Need Boat Advice....quick!

surfman · 01-22-07, 10:34 AM

It's scary buying your first boat. I've been saving my nickles, but am not a rich guy...I only have savings, no income.
Passed up 4 good buys on boats in the last 4 yrs, and I'm getting tired of waiting. Saw ad on Craiglist near me for 1990 19ft Nitro, with cover, trailer (single axle-small tires),2 fish finders, 2live wells, trolling motor with big foot, 1981 140 Merc inline 6. $4,250
That seemed like in my price range, and I always wanted a 20ft boat. Before I run up there and buy it, I phoned a local boat sales/repair shop. They said Merc in line 6 pile of junk, can't find parts to do rebuild if needed.
What do you guys think? Pass and keep looking?

betursweetbass · 01-22-07, 10:50 AM

My opinion, get what you want, and don't settle....you have waited this long, so why not give it more time and get the 20footer you want. You may not have to wait long, it could be right around the corner.
Good Luck

Vabass22 · 01-22-07, 11:35 AM

Wait. If you do, you can get EXACTLY what you want. If you buy that boat, a nice 20 footer will be for cheap about 2 days later.
(or at least thats what would happen to me!)

bassbooger · 01-22-07, 01:07 PM

Ask yourself this question. What do you want? If you want this boat, then get it. If not, then don't. It is your money that will be buying it and not anyone else's. Good luck with whatever you do decide.

skeeter944 · 01-22-07, 01:35 PM

those big boats are good in rough water,but i know i like a 18 footer,and i think thats what ol' zook likes also. but,get what you want a buy the best you can afford. welcome to the forum BTW!

surfman · 01-22-07, 04:02 PM

Thanks fellas! I phoned the man and cancelled the appointment to buy the boat. I guess I really haven't zeroed in on what exactly I want in a boat. I'm going to the boat show in San Antonio this week. Maybe get a better idea.
I guess most bass boats are 18ft, and a guide told me 20ft is too much boat to handle by yourself. But, I got the idea when I saw 2 18footers in a guy's yard, and a 20 ft beside them. I asked what's up? He said his partner and him were on Falcon Lake when there came a squall. Every time they hit a wave, the boat filled with water. Finally, he cut the motor, jerked opened the cooler and threw a beer at his buddy! "Were gonna die anyway, might as well enjoy it!" Said he looked up and here came a fella in a 20footer that reached right across two waves and once and walked right on. Told me he went right to the boat dealer when he got home a bought that 20footer, and was selling the other two. (That was years ago when I didn't want a bass boat yet)

bassnman30 · 01-22-07, 04:57 PM

The six cylinder Merc. is not a good engine due the facts that you were stated. I have an 18' boat that handles well.
Alot of anglers these days prefer an 18' boat.
You may want a bigger boat so thats what you should get.
1990 ? Thats not even new,if you get a boat in that year range, make sure that everything is in good working order.
However, "Once you go Ranger, you'll never go back".

zooker · 01-22-07, 06:44 PM

pass the merc tower of power inline 6 is as stated hard to find parts for ....imo if you are buyin used look for a moter newer than a 95..

zooker

01-22-07, 10:34 AM	#1
surfman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 16	Need Boat Advice....quick! It's scary buying your first boat. I've been saving my nickles, but am not a rich guy...I only have savings, no income. Passed up 4 good buys on boats in the last 4 yrs, and I'm getting tired of waiting. Saw ad on Craiglist near me for 1990 19ft Nitro, with cover, trailer (single axle-small tires),2 fish finders, 2live wells, trolling motor with big foot, 1981 140 Merc inline 6. $4,250 That seemed like in my price range, and I always wanted a 20ft boat. Before I run up there and buy it, I phoned a local boat sales/repair shop. They said Merc in line 6 pile of junk, can't find parts to do rebuild if needed. What do you guys think? Pass and keep looking?

01-22-07, 11:35 AM	#3
Vabass22 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Northern Va Posts: 1,120	Wait. If you do, you can get EXACTLY what you want. If you buy that boat, a nice 20 footer will be for cheap about 2 days later. (or at least thats what would happen to me!) __________________ Hit that water awful hard! olddominionsports..com

01-22-07, 01:07 PM	#4
bassbooger BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dallas, NC Posts: 316	Ask yourself this question. What do you want? If you want this boat, then get it. If not, then don't. It is your money that will be buying it and not anyone else's. Good luck with whatever you do decide. __________________ cast, reel, cast!!! Repeat if necessary!! Dallas, NC

01-22-07, 04:02 PM	#6
surfman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 16	Thanks fellas! I phoned the man and cancelled the appointment to buy the boat. I guess I really haven't zeroed in on what exactly I want in a boat. I'm going to the boat show in San Antonio this week. Maybe get a better idea. I guess most bass boats are 18ft, and a guide told me 20ft is too much boat to handle by yourself. But, I got the idea when I saw 2 18footers in a guy's yard, and a 20 ft beside them. I asked what's up? He said his partner and him were on Falcon Lake when there came a squall. Every time they hit a wave, the boat filled with water. Finally, he cut the motor, jerked opened the cooler and threw a beer at his buddy! "Were gonna die anyway, might as well enjoy it!" Said he looked up and here came a fella in a 20footer that reached right across two waves and once and walked right on. Told me he went right to the boat dealer when he got home a bought that 20footer, and was selling the other two. (That was years ago when I didn't want a bass boat yet) Last edited by surfman; 01-22-07 at 04:06 PM. Reason: spelling

01-22-07, 04:57 PM	#7
bassnman30 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lexington,NC-Worlds best BBQ. Posts: 1,945	The six cylinder Merc. is not a good engine due the facts that you were stated. I have an 18' boat that handles well. Alot of anglers these days prefer an 18' boat. You may want a bigger boat so thats what you should get. 1990 ? Thats not even new,if you get a boat in that year range, make sure that everything is in good working order. However, "Once you go Ranger, you'll never go back". __________________ Lexington,NC.

01-22-07, 10:50 AM	#2
betursweetbass BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 646	My opinion, get what you want, and don't settle....you have waited this long, so why not give it more time and get the 20footer you want. You may not have to wait long, it could be right around the corner. Good Luck

01-22-07, 01:35 PM	#5
skeeter944 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Somewhere in South Carolina Posts: 2,377	those big boats are good in rough water,but i know i like a 18 footer,and i think thats what ol' zook likes also. but,get what you want a buy the best you can afford. welcome to the forum BTW!

01-22-07, 06:44 PM	#8
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	pass the merc tower of power inline 6 is as stated hard to find parts for ....imo if you are buyin used look for a moter newer than a 95.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

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