I appreciate the info fellas! I am just looking, gathering info and plan on buying around boat show time or maybe right after as folks trade in older boats for shiny new ones. I sold my little Grizzly and ATV to get some cash together for a bigger boat. If the boat show doesn't have a deal beyond belief then I will do a used one. Really wanting to stay 10K or less right now.

Being a bass fisherman.....The perfect boat for me would be 18ft or less, nice big casting deck, ample storage for 7-7.6" rods, maximum 4 stroke motor for the boat not the minimum as most come, all welded, no wood and very stable. I like to see 60" bottom or more along with a 84" beam. Swing away tongue would be nice but I can add that later myself.

I mainly fish small lakes and creeks but want to trailer to bigger lakes here or lakes in other states. The Lowe boats have my attention and have entertained the Tracker boats but I am a little gun shy after having a Skeeter rot on me years ago from water seeping into the wood floor.

I have a 5hp motor I will bolt on for fishing my club lake so the transom needs to be pretty open. That's where I am at right now!