The outdoor and boating shows will soon be in our areas, and you've finally decided to buy your first boat. The thought of being able to fish whenever and wherever you want, finally pick the sweet spots, and having the first crack at those monster bass has you on an emotional high. Here are some things you should consider before venturing out and spending your hard-earned cash.
Tow Vehicle
An adequate tow vehicle is one of the most essential pieces of equipment. When loaded with fuel and gear, bass boats and their trailers can easily weigh over 3500 lbs. You want to ensure that the vehicle you plan to tow your boat has the rating to get the job done, especially when pulling your boat up hills or mountains.
Bass Boats
Hopefully, by now, you've spent more than a few tournaments and pre-fishing days as a non-boater, and you've been able to ride in various boats. You may even have a specific make and model in mind. However, if this is going to be the first boat you've ever owned, consider a used boat.
You need to answer some critical questions before buying a boat. What size of water will you be fishing in? If it's going to be small rivers and lakes, you could get by with a smaller boat with a smaller outboard motor. If you plan on fishing vast bodies of water, you should consider a larger boat, probably a minimum of 19 feet, especially if you'll be running 20- to30-miles to find that honey hole.
Aluminum
An aluminum boat is much cheaper than fiberglass and much more forgiving of mishaps like banging into the dock, running up into the shallows, and hitting submerged stumps or rocks. However, they ride rougher and are easily blown around with the slightest wind. A 16-17 foot aluminum bass boat is a good choice in smaller lakes.
Fiberglass
A fiberglass boat is much more expensive than aluminum; it can cost around $20,000 to over $100,000 for a top-of-line boat, but it can handle bigger, rougher water and give you a much smoother ride. They can go much faster. I'd suggest that you go with a 4-stroke outboard. They cost a little more, but if you're planning on covering lots of water and keeping the boat for a while, it will pay off in the reduced fuel cost. They are also much quieter and cleaner than a 2-stroke engine.
New vs. Used
There are several advantages to buying a used bass boat. Not only is it less expensive than a new boat, but you get more boat for your money, and used boats tend to hold their value much better. There are also disadvantages; you can end up with someone else's headaches. Outboard engines are known for being short-lived and for other things that don't appear on casual inspection. If you're planning to buy a used boat, either buy from someone you know and trust, like the people in your local fishing club, or ask one of them to go with you to inspect and look at the boat or find out from them how to inspect a boat. You can also find used boat inspection guidelines on the internet. Just remember that whether it's a new or used boat, they should be willing to negotiate the price, just like when buying a car.
Boat Handling
Believe it or not, boat handling has many subtle nuances, not just learning to launch and retrieve your boat or backing down the ramp. When I first learned to handle my boat, I had a difficult time, especially putting the boat back onto the trailer. I was lucky that the director of our local American Bass angler district, who used to guide down in Texas, could help me. He went out with me and taught me in 4 hours what would have taken me a long time and probably lots of repairs to find out. He taught me to listen for the pitch change when trimming down, how to handle shallow water take-offs, and much more. I'm sure many of your local district members would do the same for you, so don't be afraid to ask. Everyone had to learn somehow, and I have yet to meet a boat owner that wasn't willing to help someone learn.
Buying a boat is an exciting time, and whether you buy a new or used boat, I know you'll enjoy your time on the water. Good luck and good fishing.
