Needing help getting into the fishing scene

[MarkNnooga]

I have been bank fishing for about 2 years now.... And I am wanting to get a fishing boat thats not high priced... any ideas on where to get a really good deal... I can't afford alot on my new toy... but I guarantee ya... if I had one I would be fishing EVERYDAY!!!! Maybe a jon boat??? What is the going rate for a super old cheap boat I could use in tournaments?????

 

[NRG]

A descent fiberglass or aluminum boat for Tournaments , that will be semi reliable you can plan on 5000-9000 , one that needs work but will get you there 2000 - 4000.
A Aluminum boat Jon boat no live wells maybe a trolling motor .. 1000 - 3000 .. dont buy the cheapest boat you can find unless you have the skills, tools , money and time to do all the work your self..

Of course you can always spend less or more .. bargains are out there.. but you have to have to look hard for the bargain boats that are ready to fish and have no issues.. I had a guy bring a 20ft Ranger 1995 that he paid 8000 for that boat had a 2yr old 200hp motor, and a 3000 dollar humminbird 1197 scanner, and $1200 101 lb thrust trolling motor, all it needed was the carpet redone, and seats recovered.. it was a real Bargain.. but he had to drive to FL to get it

If you just want to fish and dont need all the bells and whistles and want it reliable.. I would find a good used 16-20 ft aluminum welded seam John Boat .. then buy a NEW motor the motor will have a 3-5 yr warranty and if you look around you can find a 2008 or 2007 model that has the full factory warranty at a dealer that is over stocked at a really good price.

 

[tyler ware]

You can find an old good boat out there. Look on Craigslist. The Boat I got cost me $500, its a 17.5ft trihull. Nice back when it was made in 1979, but I had to rebuild the transom, redo a little wiring, fix broken fiberglass, redo the seats, and rebuild the engine after one year. SO now I got about $1000 in it or maybe $1200. You get what you pay for. Look at several before you buy one, this will allow you to see what you are getting for the money. ALso make sure you drive it on the water, not just earmuffs in the driveway.

 

[SpurHunter]

B.O.A.T. = "Hole in the water, into which one pours massive amounts of money"


Keep in mind, maintaining/fixing a used boat will cost you more than you paid for it.
Thought I stole my first used boat. Then I bought, life jackets, fish finder, fire extingisher, throw cushion, paddle, anchor light, two anchors with line, bilge pump, battery, trailor lights, etc. It cost me more for all those items than I paid for the dang boat!

Keep in mind, if a man is going to use a boat everyday, or alot of the days, it will take money for repairs and upkeep.

 

[SpurHunter]

THis boat is a STEAL.
http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=30165&posts=3&start=1

 

[jonathanfaith2]

This is a great boat for the money and is plenty big for tournys. http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=30884&posts=3&start=1

 

[jeff5074]

My suggestion would be look around good . If you know about motors that is a big plus too . I bought my first boat about 2 months ago and have fished out of it twice before I had to put it in the shop . so my 1000 dollars in new trolling motor and fish finder and 1300 in repairs on lower unit I will have 4600 in the boat lol . Hope thats all it will need . just look around good

 

[jakemac]

craigslist. look at atlanta, knox, nash. other places that aren't too far. expand your area and you can find unbeatable deals

 

[honkytonker26]

If I was you. I would try and find me a Bass Tracker for around 4000. you can find a decent one for around there and you will have a good solid boat. You always sea trail the boat before you buy it. dont just hear the motor run on the ear muffs. run it wide open after it warms up good. If this will be your first expirience fishing out of a boat, you might actually wanna fish instead of working on it all the time.
The first boat I bought was a 1978 Skeeter with a Johnson 115. Heard the motor run on the ear muffs and paid the guy. once I got it to the lake and put the gas to it it had a blowed head gasket and you could tell they had temporaly sealed up the leak. It took me a year to sell that boat. Spend a little extra and get something you will be able to feel confident on the water in.

 

[skipper.931]

B-O-A-T = Break Out Another Thousand!!!!!

 

[mlc0341]

i have a boat for sale i have had it a year and i just up graded to a small bass boat and i dont need it any more it is a 83 fisf and ski the motor is listed on hear for sale it has a new depth finder the trailer has new radial tires on it the boat is not pretty but it floats the motor is for sale for 800 but i will sell all for 1200 and i have a extra trolling motor you can have with it and some other things oar anchor extra gas tank and i have the invoices were i just had new water pump motor mounts prop and the carbs rebuilt and lower unit resealed and inspected and i will consider trades also

 

[mlc0341]

you also need to look at the boat requirments for tournaments most require a areated live well and a kill switch for the motor amoung other things you definately need to read the entry forms before entering they are all differnt

 

[profisher89]

I bought the boat Spurhunter is talking about, as a project, to fix up for a young man who now does not have the funds to buy it. After working on it for 2 weeks, a couple of hours a day, it is now done.I paid $1,250 for the boat as you can see in Spurhunters link. I put about $500 in it. I put a used motorguide 12V foot control trolling motor on it, I put new sheet metal flooring and benches in it, carpeted the benches and flooring, bought 2 seats and pedastals for it, bought a used prop for it, bought 2 batteries for it, and serviced the motor. It already had a Eagle depth finder/GPS on it. I took the boat out and ran it yestyerday and it does not leak and the motor runs great. Boat will run about 30-35. Anyhow, if anyone is interested, it is for sale. $1,850 firm.
Thanks

 

[Lucky Dog]

My sell mine looking for a new one

 

[Lucky Dog]

My sell mine looking for a new one
Now has a 90HP Evenrude

 

[JDK]

Lucky Dog - 5/12/2009 2:10 PM My sell mine looking for a new one Now has a 90HP Evenrude

thats a sweet looking boat man

 

[Lucky Dog]

It is a good little boat and will run like a scalded dog. The red on top is now gray, done by a real pro and the guy I bought it from here about three years ago.

 

[churly]

Go to the Bank and get a loan. Then go to FISH-N-FUN and buy a new Ranger. You'll have a warranty so if anything goes wrong it gets fixed immediately. It'll cost you oh $350-400/ month, but you'll spend that much if you buy an old boat and fish everyday.

Fishing from the bank is cheap.
Fishing everyday in a boat is not.

 

[FOURWHEELER]

I HAVE A GUY I WORK WITH THAT HAS A 1990 STRATOS 16FT,WITH A 140 EVENRUIDE,NEW TROLLING MOTOR,BLACK LIGHTS ,AND MUSH MORE. HE IS ASKING 3000.00 BUT WOULD TAKE LESS. IF YOU WANT TO GET HIS PHONE NUMBER LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GET IT FOR YOU.

 

[C.Coffey]

I agree with honkeytonk.