Getting 1st Bass Boat

shawn · 07-27-09, 06:06 PM

Hi everyone. I've been lurking on this forum off and on for a few months and this is my first post.

I'm going to look at a bass boat tomorrow and wanted to get some opinions on it, what the guy is asking and what I should offer. This is my first boat of any kind so the whole experience is new to me.

I'll be using the boat near where I live in central Indiana so Summit Lake, Raccoon Lake, and I live about 5 minutes away from Geist Reservoir so I'll be fishing on that the most

The boat is a 1999 Bass Tracker 175 and the guy is asking $4800 for it. I'm thinking about starting with an offer of $4000 and going from there. I have $5000 budgeted to spend on a boat, but I really don't want to pay over $4500 so I can use the rest for other costs like registration etc...

Here's the listing on craigslist: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/boa/1242703948.html

My question is... Is what he's asking for the boat worth it, and do you think my idea for a starting offer is good, or should I start higher/lower?

Thanks in advance!

woody · 07-28-09, 11:13 PM

Welcome to the Forum, Shawn!

That's a nice looking Tracker that your looking at. The price seems fair enough to me, but I'm by no means an expert boat broker. I haven't had my bass boat for very long, less than a year. I'm still learning. So how did it go?

By the way, I only live about 20 minutes from Giest Reservoir, 30th and German Church Road, maybe we can do some fishin' sometime. I'm still looking to catching the Big One out there. I do hear that it's a good bass lake.

If ya have any question, just give me a holler, and I'll do my best with an answer, or I'm sure someone here will be able too. Again I say "Welcome Aboard!"

~Mark

shawn · 07-29-09, 07:51 AM

Thanks for the reply.

I took a buddy of mine who has a bass boat and knows a bit about them along and he thinks it's a very good boat. I'm going to call the guy later this morning and make an offer. If he accepts, I'll go pick it up this evening! I'm so excited, I feel like a kid at Christmas!

That's cool that you live close. If you'd like to go fishing sometime, shoot me a PM and we'll set something up.

BassMoJo · 07-29-09, 09:30 AM

I bought a 2000 bass tracker pro team 175 in the same condition for 4g.

Jigger · 07-29-09, 10:24 AM

trackers are good boats. they take rough water surprisingly well. my only beef is with the trailers. mine is rotting. it's a 2000 model. I'm going to have to replace it this winter. their trailers are cheap made. everything else is well made.

shawn · 07-29-09, 10:29 AM

I just got off the phone with the seller. He went for $4200. I'm gonna pick it up tonight!

BassMoJo · 07-29-09, 10:49 AM

Congrats man u will find that to be the best 4200 that u have ever spent

woody · 07-29-09, 10:51 AM

That's a sweet deal.

I bet your still smiling

You are experiencing one of the happiest days in being a boat owner; the other is the day you sell it.

Congratulations

~Mark

Jigger · 07-29-09, 10:53 AM

I've been told that the two happiest days of your life are the day you buy your boat and the day you sell it !!!

Abbeysdad · 07-29-09, 10:59 AM

Sounds great....Now comes the real 'fun'. Bow line, stern line, anchor, rode and anchor line, fenders, first aid kit, coast guard approved fire extinguisher, distress flag, flares, PDF's for all occupants, lake maps... (I just got a new/used boat too and way new to boating)...trailer didn't have a spare so ordered one. Then realized the tires on the trailer had some dry rot...so ordered another to put two new tires/wheels on the trailer and use the better of the original as the spare... then I discovered that the trolling motor was hooked to a starting battery and didn't last very long (so got a new battery)...the mooring cover needed serious cleaning and is okay, but not great. The travel cover is pretty whipped...Gee a Bimini top would be nice (there's a bait monkey and then there's a boat gorilla!)

Enjoy the new boat and catch some serious lake size fish!

nofearengineer · 07-29-09, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abbeysdad

Sounds great....Now comes the real 'fun'. Bow line, stern line, anchor, rode and anchor line, fenders, first aid kit, coast guard approved fire extinguisher, distress flag, flares, PDF's for all occupants, lake maps... (I just got a new/used boat too and way new to boating)...trailer didn't have a spare so ordered one. Then realized the tires on the trailer had some dry rot...so ordered another to put two new tires/wheels on the trailer and use the better of the original as the spare... then I discovered that the trolling motor was hooked to a starting battery and didn't last very long (so got a new battery)...the mooring cover needed serious cleaning and is okay, but not great. The travel cover is pretty whipped...Gee a Bimini top would be nice (there's a bait monkey and then there's a boat gorilla!)

Enjoy the new boat and catch some serious lake size fish!

Haha, yep. I've seen this all before...4 months ago. I'm still not done buying "necessary" items for mine. I suspect I may never be done. Have fun, Shawn.

Fellow Hoosier,

Bryce

shawn · 07-29-09, 02:24 PM

Thanks guys. Some of the stuff you mentioned, he's including with the boat... but I'm sure there'll be a lot more that I'll find that I need lol!

pacordon · 07-29-09, 07:57 PM

Shawn: I've heard it said many times "that a boat is just a hole in the water that you pour money into" I think it is a true statement because I'm doing just that. Good luck and happy fishing.

Nater1300 · 07-30-09, 01:01 PM

Congrats! I know what you mean about feelin like a kid, I just picked up my first boat Sunday and can't wait to get it in the water!! I have already cleaned it twice.

shawn · 07-30-09, 08:09 PM

Gratz Nater! I've already cleaned mine once too lol. I'll take some pictures of it tomorrow and post them here for everyone to see

bonsaibp · 07-31-09, 09:36 AM

Congrats on the new boat,check out this website http://www.bassboatmagazine.com/inde...referrerid=157
I'm sure you'll find it very useful, and get all your boat questions answered.
Its been a great resource for me

shawn · 07-31-09, 01:55 PM

Thanks, I'll check it out!

Here are some pics I just took:

Snake2715 · 07-31-09, 02:09 PM

Nice deal man. I am running an older 1979 ski boat as my fishing beast..

I just got done doing the gel coat.. I think I am going to sell it this next spring and jump for something like yours.

Good deal there.

make sure to update with the first fish caught with her.

shawn · 07-31-09, 10:34 PM

Just got back from our first trip with her. I caught a 13 1/2" large mouth on the very first cast! Not a monster by any stretch, but pretty sweet I got one on the first cast

nofearengineer · 08-01-09, 04:36 PM

It's like the list of MLB players who hit home runs on their first at bat. Quite an auspicious beginning! WTG. Keep swinigin.

WTL · 08-01-09, 06:09 PM

I am very jealous. Thats the boat I want to move up to, and you got it for a price that would be more to my liking.

Nater1300 · 08-02-09, 10:06 AM

Nice boat!! I still have not had mine on the water

Money is tight this month and I need to refill the tank! I will post a pic or 2 also.

Nater1300 · 08-02-09, 10:27 AM

Here is a pic of my new boat. This is from a couple years ago in Canada. My uncle (sitting in the boat) passed away from cancer last year and my aunt asked if I wanted to keep the boat in the family. Thus my first boat

shawn · 08-02-09, 10:54 AM

Nice lookin boat! Sorry to hear about your uncle

Nater1300 · 08-02-09, 11:03 AM

Thanks shawn! Are you a Hoosier also? I saw the IN on the boat. Never fished Southern IN before. We will have to go fishin some time!

07-27-09, 06:06 PM	#1
shawn BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fortville, IN Posts: 38	Help with first boat Hi everyone. I've been lurking on this forum off and on for a few months and this is my first post. I'm going to look at a bass boat tomorrow and wanted to get some opinions on it, what the guy is asking and what I should offer. This is my first boat of any kind so the whole experience is new to me. I'll be using the boat near where I live in central Indiana so Summit Lake, Raccoon Lake, and I live about 5 minutes away from Geist Reservoir so I'll be fishing on that the most The boat is a 1999 Bass Tracker 175 and the guy is asking $4800 for it. I'm thinking about starting with an offer of $4000 and going from there. I have $5000 budgeted to spend on a boat, but I really don't want to pay over $4500 so I can use the rest for other costs like registration etc... Here's the listing on craigslist: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/boa/1242703948.html My question is... Is what he's asking for the boat worth it, and do you think my idea for a starting offer is good, or should I start higher/lower? Thanks in advance! Last edited by shawn; 07-27-09 at 09:25 PM.

07-29-09, 09:30 AM	#4
BassMoJo BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hampstead, MD Posts: 801	I bought a 2000 bass tracker pro team 175 in the same condition for 4g. __________________ This is my Signature there are many like it, but this one is mine.

07-29-09, 10:49 AM	#7
BassMoJo BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hampstead, MD Posts: 801	Congrats man u will find that to be the best 4200 that u have ever spent __________________ This is my Signature there are many like it, but this one is mine.

07-31-09, 02:09 PM	#18
Snake2715 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 249	Nice deal man. I am running an older 1979 ski boat as my fishing beast.. I just got done doing the gel coat.. I think I am going to sell it this next spring and jump for something like yours. Good deal there. make sure to update with the first fish caught with her. __________________ -Josh

07-31-09, 10:34 PM	#19
shawn BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fortville, IN Posts: 38	Just got back from our first trip with her. I caught a 13 1/2" large mouth on the very first cast! Not a monster by any stretch, but pretty sweet I got one on the first cast Last edited by shawn; 07-31-09 at 10:56 PM.

07-28-09, 11:13 PM	#2
woody BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jonesville, Indiana Posts: 3,597	Welcome to the Forum, Shawn! That's a nice looking Tracker that your looking at. The price seems fair enough to me, but I'm by no means an expert boat broker. I haven't had my bass boat for very long, less than a year. I'm still learning. So how did it go? By the way, I only live about 20 minutes from Giest Reservoir, 30th and German Church Road, maybe we can do some fishin' sometime. I'm still looking to catching the Big One out there. I do hear that it's a good bass lake. If ya have any question, just give me a holler, and I'll do my best with an answer, or I'm sure someone here will be able too. Again I say "Welcome Aboard!" ~Mark

07-29-09, 07:51 AM	#3
shawn BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fortville, IN Posts: 38	Thanks for the reply. I took a buddy of mine who has a bass boat and knows a bit about them along and he thinks it's a very good boat. I'm going to call the guy later this morning and make an offer. If he accepts, I'll go pick it up this evening! I'm so excited, I feel like a kid at Christmas! That's cool that you live close. If you'd like to go fishing sometime, shoot me a PM and we'll set something up.

07-29-09, 10:24 AM	#5
Jigger BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 490	trackers are good boats. they take rough water surprisingly well. my only beef is with the trailers. mine is rotting. it's a 2000 model. I'm going to have to replace it this winter. their trailers are cheap made. everything else is well made.

07-29-09, 10:29 AM	#6
shawn BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fortville, IN Posts: 38	I just got off the phone with the seller. He went for $4200. I'm gonna pick it up tonight!

07-29-09, 10:51 AM	#8
woody BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jonesville, Indiana Posts: 3,597	That's a sweet deal. I bet your still smiling You are experiencing one of the happiest days in being a boat owner; the other is the day you sell it. Congratulations ~Mark

07-29-09, 10:53 AM	#9
Jigger BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 490	I've been told that the two happiest days of your life are the day you buy your boat and the day you sell it !!!

07-29-09, 10:59 AM	#10
Abbeysdad BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central NY - Finger Lakes Posts: 1,307	Sounds great....Now comes the real 'fun'. Bow line, stern line, anchor, rode and anchor line, fenders, first aid kit, coast guard approved fire extinguisher, distress flag, flares, PDF's for all occupants, lake maps... (I just got a new/used boat too and way new to boating)...trailer didn't have a spare so ordered one. Then realized the tires on the trailer had some dry rot...so ordered another to put two new tires/wheels on the trailer and use the better of the original as the spare... then I discovered that the trolling motor was hooked to a starting battery and didn't last very long (so got a new battery)...the mooring cover needed serious cleaning and is okay, but not great. The travel cover is pretty whipped...Gee a Bimini top would be nice (there's a bait monkey and then there's a boat gorilla!) Enjoy the new boat and catch some serious lake size fish!

07-29-09, 02:24 PM	#12
shawn BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fortville, IN Posts: 38	Thanks guys. Some of the stuff you mentioned, he's including with the boat... but I'm sure there'll be a lot more that I'll find that I need lol!

07-29-09, 07:57 PM	#13
pacordon BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 43	Shawn: I've heard it said many times "that a boat is just a hole in the water that you pour money into" I think it is a true statement because I'm doing just that. Good luck and happy fishing.

07-30-09, 01:01 PM	#14
Nater1300 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 49	Congrats! I know what you mean about feelin like a kid, I just picked up my first boat Sunday and can't wait to get it in the water!! I have already cleaned it twice.

07-30-09, 08:09 PM	#15
shawn BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fortville, IN Posts: 38	Gratz Nater! I've already cleaned mine once too lol. I'll take some pictures of it tomorrow and post them here for everyone to see

07-31-09, 09:36 AM	#16
bonsaibp BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 98	Congrats on the new boat,check out this website http://www.bassboatmagazine.com/inde...referrerid=157 I'm sure you'll find it very useful, and get all your boat questions answered. Its been a great resource for me

07-31-09, 01:55 PM	#17
shawn BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fortville, IN Posts: 38	Thanks, I'll check it out! Here are some pics I just took:

08-01-09, 04:36 PM	#20
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	It's like the list of MLB players who hit home runs on their first at bat. Quite an auspicious beginning! WTG. Keep swinigin. __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

08-01-09, 06:09 PM	#21
WTL BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,466	I am very jealous. Thats the boat I want to move up to, and you got it for a price that would be more to my liking. __________________ Selling live waterdogs for less since 2005.

08-02-09, 10:06 AM	#22
Nater1300 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 49	Nice boat!! I still have not had mine on the water Money is tight this month and I need to refill the tank! I will post a pic or 2 also.

08-02-09, 10:27 AM	#23
Nater1300 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 49	Here is a pic of my new boat. This is from a couple years ago in Canada. My uncle (sitting in the boat) passed away from cancer last year and my aunt asked if I wanted to keep the boat in the family. Thus my first boat Attached Thumbnails

08-02-09, 10:54 AM	#24
shawn BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fortville, IN Posts: 38	Nice lookin boat! Sorry to hear about your uncle

08-02-09, 11:03 AM	#25
Nater1300 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 49	Thanks shawn! Are you a Hoosier also? I saw the IN on the boat. Never fished Southern IN before. We will have to go fishin some time!

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