HOW DID YOU GET YOUR FIRST BOAT

[FISHUMUP]

I bought my first boat 140v Ranger with a 175 Johnson seahorse in 1988 for $4500. Sold it in 2004 for $2500. This was a great boat

[Fishhead]

Very first was a 12ft J-boat with oars for $65.00!!!! But the first bass boat was a 16ft Tracker with a 50 HP, used, paid cash. A number of years later upgraded to a 84 DynaTrac fiberglass bass boat, used, paid cash, bought for $4K sold for $5K. Then in 2000 bought a 97 Ranger w/ 150 Merc for $14K, put $10K down, paid the rest off in 2 years. Nice not having a payment on a boat. Now just have 1.5 years to go on the truck!!!

Buy used, take your time and shop wisely, don't be afraid to haggle, test drive and have a good mechanic evaluate, lots of good deals out there, bad deals too!!!

[DYNATRAK]

I bought my boat a few years ago. It's a 1991 Dyntrak 150 (red) with a 50 Johnson that runs like a dream. I paid 3500 cash for it. It's been a great boat. I redid some of the electric a couple of winter's ago. Never worked on anything mechanical before, but with a little sweat and websites like this and iboats.com, i've come a long way. It's great to own something that's a bit older...you can tinker around on it without worrying too much about shootin yourself in the foot.

Of course I'd like something bigger, now (i'm 6'3" and about 225lbs.) However, you always have to be thankful for what the Lord has blessed you with.

...may not be able to get to the hole faster than someone with a 225 optimax, but i can still catch the fish the same (or better).

just my 2 cents.

:)

[flippinstick]

My first boat was an 1987 astroglass 14' with a mercury 50hp. tri-hull, it was a great boat and for the year one of the cleanest too. I agree with most guys I cant see paying 30-40,000 dollars for a new bass boat for 12 years and after intrest paying 50-60,000 for it. I just might get suckered in one day buy the shiny glitter under the lights at the boat show but I sure hope I dont. My 98 ranger will do me just fine.

[Stonewall2002]

I bought my first boat a little over a year ago. It's a 16'6 1988 runnabout with a 90hp johnson, paid only $1600 for it because the guy who sold it was in a pinch. I put a heck of a lot of work in to it, things like built a trolling motor mount for the front, added some new lounge seats, a deck in the bow w/ pedistal seat, a livewell, depth-finder, and a couple of batteries. It might not look like the baddest bass boat on the lake, but fishes in comfort and style. It may get a few strange looks at the ramp, but I tell you one thing.... I have more fun on the lake because it's paid for!
My advice: Buy in the fall.... 'cuz thats when people like to unload their old gear in anticipation of new gear in the spring. Pluss the market is tighter on the seller because only fishermen are thinking about boats or the water, everyone else is thinking aout the holidays, thus driving the price down a little. Also it's better to buy a fixer-upper than to sink into $x.xx debt for something that that you might want get rid of in a couple of years (remember all debt is bad debt). Take your downpayment and pay for the boat outright, then take the monthly payment you had planned to finance, and use that to fix up your boat. If you have to, buy a john boat and "trick her out" by adding a trolling motor, etc. The is a link here somewhere that has some good tipps on that...
Overall, take the plunge. I was a little apprehensive when I bought my boat, but it it has been the best money I have ever spent.

Keep on chuckin'

[Stonewall2002]

Here is that link...

http://www.rcbassjons.com/mycustompage0006.htm


Cool stuff....

[senko]

Give me a call, I may have something for you that might interest you.financing too.

Rich
859-240-0043

[Danny]

Mi first boat was a rotten 14 foot flat bottom wooden jon boat. My brother in law and I got this boat for $25, and rebuilt it. He had used this really ugly chocolate brown paint as his trim paint on his house and we painted that old boat with that, and man it was ugly. The thing weighed in around 400 pounds I think, and was a really tough thing for the two of us to handle. Oh, did I mention we used 3/4 inch plywood rebuilding it? Sheesh.. we even had it in the back of his truck, and backed it into a tree, pushing the transom in about 3 inches, and it still did not leak!! Also, we had no trolling motor, only paddles.

My next boat came many, many years later, and after I was married to my second wife. She did not grow up on a boat like I had, and was scared of the water. So I bought a pontoon first, and had it out fitted for fishing. I kept it for a couple of years, and sold for a thousand less than I paid for it new.

Next was my first bass boat. I got this after my wife got to where she could not fish anymore, and I was always fishing by myself. I spent about 2 years shopping for the boat, and bought it new in '95. I kept it for almost three years, and sold it for about $1,500 less than I paid for it.

Now I own my current boat. I bought it new in March 2002, had it ordered, and again, spent considerable time shopping to make sure I got the boat I wanted and the one that "fit" me. My boat will be completely paid for this March.

One thing, I try to never finance the boat for more than 4 years. I'd love to have been able to pay cash, but I am not mechanically inclined, so I feel only comfortable buying new. But hey, that's just me.

Good luck, and let us know what you get.

Danny

[DaveR]

In 1993 a friend had a stroke, and needed money to pay medical bills, plus he couldn't get around much anymore. Bought a 91 Ranger 330V that booked for 14K for $7500. Then in 96 I bought a 94 392V w/ 95 Merc and sold my 330V for $9500.

Got lucky. But also believe in letting someone else pay for most of the depreciation. My current boat has depreciated $8-$10,000 in the 9 years I've owned it.

[the_donger]

Most financial folks will tell you if that if it is at all possible, avoid taking a loan out on something that will depreciate in value. If you sink a new boat, will your insurance pay for a new boat OR what the boat is worth? If it is the latter, you will be paying off a loan on a boat that is at the bottom of the lake.

[BButton]

hello--I have a 2001 javelin renegade 20 for sale it has a 200 hp evin. If you are interested shoot me an email: [email protected]

[Dave Stewart]

1975 was when I bought my first real fishing boat...got it new...1975 Ranger...built and sold spinnerbaits to pay for it..boat cost around 3400.00 to drive off the lot...those were the days..lol.