Can someone tell me more about this boat?

[CraigP83]

Can anybody tell me what model this boat is, or if this is a good deal? Im in the market for a boat that I can fish tournaments in but to be honest Im a little over my head in what type of things I should be looking for. Id like a 17-18 footer with 100-150hp. This would be my first "real" boat. Im having a heck of a time finding anything in my price range though. Thanks guys


"98 Pro Craft Bass Boat w/150 Mariner REDUCED - $6700

Excellent condition call for more details (xxx-xxx-xxxx) / has two locators (one w/GPS) / two livewells / great trailer / no issues with just serviced motor


"

[Baxter83]

Looks like a 185. If it is rated for 175 HP then it is a 185. My buddy has one that looks just like that one.

[TakeSonFishing]

seems like a good deal.  The biggets thing though would be to have a mechanic do a compression test and full inspection on that motor. Also check the hull real good, I.e. transem for rot or stress cracks. 

I have never own one, but have heard good things about the procraft's. 

[OutdoorFrontiers]

It looks to me like it's a ProCraft Pro Bass.  They're a decent boat albeit a little heavier than other boats of the same size class.  Fit and finish on ProCrafts are good, although the carpet they used doesn't seem to hold up as well and will need replacement sooner than for example a Skeeter or Ranger.

The Mariner motor is simply a Mercury XR-6 with a different paint job.  Both motors were built in the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin plant by Mercury Marine.  So the motor, while not as fuel efficient as the new OptiMax motors, has a reputation of being darned near bullet proof.

As others have said, look it over carefully and have a compression test done.  If all appears good, you probably found yourself a great boat.

Steve

[CraigP83]

check the hull real good, I.e. transem for rot or stress cracks. 

Im glad you brought this up, What do these look like? are they very noticible to the naked eye? If they have stress cracks is that a deal breaker?

  So the motor, while not as fuel efficient as the new OptiMax motors, has a reputation of being darned near bullet proof.

The bold part is something that excites me, reliability would be one major concern of mine!  When you say the motor isnt very fuel efficient, how much should I be planning on spending on gasoline in a boat such as this?

[OutdoorFrontiers]

Gel coat cracks are part of owning a fiberglass boat.  While nobody wants to have them, they do happen.  What you're looking for is cracks that are extremely noticable, large enough to catch a fingernail when run across them.  You'll know a bad crack when you see it.  And I don't think that you'll have a problem with the ProCraft, it's just something that needs to be looked for.

The fuel efficiency of an XR-6 vs an OptiMax is more like after a day of a lot of running around the lake, you'll have used 15 gallons of gas instead of 12 gallons.  But that fuel efficiency is going to be partially determined by YOU.

How much gear are you going to stuff into the boat?  Are you going to keep the hull clean or let scum and algae build up?  Are you going to run the boat at wide open throttle all the time, or are you willing to go 45 mph and take a couple minutes longer to get to your spot?  Heck, for that matter, how big are the lakes you fish?  When I lived in northern Wisconsin, I fished a lot of lakes that were under 1,000 acres, so my trolling motor got more use than my outboard.  Now that I live in west Tennessee and fish 160,300 acre Kentucky Lake, I find that I might run 10 miles between spots, so I use more gas.  Like I said, it's hard to say.  But it does look like a nice rig.

Steve