i've got a large car toppable motorized kayak but i want to take it to the next level with a bass boat or just even a jon boat. I was thinking about buying a old used jon for a few hundred dollars, a jon boat already set up for around 1200 or a used bass boat for about 2000. I've got my own job and stuff but the thing is my parents say that if i can afford to buy my own boat, i can afford to help pay for college. so the money im making will have to go to tuition. but i still want that boat. so what do you guys suggest i do to get a decent boat within the next few years or to convince my parents to let me get one, besides getting a scholarship (easier said than done, but i'm trying)?

Their is a lot of scholarships out there, just search the internet.

then you could also instead of paying $2000 for a boat look around and you might be able to find a boat for $500-$1000.  I got mine for $700 and it has a 55hp, and I haven't had to really do anything to it.  I did some upgrades but that was my choice and I didn't have to.

I would suggest that you re-think your priorities.  Your parents are wise. You already have a craft from which you can fish.  Use all your spare money to help pay for your education and to remove a bit of the financial burden from them.  After graduation, land a job, and then buy the boat you want.

I would suggest that you re-think your priorities. Your parents are wise. You already have a craft from which you can fish. Use all your spare money to help pay for your education and to remove a bit of the financial burden from them. After graduation, land a job, and then buy the boat you want.

I would have to agree with LM here, sit down and really think about it. I know I had to. You already have something to get you from point a to b, may not be a ranger, but thats not what catches fish. Finish school get you a job and get exactly what you want. This way you are keeping in the good graces of your parents, and wether you believe it or not doing yourself a favor in the long run. Your parents aren't telling you what they are to be mean to you, I imagine they have been there and done that and have already learned from it.

 Put that extra cash into savings for whatever you want in the future. I have a lot of young Marines in the college age that go out and make impulse purchases and end up paying for it later. ( No pun intended) You are your own person, but I would seriously think this one out.

Man I am 23 and in the good old working world and I love to fish just as much as the next guy on here but if I had it to do all over agian I wouldnt do anything to hender my helpful ride threw college let your parents help you as much as possible and maybe this summer after classes are out you can get a job to save for a boat and mabye help alittle with tuition keep your nose in the books and make dew with what you got for now just think when you get out of college you can get a good job and buy one of the nitros everyone and myselfs day dreaming about. I blew off college for other things I thought I needed and know I got a wife i one boy and another one the way and I work a average of about 70 to 80 hours a week and attend college. I wish I would have held off on things that werent nearlly as important as I thought they were. But your the only one that can dicide whats more important.

     Just my little peace of mind.

Listen to your parents.  That $2000 bass boat will wind up costing you far more by the time you're done fixing everything that needs fixin.

Priorities.  Education first, then a job, then buy yourself a boat with real money.  

Iisten to your parents. If you still want to fish see if your school has a bass team. Join it as a nonboater. Finish school reguardless. It will all be waiting for you when you are done.

The best investment is your education, but if you realistically have 2000$...you have a lot of cash!  You can go through 2,000$ fast while at school.  So let's say you do have 2000$ for a boat and you have 2000 more to make it through a school year without bugging your parents for 20$ every weekend to cop a g and roll one....

Plan A

Hunt around for a john or semi v.  Something that comes with a trailer, runs, and doesn't need much maintenance.  Say you find a 14 foot john with a 9.9 for 700$.  Great.  Everything works, no leaks, yahoo.  You can stand up, take a friend maybe two, maybe one that's a girl.  

Tell your parents that fishing is really important to you and so is college.  Then offer to match whatever you spend on buying the boat, registering, maintaining, trailer hitch, fixing the trailer lights (because they never work) etc. on your education.  

You get a little runabout and your parents get a little help with the bills.

Say you buy a little aluminum boat and things don't work out.  You're going to be able to sell it and not lose too much $$.  

Plan B

Save your money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm in college and went through the whole should I buy something bigger than my 9 foot john boat which I bought for 50$ when I was 14.  I still have my little john boat because buying a boat is more than just dollar bills.

The best investment is your education, but if you realistically have 2000$...you have a lot of cash! You can go through 2,000$ fast while at school. So let's say you do have 2000$ for a boat and you have 2000 more to make it through a school year without bugging your parents for 20$ every weekend to cop a g and roll one....

Plan A

Hunt around for a john or semi v. Something that comes with a trailer, runs, and doesn't need much maintenance. Say you find a 14 foot john with a 9.9 for 700$. Great. Everything works, no leaks, yahoo. You can stand up, take a friend maybe two, maybe one that's a girl.

Tell your parents that fishing is really important to you and so is college. Then offer to match whatever you spend on buying the boat, registering, maintaining, trailer hitch, fixing the trailer lights (because they never work) etc. on your education.

You get a little runabout and your parents get a little help with the bills.

Say you buy a little aluminum boat and things don't work out. You're going to be able to sell it and not lose too much $$.

Plan B

Save your money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm in college and went through the whole should I buy something bigger than my 9 foot john boat which I bought for 50$ when I was 14. I still have my little john boat because buying a boat is more than just dollar bills.

Ii gotta agree with his plan A.  Match the money you put into your boating.  Keep looking around for that perfect little 14 ft Jon.  That is a perfect starter boat.  I have a 16 ft fiberglass with all the goodies, but I still would love a little 12-14 ft jon.  I'm 21 and just got my degree and I must say you need to get your priorities straight, get your education, while maintaining your fishing hobby.  Be sure you mooch off of your parents as much as possible.

A $2,000 bass boat is going to run you a LOT more then just the initial $2,000 you spend. I'd definitely rule that out.

Here's the thing you have to remember, YOU HAVE A BOAT ! It might not be exactly what you want, but it's better to be mobile on the water then not.

If your parents are paying for your school now, just keep saving up! Once you're out of college, then buy a boat. I'd say start with a jon boat though, no need to rush things. Get a nice jonboat, you can always convert it into a mini bass boat, and that should give you quite a long time of enjoyment.

I'm the last person to be giving this advise, as I dont' follow it myself:  Don't rush things! Some things shouldn't be rushed and even though it may take another or two, in the end you'll thank yourself.

I'm just about to graduate in 8 weeks (business degree w/ concentration in marketing)...yeah! I've wanted a boat for awhile now, but I settled on a pontoon boat. A new one cost about $300. No gas, no insurance, no need for storage(mine stays deflated in the back of my jeep), don't get backseated, and I get to work on the beer belly I've been steadily accumulating. ;D I can go pretty much anywhere a big boat can go, just not as fast, and catch just as many fish. Just wanted to give you another suggestion on boats. Pontoons and float tubes are both under utilized fishing machines.

I would tell your parents the college isn't ALL about school, its the whole experience and you need to be able to do what you want for fun when not in school. Ask them if they would rather you be out drinking every night or hittin the sack early so you can catch the morning bite.  

If they are really opposed to one during school, get them to agree to get you a bass boat for graduation if you attain a certain gpa. 8-)

My parents haven't helped my through any of my college, but they are sooo stoked that I'm finally finishing that they are going to throw down some cash for a "real" boat....wahoo!

As for the school thing...go to every class, make sure to take an english and math class every semester till your done with both.You'll be done before you know it. Good luck!