Advice on Buying a Bass Fishing Boat or any Boat
I would have to say that one of the main reasons that you as an angler would be for purchasing a bass boat or any boat for that matter would be because you are tired of being land locked. I would also have to say that as a bass fishing enthusiast you have already stocked up on all the latest gear and accessories such as a GPS and fish finder.
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Thus, the next logical step would be to get out on the water so that you can cover an experience every point, bar and shoal you can find.
Now, before you go out and spend all of that hard earned money and your wife becomes a fisherman’s widow you should give considerable thought before you purchase.
First, ask yourself just how important bass fishing is to you and then ask yourself is this something that you are willing to pursue on a regular basis. If you truthfully answered, VERY and YES to these questions, than purchasing a fishing boat may be well worth the effort. The reason I ask these questions is because I know quite a few well intentioned anglers that only get to look out the window at their boat or keep it looking pretty but don’t have the time to put her in the water and enjoy some real fishing time.
My advice to you is if you are only going to get out on the water a couple times in the season, the way to go is to rent a boat. I would also recommend that if you go this way to hire one with a guide, so you get the full benefit of a day’s fishing plus you will save yourself a pile of money.
Buying A Boat
So you made the decision to purchase a boat. Congratulations! Now, you have to decide whether you want new or used. It doesn’t hurt to explore all your options and I would consider this to be "due diligence". Just keep in mind, this is where your brain does the thinking for you and not your heart. You can accomplish pretty much the same thing that a 28 ft., deep and wide, Princecraft with a 150 HP Merc with a 15 HP trolling motor and Minn Kota electric trolling motor and all the blah, blah, blah extras as you can with a 14 ft. Lund with a 15 HP Yamaha 4 stroke, it will just take you longer.
Isn’t that supposed to be the enjoyment part of fishing?
Excuse me, I started to daydream. Anyways, it is best to get the financial aspect of your purchase out of the way as early as possible.
Although buying new costs more, it also means it will be easier to sell if you find your situation changes. A used boat on the other hand will save you money at the time of purchase, but can be more difficult to get your money back when you put it on the market.
A couple of other things to consider, let’s say you live in Canada, like I do. Go Leafs Go! Than you’re going to need to protect your investment from snow and rain and all the other stuff Mother Nature can throw at you in the off season. So consideration must be given to how and where you’re going to store your boat. I don’t think the wife is going to like sharing the driveway or backyard and don’t even think about asking to help out with storage costs at the marina.
Avoid The Trap
Boating can be expensive but it is definitely fun and your family will love it but you must avoid the "Trap". The "Trap" most first time buyers get caught in is the "love at first sight". This trap must be avoided at all costs. My advice here is to sit down and take the time to write down everything that you and the family want your boat to do, then minus the unrealistic items, like the spa and pool. Then, consider if your boat is for cruising the lake, oceans and rivers or fishing with your buddies. Finally, do a little more trimming to fit your budget.
Types Of Boats
There are a lot of different types of boats on the market besides fishing boats and you should be aware of them before making a purchase. You can consider this to be another part of your "due diligence".
Bass Fishing Boats
After your budget there are really only 4 major concerns for buying a bass boat and they are size, material, motor and service. Your bass boat should be able to carry all your gear comfortably and able to seat all the people you would normally travel with all the time without crowding or making it unsafe. Aluminum boats are great for rivers and rocks whereas fiberglass is suited for still waters. As far as motors go, biggest is best for handling. Service is extremely important and should be done regularly with genuine parts by authorized dealers.
Fishing Boats
So far we have pretty well centered on bass boats, which is all well and good because bass boats allow you to fish from several different angles but not all anglers are interested in just bass fishing. In order to choose your boat you’re going to need to look at sport fishing boats (for large fish) and all purpose fishing boats (which are great for rough water) that are suitable to the different types of fishing you expect to be doing. Another style of fishing boat is the air boat which allows you to get into locations not accessible for other fishing boats. The point here is to realize that there are a multitude of different types of fishing boat designs and choosing the wrong boat will be detrimental to your fishing experience.
Cruisers
Cruisers are meant to do just that, cruise. This is equivalent to a Sunday drive where you gather up a few friends or family and go for a relaxing tour around a lake or water system and allow the wind to blow thru your hair and the sound of music fills the air.
Bowriders
Bowriders are ideal for cruising, fishing, swimming and skiing and come with an open deck design which allows for comfort and convenience for the whole family and when the activity dies down its great for relaxing and sunbathing.
Runabouts
Your best choice for water sports.
Sailboats
Sailboats mainly use the wind to navigate from place to place but many are equipped with small motors for those calm days where the sails just will not billow. They are excellent for cruising and can become quite exciting when the wind picks up.
Ski Boats
Great for skiing of course.
Deck Boats
Yachts
Yachts are generally considered to be the most expensive boats but it can be argued that they aren’t depending on their usage. Consider the costs you save if you live on your yacht 24/7, 365 days a year and compare it to a house where you pay taxes for just about everything and you’ll understand what the argument is based on.
Houseboats
Pontoon Boats
These are just examples of a few boats, so it is important that you take the time to find the right boat not just for what you plan to use it for but also to get the maximum benefit for the money that you invest.
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Author
Iain S Loveman
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Comments
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