If you were going to start again from scratch...

I bass tournament fished many years ago, but business got in the way and I didn't fish for a long time. Then, my shop burned and destroyed everything I hadn't already sold. Now I'm finally in a position to build back and spend some time on the water again. So much has changed regarding technology (and prices!) since I last wet a line consistently. If you were going to start over, how would you go about that? New boat? Used? Size? Electronics? Rigging? I'm not rich by any means, but I can afford what I need. As a baseline, I live near Ross Barnett, so I would say that would be the water I'd fish most. I have about 22 feet of clearance to park a boat in my garage. I don't really know at this time whether I'd fish 5-6 days a week again or once a month. I would tend to think somewhere in the middle. Thanks!

My best crappie fishing was in a 17' aluminum tiller steer boat. Small enough to put it where you want it, heavy enough to be stable.
I wouldn't buy a new boat, lots of good, lightly used models out there. Some decent rods and reels (which can be relatively inexpensive for Crappie)
I bought a bigger boat and miss my first one. The best size and type boat depends on your preferred style of fishing. I'm a single pole jigger for the most part.

The folks I talk to say Livescope is a game changer. Get it if you can spend the $$ on it. I'm strongly considering it.

As Gone Fishin’ said, buy used, this time of year there are some good deals out there. I’ll guess 18’ is about as big as you can get in 22’, maybe 19’ with a folding tongue. Also I’d go glass and never look back.

Interesting questions about buying used. Will most folks let you get it to the dealer, and have it checked out at your expense if you can make a deal? Secondly, will a good dealership really check everything over? I can run a basic compression test myself. I would want someone that knew the common failure modes and how to find them ahead of time. I'm not looking for anything beyond 18' for storage concerns. I've never owned a big purpose-built aluminum, so I'm a bit in the dark about them other than what people say about them blowing around in the wind more than glass. My main concern with glass would be transom failure in hulls that are out of warranty.

First off you don't need a 100k boat to catch crappie. Livescope has changed the game & will continue to do so. Livescope can be mounted on about any boat. My trolling motor runs more than my big motor. I spent money last year on a new trolling motor & new electronics. It did not make me catch any more fish as I am still learning this livescope thing. What you will find is you can see them but it doesn't make them bite. Really wish I would have just saved my money & kept the original setup. What they want for these boats these days is down right stupid in my mind. You ask & this is my opinion!!!


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I thought about that a lot over the last year . When I retire I may get another boat. My lake has been livescoped to death so I would have to learn that, but not wanting to. The two boats I miss the most I’ve owned weee a 2013 ranger 520 Comanche and a 2021 skeeter sx210. Both set low in the front when stopped and fishing off front. I thought about a used skeeter bay sx 210 being they have no carpet and limited vinyl to replace. Plus I’m a Yamaha fan and most of these have the 150. A reliable motor. As a 67 yo plus when I retire I’ll need purpose and a boat would provide that with an expensive hobby. Lol . Not sure what time will bring in the coming years. I frequent the gym 3-5 days a week so that’s some activity. We live on a 200 acre farm so there’s plenty of bushhogging in warmer months. I’m a stroke survivor which has greatly affected my balance and eye to hand and eye to foot coordination which will limit my boat control to livescope. So a boat may be a bad choice. But imma thinking about options of a boat if the fisheries continue to flourish with the pressure of ffs. A lot of the old timers that don’t have livescope are complaining about there ability to catch fish now. Good luck with your venture and tight lines.

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Originally Posted by claytonsdad

Interesting questions about buying used. Will most folks let you get it to the dealer, and have it checked out at your expense if you can make a deal? Secondly, will a good dealership really check everything over? I can run a basic compression test myself. I would want someone that knew the common failure modes and how to find them ahead of time. I'm not looking for anything beyond 18' for storage concerns. I've never owned a big purpose-built aluminum, so I'm a bit in the dark about them other than what people say about them blowing around in the wind more than glass. My main concern with glass would be transom failure in hulls that are out of warranty.

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Most top tier bass boats don't have transom problems, even older models.

I think that most fiberglass boats after 2000 shouldn't have wood core transoms, stringers, or floors, and if you have ever been caught up in a storm or even had the wind pick up on Ross Barnett, I'd definitely want about an 18-20' fiberglass boat. My dad had a smaller fiberglass and aluminum boats when I grew up fishing on Ross Barnett, and when his older brother was ready to get rid of his '18 bass boat, I bought it and have been fishing with it for nearly 20 years. Of course, being a 1985, I'm in the middle of a transom repair project, which is why I haven't been on The Rez since November. I have about 24' of depth in my garage; without the jack plate (which I'm installing after I get done with the transom repair), I'm probably taking up only 22' of depth since I have about 1' on each end to walk around the boat. My trailer does not have a swing away tongue, so keep that in mind.

Electronics-wise, take your pick if you want them all to match or not. If you don't think that you will spot lock or run routes, a Minn Kota Fortrex will be fine. The main reason for getting a Minn Kota Ultrex, Ultrex Quest, Lowrance Ghost, or Garmin Force is because you do plan to spot lock, run routes, and probably have a FFS transducer mounted to the trolling motor shaft. There are plenty of people who favor Lowrance fish finders and AT2 FFS, others who prefer Garmin fish finders and Livescope LVS32 and LVS34, and others who use Humminbird MEGA Live and Live 2 for FFS. I run a combo of older Humminbird 1199s and a 360 to work with my Ultrex and a Garmin Echomap UHD 93sv and LVS32 for dock shooting, spider rigger, livescope jigging, and long line trolling with jigs or crankbaits. I also like having my fishfinders raised up with a Millennium Double Monitor Mount that I got for stupidly cheap because I can set the fish finders at a more ergonomic level to read and still lay them down to keep from blocking my view when I run at speed. Then again, if you if don't want to spend a ton of money at once, you can still get some nice older fish finders to at least get some maps and 2D, down image, or side image and slowly add FFS if you desire.

Because I spider rig and long line, I have Millennium Spyderlok rod holders in the bow and stern. I also sit on Millennium seats during the spring and summer, although I learned that I need to put the old high back vinyl seats back into the boat in the winter because the Millennium mesh seat breath too much and let the wind get to my back side too much.

Basic, a 1648 Jon without the middle seat. I’m about to take mine out. Tiller opens up the floor space a lot. An 1860 would be another good option. Richard gene the fishin machine on YouTube has an 18’ like I speak of. Motor needs to be what the boat can legally stand and definitely power tilt and trim. If ya don’t get carried away with interior they’re nothing to maintain. New would be best but ya can’t beat the “Deal” when it pops up. Mine was 199 years old with about 40 hrs on it, a garage queen. 1648 Jon with 25hp electric start but no tilt n trim. Terrova on the front and working on electronics now. 1 battery runs the entire boat but I’ll add one for the electronics at some point. Simple keeps the snafu’s to a minimum.

I fished out of a 17'-6" alum V for 31 years, now I'm fishing out of a 17'6" alum bass boat.
The V sat higher in the water and the wind blew it around a bit more, the bass boat sits lower and is quite a bit heavier. Both have their advantages.
For me, and I just boat the new bass boat last year, I went with new. I was 73 and I just didn't want to have to deal with any repairs. I usually fish 3-5 times a week so I wanted reliability.
If I were younger and more up to it, I wouldn't mind buy used if I could find what I wanted and would spend my saved money on set-up, TM, electronics & brakes etc.

I don't think there is a perfect boat, they all seem to have their pluses and minuses.

I fished aluminum boats for almost 35 years, there was a bass boat mixed in there, but it was sold shortly before the divorce in 93. After the divorce I bought a Polarkraft 1860 modified V with a 40 and fished it for close to 15 years, then I bought a Triton 1860SC with a 90hp Yamaha and fished out of it until early summer last year when I bought a 06 Triton TR21 X with a 24 250 Merc.

I love my 1860 but finally got tired of being blown around and beat up if there is more than a little chop on the water and went glass. My lakes are KY and Lake Barkley, both are big and can get nasty. If you aren't paying attention, it's easy to get yourself in a bad spot.

I had been leaning heavily towards aluminum, but you guys have me rethinking that. I've been scoping around Marketplace, but there doesn't seem to be much in the middle of the road available. Everything seems to be way high end or someone else's project they don't want to be honest about or finish. I don't mind catching up some maintenance, but I'm not looking to get into restoration at this point. I'd rather be fishing.

There quite a few people who do fish with larger aluminum boats (the ones with 150-200hp outboards) on Ross Barnett, so they may have the weight of a fiberglass boat, although I’m not sure how they handle in the wind from a profile standpoint.

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Originally Posted by claytonsdad

I had been leaning heavily towards aluminum, but you guys have me rethinking that. I've been scoping around Marketplace, but there doesn't seem to be much in the middle of the road available. Everything seems to be way high end or someone else's project they don't want to be honest about or finish. I don't mind catching up some maintenance, but I'm not looking to get into restoration at this point. I'd rather be fishing.

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That's exactly why I bought a new boat last year. I turned 73 in 2024, my 31 year old boat was showing its age, and I just didn't feel like dealing with it.
I bought a new 2025 Tracker, lifetime hull warranty & 7 year motor warranty. I picked it up in January 2025. If I'm lucky and I can stay in the game that long, it takes me until I'm 80. I usually have it out 2-4 times a week, I have no regrets.

if it's big water and you want to hold still , probably need to consider a heavy rig ....
not sure what your wanting to do , but if you have family and friends that want to go .....
a boat with room for guests as well , bass boats don't do this well
a deep V heavy aluminum maybe ?
a cheap LS unit and a decent trolling motor ,should get it done ....
probably get it all used and save a few dimes as well

Deep v Glass full windshield would be my pick…Nitro,Ranger,Lund,Warrior….boats that you fish in the boat not on top boat;)

1st- buy used. Add a newer motor on it if necessary. Build your boat with your fishing style in mind. By build your boat I mean start bare bones and see what you cannot live without. Finding your best trolling motor is paramount. I like the ability to control mine from the fob anywhere in the boat. Spot lock is a game changer as they say too. New Electronics can be 1/2 the cost of a used boat. Try to spend time in a friend's boat to see how much you are willing to spend and how bad you need the latest and greatest.
Aluminum boats are easier to accessorize, but blow all over the place in wind. Glass boats are heavier to pull but are more stable on the water. Try to buy a boat that can accommodate your fishing as you age.
When all else fails remember- "Buy once, Cry once" Spend it if you've got it- you won't regret it. :twocents

I bought a 22ft 96' Lowe deck boat last spring. It is 8ft wide. It has 2 fishing seats in the front that you cannot elbow each other from. Canopy and such like a pontoon. Side console. No seats on the floor. All are knee high. Easy to get up from. I fished out of one, a friend owned when I was younger and loved it. Plenty of room. Mine is the exact same color my buddy had and he went with me to pick it up in MO. Pretty clean boat for the age. I plan on it taking me into retirement and taking families from church once I get better at catching and less of the fishing. It will pretty hard to fall out of this boat!!!! I am setting it up to long line troll from the rear. Got the Terrova 103 lb or so. Go a Hummingbird side view to put on it and will be putting forward sonar on it, but will prob get good with side view and catching first.

Hard to beat an aluminum welded boat with 50 hp.

Big enough to be stable, fast enough to go places, light enough to launch and push around garage yourself, room for a few rods and gear, + 1 passenger.

Many offerings in $10k - $15k range can get you a very nice used boat. In a lot of cases, possibly with electronics already installed saving additional money.

If you’re serious about crappie fishing, I can’t recommend Live Scope enough. I have the older version and it works fine. Couple times a year Bass Pro and other vendors will have on sale.

Good luck and have fun!

Be patient and keep your eyes open, I bought a new G3 in June of 25 on sale for less than used ones are selling for.
G3 had a $4k rebate on them.
Buy as big and stable as you can afford.

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Originally Posted by claytonsdad

Interesting questions about buying used. Will most folks let you get it to the dealer, and have it checked out at your expense if you can make a deal? Secondly, will a good dealership really check everything over? I can run a basic compression test myself. I would want someone that knew the common failure modes and how to find them ahead of time. I'm not looking for anything beyond 18' for storage concerns. I've never owned a big purpose-built aluminum, so I'm a bit in the dark about them other than what people say about them blowing around in the wind more than glass. My main concern with glass would be transom failure in hulls that are out of warranty.

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If you really read/research or are around people that use aluminum boats a lot on big water, there's no shortage of transom and weld failures on aluminum boats. To me fishing on big lakes like Ky and Barkley and actually at one point having and running aluminum and glass at the same time, I would choose a glass boat every time. They are just more comfortable to ride in and are more stable and fish better with the trolling motor down. I am blessed to have a decent job and spend more time on the water than most but there is no way I would pay what they are asking for a new boat these days, glass or aluminum. The only caveat to that would be if you have enough money to buy a new boat with cash and not affect any of your other financial goals in life, then its a no brainer to buy one new with warranty on everything. If I was starting from scratch in my reality where I can't fork over $75,000 cash for a boat I would do my research and find a well cared for used glass boat that was constructed 100 percent from fiberglass and have it checked out by a mechanic you trust. I wouldn't buy a used boat from someone that wouldn't agree to let a mechanic check it and also probably more importantly, test run on the lake. There are quite a few problems that can't be seen with just a compression test or idling on the muffs. I would also try to buy it for a price that I could live with repowering when the motor does fail to a point it doesn't make financial sense to repair.

I found my boat on Facebook marketplace in MO. We drove a few hours to get it. It has a 97 115 Johnson on it and a 96 boat for $5,000. I would look for one of them again. If you are a project guy you can find them sometimes for $3,000 or so, but they need a lot of work. Good luck.

Lots of useful information and advice here. We don't really have a good glass boat dealer around here, so aluminum seems to rule the day, but I'll keep poking around Marketplace to see what I can find within a reasonable distance. Being as close to the gulf as we are, I've realized you have to be aware of potential salt water damage and corrosion as well. I'm a techno nerd, so I will end up with FFS of some kind. Having fished with a great guide that used it, I realized pretty quickly that it would be worth their daily fee to get them to fish in your boat and help you set it up if they would.