Which bass boat?

[Pacharlie]

Hello all. I'm in a tough situation that I don't know much about. So I subscribed to a boat forum to get some opinions.
Ok well I'm searching Craigslist for a new boat. I mostly fish lakes that I can only use a trolling motor. But id like to have the gas motor for the river and some farther lakes. I'm going to spend around 3000$. One boat I found is a 87 Ebbtide dynatrak 156. The other is a 1990 procraft s150. Both have similar features and similar size motors. And similar price. What to choose? Or should I wait for a better one to come along. Thanks for any input.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Which bass boat?

A 20+ year old fiberglass bass boat is going to have issues (they rot), and you'll more than likely just be paying for the motor and trailer. These boats have internal structural members made of wood and if not properly cared for (very few are) the wood rots and the foam inside becomes saturated with water.

These boats can be fixed, but it is time consuming and costs $1500-$3000 to restore one.

Do yourself a favor and buy a nice aluminum boat, they're much easier and cheaper to work on and it takes less time to fix on up.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Which bass boat?

I am anti Procraft........ I had one split apart at the keel.......

I would say go aluminum or continue shopping. Ask at any bass club which is best...... Ranger is great but a Champion is a better rough water boat and the Allison is a rocket!!! Depends on where and what kind of fishing you are planning.

After a few dedicated bass boats ...... I now have a Starcraft 16' SS which is a great all around boat.

 

[surfmonkey]

Re: Which bass boat?

Ditto what has already been said...go aluminum

 

[catfish58]

Re: Which bass boat?

Ditto what has already been said...go aluminum

Aluminum boats are usually lighter and and would be easier for a trolling motor.

 

[Tnriverluver]

Re: Which bass boat?

Aluminum!!! Unless you are needing something to run 70 mph go aluminum. Much cheaper and easier to maintain, tow, gas usage, etc. Our local Craigslist has been absolutely covered with glass and aluminum boats for the last 2 years I have been watching with most in the 2-5k range. Take your time and find the boat that fits the best. For glass boats look at Ranger, Stratos, and Triton if you want a good boat. There are others but those I am personally familiar with. Aluminum go with Lowe, Alumicraft, Polarcraft, Express-Allweld. or Lund. Can't go wrong with any of these brands. I too have seen a Procraft hull split completely in half right down the middle. I would stay away!

 

[Pacharlie]

Re: Which bass boat?

Thanks a lot guys. Yeah I origionally wanted aluminum but started seeing these fiberglass ones in my price range. I want something that can seat 3-4 for fishing and will mostly be using on small lakes around southeast pa that I can only use the trolling motor. But I'd like to go to the river here and there. I don't need anything fast. I'd just like to have the gas motor back there in the river. I guess I'll stay away from the fiberglass. Thanks guys. The search continues. There is an aluminum 16ft Grumman set up pretty nice. What do you think I these?

 

[Pacharlie]

Re: Which bass boat?

I've been searching hard haha. There's a lot of bass tracker's and spectrum's. Any opinions on these? I appreciate any help. Thanks.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Which bass boat?

I've been searching hard haha. There's a lot of bass tracker's and spectrum's. Any opinions on these?

I think you're missing the point that others here are trying to drive home. Regardless of brand name, older fiberglass boats are most likely waterlogged and/or rotten.

Aluminum boats are MUCH lighter and certainly easier to push around with a trolling motor. If there is rotten wood in an aluminum boat, it is easy'cheap to replace.....while rotten wood on a fiberglass boat is an absolute nightmare to deal with.

Now if you're looking at fiberglass bass boats "cause they're cool looking...and all the pro anglers use them" then I doubt anyone here will be able to dissuade you.

Just be forewarned that $3k isn't going to get you much of a fiberglass bass boat....unless you get really lucky and find a seller who really cared for his boat and is willing to sell it for a song.

JMO

 

[Pacharlie]

Re: Which bass boat?

No man I got the point. The grumman, bass tracker, and spectrum are all aluminum. I took there advice. I don't want fiberglass anymore. I really don't care what looks cool either. I'm not 12. Thanks though

 

[BonairII]

Re: Which bass boat?

No man I got the point. The grumman, bass tracker, and spectrum are all aluminum. I took there advice.

Crap! I didn't pay attention, thought you were listing other fiberglass boats. My bad. :facepalm:

 

[Tnriverluver]

Re: Which bass boat?

Grumman is a very good boat, just depends on how well the P.O. have taken care of it. My biggest concern when buying aluminum boats is usually the condition of the outboard and whether or not the boat has any leaks. I just bought a 1990 16 ft alumicraft with a 1998 50hp johnson on the 4th and it has been very well maintained. Took it out this weekend for a shakedown and boat runs 35mph. That is about as fast as you will ever want to run in an aluminum boat unless the water is glass smooth. Even the Trackers are good boats. The thing that kept steering me away from Trackers is reading on here and other sites all the stories of water logged foam. I have owned approx 30 boats over the last 40 years and by far my favorites have been Aluminun bass boats. Took a year of looking to find my latest but I was very picky about what I was wanting I even paid a premium price for this one just because of the condition and features along with the custom paint.

 

[wolf81tx]

Re: Which bass boat?

I saw on another reply I forget who, they said to take your time. This is the best advice. While I do not hold to the idea that "aluminum is the only way to go" I don't have anything against them either. It all depends on what you want. I remember my experience. I got lucky. I had found my "perfect" boat. an 84 Procraft dual console with a "running" evinrude 150 for $1500. I was so excited all I cared about was that it "ran". I got it out to the lake and it wouldn't start. I spent a week trying to make it start, no dice. During this time I found many things that I did not see upon my first inspection. Gel coat missing in areas on the bottom, transom showing early signs of stress and allot of wiring going nowhere. Seller was nice enough to take it back and I gave him $50 for his trouble. Soon after I found a 1986 Stratos 179V in pretty good condition with a good running mercury black max xr2 150 for the same price.