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Posts: 267
Location: Ft. Wayne, Indiana | Hey guys, I am starting to look for my first real boat. I want something about 16 ft. but I can only afford to spend $5,000. What would you guys think is the best boat I could get for that kind of money?
Thanks |
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Location: Oswego, IL | Your going to do a lot of shopping to find a boat priced that low, and be cautious of doing so. If I were you I would hope one of my friends knew a lot about them and have him help you. Maybe wait another 1-2 years and get something that will be more reliable. |
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | I don't know about that. I think you can find a good reliable boat for $5,000. I would lean more towards something a few years older and in good condition than a newer beat up boat. I like tillers anyway, but I would be inclined to look into aluminum tillers. For $5,000 you'll probably be looking at a 'somewhat' smaller boat in the 16 foot range, and in boats this size, tillers allow you to use all of the space avaliable in the boat. Consoles take up a lot of room in boats this size.
If going the tiller route, make sure the motor is at or near the max horsepower rating that the boat will take in a tiller layout. Since tillers are in effect downgraded on horsepower from their console counterparts, it's important to get as much horsepower behind them as possible.
If you want to fish a little bit bigger lakes, I would get something at least 16 feet long, with at least a semi deep V. I had a 16 foot Sea Nymph. It didn't have a very deep V, and you knew it when going across big waves. If you can, I would get something at leasy 75 inches wide also. My Sea Nymph was something like 69 inches, and it was plenty narrow. Stable enough to have three guys standing and casting, but very load sensitive while running. My newer Alumacraft is 81 or 82 inches, and that little extra width makes a BIG difference.
Basically, unless you are really serious, most aluminum hulls will work fine, but if you can find a Lund, Alumacraft, or Crestliner, they will all be good. Make sure the motor has been taken care of and runs well. The motor has mote potential to give you problems than the actual boat does. For a $5,000 rig you'll probably need to buy a two stroke to get the best bang for the buck.
LOTS of other stuff. Books could be written on buying used boats. My advice: look at a lot of boats before deciding. Take your time and get what you want. Don't settle on something just because you want a boat. Make sure it meets your criteria and make sure you like it.
* If you could find an older Tuffy Esox with a good two stroke tiller on it in your price range that would be a nice boat for a lot of uses also. I've seen a couple fixed up ones that look pretty good for under $5,000.
curleytail |
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Posts: 1303
Location: WI | Lund Rebel or older Explorer (tiller). I have a 1993 Explorer and it's a pretty good boat. |
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | I know it doesn't do you much good to look at boats that have already been bought, but there are a few here. On a lot of boats like this you might want to put in a rear deck, but that would be easy enough. There's some decent stuff out there for $5,000.
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/forum-view.asp?fid=31 |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Curleytail hit the nail on the head. There's alot of very decent boats out there for less than $5,000. My Dad had a 16' Lund that he bought for maybe $3,500 with a 50 Merc on it. He ran that boat for almost ten years before the motor went. He's got a 16' Pro V now that was still less than $10k. It's a buyer's market. Set your sights, and keep looking. Remember to buy a little under your spending limit because something always comes up....you'll need a new carb on the motor, need new seats, tires for the trailer, etc.... |
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Posts: 897
| Lots of decent boats out there for $5000 and under, just make sure you look around. Not sure what the market is like out in Indiana, might have to drive to get one. Check out CL in Minnesota, boat trader dot com, fishing mn dot com, star tribune classifieds, etc. Don't be afraid to check other states as well, my first boat was a South Dakota boat. No sales tax over there! This is not the time of year you are going to get the best deal on used boats, but you should be able to find something decent in that price range. Probably looking mid-90's or older with a 60-90 hp or smaller on a 16' boat. One mistake I made when I bought my first boat was buying a boat that was underpowered. The boat itself was a tank and could handle Mille Lacs and Vermilion no problem, but it had issues getting up on plane in big waves with a 40hp on the back.
Look at a lot of boats at a lot of different places. You'll get a good feel for what you can reasonably expect pretty quickly. Also, if you're on a budget, look for a boat that comes with a trolling motor and a sonar unit or GPS/Sonar unit and all of the batteries necessary so that you don't have to dump money into that right away.
Good luck! Boat shopping is fun!
-Chris |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I second the Craig's List advise for lower cost boats. There's plenty of boats being thrown on there every day.
Just my $.02, but when you're talking about a boat under $5k you're really looking for a motor on a free boat. Pick the best motor on an acceptable boat. The motor is where 90% of your costs and headaches will come from. Only let electronics be a tie-breaker as far as your decision from one boat to another as they break or get outdated the quickest. You can get plenty of deals on electronics, but a bad motor is going to make you hate the boat every day. |
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| Billy check your pm's I sent you a site with several boats in your range in the classifieds. |
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Posts: 280
| Use Craigshelper to search multiple cities on craigslist quickly. Great deals are out there just be patient and be willing to travel. I drove about 15 hours (round trip) to get this boat last year. Paid $3200 for boat, picked up a used Minn Kota 50 pd for $280 and just got a Lowrance 522c for $500. I also installed a rear casting deck. Now I have a sweet set up for well under $5000.
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | Wow. If you find something like Mad Musky found, you better take cash with you when you go to look at it! What an awesome rig for under $5,000!
Edited by curleytail 5/5/2009 2:32 PM
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Posts: 390
Location: Ohio | I agree there are some good buys out there now. I bought mine last Fall off Craigslist. Keep looking and like Curleytail said ...Bring Cash, they won't last.
Mad Musky, nice rig! |
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Posts: 576
Location: nappanee IN | bill, just looked on craigslist under southbend area and there is a 18ft skeeter on there with a 175 mariner that'll do 75 and gps and computer screen and a deeper bow on it and he's asking 5900 obo. he's in cassopolis mi. good luck..karol |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Here is one for little more, but your getting alot of boat.
2002 Tuffy Osprey, 75hp Yamaha tiller - $6950 (Blaine)
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Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]
Date: 2009-05-06, 10:21PM CDT
2002 1760 Tuffy Osprey - Dark blue with silver stripe, 75hp Yamaha Pro tiller, Tuff-trail trailer with spare tire, bow-mount Minnkota 80# Powerdrive, Lowrance X-15 with GPS (with 2,000 great spots!), Raytheon marine band with 8' antenna, Garmin 240 on bow, 3 new batteries, 2 live wells, 4 rod holders, rod compartment on each side. Rig was new in 2004, low hours. A steal at only $6,950! Call Paul at 651-269-2144.
Location: Blaine
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
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Posts: 897
| Wow, that is a GREAT deal! Better pick that up quick, it won't last. |
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| http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/boa/1150124132.html heres one in the twin citys, just add power |
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Posts: 1086
| LOTS of boats to be had out there for $5,000! And when fishing Indiana lakes, you don't need a big boat. We don't have big water here. I know of a great aluminum, tiller boat fully decked out with locator, bowmount trolling motor, casting deck, trailer, etc, etc for around $2,000 and it's located on Webster. With the $3,000 you'd save, you could travel with that boat on vacations, buy gas, continue to buy more baits, feed yourself, put some money into a savings account, and maybe even tweak the boat to tailer your exact needs if you would wish to do so. :shrug:
Just a suggestions. $5,000 grand will open a lot of doors for you as it is a buyers market out there and there's always more used boats for sale than fishermen so it seems... |
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Posts: 76
Location: Kentucky | Whatever you buy it will be used at that price. Invest in compression tester and then read this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080321023347AA3XksV
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Posts: 32951
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | here you go, call Nate:
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/classifieds.asp?a=50448
The 18 Rampage was a great Muskie boat, I had a few over the years. |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | Troyz. - 5/7/2009 3:04 AM
Here is one for little more, but your getting alot of boat.
2002 Tuffy Osprey, 75hp Yamaha tiller - $6950 (Blaine )
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Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]
Date: 2009-05-06, 10:21PM CDT
2002 1760 Tuffy Osprey - Dark blue with silver stripe, 75hp Yamaha Pro tiller, Tuff-trail trailer with spare tire, bow-mount Minnkota 80# Powerdrive, Lowrance X-15 with GPS (with 2,000 great spots! ), Raytheon marine band with 8' antenna, Garmin 240 on bow, 3 new batteries, 2 live wells, 4 rod holders, rod compartment on each side. Rig was new in 2004, low hours. A steal at only $6,950! Call Paul at 651-269-2144.
Location: Blaine
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
My eyes just got big. . .
Edited by Sam Ubl 5/14/2009 11:48 AM
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Posts: 264
| lund classics or rebel. maybe a alumacraft navigator or dominator. |
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Posts: 53
Location: Stillwater | It would be very hard to find rebel or classic for under $5000 |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | Troyz. - 5/7/2009 3:04 AM
did anyone call on this boat,seems like a great deal
Here is one for little more, but your getting alot of boat.
2002 Tuffy Osprey, 75hp Yamaha tiller - $6950 (Blaine )
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Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]
Date: 2009-05-06, 10:21PM CDT
2002 1760 Tuffy Osprey - Dark blue with silver stripe, 75hp Yamaha Pro tiller, Tuff-trail trailer with spare tire, bow-mount Minnkota 80# Powerdrive, Lowrance X-15 with GPS (with 2,000 great spots! ), Raytheon marine band with 8' antenna, Garmin 240 on bow, 3 new batteries, 2 live wells, 4 rod holders, rod compartment on each side. Rig was new in 2004, low hours. A steal at only $6,950! Call Paul at 651-269-2144.
Location: Blaine
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
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| There are good deals out there, I was in your shoes last year and ended with a good deal on a fiberglass boat. I don't know if you can go higher, but a posting on Minneapolis Craigslist had a older Ranger 681 or 691?? for sale at $7500... even came with a free boat slip on Lake Minnetonka which for one year alone is an easy couple grand. Boat looked in good condition, if I didn't purchase a boat last summer I might have hopped on this deal. |
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| http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/boa/1151308795.html |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | Flat bottom, poor in the wind, but open and flat casting decks (the whole boat is a casting deck) with lots of storage and a huge livewell. . . Go for the Tuffy Esox Magnum tiller. . . Neil Barnett and Bill Hill run one in the WMT events and never have a problem, although I think I've seen them anchored in high winds before. . . Then again, they fish extremely slow anyways, so. Either way, Neil loves his boat and catches way more fish than I do out of it. I see them for sale all the time for $5-7,000, but they sell FAST!
NEW they sell for nearly $17K
Edited by Sam Ubl 5/15/2009 10:45 AM
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| Thsi would make a pretty decent rig. You could spend the change fitting a casting deck up front and have something very usable and fishable.
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/boa/1171365407.html |
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Or this one?
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/boa/1169528682.html |
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Posts: 169
Location: Houlton, WI | you could probly get some used lunds/crestliners/alumicrafts for that price
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| I bought a 1998 Tuffy Esox ltd. for $5,300 with a 50 horse Honda four stroke.
The boat is a sweet ride and very easy to musky fish out of. It is 16'9" with a 70" beam, very stable!  |
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