starter boat?
 

What do I look for when buying a used boat this will be my 1st boat. thanks alot.

Need to know type of fishing..... marsh, lake, offshore or what and amount you plan to spend and type of hull

Im in the process of getting my first boat, a 21' bay stealth. Solid hull for the $$

would be more of a cypremort point type fishing, nothing more then 4500g since it will be a starter boat,engine type would be outboard.

15' aluminum boat with a 25 hp and trolling motor. Get used to fishing in that and then you can upgrade and save that boat for frogging, hunting, and smaller water fishing.


just saw your response and I am not gonna change my answer, you can get a rig for that money, almost new. You don't need a big boat there when its calm and you can get in the marsh easy with that rig. and its perfect for the Atchafalayayayayaya

Yeah getting tired of bank fishing and Pier fishing not many spot and always fighting the crowd to get a spot..

I would start with least 15' and 25hp but if you can go up to 16-17 with 40hp you will have more room in the boat...... minimum of 42" bottom but wider will be better

I know the feeling! That's why I said to hell with it and bought one. Bank fishing for saltwater is terrible unless you're around grand isle.

1995 17' Spectrum Dominator

http://images.craigslist.org/5N95L15...663d3517f5.jpg

any good? what to look for when buying?

Clean looking boat here

http://www.louisianasportsman.com/lp...e_ad&id=396176

Buying a used boat what do I check?

Hull condition, check for cracks or weak spots
Engine hours
Wiring
battery conditions
Electronics

That's just the tip of the iceberg I'm sure, I'm a boat noob myself.

Some will tell you to bring it to a boat mechanic for a detailed inspection

thats a nice "do it all" fishing boat for fresh or salt water and except for open water you have no limitations.

what to look for?

the motor should start easy on the first crank, if it spins a few revolutions first its a sign of wear on the motor as lower compression engines take longer to start up. its not a warning not to buy it but more of a FYI that the motor is well used and maybe in a few years you'll need a new one.

look for service history and reciepts for work done to indicate its been well taken care of. if there is no paper trail then you are having to guess how well its been maintained but while its easy to understand someone doing work yourself because is cheaper, you just dont know how often it was done or wether it was done properly (stripped threads and nuts and bolts can be the result of joe average doing his own maint on it.

for the boat look for sun fading telling you know its been uncovered out in the sun, while it may look ok now seat stitching gets rotten fast that way and you could have ripped seats before long once you start using it so assume things are worse then they look. also look under the console for hacked up wiring or mounds of loose hanging electrical tape under there indicating joe average doing his own wiring.

trailer look close at the boards if they are rotten or dry rot as well as look for cracking of the tires indication dry rot. tires can be trash but still look new so if you see shattered glass looking cracks when examined close then you need to replace them to avoid issues on the road.

what you see really is what you get with a boat so look very very up close at things you cant see easy, thats where you can find tips if there are any red flags.

last point before buying go fishing in it, just you and the owner because this is a buisness fishing trip so you dont want others distracting you from the "test drive" this is so you spend several hours in it and you can see how comfortable it is to fish in and the workings of the trolling motor and livewells and if all is working well but mainly so after a few hours you want to see it hasnt taken on any water from unseen tiny leaks somewhere.

wow thanks! I talked to the owner he want 4000obo is that a descent price for that year?

What's the nada value?

Here's the NADA on that boat

http://www.nadaguides.com/Boats/1995...dard-Equipment

look like the motor been changed out to 70hp would the price change due to a different
engine?

Yeah but not sure how much

I would look for a boat with tiller handle to start off, less problems to worry with and you can get something newer at better price

40/50 Tahustsu TLDI on a semi V hull would be ideal for a first rig. As stated, you can upgrade from there, but it'd be perfect for both fresh and salt. Can find a good used rig on Southeasttexas.com or other classified im sure.

Good luck.

I would stay away from a force engine,they are ok when they run.....but they are known for giving problems and the parts are getting hard to come by. Like others have said I would go with a 14-16' jon style boat with a 25-50 mercury,yamaha,or tohatsu. I ran a 1448 alweld with a 25 merc for years,it was my first rig. Did everything in that lil boat...fished the bay and basin...even pulled a small troll for shrimp. Wish I never sold it.

These would make a good one....

http://www.southeasttexas.com/classi...de=&distance=0

http://www.southeasttexas.com/classi...de=&distance=0

x 2 on the Force engine, I would not have one if it was given to me. The boat itself looks nice, but for 4k you can almost be fully rigged out with a new or almost new aluminum 15' boat, motor, troll motor and trailer

More like 8k....new motors are crazy expensive. A 25 is over 3k alone.

I'd go for the last link Montauk posted.. in just minutes of work and she'll be a 50 h.p.

Stay away from Force/Chysler OB's.

americanyachtsales.com

They are a repo company.
The boats price on the website is the value of the boat.
Make an offer and see if the bank takes it.
If sold at the price on the website, the bank and repo company make a big profit.
Just throw out a low ball offer, 1/2 of the price they are asking and see if they accept.
Be sure to go look at it first.

For your first boat i wouldnt go smaller than a 1648, i have a 1648 with a 25 and it runs 27mph. It has plenty of room for me to move around and has good size sides on it. I would go with atleast 16' and 25hp ideally 40hp though

No matter what you buy, 2 years down the road, you will want a bigger boat.
Unless you run in the marshes and canals only.
It's called footitis

18FT MANATEE, 150 Evinrude, 20hrs on rebuilt motor, bimini top, good condition, $2200 Was told it was a 1970 something hull
http://i50.tinypic.com/2r59s85.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/671ljc.jpg

what about this would that be a good boat for starting off? was told it had a soft spot but he said he cover it with a new board?

That looks like a money pit if you ask me.

no such thing as a "starter boat". It's either a good boat or it isn't. Don't buy any junk or you'll just regret it.

This! When it comes to boats, don't try and save a buck because you'll end up spending 2. The old saying goes, when you buy quality, you only cry once.

Just remember that BOAT is an acronym for Break Out Another Thousand.

I would get something never that holds it value over something that you would have to get right and the only value is the sentiamental value that you put in it.

Pluses for boats.

Welded over Riveted

Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki some lower HP Mercury, Mid 1990's Model Evinrude/Johnson 60 or 70 HP, under 50 HP Tohatsu/Nissan over any other year Evinrude, Johnson, high HP Mercury's , Force, Chrysler, E-Tec although some people swear by them.

Uncarpeted over Carpet

Hand Control troll Motor over foot control

Thanks for all the tips guys. Hopefully a will find one tired of fishing the bank and pier so limited on the fishing.

Man just buy a alweld, southfork or some other type of welded aluminum boat that's wide open with a 25-40 hp. tiller handle and has a 55lb or higher trolling motor and you will be way better off then any other boat you find in the $5000 range plus you can keep it if you ever buy something bigger or atleast get most of your money back from it...... people give boats away like that last one you posted to get them out their yrd.

Never buy a fiberglass boat with soft spots... Nothing but trouble

Wait around and the right deal will come along. Be patient a boat is not something you want to have buyers remorse about

1993 sea ark mcbass 160 with 93 mercury outboard. Hull is in great shape no leaks few scatches.but just from using it. it haz two live wells with workin pumpes and lots of space.humingbird fish finder 300x trailer in great shape spare tire also is attached to trailer! I have both titles in hand! the motor in the past year has had a new power pack and trigger and water pump and puttin power trim on it now
THAT WAS FROM A craigslist POST

He said he was going to give me a ride tom if it was interested... 2800 is that a decent starter boat?

http://i47.tinypic.com/2553wpv.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/daek8.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/zxt9h1.png

Hey Haoward

My son has an awesome 20 SEA-CRAFT ( 21' he forced to sell because his wife who is pregant...

It has a 200 Mercury offshore series, with a brand new lower unit.. Great boat for bay, reefs, and outside on a good day. Before I bought my triton we went 25 miles offshore many times. It has a new 80# MK hand-control TM. 3 new TM batteries, 2 engine batteries with a perko switch,VHF, nice bimini top, the works.

All on a really nice Alum double axle trailer...Motor and boat runs awesome.. No mechanical problems @ all.

He's asking 6,500.00 Which Is a steal...

He Is selling also because I own a 24' triton LTS which he can use if he needs too.

I don't have pic.'s but I can get them....

Thanks

Gunner AKA Biggun

Kayak:D

I think of a starter boat as reduced size and horsepower rather than poor quality.

A 1648 aluminum hill with a 20-40 hp tiller motor will give a new boater a way to get around on the water, gain experience, etc. I've been happy with my 16 foot alumacraft for six years and just started dreaming of my next boat earlier this year.

I thought about it but i rather have another person with me or 2.

Just got back from checking out and test drive 1993 sea ark mcbass 160 with 93 mercury outboard

here are some picture and can yall tell me anything you see that will give me problem later on thanks he is asking 2800 for it.

Bad that i notice.
-he removed the tilt for the motor.
-carpet are old
-the boat is somewhat scratch up and they is no bad dent in it.
-I noticed when i gave it gas it start to smoke a little but then it would stop is that normal?

http://i47.tinypic.com/33uvhg9.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/2i1hwua.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/2vts5r6.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/21jpvlk.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/r9lem8.jpg

Sea arks are well built boats. How long were yall out for? Did you check to see if the boat got any water in it? Check the transom/hull for pitting from saltwater use. Did the trailer appear solid? rust? surface rust? Most 2 strokes smoke. My johnson does it until it gets warmed up. I wouldnt worry with the carpet, you can tear it out or replace it cheap. If you're gonna use it in.saltwater i wouod rip it out

We were out for about 30 min at 1st it was dieing out but when we left the dock it didn't do it. He said it was the water separator? from not running the boat in couple weeks. No pitting most of the bolt were SS except the bolt for the trolling motor. The trailer was 7/10 tires where changed out last year and look like fresh grease on the bearing.

The steering wheel seem hard but he said he just gota grease the motor part up, also he said he was going give me a ride on it again Monday if i were serious about buying it.

so is 2800 a good price or should i try to knock it down a little more?

http://i50.tinypic.com/6r1xzq.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/289e7vt.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/2ef3vdh.jpg

If it was dying i would be hesitant on buying it. I would ask him if he fixed the water seperator and greased the motor before you take it out again. You could offer $2500 and the worst that can happen is he tell you no.