Opinions on best first (used) boat.

Im in the market to buy a new to me boat. I’ve never owned any kind of marine vehicle and curious on what people recommend. I’m looking at one for just cruising around the water and maybe fishing some so I was looking heavily at some bass boats. What’s y’alls thoughts.

 

http://m.trackerboats.com/#all-welded-jon-boats?modelyear=2019
If it were me
that link shoulda taken you to their “Grizzly” lineup. Guess your gonna have to do some Google fu

Oh wait now it’s working lol

 

lund.

 

Lol. I was gonna say the same thing.

Only just get a tiller steer model. You can change motors as your fishing styles change.

Forgot to quote @truchador

 

What about kayaks, anyone fish in kayaks much or is it awkward and hard.

 

B.O.A.T., bust out another thousand.

 

The kind without holes...




Nah get a cheap John boat for starters.

 

20 w/ truck payment & 20 YO Insurance doesn’t leave me with too much disposable income lol wish I could

 

Yes.

Only with fair size sharks or rays.

Hard can be wind/tide dependent

 

Jon boats, aluminum row boats, canoe, kayak. All will get you on the water cheap, with little to no maintenance.

 

Where you plan to boat or fish makes a huge difference in what kind of boat you want to be looking at. Figure that out first, then figure out which of the suitable boats is in your price range.

 

Got a couple “lakes” around here. Both are man made flooded reservoir. Ones for an air force base and another is power generation

 

Old and cheap. Did I say cheap. Drive around, find one covered in leaves and a wife at home that wants it GONE. Cash.

 

LOL. I did that with my 1st boat.

The boat was old as shit but it had a new outboard. The divorcee said she wanted $1000 bucks to get it out of her sight. I said sorry, too much money.

She said if you got $250 cash right now you can take it this minute. Deal. The motor by itself was worth a grand.

 

Wow.. that’s a deal. I’ve just always been afraid of a cheap used boat.

 

Believe me, the boat was pure shit! Water logged 1950's.

Took a chain saw to the boat. Still have the motor.

 

Boats don't have to be expensive at all, but they certainly can be if you want. I don't see a location listed in your profile, but I'm guessing you are in TN? What kind of water are you looking to travel and fish? Rivers? Lakes? Saltwater (doubtful if TN, but who knows)? People say Bust Out Another Thousand which can be right for a big fiberglass hull saltwater boat, but it definitely can be done on the cheap with a small and light aluminum skiff with an older, small 2 stroke motor.

I spent $1500 on this complete and it's cost me very little since. New tires for the trailer but I travel with it a lot. Very seaworthy little skiff.

 

Kayaks are the greatest fishing vessel if you are into exercise.
I have fished for everything from bass and tarpon out of kayaks.
They are relatively cheap and offer a stable fishing platform.
The sky is the limit for outfitting them.

If you want to cover water fast searching for fish the longer and narrower the kayak the better.
On the other hand if you are not used to paddling and dont need to cover water you probably want a wider shorter platform.
I was stationed in Puerto Rico for a year and fished river mouths for giant tarpon (50-70lbs.) with a Ocean Kayak Prowler 13.
I loved that Prowler. It has a width of 28" is stable and a good length at 13'.
I covered a lot of water with that kayak.
They make a prowler 11 fishing kayak that would be an excellent compromise.
https://oceankayak.johnsonoutdoors.com/fishing/solo

BTW, if you choose to get a kayak get a sit-on-top. You can get in and out much more easier...