New boat versus used????

[motocross269]

Ok here is the question...You have around 30 thousand to spend on a boat..what should you do??? Buy a brand new 19 foot boat with around a 200 horse or go out on the market and try and find a used 20+ footer with a larger engine?  I have been hearing horror stories from my buddy about how all michigan tournament rigs have cracked Gel coats because they have been beat on the big water.  This rig will be used for BFL tournaments and some club tournaments.

What do you think?

[MBell]

Buy used, you can get whatever you want for $25,000 in this market.  Remember the engine is half the value, boats are relatively cheap.  I'd be more worried about a crack in the transom or stringers.  All gel coats can crack not just beat up rigs.  The gel coat is mostly cosmetic, it's just a clear usually 2 part epoxy type coat.  Make sure the boat is wood free and the motor is good and you should be fine. 
-Matt

[Slick]

There are lots of deals to be had on new boats that are new but 1 or 2 years old siting on the dealers lots, can save some good money this way, I did.. Cya Slick

[Jason Ammerman]

If you are going to buy a boat for the BFL's buy a walleye boat. They are better in the big water and they have a better resale value.

[djkimmel]

Not saying do it, just something to consider - knowledge it power... but you already realize that, which is why you ask: Walleye Boats for Great Lakes Bass Fishing

[canvsbk]

 MBELL and Slick are right - 25 grand will get you just about anything you want used or non current.

[McCarter]

I am going to have to disagree with some of you here.

For $15,000, yeah look for a decent used boat.  But if you have $30,000 to play with, you would be crazy not to buy a new boat.  Just for the simple reason of warranty.  You never really know what u are getting when you buy used.  You could buy a boat that looks brand new and five miles down the road, you could have a weld break on your trailer.  Whos gonna pay for that?  You are.  Or you could blow your engine in the first 15 minutes of use.  whos paying for that one, you again. 

At least with a new boat, you know what has happened to it, cuz you are the original owner.  and if something does break, its covered for the first couple years, no worries.

Plus, there are all sorts of incentives when buying new.  Stratos has great incentives right now.  Clothing certificates for $200, Cabelas gift cards for $500.  Extended warrantys on select outboards.

And, your wont get that new boat smell with a used boat.  that makes it worth it right there.  Nothing beats the new boat smell. 

Seriously, if you have $30,000 to play with, buy new man.  Less headaches and worries and everything is covered.

Someone mentioned non currents as well.  Definatly check them out.  They still come with full warranty that starts the day you pick the boat up.  no worries.  Wonderland Marine West in Howell has a great selection of Ranger and Stratos bass and walleye boats, both new and non current.  I would highly recommend checking them out.

I bought used and blew my engine.  I have to pay that expense out of my pocket.  It is going to be a lot.  i dont have the money, i dont even know if i will be fishing next season. 

Buy new.  Especially for the money you have to spend on a  boat.

McCarter himself

[joshimoto son]

I agree with everyone.

I like the used boat idea because of the financial advantage of getting a rig that you want for less. You can buy boats with warranty still on the motors. I know for a fact that the warranty on my Opti-Max is transferable. To me it's like buying a car, you can buy new, but the price of that boat is going to drop the minute you pull that thing off the lot. If you don't believe me, look at the prices on the 2006 boats that are for sale.

I believe in buying new when you know exactly what you want and you want to take advantage of the "Original Owner" incentives that are out there, such as in the Stren Series and FLW tours. That, in itself, opens a door that could pay for the boat. One last reason for buying new, if you know that this is the only boat you're going to own for a long time.

My two cents...

joshimoto son

[REEL_MAN]

You might look at the FLW outdoors staff boats. Some (most) have very few hours and they still carry the warranties. The prices are about 10,000 less than buying new from a dealer. PLUS they're Rangers and there is a wide variety of models.

REEL_MAN

[fishon1219]

Moto,
Like I told you in the PM I sent you. If you are planning on fishing in the BFL's you probably should consider looking at a new boat. With the inventory of boats out there right now in the Non-Current market you will be able to find an excellent deal that will put you in a boat that will last you 20+ years if you choose to keep it that long.

Also, I have to agree with McCarter on buying a used boat. The first boat I ever boat was used and looked to be in great condition and after my 3rd trip out in it I need to put a brand new hull on it. So I was out of a boat for a full year and making payments on something I couldnt enjoy. Unless you are buying a used boat from somebody you know, you dont really know what you are getting.

[McCarter]

You might look at the FLW outdoors staff boats. Some (most) have very few hours and they still carry the warranties. The prices are about 10,000 less than buying new from a dealer. PLUS they're Rangers and there is a wide variety of models.

REEL_MAN

Plus, you would still be considered 'original owner' of these boats.  since they have never been registered to an individual.  that would get you in for Ranger contingencies.

Wonderland has a couple FLW boats on hand right now.  They have Ranger 520 and 521s at unbelievable prices. 

McCarter himself

[dhuff]

I would definatly buy a nice used boat.  I just picked up a 20ft Triton with a 200 optimax on it with dual axel trailer for around 20K.  Boat looks and runs like new.  I went to the ultimate fishing show and had all kinds of prices thrown my way but that's where the comparison stopped for me.  If you want something big for the greatlakes then see what kind of price you get for a new one at a dealer.  High prices is what you will get.  I took several prices on one and two year old boats they had at the dealer and for atleast a 20ft boat with atleast a 200 hp motor I didn't want to spend that much.  So I say if you got 30K to play with find a nice used one for around 20-25k and then you will still have 5-10k left for upgrades or for that just incase weld brake or motor trouble.  I think you will be alot farther ahead that way.  Just my .02 worth.

[MBell]

Don't the ranger incentives only last for the first two years of a new boat? 
-Matt

[McCarter]

So I say if you got 30K to play with find a nice used one for around 20-25k and then you will still have 5-10k left for upgrades or for that just incase weld brake or motor trouble.  I think you will be alot farther ahead that way.  Just my .02 worth.

The only argument i have with that is:

you may save 5-10k by going with a used boat, but unless you actually have that money in your bank account with nothing else to do with it but wait until something does go wrong, you will have to figure out a way to come up with that money last minute to get the problem fixed and get back out on the water.  With a new boat warranty, you are covered.

If you are financing, new is the way to go for that price range, unless you absolutly no doubt in your mind have to have a 21 footer with a 250 hp, buy new.  your not going to get a new 21 footer with a 250 for $30k.

Guys, this is just my opinion based on my experience and talking to literally hundreds of people over the past few years while working boat and trade shows.  I understand that buying used boats is not a bad thing, but for that price range i just dont see the sense in it.  You can get everything you need to fish any lake for bass, including LSC and Erie ( trust me, fishon and I fished Erie last year out of a 18.5 ft Stratos and it was awesome, even on very very windy nasty wavy crummy days ) buying a new 19.5 ft for under 30k or a non current 20+ ft for not much more. 

Either way Moto, i am excited for you that you are looking for a boat.  new or used, $30k or $20k, you will have a blast in it, no doubt.  Nothing in the world is better than having a boat.  I call shot gun at least one day in it. 

McCarter himself

[smbassman]

For the money you want to spend, I suggest you look at a one year old boat.  Most will still have 4+yrs of warranty on the motor and if you are smart and buy a BassCat    they have transferable lifetime warranties on the hull.  Unfortunately you have to travel a bit to get the best bass boat made  but take a look at Sherm's Marine in Indiana. 

Or you can buy mine, and I'll go get a newer one from Sherm(don't tell my wife I said that ) - but one things for sure, my next boat will be a BassCat.  I couldn't be happier with it and have yet to be in a better riding boat on the big water.

[LGMOUTH]

 I think the best deals out there are the team deals, just about every boat line has these team boats. They are used for one or two years and sold at very reasonable price and still have the warranties on them.
Not to say that Skeeter is the best but I sold my Skeeter last year for $20,000 less than new and it was only used for about 5 months. I know you can go online and find a 2006 Skeeter ZX225 for around $30,000. Im sure there are other Boat lines that have these same deals. The best ones I believe would be the boats that are used up north because they are only used for one summer and not from January til Dec.

Just like the FLW staff boats there are alot of these team boats out there..

[motocross269]

I am probably at least a year out from making a move for a boat..I want to take a year or so and see how things work out in the BFL and see how things go at Ford (where I work)..I currently have a small ranger that will get me by this year for pre-fishing and I am fishing as a Co-angler. 
I have been looking at prices though..and it seems to me anything around 20 ft with a 225 on it was around 40,000..and there seems to be a ton of boats on the market for 20-30 thousand used. 
That is one of the benefits I will have this year fishing as a Co-Angler. I will get a chance to ride in a few different boats and get an Idea what I need..
I don't think you have to be the original owner of a ranger to get contingency money in BFL..You just have to be a boater.  I don't think there is a year limit on the boat either.
As far as a walleye boat goes, You have to have a back deck to fish BFL..
Do any of them have back decks??
I am a Ranger fan, but I was checking out the triton PD..Has a deeper Hull...Looks like a nice boat, anyone have any experience with that rig.
But again It is over 40,000.
Thanks alot for all of the input...

[yukonjack2]

I would have to agree with most on here - a 1-2 year old pro-boat independant of brand is the way to go . you get the warranty transferred to you for a few years (taking away the unknown of older boat problems as Mccarter pointed out). There are give and takes with this method - gives are that you are not the original owner - so if you are going to enter Stren, FLW, ...etc as a boater will not get you the higher incentives.  The takes - they come loaded with options usually - think about the cost to rig the new boat out - Hydr. Jack plates, extra props,4-bank chargers, high thrust TM, top end electronics, extra flashers and the like, hanbys, ... can all add up to big bucks after you buy that new boat. I bought a 2003 in late 2004, and couldn't be happier with the results.

Jack

[MaizeNBlue]

I guess I'll through my opinion in here, seeing how having a boat is just like having a 2nd car, at least to me. If I had that kind of money to spend, it would be on a new one, simple reason, warranty! and peace of mind, especially how finicky boats can be at times.

[motocross269]

I read the Article that Dan wrote on Walleye boats for Bass fishing and it has me thinking...My only concern is FLW rules state that The Back Deck has to be factory installed and Not portable..Would the Ranger Removable Back deck be considered A violation?