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HELP ON BUYING A NEW BOAT FROM EXPERIENCED BOATERS ONLY PLEASE?

  • I am currently looking into buying a new boat for mostly fishing and some family fun. I would be a first time boat buyer, however I have been on boats and fished from them quite a few times so im not a complete stranger to them. I am looking into a walk around style boat from an unknown manufacture. I am looking for a walk around boat that is anywhere from 18' to 25'. The problem comes into play because I am only looking to spend no more than $25,000. I am unsure what type of manufactured walk around boat I can get for that amount of money. Belolw is a list of wants and needs to give you a better understanding on what I would use the boat for: -I would need space for at least 5-6 passengers. -I would need the boat to be geared towards fishing or at least have the room for it. -I don't need but would like the boat to have a small cabin section (hence the reason why I am opting for a walk around style boat) for the couple family members who do not par take in fishing. -I would also like to use the boat for over night trips if possible, but I believe doing so would require a bigger and more expensive boat. I am not too familiar what type of boat would fit my needs so I am asking for your help. I would like the boat to be new, 18' to 25' with possibilities of fishing and room for family, and spend no more than $25,000. If my wants and needs are too much to fit the $25,000 budget for a new boat, then what other types of new boats would you recommend? Thank you for your time.

  • Answer:

    First off, your budget for a "New" boat is unrealistic. That budget for a new boat will only get you into a Bayliner Bow Rider. For a "Cabin" boat that's new, you'd have to be ready to start at $60k and they can go up to $150k for a Top Tier Brand Name. This leaves you with the "Used" boat market. There are plenty of boats that will fit into your budget if you're willing to go this route. In your price range, you can easily get into an Express Cruiser from makers like Maxum, Regal, Rinker, Glastron, Four Winns and many others. The age range may be around 5 years to 8 years old. You can pretty much forget about a Walk Around style boat in that price without needing some serious work needed. Walk Around boats are high demand boats and get top pricing even used. Fishermen are always looking for a nice walk around. I'd recommend you look at Boat Broker rather than risky Craigslist. A Broker will have much more details on the care, condition and maintenance of the boats on the lot. They will also make sure everything is on the up & up, not like Craigslist. CL has lots of scams and illegal activities and rip-offs there. CL is a "Last Resort" place to look, as is Ebay. Look at Boat Trader, Boat U.S, Yachting Magazine and dedicated boating sites for nice used boats. The difference between a Dealer and a Broker is the License. Dealers sell only New boats and a Broker sells only Used boats. A dealer can also sell used boats with a Brokers License, and most have that too. The Broker also does a "Title" search to make sure the boat is clear of liens, fines, court orders and verifies ownership. You don't get that anywhere else, and is important to be able to register the vessel. Once you find an acceptable boat, arrange for an inspection to be completed by a local Marine Center and you pay the cost. Do not hand over a dollar to the seller until everything checks out from the inspection and an On-the-water test drive. If the seller isn't willing to do this, walk away. They are hiding some issues they do not want you to know about. Remember, you have no recourse once you purchase the boat for any reason other than Fraud. All of the problems with the boat are now your problems. I'm a retired Boating Safety Instructor and I always recommend Newbies get a new boat, but I realize that's not always possible. But since you have no experience on what to look for, get all of the information you can before putting any money down. I've own plenty of boats and have boats now.

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By the numbers: 1: 5-6 Passengers, that will require 8 seats 2: Geared towards fishing, that means a spacious Cockpit or Aft Fishing Deck. 3: That is where you go from $25k to $33k 4: That is where you from $28k to $42k You want a charter boat, a new one will cost $80k, a used one, rigged out, about the same. Boats or Fishing Vessels, are like new cars, once they are off the lot, price and value drops by half. So re-think new. I personally do not trust new boats. Put a good vessel under my feet that has seen some seas and ran a few hours. With the economy the way it is, take advantage of it, people went and got loans they could never afford, bad mistake, do not repeat that, but do take advantage of it. There are plenty of low hour , high quality fishing platforms sitting in storage or on stands at marinas all over. I strongly suggest that you hire a Marine Surveyor, find the boat that you admire, have looked over and is a decent price that is within your operating budget, then have it surveyed. Your location would help, you did not say Fresh or Salt water, or both, you also did not say if you wanted a Trailer Boat or a Marina Boat, both are investments in time and money, that is why I said, Operating Budget. Welcome to boating, yes, it costs and costs, and costs again. I just looked on craigslist, is a sweet looking Chaparel Deck Boat, fits all of your needs, as stated, is on budget, but I have NO idea without a professional Survey if the vessel is worth or even can be put on or in the water. The second one looks nice also, a 24 Bayliner, with a Marine engine, head, pressure water, and stuff, very nice. Still would not buy any vessel without a qualified Survey. That Bayliner is more of what you seem to be looking for, a new one? uhm,,,from a dealer in Nevada a 2008 30 will be $100k. Walkaround is not going to work at all, you cannot have that and a cabin, well you can, $500,000, Hatteras Yachts. But that is a Commercial Charter Vessel, and no rigs. Is also HUGE. You wanna take 6 people fishing, for 2 hours, your cost to run and operate the vessel is about $100, figure that for 24 hours, adds up real fast. I say 24 hours because motors have to run to keep the battery banks charged and all the pressure systems and reefers running, and lights. Yeah, I have been on a few boats, I grew up in Destin, Pensacola area, fished and sailed for 40 years now. You walk onto a new boat sales yard and tell the salesman you are ready to bust out $25k and the salesman will start walking you towards those 14-16' open hull boats. Stop the press, I found a 25' walkaround, , head, bimini, and that other stuff, $47k. Sweet looking boat, no wood core, very nice. is used, no trailer, but that is an idea. Is way above budget, they are all going to be with the specifications as stated. Possabilities of fishing and Fishing is where it gets mixed up. Any vessel makes a decent fishing platform, so the price just dropped $20k. Now you have to decide, or I suggest that you look, with NO intention or even thought of buying, just look at what is offered, get a feel for the boat, when you see a model that is what will suffice and work, then you can start actually looking for the vessel that you are going to purchase. Now a word of experience, that $25k, well that just dropped to $15k, is going to cost you an easy $8k to make the vessel your own, new upholstery, teak, rod holder over there, want carpet with that also? and stuff. It adds up fast. That leaves you $2k for insurance, a full tank of gas, supplies, Safety Gear, and the USCG AUX Power Boating Course, that I believe every boater should take and pass before they are let loose on the open water. Welcome to boating. They are as fun and safe as you make them. 40 years messing about in and on Boats, Ships, Vessels.

Yawn Gnome

For $25,000 you can buy a really nice used ALBIN 36 FOOT TRAWLER which would work very nicely for your needs. The 36 has only one engine so it's cheaper to operate than the the 40' and up models

Garrison Bight

You should really look at Boston Whalers, they have a variety of sizes and i am actually an owner of one of their dinghy's, the boat is very nice and all the other members of the yacht club also love it, many have one of their own too! you should type in boston whalers on google and choose their site, and see all the beautiful boats they have

Adge Rangi

Sorry, you aren't going to find a new boat that meets your criteria for the money you want to spend. The one possible exception that comes to mind is a pontoon boat. Is this for offshore, inshore, or freshwater use? As far as freshwater boats go, those that are good for entertaining rarely fish very well, and if it's any good for fishing, it'll won't be all that comfortable for entertaining. I highly recommend attending a boat show, if you can find one in your area. They're usually in the winter, but we had a summer boat show here not long ago -- give it a shot.

jtexas

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