Things to consider when buying a bass boat

So you’re in the market for a bass boat. This can be a great experience for you if you go into your boat hunting with a little education and wisdom.

Give me a few minutes and I’ll try to help you along in the bass boat hunting process and save you a lot of headaches too!

Before you actually start looking at bass boats that you might want to consider buying, the first thing you need to do is establish a budget and a spending limit for yourself. Not doing this will cause you a lot of stress and headaches, not to mention a few arguments with your wife. Knowing how much you’re able to spend before you make a single phone call or do a single search on the internet will make the whole boat hunting process a lot less stressful.

Once you have a figure in mind, then the fun part starts. Now you get to sit down and search the web or flip through boat-selling magazines, looking for your dream boat. This can be really fun if you do everything correctly.

You can start with a local boat dealer and work your way outward geographically from there. A lot of what you find will depend on whether you’re buying a new boat or a used boat.

If you’re buying a new boat, you’ll probably want to buy from a dealer that’s within a reasonable driving distance from where you live. This isn’t a necessity, but it makes getting service for your new bass boat a lot more convenient when something goes wrong or when you need maintenance for the boat or the outboard. The only time I would recommend buying a new bass boat from a dealer that’s far from your area is if they can save you a considerable amount of money on the price of the boat. And when I say considerable, I mean at least $1000 or more. Saving a few hundred dollars hardly makes it worth it if you have to drive 300 miles or more to get service.

Now, if you’re buying a used bass boat, sometimes driving a few hundred, or even several hundred miles, can save you some big money. I’ve personally seen boats bought from distances of several hundred miles from home that saved a buyer several thousand dollars when compared to buying from a local dealer or local seller. It really pays to do your homework in this area.

Once you find a few prospective boats, don’t make any fast decisions. Absolutely don’t get pressured into buying a bass boat that you’re not sure about! Whether you’re buying a used bass boat or a new one, pressure is not worth giving into. New bass boat dealers are more apt to use this tactic, but don’t give in to them. Take charge of the whole buying experience and you’ll benefit from it. You know what I mean… the old “someone else just looked at this boat before you got here” trick. It gets used all the time. Or they might give you the line about it being the last one available in that model. Sometimes it’s true, but more often than not, it’s just a sales tactic. If you put the ball in your court you will definitely save yourself some money and get a better deal on the boat you buy. This doesn’t mean being a jerk or being pushy, but you need to make sure you don’t get pushed around by any salesmen.

If you’re looking at a used bass boat, get as much information as possible about its history. How many people have owned it? Has it been maintained regularly? Has it ever been in saltwater? These are some of the most important questions. You should also ask if it has been covered or garaged.

Take a walk around the boat and give it a good looking over. Check inside of the storage compartments. Look for signs of mildew. Also check the decks for rot if they are wood. Fiberglass boats typically have fiberglass decks but aluminum boats will normally have plywood decks, with aluminum lids for the storage compartments. You obviously can’t go poking a screwdriver or pocket knife into the deck of a boat, but you can press firmly on various areas of the decks with your thumb or the butt end of a screwdriver handle and check for soft spots. If you spot any soft spots or rotted areas, leave the boat there. Don’t buy yourself a money pit. It’s not worth it.

Take a look at any accessories that the boat might have, like depth finders, onboard battery chargers, etc. Make sure they work. If the screens on the fish finders are scratched up and look bad, there’s a good chance that it has not been cared for properly. If these have been abused, the rest of the boat probably has been abused too. Again, walk away from it.

Check the outboard. Is it physically and cosmetically pleasing to look at? Is the prop in good condition or is it banged up pretty badly? Is the skeg still all there? See if the owner will attach a flusher and start it for you. If they do, take note of how easy it is to start. Better yet, see if they will take you for a test ride in it. This will give you a chance to see the entire boat in action.

Last, but certainly not least, check the trailer thoroughly for rust or rot. If the trailer is galvanized, this isn’t really a concern, but if the trailer is painted you need to be diligent about checking the undersides of the trailer frame. Tap it with the blunt end of a screwdriver handle. Look or listen for soft spots. If you find any suspicious areas, try poking them with the tip of the screwdriver. If there are any holes, walk away from it. The last thing you need is your trailer breaking in half when you’re driving down the road.

Obviously, you don’t need to worry about any of this if you’re buying a new bass boat, but these are critical steps when looking at any used bass boats for sale.

There is more that I could get into, but if you follow these steps and take your time finding a good bass boat for sale, you’ll be miles ahead of most others and you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches, as well as saving yourself a lot of money too.

I wish you the best in your search for a boat and I hope you find the bass boat of your dreams!