What's your thoughts?

Ok, I have been debating for months whether to trade my boat in or not. I currently have a 88 model 201 Stratos boat with a 200 Johnson that really likes gas. The boat runs well, it has a soft spot around the floor drain. It would cost me $1500 - $1800 to replace the floor. Carpet could use a update, it has some cosmetic rashes. Overall every thing works as it should. If I decide to keep her I would have the motor gone through by a local engine builder who builds and corrects manufacturing inefficiencys that improve mpg and wakes up the motor to work more efficiently. That's about $3000. If I trade, I get a newer aluminum boat with a Merc 60, 4 stroke, way more fuel efficient, easier to tow, though I have a 2017 Titan XD with a Cummins so that's not a issue, and warranty until 2022. I guestimate payments would be in the $240 range, and a increase in insurance. I hope to retire in about 10 years so if I trade now it would be paid for by the time I retire. Any thoughts are appreciated.

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I think I would go with the new boat idea

If you buy new/close to new it should last you a life time ! If U could swing it I would up grade ! But You will miss the stability/ comfort of the glass boat if you are out on big windy days on the Tennessee River ! Don’t get me wrong I have an aluminum 18’6” xpress padded hull and it does well but wind limits these aching bones when I have to run far in rough waters also the wind will push me way faster that it does a glass boat so I’m going to glass one these years when I can get to that point ! And 4 stroke for sure! :twocents

Hmm, I would ask yourself which you would rather have if both were excellent condition. If the old boat was restored compared to the new aluminum boat. Might find you would rather have the old boat restored and updated vs. new. Plus with restoration you might save some money which could then put into new electronics. Just food for thought.

I was in your shoes. I had an eight year old ranger that I was able to sell for 40 g. I was getting close to needing carpet and who knows on motor after eight years. I’m getting into a new bay fiberglass with five year motor warranty for same monies. I like warranty and turn key and go

In the end, it's only you who can decide based on your $$ situation. I would think the money spent on your old boat would essentially be thrown down the drain since it wouldn't increase the value by any where near what you would spend.

I don’t think you’re going to like going from fiberglass to aluminum.


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BOAT....Break out another thousand.

You'll enjoy having no headaches after retirement with a new boat. I did

In 10 years your refurbished boat and motor will need another refreshening. IMO sell it now to get some money out of it. Like Mr Dux said, what you spend on it now will be down the drain. Put that money towards a new boat.

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ID hate the thought i was going from the best riding toughest boat ever made to a aluminum boat. Id repower with a new or newer motor
if the soft spot around the drain is all that is wrong with it. The 201 is one of the best tightlinning dock shooting boats iv ever had

Sell/trade it and look at Candi boat before making any decision. I have never regretted up grading the boats that I have owned in my lifetime.

If you’re going to be retiring in 10 years and you had kept the Stratos it would be 42 years old. You would probably have problems getting parts for the motor too. If I didn’t go with a new boat now I’d keep the Stratos as is and bank the money while running what you have. The longer you wait to buy the new boat the newer it will be when you retire. I would have a hard time putting thousands of dollars in a 30 year old boat.

New boat


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by tcounty

I don’t think you’re going to like going from fiberglass to aluminum.


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I agree with this. I can tell you from personal experience that the benefits of the aluminum DO NOT outweigh the drawbacks of fiberglass, IMHO. In recent years, I sold my GO-FAST, fiberglass gas guzzler (to help finance a never-ending building project) and lucked up and got a deal on a 18' aluminum w/ 75HP.

While I don't much care about speed anymore, I've had a ROUGH time getting used to the lightweight aluminum. Maybe its cuz this is my first aluminum. Maybe. While I like the economy/durability of the aluminum, I just cannot get used to the instability and poor handling in rough water. Livewells are too small. Not enough dash space. Not enough storage. Etc. I grew up with 18-21' bass boats and I guess they are just what I'm used to.

I am, myself, 100% against going into debt over a boat (worst depreciation known to man), but if I were, I'd go into the least amount of debt possible. If I were in your shoes (and if I still was happy with my 201 glass hull [which were VERY good boats], was at least somewhat handy with tools, and had at least some time to dedicate to the work), I'd fix that floor/carpet yourself (takes some research/time/materials, but not too difficult...I've done 6 or 8 myself for WAYYY less than what you have listed) and be on the lookout for a good, used 200 Optimax (2004 or later), ETEC or 4 stroke.

Is the transom on your 201 still strong?
Value doesn't matter when you're happy, don't care about selling and there's no debt tied to it :cheers2

If it means anything, I'm getting ready to peddle my aluminum and going back to a fiberglass.

...just my $0.02, take it for what it's worth

What it’s worth in 10 years only matters if you are selling. Fix the spot, put down some hydroturff and repower.

Unless there’s other damage to the transom or hull.


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Thank you all for your help. For comparison, I'm looking at a 2017 Triton 17 CTX w/60 hp Merc 4 stroke, warranty until 2022. Asking is $16.9k

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New boat for sure!

I personally couldn't imagine going back to aluminum after fishing out of a glass boats for many years. Just no comparison in the ride, ability to hold in the wind, and stability. But depending on your preferred fishing style that may or may not make a big difference. I can see both sides of financing boats. Doesn't make very good financial sense but you can't take it with you and as much a lot of us love to fish on here, can't really argue to hard against it even if it wouldn't be my choice

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If it was me, I’d repower and patch the floor.
I would just buy a new or slightly used 4 stroke .
If you fish much, the four stroke will pay for itself in gas savings.
Before I even entertained an AL boat, I would have to go fish out of one.


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Another point that is often overlooked and i forgot to mention earler is the safety factor. I fish alone in winter quite a bit and hope i never end up in the water but would like my chances if I did a lot better of getting back in a glass boat. The odds of catching up to an aluminum boat if the wind is blowing at all are slim to none IMO.

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I went from a big heavy fiberglass Ranger to one of the 188C Rangers and do not regret it one bit. Contrary to what some have said on here, I love the ride and the way it handles. In fact, it is one of the boats I guide out of and it performs everything I ask of it. I have a 115hp 4 Stroke Mercury on it and truly love the motor. True it doesn't run 70 mph like my fiberglass boat did, but it still purrs along about 47 MPH with it loaded down. As far as I'm concerned, it is one of the best boat decisions I ever made.

Thank all of you for your input. For reference I fish out of a 17.6' aluminum with the same Merc 60 on it often. When I took my old boat, the person doing the once over pointed out some hull glass delamination in the bilge, more bad. So I'm going to donate the ol' gurl, tax write off ya know. I go Monday to take them my TM and electronics to install and to sign the papers for the 2017 Triton 17CTX.

I was in your shoes I have a 1996 g3 I decided to redo instead of buying a newer boat new carpet basically everything. But at the end of the day I still have a 24 year old boat. Plus I’m having problems out of wiring connector rust and so forth. It’s very frustrating tracking down a bad connection. If I had to do over I would have bought the newer boat and been done. Just my opinion.


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Well she has a new home! [emoji16]Attachment 363735

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Congrats! Looks great!

Congrats to ya Mr S. Nice looking rig. I'm sure you will enjoy it especially after pulling that heavy 201 around!