat he is wanting 13,500 is this a decent deal?

Terrible deal! Just pm me his number andI will negotiate a good price for "you." Just kidding. Sounds fair to me.


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