Hey guys – need advise – buying first bassboat!!

I have decided it is time to make the jump and retire the old Alumacraft. I am looking for advise of ANY kind with reference to getting a bass boat, particularly from river anglers like you guys. Fiberglass or aluminum? Brands? Size? (but basically, have decided that it will be 19 feet or under to fit in garage).

I am looking for any likes/dislikes you guys have found from owning/fisihing in different makes and years of boats on the river.

I am looking for something around $10-11,000, which I have found puts me in the 1993-1996 range as far as 18 footers go.

Sorry to be so vague, but I am looking to get as much info as can to make the informed decision.

Thanks to anyone who helps.

Moss Boss, if you plan on traveling the channel alot on weekends I would definitely go as big as you can on your budget. With the bigger boats on the channel your going to need every foot to keep from being “tossed around”. Also make sure the boat you buy has a motor close to the maximum horsepower. With a tank full of gas and full livewells some boats that are underpowered have a heck of a time getting on plane. If you fish alot of slop and shallow weedbeds you might want to think about going aluminum.

A nice 18 foot tunnel hull sounds good. My experiences on the mighty miss. have showed me that if you like to get in those nasty places go alum. If I had a glass boat it would be full of holes. Plus those tunnel hulls run so shallow and the lower unit isn’t stickin down below the boat. If I had that much to spend thats what I would get but that is just me.

Dodgeboy,

Whatta mean if you had that kinda money….you got it you just have to open that cast iron wallet of yours. ;o) How has the hard water been the last few days?

For a bass boat,

I also would go aluminum with all the wingdams that you can encounter.

Good luck hope you find what you need

Yeah right, if I had that much there would be a tunnel hull sitting next to my truck. Fishing has been tough lately. Went tue and wed with little success. But on wed. I caught a 4 lbs. bass on my noodle rod. That was quite the experence. Nobody around to get a pic though. Caught him on a tiny ratfinky.

I have a couple of boats that would fall easily into your $. Both are fiberglass late model bass boats 1998 and 1999 . Our dealership was bought out and the new owner didnt want anything to do with bass boats. Email me for specifics, Ed

V6 outboards cost alot to run. 20 bucks worth of gas doesn’t go very far. But, if you want to go 60 mph that is what you need. Fiberglass takes alot of care or your boat looks like crap. It also looks much nicer than aluminum. If you don’t use some sense you can put a hole in either one. Yes it does take more water to float a 18 foot glass boat than it does a 16 foot aluminum. Not that much. Most of the top river tournament fishermen run 18-20 foot glass boats, they seem to get to the fish. The bigger the boat the better the ride. But, on the weekends in the summer during midday, you can’t buy a big enough boat to overcome the onslaught of white fiberglass wave makers. They make any journey on the main channel a bummer. If you fish often and close to your ramp, within a few miles, a 16-17 foot 2-3 cylinder rig works fine and is less expensive to own. I think boats in the 17-18′ with 4 cylinder are a good comprimise. My friend has a Ranger R70 with a 115 Faststrike. It is a great 17′ boat and runs around 50 mph. I’ve fished bass on the river seriously for over 20 years from 14’ers with 25 horses to 18’ers with 175s. Most important. Get a big 24 volt trolling motor.

Thanks for all the advise guys. Well, I got myself a boat.

1993 Ranger 482VS with a 175 Johnson FastStrike. Has a 1999 MinnKota Maxuum 74 Pound TM which I really like. Has Humminbird Electronics which I really don’t like.

Now all I need is Spring and some driving lessons!!!!!

Congradulations on your new rig. Did you get rid of your alumacraft???

Leinie –

Yep, alumacraft went to my dad.