Boat/Trailer Trade Proposal

General Boats and Motors
1

I currently have a 2005 Bass Tracker Pro Team 175 with a Mercury 50 HP and steel painted matching trailer. I am considering trading it in for a similar boat, just with less thrills, say a similar sized side console Jon Boat, but with a galvanized trailer. The main reason for this is because living in the Charleston area, I do not want to be restricted and would like to be able to launch in salt/fresh water and not have to worry about my trailer. I also am currently not an everyday user of the boat and certain thrills such as carpet, fish finder, even an aerated live well are nice but are not necessities that I need. The boat has nothing wrong with it and it is in pristine condition, because when my father had the boat he hardly ever used it. I wouldnt be surprised if there was less than 75 hours on that motor. In an ideal world, I would like to swap the Bass Tracker with trailer for a side console Jon Boat with galvanized trailer but keep my motor and just swap the boats/trailer. My reason for this is because I know how much use the motor has had and I dont think I will get the value for it if I were to trade it in with the boat. I dont blame boat dealers for not trusting me because if I was in their shoes, I wouldnt trust anyone either, hence why I would like to keep the motor and put it on the new boat.

My questions would be:

  1. Is this a good plan? Is it even possible?
  2. What are the chances I could do this without having to sink any additional money or if I would have to how much?
  3. Will boat dealers work with me on a situation like this?
  4. Should I just take the boat up to a dealer and tell him what I want?
  5. Any additional advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks
2

Swapping boats or selling boats without motors is tough. The motor is the key to all outfits.

With that said, I trust Robin at Robins marine and he has done some interesting deals/swaps with me over the years. I know he is not scared to keep used boats in the yard without motors, where most dealers either don’t want a used boat period, or definitely don’t want a used boat without a motor. I would give him a call and see if he can do something. He sells a nice line of Excel boats and may carry a cheaper aluminum line as well.

http://www.robinsmarine.com/home

3

Thanks for the info Geronimo. I was talking to a friend yesterday and he said “Why don’t you just trade the trailer, or sell your trailer and buy a galvanized one.” I didn’t even think of that but it makes more sense to me because it will probabaly be cheaper in the long run, easier to sell/find, and I don’t have to mess with title transfers and gov’t reg BS.

  • A bad day fishin’ is better than a good day at work!
4

I just sold him a nice galvanized trailer with a free 15’ Sratos boat on it. Tell him I sent you there and see if he would work a deal to take your painted trailer for the galvanized trailer. It could handle up to a 17’ boat, and the painted trailer would look better under the bass boat I gave him.

Tell him Jeremy Holt tipped you off.

5

if all else fails use your trailer til it falls apart and then buy a galvanized replacement off of craigs list. use it til it falls apart and then repeat.

  • I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.