In the market for a boat, OB advice wanted

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Last question is should I lean glass or aluminum?

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What kind of fishing will you be using this boat for?

Check over the entire hull both inside and out. Look for stress cracks, patch jobs, and other obvious damage. Knock on the transom, both inside and out, real good with a hammer and listen for soft spots, if fiberglass. Aluminum is a little easier to judge, and repair.

Look over the electrical wiring and battery system. Make sure it's not some rat's nest that will cause you headaches in the future. Make sure all of the switches, connections and wiring look like they are in good shape and not full of corrosion. Look at the ease of access to any pumps (bilge, live/bait well, etc.). Make sure they are in working order and can be serviced easily in the future. Look at the rest of the plumbing system and make sure the hoses are not dry rotted.

Run the hell out of the engine. If they won't let you run it, run from it. Compression test it, or have a certified dealer of the engine brand check it over and let them do the test. Again, run if they don't let you have a mechanic/dealer check it out. Dump out the water separating filter into a clear container to check the tank condition. Pull the gear lube drain plug and check the condition of the lube and check for signs of water intrusion. Look at the condition of the prop and hub. Remove the prop and check the condition of the splines and look for fishing line around the prop shaft.

If you are planning on fishing in large open bays and the gulf frequently then stick with glass as the aluminum will beat you to death in rough water. If you plan on fishing mainly on the inner marshes and small bodies of water then I would consider aluminum as well as glass.

I would also suggest checking the classifieds on The Hull truth website.

Check southeast texas. Dot coms classifieds 2coolfishing and Pensacola fishing forum

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Check southeast texas. Dot coms classifieds 2coolfishing and Pensacola fishing forum

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While checking southeast Texas I came across sportsman bay boats. The 17 island reef in particular, anyone have any reviews on them?

I wouldn't buy aluminum unless it were being pushed by a surface drive. I grew up in NELA fishing out of aluminum boats and it only took one trip in fiberglass CC for me to realize I didn't have to feel like I'd been beaten with a big stick to fish for specks and reds. Unless I were retired and could hand pick the days I went fishing I wouldn't buy aluminum because the wind always seems to blow on the days I can fish.

Buy as big as you can afford.

Unless you fish alone (and maybe even then), you will wish it were bigger.

No matter how big a boat is, in the bays it feels pretty small.

I had a 20' xpress hyperlift bay and it was a great boat. I just recently upgraded to a 22 foot fiberglass bay boat...buy what you want and can afford first go around.