Introductory Bass Boat Package

Hey, guys.

I'm thinking about entering the wonderful world of bass boat ownership and was wondering if any of my more experienced brothers and sisters here (a.k.a. you guys!) might have some advice for me about the best starter package.

I'm looking for the "usual" bass boat features (dual electronics, trolling motor, casting platforms, rod storage), but a live well is not essential.

In terms of price range, I'd like to stay within the $30,000.00 (total) range, if possible.

Any thoughts and/or advice about makes/models and vendors (within an hour of the Greater Toronto Area) would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

If you even remotely think bass tournaments are in your future than a live well is essential.

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Originally Posted by Woodsman

If you even remotely think bass tournaments are in your future than a live well is essential.

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Thanks for the advice, Woodsman. I will certainly keep that in mind.

Anyone on a starter package?

30K will get you some best electronics, battery system, a good bow mount IPilot and maybe a 115 hp motor..but no boat. I have a buddy who has a 16ft tin, with a 30hp tiller. He shames all the other musky hunters. If you intend to go out on Big Lakes, 18ft minimum, if getting there fast is not important, then a 115hp will do just fine.

Determine what body of water you will be fishing, then size boat for that body.
Size the motor on what you can afford and how quick you need to get there
You can spend 10K easy on Batteries, IPILOT trolling motor, Electronics
Will you use the boat for kids, do you have kids (or just for your fishing) consideration
Vehicle to tow and launch
Trailer, easy load, tongue folding (for garage storage)
DO you have room to store at home or off site

We bought our first boat 10 yrs ago, have upgraded 3 times since...trying to save you some pain over our mistakes.

I think that is the best advice I can give you.

all good advice above from line52

you will want a livewell if even to store live bait in or if you get into bass tourny or walleye fishing...you know...many bass fishermen grow up and become walleye fishermen ;) not to mention living in GTA you have great salmon and trout fishing in lake O..
I would shoot for at least 18' or bigger. 16' wont do well on a big lake you will be limited to perfect weather conditions

It's going to come down to a glass rig or aluminum rig... I can tell you you budget of $30,000 will not get you a decent rig glass or tin. With $30k you can get a decent used rig with some decent options. If a bass boat layout is something you think you will out grow I would look at a multi species rig like a crestliner fishhawk or Lund impact. If you end up with a aluminum bass boat you will end up spending $5000 plus in upgrades and will most likely be in the price point of a glass rig with the same options. I see these guys buy tin rigs for what I think are a lot of money because the glass boats are more money then add better TM, better graphs, higher hp motor, trailer options etc... and by the time they are done the price of that tin rig ended up being the same price as the glass rig that already came with those options. You have a great used boat budget take you time and you will find a great rig. I did...

This is a very good point...right here...[QUOTE=You have a great used boat budget take you time and you will find a great rig. I did...[/QUOTE]

Thank you for all of the input.

I am open to a used boat, but, given your comments, that might be the way to go. If anyone knows/hears of a decent used package, I would appreciate the info.

Thanks again, all!

The used bass boat market is pretty small however they can be found on Kijiji at times. Very few dealers here in Ontario so I looked south of the boarder.

Check out the Bass Boat Central web site, it's owned and run by a Canadian and has all kinds of resources and a great "used boat" section.

30K will get you a pretty good used rig.

Thanks, Bandwagon! I will check out that resource.

The Toronto International Boat Show sounds like something you absolutely need to go check out!!!

http://www.torontoboatshow.com/

Kyle Legend Boats

I think LINE and ONE have pretty much covered everything. DEER, is on the money with the livewell. I ordered my boat so got the options I thought I needed, but guess what, I should have taken the option for the second livewell up front. Go out with a few buddies and see how fast a livewell fills up on a good day.

I bought my triton 2003 TR186 in 2012 in Penn state, paid $12,400 US and paid taxes at the border on the way back. It was super easy and the best part it had less than 10 hours of use, this thing was practically new, no scratches, chips, garage kept, etc. I looked on bass boat central and made arrangement through email. I see a lot of crap on kijiji and a lot of good from far, take someone who knows a lot about boats, motors, or take it to a marina and have a pre-purchase inspection. I hired a marine surveyor for $400 US, best peace of mind I ever spent.

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Originally Posted by Trophy-Seeker

Thanks, Bandwagon! I will check out that resource.

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If you're going to look south of the border,be careful for "flood" boats that are selling cheap. Most were submerged and the electronics are fried. Buddy next door bought one from some guy in Boston and it's been nothing but trouble. Take a real hard look,first.

That's why hiring a marine surveyor would be a good idea in any case. They check the hull using a moisture meter inside and out, he could tell the difference between a garage kept boat, a boat stored outdoors, a boat left in the water, etc. They check the serial numbers and can tell you insurance claims, ownership for the boat, motor and trailer, this was an option on my report and I had to provide these ahead of time from the seller. Pennsylvania is a title state so the owner will be listed on the bill of sale, if the bank owns it, that's who you will be making the cheque out to and the bill of sale should be notarized. In my case the owner was the seller and his bill of sale was notarized which is why I had to pay taxes on $13000 as opposed to the $12,400 I haggled him down to.

The first thing I noticed when we pulled the cowl off the motor was painted spark plugs, as in the original spark plugs. I asked why they had not been changed and he said he hadn't used the boat enough to justify changing them. The marine surveyor bore scoped the motor confirming cross hatching which disappears from the cylinder walls between 10 to 30 hours. He noted oil in the cylinders from storing the motor for long periods, the owner would fog the motor once or twice a year because he wasn't using it, he was a gear head so he knew better. This resulted in a hard start the first time with lots of smoke. it had to be jumped due to the batteries being original, marine surveyor brought the jumper just incase. on the way to the test lake I had asked the seller to put some fresh gas in, he had pumped out the majority a couple years before. once we got it going it ran like a scolded ape. with 3 people aboard we hit 58mph and on the second run I hit 61mph, the owner looked like he was holding on for dear life. When I slowed down to turn back around I had asked him if he was o.k. and he had never run the boat over 50mph cause it scared him, I new at that point I was taking it home with me.

Unless I knew the seller personally I wouldn't take there electronics, mine had the factory original black and whites so I planned on ripping them out whether they came with the boat or not.

A great big "THANK YOU!" to all of you for your insightful and helpful tips.

I ended up getting into a 2018 Nitro Z19 Sport (yes, with 2 live wells), as it is the best of both worlds (fishing and water sports) that I could enjoy with the family. I am looking forward to delivery in the next 6 weeks and VERY MUCH looking forward to the bass opener!

Thanks again, everyone.

Nice, now the wait, that will be the hardest part.

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Originally Posted by sabmgb

Nice, now the wait, that will be the hardest part.

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Hahahaha! You said it, sabmgb!

Sweet boat and best of both worlds, enjoy...what motor you put on that ?

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Originally Posted by OUTCAST

Sweet boat and best of both worlds, enjoy...what motor you put on that ?

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Thanks, Outcast.

To answer your question: Mercury Pro XS 200HP.

Hi, All.

By way of update, I finally took delivery of my new boat at the beginning of June and am enjoying boat ownership.

After taking it out for a couple of spins (fishing), I started to wonder about Power Poles and thought that I would ask the following:

Would installing Power Poles (2 of them) interfere with the "Ski" function of my boat. Specifically, will the Power Poles interfere with the Ski Pylon or its operation? Alternatively, if the regular Power Poles would interfere with water skiing/tubing, would the Power Pole Micro Anchor (2 of them) be enough to hold my boat?

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help for this noob boat owner!

TS