Me and my parents are ditching the 16ft tin boat with an old Mercury 1972 2 stroke. We tried believe me we tried, installed seats even purchased Lowrance gps/fish finder $545, minnkota trolling motor $300.00.

Yes sir, we've had enough of being left in the middle of the lake cause motor doesn't want start, 25k bass boats flying past us not mention water dripping from our faces, fishing from uncomfortable positions, trying cast from a v-hull all the while on our arses etc. etc......

My mother loves fishing and she's the boss on purse strings and said she's ain't getting older at 55 and this is about the only hobby she likes so before she gets to old might as well finance for bass boat and do it right.

She said, "back goes the 500 dollar sonar and 300 dollar trolling motor let's sell all of it sm boat included."

Ok now that you know were we're coming from the son is in charge in getting the all the info. (thats me) we know zero zilch about bass boats. There going to be 3 of us fishing off it our projected budget 10k give or take can you all help important info on buying such as top 5 boat manufactures/ model, size ft (3 people), motor size etc. and anything else that would be helpful going about shopping for it.

So. Cal

Thanks

That is exactly what I paid for my '95 Skeeter ZX150 3 years ago.  It has a 150 on the back, looks great, fishes 3 o.k,  (a 20 footer would be nicer, but the 18' works) and will probably still be worth more than $6000 next year.  A bass boat platform is really nice for older people.  Although you don't have the freeboard, it is a lot easier to move around a wide, flat deck than on a V hull design.  Look into a used boat in your area-Doug

thanks

Well, you are and you aren't lucky.  Right now there's probably more bassboats on the used market than I've ever seen and at some unbelievable prices.  Alot of it has to do with the gas selling as high as it is and guys(gals) getting in way over their heads.  The bad news is in where you live, So. Cal.  I'm not 100% percent on the rules but the motor restricitions (pollution control) may or may not limit you to engine types.  In other words you need to find out if you can buy an older boat with something less than say a 4 stroke or EFI technology in order to keep the cost down. As for your budget,  $10,000 can easily get you something at least 19 1/2 ft in length with a 150-175hp motor in one of the major brands.  These are the guys I'd be looking at for best bang for the buck.

Nitro

Champion

Stratos

HydraSport

Charger

ProCraft

Astro

Skeeter

Basscat

I've left Ranger and Triton off the list because they tend to cost more in the used market.  The boats listed are built every bit as good and in many cases ride and fish just as good or better than the other two.  I'm not sure I'd sell off that graph yet, you might find a use for it on the new boat.

Look around, find some boats in your price range and post them here. We should be able to analyze them and get you pointed in the right direction.  

Good thing Mom's pushing for this by the way.  

Two words  

Xpress & Yamaha   8-)

another thing to consider is what you'll be towing with.

Stratos has a killer entry level boat on the market right now.  They're advertising it opposite of the Tracker 175 TX (or whatever it is called now).