- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Help me pick a boat
Posted on 6/17/25 at 9:19 am
Posted on 6/17/25 at 9:19 am
Looking for some advice! I’ve been contemplating pulling the trigger on getting a boat, but can’t decide what would be best for how I’ll be using it. I live in north LA so would mostly be using it to bass fish in ponds, lakes, and rivers up here. However, I will also be taking the occasional trip to south LA to fish in the marsh. I’m looking for something relatively cheap, preferably <$15,000. I know this limits options, but I don’t need anything extravagant. Just something to get me on the water! What do yall think is a good route to go?
3
Posted on 6/17/25 at 9:34 am to Dingleberry Dan
war eagle 542 with a yamaha 25
Posted on 6/17/25 at 9:40 am to Dingleberry Dan
I’d look on Facebook marketplace for a used xpress, g3, or similar bass boat. Probably 17-18ft with a 4 stroke engine. I just looked real quick and found this one that looks like a solid deal. I’m not the seller, nor do I know the seller, before anyone accuses me of promoting the sell. Just a boat I saw on marketplace. Then, I’d spend the rest of the budget on electronics, rods and reels, and tackle.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 9:54 am to Dingleberry Dan
Tiller Jon Boat, 1648 modified vee or wider, longer. 25-50 hp. Galvanized trailer, although the coast will eat it up in time. Power drive trolling motor with spot lock (for me a minimum). Should be able to get into one used if you shop a while for less than $10K and may get into a new one for less than that.
Upgrade to a side console remote steering model for not a lot more money. Can also find both in fiberglass skiffs.
Upgrade again for a center console aluminum model...doubtful you can get in one new in your budget. LOTS of options though in that price range for used boats in good shape.
Aluminum boats will ride rougher and wetter and move more in a slight breeze but are more durable than fiberglass hulls. Aluminum is also noisier.
At $15K you ought to be able to get a pretty decent bass or smaller "bay" boat, used, in fiberglass or aluminum. I used bay in parenthesis because what would be called a 17 foot fiberglass bay boat by most manufacturers are closer to center console skiffs....and are great for what you are talking about.
Upgrade to a side console remote steering model for not a lot more money. Can also find both in fiberglass skiffs.
Upgrade again for a center console aluminum model...doubtful you can get in one new in your budget. LOTS of options though in that price range for used boats in good shape.
Aluminum boats will ride rougher and wetter and move more in a slight breeze but are more durable than fiberglass hulls. Aluminum is also noisier.
At $15K you ought to be able to get a pretty decent bass or smaller "bay" boat, used, in fiberglass or aluminum. I used bay in parenthesis because what would be called a 17 foot fiberglass bay boat by most manufacturers are closer to center console skiffs....and are great for what you are talking about.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 9:57 am to A_bear
That'd be a good one for the OP....seems like a good price to me in my area. Ridiculous price for an 11 year old boat BUT the market is what it is.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 11:12 am to AwgustaDawg
quote:
the market is what it is.
Yeah it’s crazy ever since Covid. I had my boat built in 2017 with a gatortail on it. In 2020, I put a brand new 115 sho on it. It’s worth more now than i paid for it back in 2017. I saw an almost identical boat sell for $10k more than what i paid for mine.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 11:20 am to A_bear
Yep. Find an older Xpress and get after it. Looks perfect for OPs needs.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 11:52 am to AwgustaDawg
quote:
Tiller
Not for the lakes in North la, you ever heard one of those hit a stump going about 40 mph ?
I have
Posted on 6/17/25 at 12:09 pm to The Torch
quote:
Not for the lakes in North la, you ever heard one of those hit a stump going about 40 mph ?
I have a tiller handle and have fished a ton of lakes in La and Texas. My local area is the Atchafalaya basin and it’s a good bit sketchier than any of the lakes up there, but having a tiller still isn’t a problem. You just have to follow the boat lanes, and idle when you get out of them.
My jackplate kicks up if I hit something though. So that helps a good bit too.
Oh and wear a life jacket and kill switch.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 2:54 pm to A_bear
I'd say anything aluminum- 16-18ft range. Then just decide if you want tiller, side, or center console.
On the aluminum rigs the mod v hulls will draft skinny and handle a little better than a flat. The padded hulls (like xpress) will ride way better.
I ran a 17x60" mod v side console since 1998. Fished and hunted all over Big lake, toledo, Texas, etc. Super versatile, easy to handle and went anywhere.
Upgraded to an 18' padded aluminum hull over this winter. And I'm in heaven. More room for the kids, and just blows my mind that I can get on step and glide through chop at 35-40mph that would have broke my back in the old rig.
Anything you look at make sure you test compression on the outboard. Don't take their word for it. As long as these old 2 strokes have good compression and you keep fresh gas and good oil in them. They'll go a long time.
On the aluminum rigs the mod v hulls will draft skinny and handle a little better than a flat. The padded hulls (like xpress) will ride way better.
I ran a 17x60" mod v side console since 1998. Fished and hunted all over Big lake, toledo, Texas, etc. Super versatile, easy to handle and went anywhere.
Upgraded to an 18' padded aluminum hull over this winter. And I'm in heaven. More room for the kids, and just blows my mind that I can get on step and glide through chop at 35-40mph that would have broke my back in the old rig.
Anything you look at make sure you test compression on the outboard. Don't take their word for it. As long as these old 2 strokes have good compression and you keep fresh gas and good oil in them. They'll go a long time.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 3:20 pm to A_bear
quote:
Yeah it’s crazy ever since Covid. I had my boat built in 2017 with a gatortail on it. In 2020, I put a brand new 115 sho on it. It’s worth more now than i paid for it back in 2017. I saw an almost identical boat sell for $10k more than what i paid for mine.
It got insane and ain't got no better LOL. I have been offered so much for my 2060 duck boat that its embarrassing but I would just have to buy a more expensive version of the same boat. I did find a deck boat hull last summer in need of some major work that, If I ever get time, plan to turn into something akin to a sled. I had the same hull in the Carribean for 3 years and it was stripped down to nothing but a 22 X 7 foot deck with a center console and bait tank...best fly fishing platform I have ever fished off of but pretty wet in 1-2s LOL....
Page 1 of 1
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News