Purchasing a New or Used boat advice please

[piper]

Good morning,

Its been awhile but I still lurk quite a bit. My wonderful fiance' has informed me that she wants to get me a boat for my 40th birthday. My current budget is around 20k signed, sealed , and delivered. My goal is to have it striper ready inside this price range. My biggest goals are nice electronics and a trolling motor which puts my boat budget in the 15k range. Ive read that now is the time to purchase so my wheels are a turning.

I have a few questions as Ive only bought one boat and in retrospect, wish I knew more. Ive never been taught the ins and outs of boat buying. So for the well experienced on here are there things specifically I should be looking for? My main goal will be fishing with the average of 4 people on board as well as a bait tank. My guess was I dont want anything less then 150 hp for SML. Ive read about transom inspections and signs of rot. What would that look like? . Are there things of concern I would notice on the motor besides prop issues? Would pulling a spark plug tell me anything? Anything else to be on the lookout for?

I appreciate everyones time and looking forward to getting back in the fold and posting reports .

[johnr]

Well I will give some non mainstream advice...

First, buy a boat you can afford to use comfortably, by yourself. The biggest boat is nice when you have a boat full, but how often will 4 people be joining you? Be realistic. I’ve been there, bought a big boat so everyone who always was wanting to go, could go. And I still fished alone 90% of the time. So it was a waste to tow, fuel, handle and clean by myself.

I strongly believe there is a point of no return in electronics for a weekend warrior angler. By that, I mean there is a point when it is overkill for a couple trips per month. Pro anglers can use them and make the most of them, and make money from them. Are they necessary to catch fish on a lake you are familiar with? Uh, no. Of course that’s my opinion and I’ve been making due with (2) 7” refurbished units for several years now. Same with the trolling motor. Buy quality, skip the bells and whistles. Put the money into a reliable boat.

Google is your friend when kicking tires. If the make/model of boat, motor or trailer has issues, Google will tell you. If the boat looks taken care of, chances are good it was all taken care of. If it looks neglected or recently refurbished, I’d steer clear.

Engines can be a crapshoot. Check the oils. Pull the plugs. Ask for a compression test. Spin the prop. Remove the prop and look at the seals. Inspect the fuel lines and see if it has a water separator. Check the pitot inlet for wood. TAKE.IT.FOR.A.LONG.RIDE.

Trailers are always overlooked. A bad trailer under a great boat can make your boating experience terrible. Dual axels under anything over 18’ long!!!!

Look at as many boats as you can. Figure out what you need, find that boat and then find one you can afford. It’s easy to buy the wrong one, but very very hard to sell it when you don’t like it.

[piper]

Wow,

Thanks for the quick reply. What should the process be for being able to test drive the boat? I'm assuming most dealers have water close by. Do you need to pay for the fuel or the salesmans time? Do they normally trailer it to water? I know some just want to do the ear muff thing but that never made sense to me.

Regarding electronics.. I'm just a GAS freak and know if I don't go crazy and buy the best I will obsess about what I am missing out on. Just a character flaw I have that has costed me a lot of money over the years. Your advice is spot on. Its something I need to overcome as I'm sure a better boat is much better then better electronics up front.

[johnr]

Start with no electronics and just fish! You’ll see. Give it 90 days. I’ve been on both sides of the fence here and am like you, a what-if gear junkie.

Also, if buying from a dealer, they WILL provide a test ride before the deal is closed and it will be complimentary. Otherwise, they ain’t your dealer. If you’re just kicking tires, I wouldn’t worry about asking. But when you are down to your selected boats and you’ve worked a deal or are working a deal, then it’s time for test rides.

I stress the LONG part of the test ride. I’ve seen a few engines that run fine for 20 minutes, then they ain’t worth a dang. Hard to find that out on a five minute ride around the marina....

And don’t trust that the dealer is selling you a used gem. They’ll stiff you just like Joe Schmo on the street. Be thorough with any used boat.

Also, buy local. Service is much easier this way, and you’re less likely to get stuck at the end of the service list when the time comes.

[31Airborne]

I agree w/ much of what johnr gave you. Here are a few other views to consider as you ponder your choices.

1) Don't work about finding rot or other structural or mechanical deficiencies in your target boat. Let a trained, certified technician do that for you. You may have to pay a bit up front but the peace of mind you'll enjoy in the long term is well worth the investment. You want your tech to go over the motor, wiring, steering, all of it with a fine tooth comb. Drag the boat to a marina or service location if you're considering a boat from a private seller.

2) I strongly recommend having some sort of electronix on board, preferably one w/ GPS for navigating. Having a basic unit will enable the fishing.

3) Insist on a test drive irrespective of who is selling the boat. If you don't like it don't buy it. If you're considering a boat from a dealer ask for the previous owner's contact info. Talk to the previous owner about maintenance, service, etc.

4) Johnr's advice on checking the trailer is sage. Rust, bad brakes (if the trailer has them), bad seals on the axle are fairly easy to spot. Again, let the tech do this for you.

5) If you're really, no-kidding going to have 4 people on board most times you go out you prob oughta consider 'toons. If the reality is it'll likely be you and the old lady then a center console may be a better choice. There are some really slick aluminum hull sleds out there that are well within your price range. Recommend keeping your options open initially, then dial in as you get a better feel for what's available for your budget.

I have some recommendations on dealers in the area. Have had my share of experiences, good and bad. Happy to share any/all. Shoot me a PM if interested.

[troutrus]

Before buying. Purchase one of these and Do this yourself.
www.amazon.com/8MILELAKE-Professional-Petrol-Cylinder-Compression/dp/B013OL5TBG/ref=sr_1_8?hvadid=3527160801&hvbmt=be&hvdev=t&hvqmt=e&keywords=compression+test&qid=1578776060&sr=8-8

[hotdog]

This is a link from another forum for dates and manufactures of boats with wood free construction.


www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/369092-no-wood-manufacturer-list-compilation.html

[piper]

Thanks for all of the great input. While I initially wanted to jump headfirst into the shallows on this I think Im going to take a more reserved approach. Ive read comments regarding getting what you want/need up front vs getting something cheap that you regret and end up spending more soon after. For reference I love the look of the Tahoe 2150 CC as it is all in one but also almost 40K.

The first step is going up to the Richmond boat show to get a feel for everything. I'm sure this isnt wise but want to get an idea of various brands. I will be taking a car and kids so hopefully this will temper the impulses a bit.

[31Airborne]

I think going to boat show to see/compare options is a smart move. It's the best place to climb in'em, get a feel for how they'd work for you.

[mwardncsu]

Went to the Raleigh Bass & Saltwater show yesterday - the new boat market is clearly on the upswing as there were a bunch of 24-27' bay boats in the floor - used to be you could not find a 24' to look at outside of the brochure - you were luck to see a 22.....

And the price tags.... but there are some NICE boats out there now... shame they are not more well suited to striper fishing - so much space dedicated to front and rear casting decks and no where for a bait tank........

[piper]

Jan 13, 2020 10:12:11 GMT -5 mwardncsu said:

Went to the Raleigh Bass & Saltwater show yesterday - the new boat market is clearly on the upswing as there were a bunch of 24-27' bay boats in the floor - used to be you could not find a 24' to look at outside of the brochure - you were luck to see a 22.....

And the price tags.... but there are some NICE boats out there now... shame they are not more well suited to striper fishing - so much space dedicated to front and rear casting decks and no where for a bait tank........

Mike,

Thats actually what I was noticing on the 2150. Everything looks good but no room for a bait tank. Anything reasonable catch your eye brand wise? I know Tahoe is not top tier and Ive read of issues regarding customer support. I'm hoping if I go with a local dealer (Conrad) that I will have better luck.

[piper]

Well the boat show was a treat. While a majority of the "off shore" options were great they were waaaaay out of my price range. I did find a few offerings with the best being Nautic Star. Is anyone familiar with Nautic Star boats? These were gorgeous and checked off a number off options, including a toilet for the better half.

[mwardncsu]

I almost pulled the trigger on a NauticStar Bay boat 10 years ago when I ended up punching my Sea Hunt. I went with the Sea Hunt at the last moment due to the deck layout in back.

It's been 10 years so things may have changed - but the fit & finish at the time seemed a bit higher end on the NS over the SH - though from what I've heard that may not be the case in terms of how it held up long-term. The wiring was average - I'd put NS in the mid-tier with Sea Hunt, Tidewater, etc - certainly not the best you can get by any means - but not the worst either...

Not sure which model you're looking at as they had the full bay boat with fully finished liners, etc - and then also had the rolled gunnel types that were a bit more value-line

[piper]

Jan 29, 2020 9:58:37 GMT -5 mwardncsu said:

I almost pulled the trigger on a NauticStar Bay boat 10 years ago when I ended up punching my Sea Hunt. I went with the Sea Hunt at the last moment due to the deck layout in back.

It's been 10 years so things may have changed - but the fit & finish at the time seemed a bit higher end on the NS over the SH - though from what I've heard that may not be the case in terms of how it held up long-term. The wiring was average - I'd put NS in the mid-tier with Sea Hunt, Tidewater, etc - certainly not the best you can get by any means - but not the worst either...

Not sure which model you're looking at as they had the full bay boat with fully finished liners, etc - and then also had the rolled gunnel types that were a bit more value-line

The Nauticstar 211 hybrid was one option I liked