Looking to buy my father a bass boat

[hunt1up]

If a guy is just going out to casually fish and they aren't hard on things, a Tracker is totally fine. My first "real" boat was a Tracker Pro Guide V16 that I bought used in mint condition many years ago. That boat did a great job for it's size. I keep my stuff clean and dry and I don't make a point to hit rocks and logs. I outgrew that boat and now have a nice used 17' Lund. It's better, but the fishing experience isn't that much different. I'd rather have a cheaper boat with good electronics and trolling motor over a nicer boat with bare bones accessories.

Most guys just want to put the boat in the water and go fishing. If you read boating forums you'll get all the opinions on brands like you do here with guns, SxSs, or other gear. Guys on forums are the geeks of their respective sport, so you generally are talking to the guys that really use stuff.

Would I rather have a Lund, Crestliner, or Alumacraft over a Tracker? Absolutely. But if boat is well cared for they all do the same thing. I'd find the cleanest, best equipped boat in your budget and not overthink it too much.

 

[Btaylor]

How big is the lake and what kind of "white caps" can it generate?

Makes a difference on what boat you get.

Greers Ferry is large and has a crap ton of recreational boat traffic. My boat is an 1860 war eagle and I would fish GF on an occasional basis but I would not want to fish there on a regular basis in my boat. If he is going to focus on trout though the Little Red river is right there and like mentioned the White and Norfork rivers are not far away. Different boating needs there entirely.

 

[wapitibob]

Best money we've spent in a long time.
$3500 for the original boat/ 40hp motor/ trailer
another $5,000 for electronics, lithium batteries, complete new floor, and front decks
Works perfect for us fishing Bass, Crappie, and Kokanee. Plenty deep so we don't fall overboard.

 

[timmymac24]

I bought a 1986 Lund a few years from an older fella in town. It was a garage queen for the most part. Have since added electronics, a new 40 hp Yamaha and new Minn Kota Terrora with Spot Lock. My buddies still give me hell for not just buying a newer used boat already set up. I love the stability of the Lund and it doesn't leak a drop. I looked for a used boat for over a year on Marketplace and watched a local marina as well. You can find a very nice boat in the 10-12K range. Lund, Crestliner, and Alumacraft are not hard to find in my area. As someone mentioned already I would avoid a flat bottom boat.

 

[LaHunter]

20k is an awful lot of money for a boat. It better be dang nice for that kind of money.

I couldn't imagine spending that on Tracker.

20k is not much for a bass boat now days. They have gotten insanely expensive.

 

[svivian]

20k is not much for a bass boat now days. They have gotten insanely expensive.

Yep I spent $9500 on my boat in 2019 and now I see older less nice boats going for $20k…. Insane after Covid

 

[Fatcamp]

20k is not much for a bass boat now days. They have gotten insanely expensive.

Ya, I took a look around and you are right. Not many bass boats up here but boats in general have increased in price. Especially anything over 16'.

I think a big part of it is everyone thinks they need the latest electronics and high end lithium batteries. It's a wonder anyone ever caught a dang fish before 2020.

 

[Macintosh]

Tracker

Tracker Boats for Sale

bassboatcentral.com

 

[loganwayne]

I think a deep - v multi species boat is better than the bass trackers. You can get a full windshield or a side console. Still have big decks front and rear, are stable and handle wake and ruff water better

 

[86indy]

Down south while still inland the deep Vs are kind of rare from my what i see, everyone has bass boat or a highsided aluminum boat.

As other said tracker wouldn’t be my first choice. Xpress, g3, crestliner, vexus, ect the list goes on make a hull nice hull. Find something used 2-5 years old and you’ll get a little more for your money. Buy the most motor you can afford and 17’ or bigger.

But you’re in a good area of the country down there boats are plentiful be patient and you’ll find a nice one. Bring someone mechanical inclined to look at them if you aren’t. Overall condition says a lot about how they’re treated and used.

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ianpadron]

You can get one helluva nice used fiberglass bass boat sub 20k if you're willing to be patient. An early/mid 2000s Ranger, Skeeter, Legend, Stratos, Triton etc will do everything a modern boat will, and with updated rigging you're catching just as many fish, but saving $50k plus by going with an older hull. Bass trackers get folks on the water for cheap, which is awesome, but an older glass option is superior in literally every single way.

Heck I'd take a Nitro over a Bass Tracker too

 

[06 SB]

I have owned fishing boats for 40 years. Aluminum boats are a very popular segment these days since fiberglass boats ventured close to and over $100K in 2020. Tracker are bottom basement quality in the boats and trailer. Crestliner, Avid, Vexus, Lund all make better boats. No matter what you get, make sure it has a GPS spot lock trolling motor. They are a godsend to older fisherman.

 

[Zeke6951]

Sea Ark

 

[LaHunter]

Ranger also makes a very good aluminum bass boat. You may be able to find an 18’ with a 115 hp for 20k. Check out the bass boat central web site. Lots of bass boats for sale on there from all over the country

 

[Jmille15]

You can get one helluva nice used fiberglass bass boat sub 20k if you're willing to be patient. An early/mid 2000s Ranger, Skeeter, Legend, Stratos, Triton etc will do everything a modern boat will, and with updated rigging you're catching just as many fish, but saving $50k plus by going with an older hull. Bass trackers get folks on the water for cheap, which is awesome, but an older glass option is superior in literally every single way.

Heck I'd take a Nitro over a Bass Tracker too

I agree there are always a few 19-20 foot early to mid 2000's Rangers for sale online in this price range and most have had motors updated as well as other accessories. Where your dad is located also is a pretty good market for boats and prices are pretty competitive. Going the fiberglass route the boat would handle better in variable condition and be much more stable when moving around the boat. I have a 20' ranger and a 18' aluminum Crestliner and there is a noticeable difference in the stability and handling of the fiberglass boat. I would start browsing the bass boat central classified, you will find all brands and types.

 

[SloppyJ]

I've been in bass boats since before I could walk. I own two right now. A 1998 Tracker Pro Team 185 with a 75hp merc and a 2012 Champion 202 Elite with a 225hp merc.

I walked in with my grandpa and bought the tracker with him brand new when he retired and moved up here on the lake. It's been an outstanding boat for what it is. I honestly couldn't ask more from it. It's currently for sale as much as it pains me to do that.

The 202 Elite I picked up 1.5yrs ago. It was my first real big boy boat. I needed something with a wider deck to spider rig crappie off of and still have room for the wife and kids. It's an absolute beast and a tank going down the river.

I would never buy a brand new boat. You will absolutely lose your ass on it and for nothing. What you should be looking at depends on what he wants out of a bass boat and the conditions he will face on the lake he just moved to. If it's a small lake with no huge amount of big boat traffic, then the tracker would be just perfect.

If you're dealing with a large body of water, large boat traffic, and the need to cover water, then something bigger is needed. 20k is going to be a bit tricky. You can find an 18' or 19' boat decently easy enough but something larger will be tough. Do not take the seller's word on anything and the most important part of the whole deal is to get the compression checked on the motor. You want to see that the compression is high and within 10% of each other across all cylinders. I have a compression gauge I take with me and do it myself in their driveway. If they don't want to do that then I walk. You can also take it to a shop and have them do it.

Hours are important as well. I'd take a boat with 275hrs over an older boat with 50hrs on it every time. My cutoff when I was buying was around 300hrs. My boat had 120hrs on it.

There's so many little things that can sneak up and get you. I actually had the lower unit blow up on my champ about one month later. Not sure how he hid it so well but come to find out he swapped the lower unit because it was not the one that the boat originally came with.

Additionally, crawl under and look at every square inch of the bottom of that boat.

I'd be looking for a Basscat pantera for that price range in the 2008-2014 year range. I think that would make for a nice all around boat.

If you're interested in a one owner 1998 Tracker PT 185, let me know! Well under your budget!

 

[Ramem7mm]

Fiberglass boat ride much nicer in rough water and generally more stable when walking around the boat as well. If he is serious about going all the time I would suggest to try and stay fiber glass. Try and find one between 18-20'. Since your signature says your in California look up Westernbass magazine and look at the classifieds for boats that are mostly in Calif but some are from out of state.

 

[ChasingSqwach]

I would look for a used ranger aluminum

 

[Luked]

Coming from a guy that has fished for years out of Fiberglass boats and also alum.
I have had 5 Fiberglass bass boats ranging in length from 18' to 20' 150hp to 250hp motors

For the money you are looking at. And the lake he is at. You would be 100% better off with an older model Fiberglass bass boat.
Brand wise, like everything else some are better than others.
If it were me...I would be looking for a 19' boat with a 200.
Brand wise I would look at Bass Cat. And year wise I would not buy anything older than a 2001 model
Most all older boats had a wood type transom across the back where the motor hangs. Over time people drill holes for Electronics transducers, boarding ladders all kinds of stuff. This promotes water intrusion. Which will rot even Marine grade wood over time.
In 2001 Bass Cat was the first to have a full Vacuumed sealed fiberglass Transom.
This made the entire boat fully fiberglass construction. Meaning no Rot.

I would be looking for a Bass Cat Pantera 2 with a 200 EFI Merc.
Pretty easy to find as they made a pile of them.

Greers is a big lake and a deep lake. And gets a ton of boats on it. The last boat i owned i actually test drove it on Greers.

I have been in the boat stuff for over 20 years, Still dabble in it with a side business selling electronics for them.
If you have any questions feel free to send me a PM.

 

[Nilgai]

I have a Phoenix 721 for the lake and also frequently fish out of various aluminum boats on smaller bodies of water.

100% get him a fiberglass bass boat if you can find a decent one in your budget.