Picking out a bass boat is easily one of the best parts of being an angler, but it can get overwhelming pretty quickly. Visit a dealership or check out online listings and you’ll be slammed with a barrage of choices, specs and prices. The trick isn’t finding the “best” boat on the market, it’s finding the boat that actually fits how you like to fish.
If you’re looking for a rig that will get you on the water without breaking the bank or causing you headaches at the ramp, here’s a practical guide to help you narrow things down.
Think About Your Fishing Style
Before you get seduced by shiny flake paint or huge outboard engines, take a moment to think about what your average day on the water will really be like. What you really need on board depends on how you fish.
Here’s how to style your setup accordingly:
Fishing Tournaments
If you’re waking up at 4:00 AM to get in line for weekend tournaments, speed and efficiency are everything. You’ll want a boat with a high-horsepower motor to beat other anglers to key spots, dual live wells to keep your catch healthy, and a huge front deck so you can keep multiple rods rigged and ready.
Family and Recreational Fishing
If your outings are a mix of serious casting and taking the kids out on warm afternoons, raw speed is a distant second. Use deeper sides (gunnels) for safety, comfortable seating and extra floor space so people aren’t tripping over each other.
Weekend Trips
Only go out once or twice a month, keep it simple. A midsize aluminum or light fiberglass boat is easy to tow, easy to launch solo and won’t take hours to clean up when you get home.
Choose the Right Size Boat
Size is so much more important than how fast the boat looks on the trailer. It influences how your boat handles in rough weather, how much gear you can carry, and how comfortable you will be after eight hours on the water.
Things to Double Check Before You Decide
- Passenger Space – An 18-footer is plenty of boat if it’s just you and a buddy most of the time. But if you have a third person or family members with you on a regular basis, going up to 19 to 21 feet really makes a world of difference.”
- Deck Space: Imagine casting from the front deck all day, get up on it. A wide beam means there is room to move and you don’t feel like you are walking a tightrope.
- Storage Capacity: Take a good look at rod lockers and dry storage. Just make sure your longest rods will fit in there without bending the tips.
See Key Features
Once you have a general size in mind, take a good look at the equipment on the hull. These are the tools you’ll be using every single minute you are fishing.
- The Outboard Motor: One of the most common buyer mistakes is overpowering a boat. Find a boat with a motor as close as you can to the maximum horsepower rating for that hull.
- Trolling Motor: A good 24-volt or 36-volt trolling motor with GPS anchor lock will save your knees and back on windy days when you’re trying to hold over a structure spot.
- Fish Finders: You don’t need a spaceship dashboard, but clear sonar and GPS mapping will save you hours of aimless idling on new lakes.
- Live Wells The performance of the Live Wells and the adequate size of the wells to keep the fish safe until the end of the day are important.
Consider where you will be fishing
Where you drop your anchor is also going to have a big bearing on what type of hull material you use.
- Rivers and Shallow Backwaters Tough Aluminum Boats. Aluminum will get a scratch or small dent if you hit a submerged log, stump or gravel bar by accident and you won’t need to spend thousands on fiberglass repairs.
- Big Lakes and Open Water: Fiberglass boats are heavier and much better at handling rough waves, keeping you dry and comfortable when the wind kicks up.
If you are in search of a trustworthy boat for sale in Flathead Valley, consider your local boat ramps and lake conditions. If you pick a hull designed for your regional waters you’ll have a lot fewer rough rides.
Determine Your Budget
It’s tempting to only focus on the sticker price, but there are some persistent costs to boat ownership that take people off guard if they aren’t prepared.
The True Costs of Owning a Boat
- First Purchase: #1: Figure out early if a new showroom model makes sense, or if a clean pre-owned boat offers you better value.
- Fuel & Oil Big engines guzzle a lot of fuel on the water, and pulling a heavy rig will also take a toll on your truck’s gas mileage.
- Maintenance & Storage: Don’t forget to consider annual engine service, winterizing, replacement batteries and winter storage covers.
- Safety Gear & Extras: Don’t forget life jackets, throw cushions, dock lines, safety kits and updated electronics.
Compare Bass Boats On The Market
When you think you’ve found “the one” take your time before signing paperwork.
- Take it for a Test Drive: Always ask for a Test Drive. Feel how the boat planes, the stability when you stand at the outer edges of the deck, how it turns at cruising speed.
- Look at the Storage Lids: Open every single compartment. Look for heavy-duty latches, sturdy rubber seals and clean, dry interiors.
- Watch the Trailer: A great boat on a bad trailer is a highway accident waiting to happen. Check tires, frame welds, lights and winch system before driving off.
Pick the boat that suits your actual habits on the water and you have a package that will deliver years of hassle-free fishing.
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