My wife suggested i get a new bass boat since i like fishing so much.  I'm thinking next spring to buy one.  I told her how much it may cost for all the bells and whistles.  I'd be happy with a big row boat but she said "bass boat".   I'm not sure what brand yet?  I'm just browsing now.

Have fun browsing.

Does your wife have a sister?

I've been browsing myself and there is alot to take in. I've ordered catalogs from the manufactures. It' much easier to compare boats when you have all the info in front of you than going from website to website. You can get alot of info from BR

I may need a new truck because my jeep wrangler may not be able to tow it.

I really got into bass fishing in the mid 90's.  I would go bass fishing time to time but we mainly went after trout every spring and we would hit the lake a few times for bass.  My tackle room has more stuff than the local bait shops.  I was that good at bass fishing when my health got bad.  I had to give up getting a bass boat back then.  My bucket list is almsot complete with one thing right now left is to bass fish.  My main goal is to break the state record for LMB.  I've seen these fish and i know there out there.

IRA's do come in handy.... :

I think the perfect size bass boat is an 18 foot with a 150.  That goes plenty fast and will pretty much go on any lake.

My wife suggested i get a new bass boat since i like fishing so much. I'm thinking next spring to buy one. I told her how much it may cost for all the bells and whistles. I'd be happy with a big row boat but she said "bass boat". I'm not sure what brand yet? I'm just browsing now.

lol, kind of reminds me a of a quote I saw the other day about catfishing... :"Give a man a Catfish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to Catfish and you get rid of him on weekends. ."  This is just bass instead, eh?

Honestly, if you've got a truck, and not looking for something monstrous, I did a LOT of shopping and settled on a little Pelican Bass Raider.  It was very inexpensive and works great for me because I can load it in the back of my ranger with little to no troubles at all.

The down-side is that it's really more for small waters (I don't know if you're looking at big lake fishing or puddle jumping like me), but it's so much more stable than any of the jon-boats I've been in and it sits up in the water enough to get good casts even while sitting down.  Don't have to contend with the sides or have fantabulous balance to move back and forth on it.

Ranger triton basscat nitro. Top if the line right there.and make sure its powered by a Mercury  ;D. We just sold our ranger fish n ski and we too are looking for a full on bass boat

I think the perfect size bass boat is an 18 foot with a 150. That goes plenty fast and will pretty much go on any lake.

Diddo. Some people just find it better to have 225s on the back and all that, and it is nice,but even a bass tracker with a 50 horse will do awesome  ;D as long as the 50 horse is a mercury

I would look at a used boat that is 4-5 years old 

The way the economy is right now, finding a used boat like Catt said is probably the smartest choice.  You can find some very well maintained notable branded boats for very few bucks right now.  Craigslist, etc etc.  I know people who have picked up some good used boats from iBoats as well.

Just search around for a while.  When you find something you like, try to get all of the associated paperwork for the boat (maintenance records).  Try to get it out on the water for a test drive if at all possible.  Make sure you have it checked out by a qualified marine mechanic as well.  You don't want to drop a few grand on a boat with a private seller to find out that you need to have a major engine overhaul done.

Ranger, Triton, Basscat nitro Stratos, Champion, Legend...Top of the line right there...and make sure its powered by an Mercury Evinrude ;D. We just sold our Ranger fish n ski and we too are looking for a full on bass boat

Fixed it for ya.

browsing can be very fun until you start adding up all the costs with the accessories.   And after you think you figured out the cost then add a few thousand. 

browsing can be very fun until you start adding up all the costs with the accessories. And after you think you figured out the cost then add a few thousand.

BOAT:

Break

Out

Another

Thousand

Ranger, Triton, Basscat nitro Stratos, Champion, Legend...Top of the line right there...and make sure its powered by an Mercury Evinrude ;D. We just sold our Ranger fish n ski and we too are looking for a full on bass boat

Fixed it for ya.

U are right about the nitro only the z 9s are top of the line. But the evinrude thing no mercury dominates all 

browsing can be very fun until you start adding up all the costs with the accessories. And after you think you figured out the cost then add a few thousand.

BOAT:

Break

Out

Another

Thousand

^^^this^^^    We just had something happen to our motor.  We think it is a piston that went bad but not sure.  That is going to cost 1600-2000 dollars to fix.  Make sure you have enough money fix the boat you buy in case something happens.

If its your first bass boat...Don't get anything fancy..I would look for a Ranger or a Triton. Yes they are a little more expensive but hold there value if maintained well. The ride is awesome! Those are if you want the Cadillac so to speak of boats. If you want speed and still have a nice ride. Bullet is the way to go

If its your first bass boat...Don't get anything fancy..I would look for a Ranger or a Triton. Yes they are a little more expensive but hold there value if maintained well. The ride is awesome! Those are if you want the Cadillac so to speak of boats. If you want speed and still have a nice ride. Bullet is the way to go

a ranger is very fancy?

it took a nitro then a skeeter before i got my ranger comanche  and theres no turning back

Before you decide, cause there is a LOT of variables.

1. What do you want out of the boat?

   What features/options do you want and prioritize them. Good examples, how many folks do you want to take, how much weight (yourself and those mostly likely to come along), what types of fishing (bass only? other?)

2. What budget (roughly) you got?

3. What type of water you going in?

    Salt water/Fresh, large lakes, small pond, river, heavy traffic, low, rocky, current, etc

4. Another thought, tow vehicle

Every hull type, size, etc has its strengths and weaknesses. For my needs I went with a Tracker pt 175 txw. It was the right length for me. My trailblazer would easily tow it. It also came with a entry level TM, charger, and graph. The Motor (60 hp) can push it roughly 45 mph with just me in it, the price was right. The only huge downside for me, the light boat does not play well with winds. I can slowly upgrade the TM and electronics at my leisure.

if you can throw out some answers to those 3 big questions, there guys here will give ya some GREAT choices.

Ranger, Triton, Basscat nitro Stratos, Champion, Legend...Top of the line right there...and make sure its powered by an Mercury Evinrude ;D. We just sold our Ranger fish n ski and we too are looking for a full on bass boat

Fixed it for ya.

There is no Champion anymore.  :'(

Ranger, Triton, Basscat nitro Stratos, Champion, Legend...Top of the line right there...and make sure its powered by an Mercury Evinrude ;D. We just sold our Ranger fish n ski and we too are looking for a full on bass boat

Fixed it for ya.

There is no Champion anymore. :'(

Yup there aint. But theres stiiiiiiill RANGER  ;D im glad they let go champion instead of ranger

If its your first bass boat...Don't get anything fancy..I would look for a Ranger or a Triton. Yes they are a little more expensive but hold there value if maintained well. The ride is awesome! Those are if you want the Cadillac so to speak of boats. If you want speed and still have a nice ride. Bullet is the way to go

Yea lol what do you mean dont get anything fancy Triton and Ranger and Basscat are the top 3 bass boats

Ranger, Triton, Basscat nitro Stratos, Champion, Legend...Top of the line right there...and make sure its powered by an Mercury Evinrude ;D. We just sold our Ranger fish n ski and we too are looking for a full on bass boat

Fixed it for ya.

There is no Champion anymore. :'(

Crazy eh? I love my Stratos tho.

You will probably get a better deal if you buy in the late fall and/or winter.

Ranger z118  150 optimax pro xs, all a fella needs

Ranger, Triton, Basscat nitro Stratos, Champion, Legend...Top of the line right there...and make sure its powered by an Mercury Evinrude ;D. We just sold our Ranger fish n ski and we too are looking for a full on bass boat

Fixed it for ya.

U are right about the nitro only the z 9s are top of the line. But the evinrude thing no mercury dominates all

Merc's are good as long as its not a XR6(which is what im stuck wit right now) for that reason I would go with(and like to have) either and evenrude or yamaha.