Any boat experts on here?

[moswampy]

have been fishing the last decade plus out of a 1652 Polarcraft with 40hp yamaha in a bass model with no problems. When I bought it I was single and fished by myself A LOT. Over the next decade I occumulated several children and a wife who all fish. Needless to say the boat I currently have gets cramped with all or most of us. Loved the boat it got me from point A to B without problems and the first year I owned it we rod and reeled in over a ton in weight of fish. Have always thought of an upgrade but there are more important things in life. One of my buddies at work contacted me to help him sell his bass boat. 1994 17ft dual console Nitro with a 115Merc. on it. He wants around 4750 to finance an engagement ring. He bought it from an elderly gentlmen who kept the boat as a garage baby and my friend has not deviated from that. Unknown on the hours prior to purchase but he is selling it since he has less than 5 hours on it in the four years he as owned it. only has a 12V TM on it but it is a 55 and I can always take my Kota 12/55 off of my boat and switch them. Not worried about the electronics since the current LCX15mt I have on my ride can be switched over easily(I am saving for a side imaging model right now). Does this boat which is cosmetically pristine and he has maintenance records on with no problem sound like a good deal or a pass? Would be a better boat to get a family in stability wise and comfort of crossing water would be much better than the current kidney killer we are in.

 

[Radtexan]

Sounds like a fair deal...You can check the value here if you want...Boat Blue Book

 

[wtex]

I would think that has to do a lot with the size of water you fish etc. I fished with a wife and three kids out of a 19ft bass boat for years. But it was a two seater. And when we had to cross rough water all three kids were in the floor board under our feet. Thirty years later I added grandkids and have gone to a deep vee all species style boat and like it much better. They can climb out but they are not gonna fall out. I feel much more comfortable with the kids and old farts like Roger in the boat. My 2 cents worth.

 

[papaperch]

Don't know if I would qualify as an expert on boats but I've had quite a few in my 63 years. Also oyur location in the nation has a lot to do with what type boat works best. Example a tricked out bass boat might work great on a wind protected lake down south. But up here in Northeast Ohio not so much . I have yet to fishin a bass boat and stay dry. Now when the temps are 80 and above it can be pleasant. When its 40 degrees or below its downright miserable. Since Lake Erie is relatively close I would never own a bass boat up here.

I hate elevated seats that put your butt right up in the teeth of a wind. The wind loves to blow up here and rarely misses a chance. Since I fish from ice out to ice up make mine a DEEP V. Preferably with no elevated decks and lots of storage. Not a fan of big motors either a 40-50 hp will get me where I want to go quick enough. As the price of gas continues to escalate I might have a lot of company soon. My ideal size would be 17 or 18 foot long and seven foot wide. Aluminum material as fiberglass is just too darn heavy for an oldie like me.

Only aberation would be is I prefer stick steering. Fishing with a guy in North Carolina ( who was the best crappie fisherman I ever seen ) convinced me of its advantages.