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Buying a new Bass Boat can be one of the most exciting new toy purchases we will make. The relationship between a man and his boat ranks right up there with a man and his dog and don’t forget about a man and his wife.
Once the excitement of realizing you are going to purchase a new bass boat is over, there are a few things which must be carefully considered before diving into a purchase of a new rig.
1. What will the boat are used for? Are you a casual weekend angler or a dedicated weekend or more often tournament angler? Deciding on how your new boat will be used will greatly impact your budget and expectations.
2. What type of waters do you fish? If you fish on large bodies of water which tend to get rough, the larger the better. If you spend most of your time on smaller waters, carefully decide on the size of boat you really need and the horsepower. If you buy a 20′ bass boat with a 300 hp outboard for a small body of water, odds are you will never go full throttle.
3. Budget? How much can you afford? A budget with some flexibility is a must. There are many options for financing a boat purchase. With reasonably good credit a boat can be financed for up to 10 years with a decent interest rate and monthly payment. The more down payment the better. If you are a serious tournament fisherman do not scrimp on horsepower to fit your budget. The worst thing you could do is buy a bass boat and under power the boat to fit your budget. You will not be happy. Save your money until you can get what you really want.
Once you have decided on your application of the new Bass boat it’s time to design your boat package. Begin with your perfect world wish list and go from there. Here are a few things to consider.
1. The Basic package. The three basic most basic components of your new bass rig are the boat, motor and trailer. Each deserves careful consideration.
a. The Boat: While you may have a certain manufacturer in mind there are a few things to consider such as construction types, warranty, company history and stability. What does the boat look like inside the compartments and the bilge area? Is everything easily accessible? Are the compartments waterproof? What kind of livewell system? How is the wiring arranged? What kind of finish is the hull, stay away from full metal flake, stay away from a full black hull and cap. The boat you select should be easy to fish from, easy to maintain, and easy to make repairs if necessary.
b. The Motor: If budget permits and it needs to, go with the maximum horsepower as recommended and rated for, this will assure maximum performance of your rig. Maximum performance not only includes speed but also includes boat handling, fuel economy, planning and overall performance.
c. Trailer: While most Bass boat owners do not pay much attention to the trailer it is probably the most important aspect of the basic package. Without a functioning trailer your boat goes nowhere. Safety is number one when selecting trailer options. Careful consider the size of your rig, the size of your towing vehicle and how far you will be traveling on a consistent basis. If you are getting a larger rig and have a midsize towing vehicle, trailer brakes are a must. You should also consider a tandem axle trailer once you reach certain size rig. Check with your vehicles and boat manufacturers recommendations. Don’t scrimp on tire either. If doing a significant amount of traveling opt for the best radial tires available. This will insure a much smoother ride and decrease tire wear over the long haul. Also invest in mounting a spare tire on the trailer.
Now that your basic package has been selected it is time to select some options, again start with your wish list and cut back according to your budget.
Performance considerations:
1. Jack Plate: The addition of a jack plate will significantly improve a boats handling and performance. There are several types, I would recommend a hydraulic model which provide the option to raise and lower your motor as well as adjust the angle of the outboard. The jack plate will set back the motor to insure a better prop bite and can be easily adjusted for different water conditions.
2. Foot throttle: A foot throttle allows more controlled throttle control and keeps both hands on the wheel. A must for today’s high speed bass boats.
3. Foot operated trim and tilt: Again a must for proper performance and safety. Optionally steering wheel mounted trim and tilt will still keep your hands on the wheel but is not as easily operated as the floor mounted option.
Accessories:
1. Trolling motor: The most important accessory for your bass rig. While a hand operated or foot operated model is a personal choice there are several considerations for the trolling motor. Carefully choose the right rolling motor as this is the tool on your rig which will most likely be used the most. Choose at a minimum a 24V system, with heavy gauge wiring, proper circuit breakers, at least 60 lbs of thrust and variable speed.
2. Batteries: If your budget will allow buy the best batteries you can get. Your batteries are the lifeline of the usability of your boat and trolling motor. If you have a 24V trolling motor system, use two batteries for the trolling motor and a separate battery for cranking your outboard. Invest in a professionally installed on-board charging system; you will be glad you did.
3. Gauges: The important gauges will include a tachometer, fuel gauge, and motor water pressure gauge. Any more gauges than that is a personal choice and clutters the dash.
4. Electronics: There can be a variety of electronics packages available for your new bass rig. The basics would include a dash mounted flasher for a quick look at current water depth. If installed properly an in-dash flasher should read at accurately at any speed. Console mounted LCD unit is a must for open water fishing. A GPS unit is also a must in today’s fishing environment. As far as bow mounted electronics are concerned it is as vitally important once you have found an areas with the console units to be able to stay on the structure while fishing from the front deck. While it may be overkill to have a GPS and LCD unit on the bow, I would recommend a quality compact combination GPS and Sounder unit for the bow of the boat.
5. Additional accessories vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and the list is endless. Below are a few accessories which may make your day on the water much more enjoyable.
a. Livewell oxygen system
b. Built-in cooler
c. Tackle management systems
d. Lockable compartments
e. Livewell lights
f. Cockpit lighting
g. Full fishing deck
h. Dual Console
i. Upgrade Bilge pump
j. Dual livewell’s
k. Livewell timer
l. Boat cover
I would further recommend fishing with a friend which has the same basic style and brand of boat you are looking at. See if he will let you drive the boat. Also try to find a boat show, not only will most of the common bass boats for your area be at the boat show, it is a good place to negotiate a great deal as in many instances the dealers order additional boats for upcoming shows.
While no one article can cover all of the aspects and options of buying a bass boat I hope this provides some reminders of what to look for than next boat purchase.
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