Planning to buy a boat next year and could use some input....
 

I'm going to be ready to buy a boat around this time next year. I want something that I can bring to the river and bass fish but also go saltwater fishing without being beat to death. Preferably able to haul at least 3 people saltwater fishing. I'd like to still be able to go pretty shallow for bass fishing. I'm going to by new. Any suggestions ? From what I see I'll have to have two boats and I'd rather get by with one if at all possible

Price range? This is key when talking boats.

~20k is the max

Mako 18ITS.....

X2
If Xpress produces an 18ft CC with the hyperlift hull, that would work as well.

18 foot nautic star

if you wanna take at least 3 people, get a 21ft. you won't get beat up as bad in a longer boat either. look for a used blue wave or maybe a frontier

nvm didnt see that you wanted a new boat

i don't know much about express boats but that may be something worth looking into

19' frontier is nice.

This may be a better route than what you are looking at. 18' or so will fish 3 people, but not real comfortably.

I have a 21' Frontier and like it alot.

Buy that blue wave that josh has listed in the classified ads on this site

X100, You are not going to find a brand new 22 ft boat for 20K. Blue wave is a good boat. That 150 Suzuki is $12K alone brand new. Get the engine checked out and buy.. That is a good boat for a reasonable price. IMO

Why????????????????????
Borrow an 18' bayboat and put three in it slinging super spooks and then say you want one. Buying new makes very little financial cents when they depreciate worse than a sports car. Add $4,000 to your top end price and the number of 21-22' boats forsale will blow your mind. Many will have less than 200 hrs and come equiped with more than a new short boat. Just my opinion and you know what they are worth.

If by saltwater fish you mean up north in the marsh, you can't beat a Carolina skiff. Very versatile boat.

I agree with everyone else, buy used. Wait til fall/winter and start shopping then. You'd be shocked how many folks buy boats new at the start of the season, use them 2 or 3 times, get sick of paying the note cuz it's not as awesome as they thought it would be owning a boat, and you can get them CHEAP. Well, not cheap, but cheaper than new. Got my boat that way, waited for the perfect boat and got a steal. Motor didn't even have the 20 hr break in finished!

:shaking::shaking: u have got to be from galliano/cut-off/golden meadow area ...every body down there either has a carolina skiff or a blazer bay

Yup, I'm totally from golden meadow. All your speeding tix come straight to me! ;)

Those folks down da bayou MIGHT have a good idea what makes a good boat. Sadly, I didn't get the recommendation from them. I don't have that kinda cred. I got it from an old professor at LSU when I was about 20. I was discussing buying an alumacraft, and his advice was spend the $ on a used Carolina Skiff.

I think this was the best complement ive gotten all day! I <3 you!

Oh, and blazer bays are composite fiberglass cr@p. Or so ive been told

I know a hand full of people from that area , and have done plenty hanging down there from golden meadow- fourchon

Just giving you a hard time. I wish I could claim "down da bayou" in my lineage, but I am a land lubber.

Carolina skiff is a damn fine boat boat though, comes highly recommended.

Thats what i have. Love my boat but to fish 3 out of it is not very fun at times. I find its too lite in the front end and doesn't take the chop very well either. Caint wait to upgrade to a 22'

Yea that's what everyone says "Buy used". When the time rolls around and I'm ready to give some cash away I will do some looking for used boats. I just hate inheriting someone else's bad habits and laziness.

I would be fishing freshwater more than salt and I've decided that having 3 people in the boat will be a rare occasion. So as long as it is usable in say Turners bay and the lake I'm good.

Thanks to everyone for the input !!!

My buddy has a mako LTS! Its a good boat for calm water/fresh water. In a good chop you will get wet but hey what's the worst that could happen if your smart and don't fish open water in 15-20 mph winds the worst thing is you get a shower in the summer! Ain't gonna kill ya. I like his boat tho you can get into skinny water and the 90 optimax works very well

Josh Lincecum's Blue Wave would be the ticket!! I don't see how this boat is still on the market, I personally used it to guide out of while waiting on my Haynie and I cannot say enough good things about it.
Excellent boat you won't find another deal like it

There was a Triton 191lts with 150optimax on southeasttexas.com

I have a 20ft X-press CC with 115 yamaha. Very roomy boat and fish 3 people no problem. Have fished 4 people. I dont have the Hyperlift hull and heard it makes a difference in rougher conditions. I mostly bass fish and went from a 15 to a 20 and have no problems fishing the same spots. 3ft chop gonna be rough in most boats anyway. 20k brand new. Hyper-lift a little more due to larger HP rateing and motor.