backpain...

My boat is a 14' Aluminum V bottom Lowe jon type. It came with a 15HP tiller, trailer and three chairs for $1,300. I found it on craigslist.org. As far as start up costs: You have to consider taxes and title fees (depending on state laws). Here in PA I paid $280.00 in taxes and fees to make the boat and trailer legal. Other costs were making provision to pull the thing. At the time of purchase I didn't realize my trucks wiring was all crapped out. So I ended up getting a hitch installed on my car instead to pull the very light boat, that was $195.00. Again states vary as to safety equipment; but life jackets for three (my self, my wife, and the 2 year old son) $80.00, An anchor $20.00, fire extinguisher $8.00, whistle $3.00... You get the idea things begin to add up and most of these are legally neccessary to launch a boat. Things that were optional like lights for night fishing ~$50.00 As far as upgrades for the future: I plan on a decent fish finder one day ~$150.00 Better trolling motor (mine is from the 60's) ~$150.00 I am currently working on front and rear casting decks and some telescoping seats on them. ~$125.00 But I am so glad personally I bought the cheaper boat and upgrading things as I go, because I am using the boat while I am working on it, as opposed to waiting to find a fully loaded fishing boat I would still be waiting and looking and in the end spend roughly the same as I am now.

Hi there, I am new around these parts. But I am also a first time boat buyer. I have owned mine for about a month and a half. I knew personally it was time for a change in my life while looking at pictures of my family and in almost 80% I was in front of a computer. Having a 2 year old son I knew I needed to make some changes. For me the financial situation was slim to none as far as funding a boat purchase, in fact I thought the idea was impossible and ludicris. What I ended up doing was selling off the things that I felt were not NEEDED in my life. The extra shotgun, the high end computer (and replaced with a cheapy old one) and stashed the money to save for a boat. In my case I bought cheap a plain jane 14' aluminum with a decent tiller motor. Now I am slowly turning it into a personal fishing machine. A few observations from my recent experience. #1 Make sure you buy under your budget, what I mean is be sure you have the money to take care of all of the legal things, as well as those small things that pop up along the way. #2 Don't be afraid to buy a jon type boat and fix it up. I have learned more in doing things myself and been greatly enriched by the whole process. The sense of fulfillment is amazing after you have some success in working on it in your down time. #3 Don't skimp on safety! make sure you do all of your homework as to the size boat you need as well as the equipment needed for safety. #4 Lastly, don't be descouraged. Keep saving and looking around for a good deal. If you want in PM or email I can show some good places to look for deals.

I have the same boat as Joe, and am looking to do the same thing. I never thought of making it removable like that. If you could give me more detail Joe that would be sweet! Like how did you brace it to the hull in front?