GreenvilleSC_fishing Posted November 2 Share Posted November 2 I’m very close to pulling the trigger on a 21 foot bass boat with 250 hp engine (pending nothing crazy happens to the economy after the election). I’m debating whether I should do this or spend less than half that to get a nice fishing boat with a hull generally designed for shallower water but decent for a calm lake. I would be fishing primarily with my two young sons in the upstate of SC and western NC with primary bodies of water being Lake Hartwell and Lake Keowee. Curious for feedback on someone like me pulling the trigger on a really nice bass boat vs something like what I described. I have never owned a boat. Thanks for the feedback! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Way2slow Posted November 2 Super User Share Posted November 2 Sounds like you are like most of us and want a really nice boat. I guess if you can afford that kind of boat, you are not worried about the operating costs and the fact it takes a full-size pickup to safely tow it. One of the main reasons I sold my 20' with a 225 (that was paid for) was the main lake I liked to fish "Clarks Hill" was 90 miles and between the gas for the boat and truck it was costing me $100+ dollars just for gas. Even if you do one of those near lifetime payment plans where there is no possible way to never not to be upside down on the loan, the payments are not half the cost of actually owning and operating the boat. That's why so many of them get repo'd, the owner can't afford to pay thousands of dollars between its value and what they owe on it, just to get rid of it. The old saying goes, "the bigger the boat, the bigger the hole if makes in the water to throw money in" so if you have any reservations about getting that size boat, you might want to give serious considerations to something smaller. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Jig Man Posted November 2 Super User Share Posted November 2 If I were going to be fishing with 2 young kids I would want a boat with fairly high sides so that I didn’t have to worried about them falling out. I would never recommend a bass boat to a first time boat owner. That would be a major learning curve. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susky River Rat Posted November 2 Share Posted November 2 Get the boat you really want if you can afford it! Just my opinion. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Koz Posted November 2 Super User Share Posted November 2 Hartwell in particular can be a wake fest with all of the pleasure boats and watercraft. As a co-angler, more than once I was almost pitched off the deck fishing the banks on the main lake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted November 2 Super User Share Posted November 2 Get the biggest boat your vehicle can safely tow, you can afford, and what will fit in your garage. Then max out the outboard on it too. Don’t get something that puts you upside down financially. Bigger, heavier boats handle waves better but they cost more to use too. Finding that happy medium is the key. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Way2slow Posted November 3 Super User Share Posted November 3 Don't get me wrong, it will make a wonderful fishing platform. If the money is not a problem, get it, you and your kids will thoroughly enjoy it. Ya'll will really appreciate the size. I had an 18'6" before the 20' and it got small really quick with me, my dad and granddaughter fishing from it. I used mine for 15 years and still had to think long and hard about selling it, even after it sat sometimes a year or more between uses for the past few years. At 75, and no fishing partner, fishing trips were just not that enjoyable anymore. I still have my jon boat and it has only been used a couple of times since I sold my bass boat. Someone mentioned a deep sided boat with the kids, I never felt mine was unsafe even in the choppiest water with white caps, it was very stable and rode like a dream in rough water. I will mention, you being a newbie to boats, especially one like that. That will be in the neighborhood of an 80mph boat and can turn deadly really quick. Being new to boats and trying to drive it 80mph ain't nothing like getting in your car and driving 80mph. Think of it like having never driven a race car and then trying to drive an Indy car in a race. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted November 3 Super User Share Posted November 3 I say get the best boat you can afford. The best way to know you can afford it is to pay cash. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig P Posted November 3 Share Posted November 3 Never owned a boat, young kids and unsure about the economy. I would wait it out a year and see how things develop. I have a friend who bought a Ranger a couple of years ago, he talked about how the family was going to love fishing and spending days on the lake. Fast forward, they rarely get a chance to use it, school, sports, activities and daily life get in the way and when they do go, they rarely fish, they just enjoy the time together on the lake and now want to trade it for a Pontoon so they can bring more family. He kicks himself for not making the correct decision in the beginning and fears the financial hit coming. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gera Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 Buy the best boat you can easily afford, tow and store. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted November 5 Super User Share Posted November 5 8 minutes ago, Gera said: Buy the best boat you can easily afford, tow and store. And maintain - that's sometimes the biggest problem. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gera Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 47 minutes ago, MN Fisher said: And maintain - that's sometimes the biggest problem. Totally agree.. maintenance cost adds up quickly. In my case, In my case storage was the limitation, while my garage could easily fit a 22' boat, it didn't make it easy to put anything else besides my wife's truck. accessing kids bikes, the kayaks, the lawn equipment was just a pain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted November 5 Super User Share Posted November 5 3 minutes ago, Gera said: accessing kids bikes, the kayaks, the lawn equipment was just a pain. They never make garages big enough, do they. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gera Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 Just now, gimruis said: They never make garages big enough, do they. Well, at least not within my budget 😄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted November 5 Super User Share Posted November 5 15 minutes ago, Gera said: Well, at least not within my budget 😄 I figure its a lot easier and less expensive to just buy a smaller boat that fits than it is to tear out walls and build more concrete with new walls. That would get out of hand real quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junk Fisherman Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 A couple questions: 1) What is your experience with boats in general? Buying a 21' 250 HP bassboat can be daunting to operate and maintain if you don't have much experience. There is definitely a learning curve with many operating procedures such as towing, backing, and docking. Little mistakes end up costing alot especially with fiberglass boats. You don't want to spend 75K or so on a beautiful boat and beat it up due to a lack of experience. I speak from my own experience and issues I've had as an inexperienced boater. Spending less and learning on a used boat should be a consideration. 2) From a financial standpoint, if the election and possible fluctuations in the stock market impact your decision then you probably shouldn't be buying such an expensive toy. Once again, gettting a used boat for half the price looks like a good solution. 3) Do you plan on fishing tournaments? Is the 21' boat because of your 2 kids and wanting more space? The reason I ask is because from a value standpoint bassboats are way overpriced due to the demand and number of people that want to fish tournaments. If your major reason for buying the boat is to spend time with your boys, then a multi-species boat or a 19' boat would be a better value. Overall, considering this is your first boat and you have questions about the market, I'd recommend getting a used aluminum bassboat in the 19' range. You'd be getting a lot of bang for the buck and the aluminum hull makes it easier to operate and fix if you damage it. After a few seasons you can always get that fancy, glass boat and have confidence in your ability to operate it. Good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted November 5 Super User Share Posted November 5 17 minutes ago, gimruis said: They never make garages big enough, do they. Mine's big enough, but how it's placed means I have to manually put the boat in with a trailer dolly. I think this winter I'm going to cobble together a powered dolly....I'm getting too old to push even my little 14' around. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airshot Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 Most shops charge in excess if 125.00 per hour for labor...can you afford that seeing how this is your first boat?? Can you do your own service and maintainence ?? As others have mentioned, I would recommend an 18-19' aluminum boat with deeper sides. Less expensive to maintain, less fuel to burn and a better resale down the road. Every year a number of folks loose their lives because they thought they could drive an 80 mph boat !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born 2 fish Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 Buy whatever you like don’t settle for anything less you will regret it. I’ve done that I bought a Lund impact for family reasons when I really wanted a bass boat . Guess what my family went out in the boat about 5 times in 7 years. I finally sold the Lund in 2020 and in 2023 I bought a brand new Phoenix bass boat I couldn’t be happier with it and I fish with my son he’s 14 years old so not super little but the kids will grow up and you’ll still have that boat. So bottom line I say buy exactly what you want the first go around and be happy. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartyon8 Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 I used to make the trip to Hartwell every year with my 18.5' G3, I thought it was great for that lake. Now my son and wife tag along and I even pull a tube sometimes when I want to toss them off the boat. My wife feels more safe with the higher gunnels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuivre Posted November 9 Share Posted November 9 I think the first point of information is:- will you pay cash for the boat or finance it? I can buy a boat like those with cash now, but I have to also keep in mind what else I could do/buy with that money and the amount of time I have to enjoy it. When I decide to upgrade, I will likely pick a 19 foot aluminum rig with a 200 on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenvilleSC_fishing Posted November 9 Author Share Posted November 9 Thanks for all the feedback! It is very helpful. Regarding some of the financial points, I believe I can financially support this, and my decision is whether I invest dollars into something like a rental property (which I already have a couple of) or buy a toy. I’ve been investing for a while and have never really splurged on something like this. So the financial consideration for me is not whether I can in theory afford it, but rather if it is wise to burn dollars to do this instead of something that makes dollars. I have zero experience with boats and have only ever been a passenger. There would definitely be a learning curve. Rather than dollar considerations, I am curious how difficult this is for someone who is technically minded but does not have previous experience. I’m curious if newbies harm boats and motors from lack of maintenance experience or if the list is fairly manageable (things like winterizing motor). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcipinkie Posted November 9 Share Posted November 9 Not intending to insult you personally, other than you happen to fit in this group. People like you that have never owned or operated a boat have no business starting out in a 21', 250 HP bass boat. You have no basic boat skills and are now going on the water in a boat that probably will run in excess of 70 MPH. It isn't the same as driving a car. I really isn't. I would be much more concerned about my children's safety in a big, fast boat driven by someone totally experienced than the size of the boat. You can learn all the technical stuff. Lots of good sources out there. What you can't learn without serious water time is basic seaman skills. Get you a small boat. Stay off big water. Learn how to launch, retrieve, tie up, fish, maneuver, and all the other basic skills. Spend lots of water time. I'm 78 years old, started out a long time ago in my dad's 12' jon boat with a 5.5 HP motor. Worked my way up through various size boats until now. I'm running (because I choose to run this size boat) a 19.5' Skeeter ZX200 with a 200 HP motor. I can run almost 70MPH. I've been running high performance boats for almost 30 years, and I still scare myself occasionally. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted November 10 Super User Share Posted November 10 3 hours ago, mcipinkie said: People like you that have never owned or operated a boat have no business starting out in a 21', 250 HP bass boat. You have no basic boat skills and are now going on the water in a boat that probably will run in excess of 70 MPH. I agree. It's like learning how to drive a car in a Ferrari. Not a very smart idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaubsNU1 Posted November 10 Share Posted November 10 @mcipinkie & @gimruis have good points...starting off with a 21', 250HP bass boat might not be the best idea. Heck, my old 14' Rich Line with 20HP Merc scared the crap out of me, and it only made 20 MPH. Just one small mistake, one moment of not paying attention, and things can get bad really fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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