Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

[dirtrider73068]

Hi everyone just signed up tonight, looking for some help and advice on buying a used fishing boat. Started looking at jon boats, then moved up to the alumacraft type bass trackers, now think the bass boats like ranger, nitro, charger, thunderbolt fiberglass models would be best. Its been rough trying to find the right decent one.

Here is what we found so far, small bass tracker 16 foot, turns out its need work, has stress fractures up front, and at the transom, and a big huge dent in the left rear under bottom like it hit a rock, floor needed redone, just awful guy wanted 1850. Found a small 16 foot fiberglass tri-hull at a dealer for 995, lets just say we walked up then turned around and walked off. By this time I am getting irritated trying to find one, most I see are good deal but are hunks of junk, or over priced hunks of junk.

Today we find one, good deal drive to look at it, its a 81 thunderbolt, not bad has a 150 horse motor, but needed some floor work couple seats need recover, and just really showed its wear, passed it up guy wanted 2500 but would let go for 2250. Last today was a 16.6 foot bass boat, good shape, guy had been doing work, new carpet, nice seats, over all is a good clean doable boat, but he had to fix the transom, used seacast, motor ran before, done the repair, put motor on, now it won't fire, and he can't figure out why it has a 71 65hp merc on it which overall this boat and motor was a good perfect size. He wanted 2100 since the motor didn't run.

So what do we look for certain brand to stay away from what motors are good, what to look for in a motor? This isn't our first in boats, last one we bought when I was a kid learned the hard way, check the transom, and over time from others expense to look for water pump working, make sure runs, lights work, no leaks all that. Is there more to it? Right now our limit is 1900. I am in Oklahoma, and now looking at Kansas, and Texas trying to find a good one, or should we wait till we have more in our budget to work with?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

Welcome to iboats dirtrider.


In that price range, I would avoid fiberglass.
Stick to aluminum, outboard models.
I prefer v hulls over flatbottom or bassboat styles. But they may be good for your waters and the type of fishing you do.

$1900 is a tough price point, 2500-2900 makes it a little easier to find something decent.


Should be able to find something in the 16-18' range, with adequate power.

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/boa/2958438855.html

After scanning the CL ads in your neck of the woods, you might want to come visit WI or MN for a few days. There are hundreds of boats for sale around here that would fit your needs. Minneapolis has over 800 boats listed PER DAY.

 

[dirtrider73068]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

Ok is there a reason to stay away from fiberglass in this price, just do to coming across a bad boat or one that has had a poor patch job? 800 post a day for boats, that is crazy would have time to search through them all. Did find a deal in Wichita, KS for a 84 charger bass boat, some upholstery wasn't pretty, needed a transducer? Googled this looks like its something to do with a fish finder or trolling motor, and needed a spare wanted 1800. Now if everything else was good and no rotten spots in floor, this one could work. Also come across a 77 Cajun bass boat in Arlington, TX for 1800 but needed carbs cleaned, if it will pop off on mix gas squirted in and no rotten spots this one would be a good deal too.

 

[Pony]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

Ok is there a reason to stay away from fiberglass in this price, just do to coming across a bad boat or one that has had a poor patch job?

For the most part (unless you can find a real steal) a fiberglass boat in that price range will be one that is probably old and not well maintained. Fiberglass boats are notorious for rot in the stringers, floor, and transom. Sometimes even the ones that are maintained well suffer from rot just simply due to imperfections in manufacturing. Chances are a fiberglass boat that has been maintained, has a solid floor/transom, and have a good powerplant, are going to be more than double your budget.....at least from what I have seen.

I know that this is not in your "area", but this is an example of what I would be looking for. A bulletproof motor (provided it is in good running condition....which either way I would be changing out the impeller after buying), a good aluminum boat, plenty of room to move around.
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/boa/3027389593.html

 

[duke33]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

Wow! That does look like a buy. I'd stayed away from glass after talking to several of my friends. I have a 12' and already looking to go longer. 16' even.

 

[Philster]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

Ok is there a reason to stay away from fiberglass in this price

Because fiberglass boats of that era, and most today, should be called fiberglass-wood boats. Calling them fiberglass is a misnomer. They have a whole bunch o' wood in them, and the wood does all the hard work, such as support the motor, hull, deck, etc.

 

[dirtrider73068]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

For the most part (unless you can find a real steal) a fiberglass boat in that price range will be one that is probably old and not well maintained. Fiberglass boats are notorious for rot in the stringers, floor, and transom. Sometimes even the ones that are maintained well suffer from rot just simply due to imperfections in manufacturing. Chances are a fiberglass boat that has been maintained, has a solid floor/transom, and have a good powerplant, are going to be more than double your budget.....at least from what I have seen.

I know that this is not in your "area", but this is an example of what I would be looking for. A bulletproof motor (provided it is in good running condition....which either way I would be changing out the impeller after buying), a good aluminum boat, plenty of room to move around.
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/boa/3027389593.html

Ok that I can see, being it rots out, one looked at yesterday, transom was redone but in the middle about the stringers it was soft, guy said he planned to put a peice of metal across it then fiberglass over that, my thought was NO, there is a reason, remove floor, look at stringer could be rotted. As long as its taken care of in a few years time if we have to do some repair due to rot won't be a big deal, just don't to buy one than have to take it home only to tear out stuff to repair rot or replace something.

Found a couple out of state, one seats weren't pretty and needed transducer? other had sat needed carbs clean, over all both were good from what pics showed, now seeing in person could be a whole different ballgame, this has happened 3 times, pics look good get there and it wasn't worth the drive.

Might just have to wait it out till that "one" pops up or get some more money gathered to get that real nice one ready to use lake ready boat.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/boa/3027389593.html

Like the one Pony posted except in a "full" v-hull. They ride so much better than the semi-v's.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

Hi everyone just signed up tonight, looking for some help and advice on buying a used fishing boat. Started looking at jon boats, then moved up to the alumacraft type bass trackers, now think the bass boats like ranger, nitro, charger, thunderbolt fiberglass models would be best. Its been rough trying to find the right decent one.

I'm not sure that any of us understand what you're looking to do with this boat so it's hard to give suggestions. You mentioned an old fishing boat, which is what Roscoe and Pony have been pointing you towards. However, you then you mentioned Rangers, Nitros, etc. Those are two extremes of the fishing spectrum.

Are you looking to get out on the lakes and fish and don't care how stylish or fast the boat? There are tons of great, small boats out there in your price range for fishing. I just bought an old 12' starcraft for $300 and found a 1957 3hp Johnson for $25 at a garage sale. For $325 plus a carb rebuild kit I'll have another "used fishing boat" up and running for myself. That's a far cry from 150hp motors and bass boats. Are you taking family out in these things? Guests?

I agree with everyone else. Finding a good fiberglass boat in your budget is like trying to find a gently used 1980s Porsche for under $5k. You're chasing a unicorn and the only ones you'll see will be pigs in unicorn clothing!

 

[dirtrider73068]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

I know rangers and nitro are like the high end bass boat but that style. Have seen the old fishing boats, but ones we have seen are that old beat up. The bass boat type we see in our range worth looking are selling faster than we can even consider trying to look at it. At this point its a waiting game, take our time and will come across that one we want, plus in the meantime can sell another 4wheeler so that will help as well in getting what we want.

On a side note, I was getting email notifications on my post now I am not getting anything.

 

[chief88]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

i grew up with my dad chartering on a 22 foot islander on lake erie.he died 23 years ago.that was a great boat for fishing in rough waters.still remember all the nasty times on that boat but was always safe.i finally got the chance to buy the same boat just newer 2 days ago.i have a 7 yr old daughter that i can take out and know we will be safe

 

[JB]

Re: Looking at buying first fishing boat what to look for?

Hi, chief.

Welcome to iboats.

Please review and respect our rules. In this case, rule #12.