New Bass Boat

[Mikeel1987]

I'm looking to buy a new bass boat. I think I want a 19' boat with plenty of storage with a good trolling motor. I don't care to much about the big motor but wouldnt mind a big one. My question is What should I look for in a boat? Are any brands specifically better than others or is one just built better than the other but does the same thing. I don't know how big of a TM I should get either if boat doesnt come with one. I'm not looking for a new one because I can not afford that. A good used one would be perfect. I'd like to have a heavy enough boat where every time there is a lil breeze I don't have to worry about using my TM to keep me on path. I want plenty of storage and a rod locker to store rods. I also want plenty of deck space to fish on enough for 2 people to fish of the front. Can anybody help me with specs to look for in a boat. For instance I don't know what would qualify as a heavy enough boat that wont get blown around so easily. Is 19 foot big enough or should I go bigger. What should be the specs of the beam be for my style of fishing. I'm looking to do alot of tournment bass fishing. I only ask because I don't want to buy a boat and 6 months later find out theres a feature I over looked and really want. Any help would be apreciated.

[Amx]

Length doesn't have a whole lot to do with the wind blowing the boat around, freeboard does tho. A high side will have lots of area the wind can blow against. Champions are higher than the others, but are great boats.

You can tourny fish with a 15 foot if you want to. I used to use a 17 foot al Bass Tracker.

A QUALITY fiberglass is best, BUT they do make quality al. bass boats also.

What I'd buy;

fiberglass, 18 ft minimum, for serious tourny fishing a 20 foot or maybe 19.5 ft, even 21 or 22 ft. The wider the better/more stable. Ranger, Champion, Phoenix, and Triton.

Limit Out Performance Marine had 2 of those Triton boats in stock used---last I knew a couple months ago. And have a couple used Phoenix listed as being in stock.

Russ can probably find other used boats for you. call him/them, I don't know if they are open today. They will be setting up for the Sportsmen's show tomorrow and so will be at the show in Puyallup thru Sunday.

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[Mikeel1987]

I'll be there on Saturday I'll talk to them then. Do you know where they will be set up at. I have a 15 foot boat now and I get blown all over the place. Is the freeboard the distince from the water to the top of your boat? If so what is a good distance to have?

[Amx]

Water surface to the top of the gunnel.

No set distance.

It also can depend on the draft.

[Amx]

Look at his listings for used boats, there are a Phoenix, a couple Tritons, and a very interesting Champion. Even an older Rangers that is interesting. Copy down the info, then you can talk to him about the boats instead of guessing at what you read today.

[AJ's Dad]

I am currently fishing out of an 18' Ranger Comanche. There is room to have 2 guys fishing up front but I wouldn't go any shorter than that. Some of the older Rangers and Champions are great boats but they have those padded seats up front and that eats up your room for an extra guy. Make sure you get one with the casting deck. IT fills in the center section of the front and makes the whole front of the boat usable. The rod lockers in my 18' Ranger are a little short for my liking. I use 7' rods and they fit in there but the tips were always making contact with the front of the locker. I didn't like the tips being slightly bent all the time when I'm not useing them. I drilled 6 holes in the rear face of the lockers and mounted some PVC receivers in them to accept the rod handles. Now my rods saty organized and it takes the stress off the rod tips. Make sure you take one of your rods with you when looking at boats and try them in the rod lockers for the fit you want.
As for HP on the main motor, most 150 or 175 HP motors will run you over the speed limit of any lake. The trolling motor size will depend on how big your boat is. I have an 80 lb thrust Minnkots Maxxim on mine and it's all the motor I need even on windy days.
Another thing you amy want to consider is whether to get a single or dual console model. If you regularly fish with a partner, ie another guy or your wife, you may want a dual console model. The second console takes up a little moving around room but it's nice if the other person can get out of the wind, even if it's only a little.

Hope this helps

[Amx]

Those 2 padded seats, one on each side in front of the console, can be replaced with a rod locker/compartments and covered with plywood and carpets. The president of the Puyallup Hawg Hunters did that with his '66 Ranger.

My boat came with a very small front deck. I extended it using honeycomb al from the Boeing surplus store way back in about '92. And of course covered it with carpeting.