Hey guys!
I have never owned a boat before (I am only 21). I wanted to see your guys’ opinions, what it takes to own, and the costs. Should I buy new or used? what is too many hours on a motor? what is a good amount of hours? can you finance? what types of rates do you get? what kind of taxes and costs does a boat consist of? and any other questions you guys might be able to answer for me. Remember I am new so I am an extreme noob to boat ownership so dont hate. Thanks for any help in advance!!
Just keep in mind that whatever you spend on it when you buy it is probably what you’ll spend on upkeep and buying new toys for it over the first five years. There are a lot of expenses that you can incur over the life of the boat. My best advice would be to start small and work your way up once you get comfortable with operating it and understanding what you will use and what you won’t use.
buy a boat that you can pay cash for. i bought my 16ft star with a 60hp mid 80s engine in one year i have gone out twice a week for the whole year if not more and have maybe put in a grand or so for upkeep. if it wasnt for my friends fixing small thing for me my bill would be 3 or 4 grand. plus over 2000 in rods fishfinder and gps not as if i really need all that but thats what i want. i am 22 and come from a poor family. this is my first boat i bought with my money but have owned 3 boats in my life and ran 3 or 4 others for different periods of time. whatever boat you do get go get a tow boat service its 150ish a year if not its 250 a hour if not a member and u have to have it up front i have insurance too that 550 a year. anything can happen be prepared that bill each month doesnt stop if u lost ur boat somehow (sinks comes off trailer going down the road at 45mph). dont fall in love with the first boat you see wait it out alittle have the money ready before windowshopping but do have some idea of what you want out of the boat. looks are not everything but do a good lookover of the boat before busting out you wallet. maybe get the person to take you for a short ride. dont buy someone else’s problem/fixer upper unless you can do it yourself. anything i maybe able to help you with let me know even if you want someone to ride and look at it with you
First boat . . . . always buy used. Especially if you don’t have a lot, or any experience, on boats. It’d be such a shame to explain why your brand new boat (that depreciated a ton when you left the lot btw) has all those wonderful scrape marks and gouges on the bottom from the oyster bed, or rock pile you ran into!! As you learn your boat, and the waters around where you live, you are sure to beat it up some. Take that into account when you are looking to shell out your hard earned cash. Get something that you would like to spend time in, but also wouldn’t mind a scrape or ding here or there.
Also, your gear is going to depend on what kind of fishing you want to do. You can spend a few bucks at Wally World, or thousands upon thousands at our local stores on tackle.
Just keep in mind that whatever you spend on it when you buy it is probably what you’ll spend on upkeep and buying new toys for it over the first five years. There are a lot of expenses that you can incur over the life of the boat. My best advice would be to start small and work your way up once you get comfortable with operating it and understanding what you will use and what you won’t use.
Start small - you’ll hit a lot of stuff until you a) learn how to operate the boat and b) learn where the shallow spots are. Then you’ll have more experience and better base point to decide what boat is right for you to move up to (and won’t have spent a fortune in the process).
Thanks, Captain Ross http://T-Topless.com folding, stainless steel T-Top fits most center console boats http://ShadowTop.com entry level (Do-It-Yourself) T-Topless kit http://Montauk-T-Topless.com for Boston Whaler Montauk, Dauntless or Outrage http://Flats-Top.com Shade for Flats Boats http://RNR-Marine.com/Canvas.shtml Factory Original-Equipment (OEM) replacement Sunbrella canvas for Sea Pro, McKee Craft, Sea Hunt, Boston Whaler, Key West, Cobia, Sea Fox, Grady White, Sea Ray, Pioneer, Tidewater, Mariah, Baha Cruisers, Sea Boss, Palmetto Custom & more…</font id=“size1”>
I’d look for a used 13 or 15 ft Whaler. Tough little boast that will hold their value pretty well and don’t need a big motor. Good for fishing lakes or inshore coastal areas. Easy to manuever and learn. Then when you think it’s time, sell it and move up. Or keep it and move up!
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
whatever your first boat is, you’ll probably realize you want something else after you see how you fish or use the boat in general. that said, don’t go financing a new boat. find something used (like a jon boat) that you can sell for what you have into it after you figure out what you need.
When purchasing a boat, you have to consider how many people will typically go with you, the size of those people and the body of water you will typically boat in. ( bigger water = bigger boat = more money) if you’re in charleston, you are around some big water with big boat traffic and strong currents. That alone would make me not want a jon boat even though there is a lot of back water you could enjoy, You would limit yourself in a way. Also smaller boats get unsafe when you stretch their limits. If you party you will want a bigger, safer boat, you may want to take a boating course or a guided trip if you are a stone cold newby. You need to consider how you intend to use the boat, will it be primarily to fish or party? (big difference)! Now the boat, I would consider a used center console for anywehre from 5k to 12k I would look for damage under the hull and sun damage, consider how it was kept, out in the open uncovered or covered or garage kept. clean or dirty, it tells a lot about what it meant to the previous owner. It may show the consideration the owner had for it via proper maintenance. Oil changes are high when you use the brand name stuff even if you do the work yourself. replacing water pumps, bilge pumps, guages, ect can get expensive. General boating equipment is high, electronics are high, I would reccomend you have GPS unit. if your new you will need a map. They are high! rope, anchors ect… all high!!! Based on all of this criteria and more you may be getting a better idea of what is right for you. you know your budget and nobody but you can make that consideration for you. Taxes on a 12k boat in Horry County are $200.00 a year, Boats are awesome, but there is a good bit of maintenance on a saltwater boat, the corrosion never stops. I use my boat way more than I use my motorcycle, you can use them more throughout the year than a PWC. It is the way to go for a recreational man toy… Financing and rates is of course depending on your credit history and as far as hours go I don’t get too caught up
Hey awake,
I’m also 21 and recently acquired my first boat. My advice: heed the advice that has already been given! Definitely buy used (try Craigslist) but also be sure the have a knowledgable person with you and to help you through the process so you don’t wind up with a piece of junk. If your aim in inshore fishing I’d say look for a small center console or a bigger Jon boat (16ft w/ wide bottom).
Good luck and keep us posted with your decision!
I just replied to a similar thread on this topic and I’ll copy the same reply here…
quote:All good advice above, but I'll add one more. When you go to buy one, take someone with you who knows boats, preferably someone with gray hair
I can’t tell you how many calls I get from people who say “I just bought this boat for a good deal and need to see what it will take to fix it”.
In most cases they should have asked that question before the purchase.
Good luck with your decision. You are starting out right by asking for advice.
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
I’m so noob i named my cf account noob i started with a mid 80’s 15’ McKee craft foam filled boat i got cheep $800 with mid 80’s 40hp motor it ran but would not shift into gear. i disassembled the motor it came with to learn what was what with a boat motor, and then put it back together then and only then i found the reason why it didn’t shift was the shift pin was salt frozen. with a few cans of pb blaster and a lot of elbow grease i got her unfroze, i gave her a tune up and bam i was good to go… or so i thought. then i put it in the water started right up and i was off only to find she needed a throttle cable. after ripping apart the shifter box i figured out how to replace every thing in there. now she was good to go. i recommend a project like this just to learn whats what with boats and there motors, unless your ready to spend a arm and a leg, at marinas… i ended up trading the boat later for a 26’ enclosed trailer with heat and ac. witch i sold for $4,800. and bought my current boat which i’ve all ready had to rip apart the motor and am currently repairing fiberglass ( thanks again larry!) . so i’m so glad i did what i did with the first one. Heed these guys advice there all great people and willing to share there knowledge!
ps: i learned one thing for sure!
B.O.A.T. stands for Bust Out Another Thousand…
17’ Chris Craft
100hp 4 stroke
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.
Thanks for all of the help!! I am still looking and debating on what to do. I think I might try to get one that I can fix back up myself, but that is not for sure yet.
i started with a mid 80’s 15’ McKee craft foam filled boat i got cheep $800 with mid 80’s 40hp motor it ran but would not shift into gear. i disassembled the motor it came with to learn what was what with a boat motor, and then put it back together then and only then i found the reason why it didn’t shift was the shift pin was salt frozen. with a few cans of pb blaster and a lot of elbow grease i got her unfroze, i gave her a tune up and bam i was good to go… or so i thought. then i put it in the water started right up and i was off only to find she needed a throttle cable. after ripping apart the shifter box i figured out how to replace every thing in there. now she was good to go. i recommend a project like this just to learn whats what with boats and there motors, unless your ready to spend a arm and a leg, at marinas… i ended up trading the boat later for a 26’ enclosed trailer with heat and ac. witch i sold for $4,800. and bought my current boat which i’ve all ready had to rip apart the motor and am currently repairing fiberglass ( thanks again larry!) . so i’m so glad i did what i did with the first one. Heed these guys advice there all great people and willing to share there knowledge!