Outdoor Recreation Resources

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 the taste of bass fishing, you might decide that you want to venture into buying your first bass boat. This is truly an exciting experience, so it is best that you get some advice, being a first time buyer.

When going to pick up your new boat, make sure you have a vehicle which is up to the task of towing a boat. There are many vehicles that are just not made for towing something behind them. When you have your boat fully loaded with your gear as well as gas and attach it to your trailer, you can expect to be towing over 3500 lbs. behind your vehicle. You need to be sure to get a car or truck that can take that kind of load and pull it up a mountain or a hill.

Finding the Right Size and Material

When deciding on what size of a boat to get you will want to consider the size of the body of water that you will be fishing in. If you’re going to be fishing in larger bodies of water, your boat should be a least 19 feet long. On a smaller body of water though, you can use a smaller boat and a smaller outboard motor. You’ll also have a choice as to what material your boat is composed of. A bass boat will usually be made of aluminum or fiberglass. There are pros and cons to each material. Aluminum bass boats are best if you are going to be doing most of your fishing in a small lake.

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 making your choice, be sure to way all the options and check the pros and cons of each type to make the best educated decision.

New or Used?

Whether you buy your boat new or used is up to you, but again there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Used bass boats seem to hold their value much longer but you have to eep in mind that outboard motors are generally short lived. If you decide to buy a used boat then you want to check out the motor properly before using 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. Rather than have to fix it up before taking it out, you can hitch it up right away and be on your way to the lake! You will also most likely have more boats to choose from than when you are 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.