1st bass boat tips!

[adam.bellar.10]

I'm looking to purchase my first bass boat. I'm on a fairly limited budget but am a capability carpenter and mechanically inclined. I'm assuming any boat i pick up on a budget will need TLC or minor repairs. what are the red flags i should be looking for? things to avoid? fiberglass or aluminum?

Your local maker of blades
AB knives

[bluebonnet2]

good morning,

where are you?    what do YOU want??................very good used boats around.....tin and glass......

what are you fishing for???



finance or cash?...good interest rate are available..........would you travel to get a boat?

first check the engine with a certified tech........older boats ----check the transom,,,most glasss boat in the  last ten years or so, have all composite transoms...look for water, softness etc........check out the trailer, tires, lights..........

boat electronics is a whole other world.........

check with your insurance guy......do you have a storage area,

check the registration,,,,,make sure it's not stolen and watch for scams.....

try to find a good dealer in you area !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hope all these tips help...you left yourself open for a lot of questions......

good luck in your search, last, but not least, make sure THE WIFE is happy with what you are fixing to get into

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

[Oldfart9999]

Do you have a boat in mind? Are you fishing tournaments or for pleasure? How much storage do you need? Do you fish big lakes or small lakes and rivers? All questions you need to answer. If you are looking at a boat from a private take someone with you that knows boats, a good idea if you are purchasing from a dealer also. If the electronics and trolling motor are in good shape you can always put them up on craigslist and upgrade to new.
Rodney

[31airborne]

Pros and cons to glass and tin - that's a choice you'll have to make based on what kind of fishing you're likely to be doing.  You won't go wrong w/ either.

Things to look for:

- motor - tell seller you want it checked out by a certified tech (compression check, computer diagnostix, etc).  If the seller says no that's a red flag.  If seller says yes but you have to pay for it that's cool.

- ask seller to take it out for a test drive.  If he balks, that's a red flag.  He may insist on coming along.  That's a good thing.  He can show you how everything works.

- ask for the service records.  If there are none or seller balks, that's a red flag.  If he's lost them ask where he got the boat serviced.  Go to that service center and ask them to pull up the records.

- visual inspection - Little things on a boat will tell you if it's been cared for properly.  Cleanliness is a good place to start.  That includes inside compartments.  On a tin boat, look for dents and gouges.  On older tin boats (pre-2000) check rivets.  If any are missing or popping out that's a red flag.  Look for dings and cracks in the gel coat of glass boats.  Glass boats will always have a few finish cracks in the gel coat (from weather effects).  You'll see these around the cleats and places where metal pieces are  bolted onto the hull.  Gouges in the gel coat are a red flag.  Check the underside of glass boats for signs of repair.  Mismatched colors or a new place in the gel coat could be a red flag.  If you see something ask the seller if the boat's ever been repaired.

- accessories - have the seller power up the eletronix, TM.  Check the date stickers on the batteries - anything more than 2 years old might have to be replaced soon.

- trailer.  Check the tires for uneven wear.  Check the spare.  if the trailer has brakes on it the state in which it's registered may require an annual inspection.  Check your state DMV's requirements for marine trailers.  If required, ask the seller for the inspection cert if it's not posted to the trailer.  No inspection is a red flag (if required).

That oughta get you started.  Good luck!

[adam.bellar.10]

i don't mind to travel.
I'll be fishing for pleasure mostly.
occasionally a weekend club tournament.  i live witin 50 miles from a couple large lakes in north texas so mostly lakes. possibly a few creeks.

Your local maker of blades
AB knives

[88evinrude]

if your looking for a fiberglass rig let me give you some tips (some of these cross over for tin rigs as well).1st and for most most of the glass rigs i know of had wood in them until the early 2000's.the down fall to wood is well it rots now im not saying all boats with wood are rotted out but it is a concern. you need to check the transom for flex.the method i use is to raise the motor all the way up and put weight on the lower while looking for flex. any flex will mean the transom has rot in it.now for the floor if it has any flex or soft spots you will need to investigate further because if you have rot in the floor you may very well have rot in the stringers/bulkheads etc.... . which will lead to needing rebuilt. now for the motor first thing i would do is check the compression to what the specs should be. then i would check for a bent prop shaft by removing the prop and spinning the shaft while in neutral. the shaft should have hole in the end you will need to watch this shaft to see if its bent.id also check the lower unit oil if its milky it has a leak.

[Bud Kennedy]

Can you indicate what your budget might be.  It sure makes a heck of a difference as to what will be available and narrow down what issues to look for.

[Smallie_Stalker]

If the boat is a considerable amount of $$ (and I realize that is a subjective term) you should consider hiring a Marine Inspector, or whatever they may be called in your area. just like a Home Inspector they will go over everything and find stuff the average person just won't. It costs a little more upfront but can end up saving you a lot down the road.

Just my $.02.

[adam.bellar.10]

budget would be under 5K preferably closer to 3k. The left over for mods or repair.

Your local maker of blades
AB knives

[adam.bellar.10]

I'm looking into used Carolina skiffs or wider jon boats. i like the square nose and wide decks. lots of room for gear and such.  i don't need anything fast so a 16' with a 40HP would do me just fine. my biggest problem is i don't know much about boat market value. i have bought and sold everything under the sun except boats lol

Your local maker of blades
AB knives

[Bud Kennedy]

OK. So at that budget target you will be after an older used boat and motor.  Some of the guidance given by others applies and becomes even more important.  I don't know where you are but if you are after a skiff style boat most likely you are near  saltwater.  An older salt boat can be a real minefield of problems.  My recommendation would be to remain very patient.  It may take a lot of looking but sooner or later you will find something you can live with. 

[adam.bellar.10]

i live about 500 miles from the coast lol bit around here alot of guys use the skiff style boats for striper and cat fishing so they come up for sale pretty often

Your local maker of blades
AB knives

[adam.bellar.10]

I'm figuring in that budget it will be a mid 90s boat

Your local maker of blades
AB knives

[Bud Kennedy]

Yep,that probably is about right.  Happy Hunting