hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

[moe24]

hi im looking to buy a bass boat but my budget only allows me to buy something used.i have found a whole bunch of them thats going for $1000-$2500 with trailers and the owners are saying that they run good but are these prices to low to be true?
because most of them have outboard motors that upon futher reseach cost more than what these people are selling the boat,motor and trailer cost put together.
so whats a good boat and outboard combo should i look for because i heard that some of those motors dont even have parts for them anymore
and what are some bad signs to look for when i take it of a test drive.
thanks in advance

 

[moe24]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/boa/1895286284.html
this is one of them that i have been looking at^^^^
what do yall think?

and this one is another one
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/boa/1871529380.html

 

[soaringhiggy]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

the second one was ridden hard and put away wet

 

[CN Spots]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

Aluminum boats and older 'glass bass boats go for around that price in this area quite often. And yes, the motor makes up most of the price of a boat. Do you have any friends, neighbors or coworkers that are boat owners that might be able to go with you to test out the boat? An experienced eye at the scene is invaluable in a used boat search.

If I were going to look at one here's what I'd look for:

Does it look well cared for? You can fix almost anything but if it looks like a t-rex chewed on the hull it don't bode well for everything else about it.
Does it run? If not, I'd keep looking or talk them down to donating it to you.
If it does run, do a compression check at the least.
Walk all over the boat's deck. Are there soft spots? If so it may need a new deck and or stringers.*
Grab the motor and push and pull on it. Does it flex ANY? If it does it probably means that the transom is rotten or damaged.*
Do not buy any boat without a test drive! There's enough things to go sour on a boat that these guys created a website just to deal with all of 'em.
Run the boat's registration to make sure it's legit.
Check the electronics. Trolling motor especially. Those thing are pricy!
Check the trailer out. Good bearing? Good tires? Good bunks? Rust?

*Spend some time in the Boat Repair forum here to see what it takes to repair common problems on older boats like soft decks, stringers, transoms and hull damage. To some folks these problems are no big deals, to others they're deal-breakers.

If you find one that you like, post some pics of it on here w/your questions/ concerns and we'll do our best to help you.

Welcome to iboats!

 

[CN Spots]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

the second one was ridden hard and put away wet

Dittto. Underpowered too. See that whaletail on the outboard? That's usually a dead giveaway that it doesn't have enough mojo.

 

[moe24]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

very helpfull cnspots
and i really dont know anyone that owns a boat.this is my first boat im buying and i heard that these boats are easy learner boats but yea im going to start doing a lot more research before i actually buy one

 

[moe24]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

also im starting to guess that Aluminum boats are the better than the fiberglass ones.true or false

im really just going to be useing it to go joy riding on the bayou and maybe some fishing at the lake

 

[RoryDominick]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

Hey moe I live in the New Orleans area. You definitely dont want the second one. I think that guy is from The Boat Yard on the westbank, and all they have is junk. The first one is pretty much the same as my boat, a Skeeter SD-80. I have an 88 evinrude on mine and I love it. Mine does about 51 on gps. The only thing about it is its a little small, but if its only you and one other person its fine. Just make sure there are no soft spots in the floor and the transome is sollid. if the motor runs decent its worth maybe 2000 or so.

 

[RoryDominick]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

Fiberglass boats are fine if taken care of properly. The tend to have foam that gets water logged and wood that rots if not properly taken care of.

 

[moe24]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

Hey moe I live in the New Orleans area. You definitely dont want the second one. I think that guy is from The Boat Yard on the westbank, and all they have is junk. The first one is pretty much the same as my boat, a Skeeter SD-80. I have an 88 evinrude on mine and I love it. Mine does about 51 on gps. The only thing about it is its a little small, but if its only you and one other person its fine. Just make sure there are no soft spots in the floor and the transome is sollid. if the motor runs decent its worth maybe 2000 or so.

yea i just noticed the second one is at the boat yard and i did hear it from a few other people that there boats are junk.

also i plan on it being me and a couple of my boy and maybe my ole lady lol

 

[RoryDominick]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

I've put three adults in mine and its a little cramped. Look in the baton rouge and gulfport areas too I've seen a few deals on CL.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

also im starting to guess that Aluminum boats are the better than the fiberglass ones.true or false

im really just going to be useing it to go joy riding on the bayou and maybe some fishing at the lake

Depends on what you do with them and who you ask. Fiberglass bass boats tend to ride smoother but aluminum is more forgiving of bumps and scrapes, something a new boater will have plenty of. As Rory said, most 'glass boats are jam packed with foam, great if your sinking, terrible if you need to repair the inside of the hull or if it's been left exposed for years and is waterlogged.

Bayou eh? Airboat perhaps? Not really, they look a little dangerous for a beginner.

Skeeter invented the bassboat btw and have always made excellent boats. The one you posted is worth a hard look. They're like the BMW of bassboats.

-but even a BMW isn't worth much if it's been on the bottom of the lake.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

That first one you posted is definitely worth checking out. With any older fiberglass boat your biggest concern is going to be rot in the wooden components of the hull: deck, transom, stringers. Replacing these is do-able but a major job. Aluminum hulls have aluminum stringers and their decks and transoms are comparatively MUCH easier to replace. That's why I tend to recommend an aluminum hull to anyone looking to get on the water cheaply with the least chance of financial disaster.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

Yeah that second one is a pass.

As for the skeeter- they make great boat and in fact came up with most of the advances in boat hulls we see today. Pads, notched transoms, steps all Skeeter.

 

[moe24]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

well i went to go check out the first one today and i took my neighbor with me (paid him 30 bucks)and my neighbor said its a really nice boat but the problem was that the guy didnt want me to test drive it.he kept on telling me about how so many people wasted his time and blah blah which i understand because thats how it was when i was trying to sell my car.he offered to start it up but my neighbor was like naa the only way we know this boat is water ready if we take it out on a test drive but he refused so we left but man i fell in love with that boat and i swear i think i would of brought it if it wasnt for my neighbor telling me not to which i thank him for holding me back from getting it.good news he offered to come out with me free of charge the next time.

 

[dlngr]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

You have a good neighbor!!!

 

[spudshaft]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

I can kind of understand the seller, assuming he is honest. What if you told him it's sold if he takes you out on it and it is okay?

 

[moe24]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

I can kind of understand the seller, assuming he is honest. What if you told him it's sold if he takes you out on it and it is okay?

i told him i even should him the money and told him "man im not gona waste your time if this things runs good like you saying its sold"
he was old and real stubborn

 

[convergent]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

i told him i even should him the money and told him "man im not gona waste your time if this things runs good like you saying its sold"
he was old and real stubborn

Well I'd worry if they wouldn't let you take a test run. I just sold my boat today and took one out for a test run tonight. The seller tonight almost backed out when we got on the lake and said he wasn't sure he should sell it. The fish finder was going crazy and he was wanting to drop a line and start fishing. I kind of felt the same way when I took mine out for a test run with the buyer last night, and I remember the guy I bought that one from having the same seller's remorse when going out for the last time. I suppose its possible that he's just done with boating, but most boaters aren't going to turn down a trip to the lake! Tonight, I approached things with the seller and told him what process I wanted to go through... first a test run... then finalize on price... then drop it off at a mechanic to verify the compression and lower unit fluids in the morning. If he wanted to agree on price first, we could have said that. I expect that part of the problem is that at this lower price range of around $2500, you probably get a whole lot more tire kickers and people that don't have the money. In the higher priced boats, there is probably less of that I'm guessing.

 

[j_martin]

Re: hello i need to know somethings when buying a used bass boat

You can't tell very much about an outboard engine if it isn't pulling. Anybody selling a boat would be glad to give a qualified buyer a test drive. If you showed him the money and he balked, there is a major problem.