Boat Shopping Advice...

[Badbagger]

Looking for some input and thoughts. With the better half in Grad School at FSU, she stays VERY busy with her studies. A demanding program. Since she started in August, we haven't been able to take the boat out. It may settle down next Spring but not betting the ranch on it. We currently have a 2009 G3 1966 CC and thankfully, it's paid for. We have a good bit tied up into it. Rather than see it sit idle for a good bit of next Spring and Summer, come Spring we'll probably sell it and the thought of depreciation won't kill me lol. We planned to upgrade in a few years anyway and once she graduates, we'll buy a much bigger boat... 23 or 24ft bay style... Hydra Sports Baybolt, Pioneer etc.

That brings me to my next thought. We'll surely be able to head out to the lighthouse now and then. Hopefully a couple of times a month. I'm looking around for another boat since this is indeed the time to buy for the next few months. There are LOT of boats for sale and that won't sell for a good while and the possibility for a good deal exists especially after Christmas. I'm going back and forth between another tinny or a glass boat. A LOT of pretty good deals throughout the state on glass... some folks are sure proud price wise of their tinnys. We are thinking around 17 to 18' and in the area of say $7k give or take. That won't hurt so much to see it sit more than not. With that said, for our general area around St. Marks etc. would you go with glass or tin and why? I'm new to fishing salt in this area and want the benefit of knowledge. Maybe a center console glass or tinny or a tiller steer style. Not really sure at this point truth be told.

Thanks for the input!

[FishWithChris]

new to salt? In this area?

Aluminum all day (if you can find a good deal on one) - We have a ton of rocks that, well, move around at night.

[captkeyser]

I have a 16ft Tracker Grizzly with a 25hp 4 stroke Mercury for sale at my office for $4200. It is 09 hull and 07 motor. It is in excellent condition. This boat is all you will need to cover the gambit of flats and offshore. I would buy it myself, but have to sell some stuff first.

[Rainman]

I'd check out the boat Capt. K has on offer... I mean if you plan to sell the G3 before depreciation gets ya, and you just want an occasional boat to fish without putting to much money in it, then keep it when you get the bigger boat. A small boat like that will get you to the places where the fish hang out.

[Rhettley]

I have a 16ft Tracker Grizzly with a 25hp 4 stroke Mercury for sale at my office for $4200. It is 09 hull and 07 motor. It is in excellent condition. This boat is all you will need to cover the gambit of flats and offshore. I would buy it myself, but have to sell some stuff first.

Nice little rig. There is no way I'd take it "offshore" though.

This is a great time of year for a buyer. Keep looking around and you could find an older used boat at a really good price. You definately need a vhf on it just in case and maybe even think about SeaTow even if you aren't getting out of sight of land. A strong current or wind and a dead motor will take you places you don't want to spend the night.

[Rhettley]

Here's another thought. Consider trading it with someone looking at a boat like yours as an upgrade to the smaller one they have. Take their boat and some cash and they get your boat. Put the cash in the bank to use towards the bigger boat next year.

[Badbagger]

new to salt? In this area?

Aluminum all day (if you can find a good deal on one) - We have a ton of rocks that, well, move around at night.

Thanks for your input and everyone else. I pretty much figured all welded. Not new to the area really. Been around Tally since 04. Started back fishing freshwater around 07 and did so till this past summer when I chose to give up running around Talquin that has a LOT of stumps that move around at night! This past summer was really the first I've fished salt water in the area so hence the comment.

Capt, thanks for the suggestion but I'm not going any smaller than a 17. While I really do like my G3 on days when there's a pretty good chop, once I put the boat back on the trailer I've got to check my filings in my teeth Not sure if any aluminum boat will be different, even those with more of a modified v. Been in a Carolina Skiff which is pretty much the same style hull and it will bang you around as well in the chop. Not overly enjoyable. I was thinking of glass and something that floated skinny with the benefit of the added weight. However, maybe not such a good idea.

So tin it is....

[Rhettley]

Something to think about. I had an 89 model Bass Tracker 17.5 TX with a 50 Merc. It would slap the snot out of you in chop until I put one of those hydrofoil whale tail gizmoz on the motor. I couldn't believe how much smoother and dryer it road and only lost 1 or 2 mph off top end. Got on plane much faster and turned better too. The hull basically rode on top of the chop instead of slapping down into each incoming wave.
This does require drilling 4 holes in the cavitation plate unless they have found an improved way to clamp them on. I don't know how you feel about drilling holes in the cavitation plate but on the hull I had it made a huge difference in the ride.

[Jollyman]

The most important thing when buying a boat is including your girl in the decision and figure out together what you want to do with the boat. Some aluminum boats beat you to death going to the bird rack and if that is what she wants to do you will be better served keeping momma happy. Also entertain trading in with boat brokers.

[Badbagger]

Lol you ain't kidding, if the better half ISN'T happy, it's a BAD BAD day! Just trying to figure out which ones ride better than others is the trick.

[zload]

I guess I'm confused (happening more and more these days ) but you have a 19' tin boat that you like but don't want to see it sitting unused . So you are going to sell it in the spring, buy someone elses smaller(but only by a foot or so) tin boat of unknown relaibilty that will be used about the same amount of time, somehow depreciation enters in the equation and your tin boat beats you to death but you are going to get another tin boat???

I assume from your comments that your current boat is well maintained, reasonably efficient for current fishing grounds/species and not a boat that will leave you floating around dead in the water with the better half(who would be really pissed at you since you fouled up one of her few days off). Why not keep the current boat, use it when you can, run it on the hose when you can't take it fishing and sell it when you are ready to move up.

The depreciation factor applies prior to purchase and hits when it rolls off the lot... it's too late now

If I worried about when I couldn't use my boat, bow, rifle, pistol etc. I wouldn't have any of them, I use them when I can and enjoy the heck out of them.

Maybe I'm missing something?

[JIm Smith]

amen!

[Badbagger]

Let me explain what may be my own convoluted thinking. First off I am NOT the original owner. I bought it when she had about 15 hours on it. In 09 (Using nada figures as a guide only) Suggested list was $22,100.00 That's pretty accurate as I have the original sales documents. Today the suggest retail is $15,680 (again nada just to illustrate here). Do some 2nd grade math and that comes to right about $2,100 and change average per year for depreciation. (Granted the biggest hit came when it rolled off the lot) If it depreciated at lets say $1500 a year for the next 3 years, that's let's call it $4000 for grins less than I could sell it for today (in theory), that's a lot of money. For US, it makes more sense to move it in the spring and probably come pretty close to getting what we paid for it and picking up something as originally noted here. It's a lot of money to see sitting more often than it is being used. Personally, I can't compare this to my pistol or collection of fishing gear but that's just me.

[zload]

I'm with you right up to the point where you "saved" $4000 in depreciation and turn around and dumped $7000 into an older less capable boat that you have already noted will not go where you want to go. But hey no dog in this hunt just trying to see the logic in the original post and why I couldn't get the point. Good luck what ever you decide... by the way I've done the school/work 24/7 thing it will be worth it... and I look at my boss every morning in the mirror and I've had my boat out twice since August so don't count on doing tons more fishing when it is done, pesky job, bills, kids, weather

[Badbagger]

Actually working on something now that will be a NEW what I'd call hi-end 1860 and basically just as capable boat for right about $4000 minus the engine and I've got a close friend with a line on a dependable engine so when I'm all said and done, under $8k. Hull is actually a 2012 1860. Won't look as purty but will be dependable. Something like that I'd most likely keep for a very long time to keep even as a knock around tinny when we move up to a 23/24ft boat in a few years. Plain Jane vs what I've got now but it will serve the purpose.