If you like to fish, bass fishing is a great way to pass the time for many people, both young and old. Once you get a taste for bass fishing, you may want to buy your first bass fishing boat. This can truly be a groundbreaking and exciting experience. Get some advice before you buy, as a first time bass boat buyer.

First, make sure that you have the right kind of vehicle so that you can tow your bass boat. Many vehicles are not made to tow boats behind them. A fully loaded bass boat with trailer, full gas tank, tackle, etc., may weigh more than 3500 pounds. To pull something that heavy, you’ll need a truck or car that can handle that kind of load, especially if you’re likely to pull it up mountains or hills.

The Right Size and Material

What kind of bass fishing boat should you get, and what size should it be? When you ask yourself these types of questions, first consider the bodies of water you’ll be fishing in. If you’re going to be fishing in larger bodies of water, your boat should be a least 19 feet long. If you’re going to be fishing in smaller bodies of water, a boat with a small outboard motor and of smaller dimensions as well will be fine. In addition, your boat’s material should be considered. Many of these boats are made from fiberglass or aluminum. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. If you’re going to be fishing in a small lake, the aluminum boat is likely best.

However, if you going to be on larger bodies of water, a fiberglass boat will generally give you a smoother ride. Fiberglass is generally more expensive than aluminum is, but not all the time. Fiberglass boats are also sturdier than aluminum boats, and will not be at the mercy of the wind as much as an aluminum boat would be. Before you choose fiberglass or aluminum, consider all the options, and the advantages and disadvantages to each before you make your decision.

New vs. Used?

Whether you buy your boat new or used is up to you, but again there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Used boats hold their value much longer, but outboard motors generally come with a short shelf life. If you buy a used boat, make sure you check out any motor that comes with before you use it. A used boat is generally going to be much cheaper, which is another advantage. Keep in mind that you often get what you pay for, so if you get the boat very cheaply, you may have to do some repairs before you can use it.

If you decide to go with a new boat, then you have the pleasure of having a warranty come with it. You won’t have to worry about fixing it up and can just start fishing with it. In addition, you’ll have more boats to choose from than if you’re looking for a used one. Whichever you choose, though, check out the boat and inspect it carefully, so that you know what you’re buying before you do.

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Tags: Outdoors

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 29th, 2008 at 5:42 am and is filed under Outdoors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.