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Summer 2025
and tow vehicles that we as fishermen rely on to spend time on the water. And I want to reiterate… there are a lot of great boats out there and I’m not going to say that a new boat is better than a used boat because that is not the case. The best boat for you is the boat that works for your budget.
What I will say is there are some important factors to keep in mind when making the decision on that big purchase. Here are some tips to help you get the best buy for your buck when looking for a boat that fits your budget.
NEW TO YOU BOATS
While a “used” boat may be previously-owned, it is new to you and when something is new to you, you typically don’t know the history on the boat, motor or accessories, so the best thing you can do is find out what you can about the motor. This is the most expensive component on the boat and so it can be the costliest to repair or replace.
You can replace boat carpet at a cost of around $1,500 to $2,500, which is a bargain compared to replacing a motor and aesthetically carpet can make a bass boat feel brand new.
You can repair gel coat cracks, and again aesthetically the boat may appear straight off the showroom, but with the motor, if it doesn’t run, neither does the boat. So, I suggest focusing on the motor, unless your goal is to repower.
ENGINE HOURS
When looking at a motor, keep in mind, not all motor maintenance or use is created equal, so learn what you can. The number of hours on an engine can be more important than how old the motor is.
I would suggest taking the boat to a certified mechanic to check engine hours. Some boats like those with Yamama motor and a Lowrance Unit manufactured within the last 10 years, can have an interface cable that connects to a NEMA network, allowing you to track and get the engine hours on your own. But, if the boat doesn’t have that or you don’t know how to do it, spend the time to get it to a dealer/ mechanic, such as C&C Marine. A mechanic like Greg in Modesto can quickly hook it up to their laptop and tell you exactly how long the motor has been run and how long at different RPM levels.
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