I'm looking to get a bass boat before this summer. It'll be strictly a fresh water boat. My budget is <$5k.

What type of things should I look for? Any tips are appreciated. My family had a 17ft when I was a kid but I never really learned to much about it.

2/3/2011 12:48:41 PM

Your best bet for that low of a budget would probably be an aluminum bass tracker. Maybe a pro team 165 or something. If you're lucky, you can find them with a 40HP 4-stroke. If you can find one with the 40hp 4-stroke, then you'll top out at around 35-40 mph but you'll hardly ever have to buy gas (relatively speaking). They're light and easy to tow as well.

An aluminum boat is the only way I think you'll be able to get a boat laid out like a "real" bass boat with decent storage, a livewell, integral trolling motor, fishfinder, etc. They're great entry-level bass boats and don't hold their value the same way a fiberglass Ranger, Triton, Stratos or even Skeeter would.

I'm sure you could find some old fiberglass bass boats for less than 5k, but be careful.

2/3/2011 2:02:00 PM

i agree with him^

aluminum bass trackers and the like are all over craigslist and the side of the road for sale. look at a bunch until you find one that's been properly cared for with a decent engine.

but if you do go the fiberglass route make sure it's got lots of obnoxious flake and a 300 HP engine to cure your LMS

2/3/2011 9:30:53 PM

carolina bargain trader

found one a few years back in there that was in GREAT shape and got it for really really cheap. sold it for double what i bought it for which is unheard of for stratos boats.

get in on it now before the spring and summer weather make it nice to get on the water...they will be cheaper now.

if you do go glass, check out EVERY nook and cranny...get them to remove the deck if you can to see under that as well. a hole in glass will screw you.
make sure you if you glass that you have plenty of glass experience and know how to patch....also remember...the less moving parts the cheaper to fix.

id go alum like mentioned if you arent experienced with them.

[Edited on February 3, 2011 at 9:41 PM. Reason : g]

2/3/2011 9:40:47 PM

Metal flake + 300HP = More Fish.
It's scientifically proven that bass are fast as fuck and attracted to shiny objects.

2/4/2011 11:49:50 AM