What is the best Bass Boat?

[theangler]

O.K. Guys,
I was talking with a friend today about Bass Boats and was curious what everyone thought was the best deal in bass boats and why?
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[fyshrmn]

The boat I would like to have is a Triton TR21X but is not in my budget at this point in life. My last boat was a 15' Tidecraft not your top quality boat and lack alot of what i look for but had what you needed. I just purchased a Triton TR186. I have only took it out once to see how it ran and fine tune it to suit me. It has everthing I want in a bass boat plus some. The only thing that is missing is that extra three feet that the tr21 has. My boss has a ranger 520vx (I believe) It is a nice boat but it comes with the hefty price tag. My fishing partner has had two nitro's and one ranger since I have known him all very nice boats. I was with him when he traded one of the nitros in and they check the transom over good for cracks and did not find any on his boat which supprised the tech. I don't know if this is common problem with nitro or all boats. The most improtant thing to me is no wood in the boat. Which is one of the major factors why I purchased a triton.

[Kraizee_Skot]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#ff4040]The most logical answer would be the one that can get you into where the fish are, and one that is affordable to you.[cool] Just my opinion though, I'm not really into boats that much....just wanted to be a smart @$$[][/#ff4040][/font]
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[tomc]

i agree with you Kraizee_Skot,lol, why should someone buy a $20,000 or $30,000 boat and have it site in the driveway,while they have to work 24/7 to pay for it.the best boat is one that floats,runs,get you where you want to go,and affordable to the one who owns it.
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[fyshrmn]

You left out dependable and relyable. Just because just because the purchase price is good doesn't mean it won't cost you more in the long run. I'll pay alittle more for the peace of mind knowing my boat is going to get me where I want and back to the ramp. There is nothing worse than getting to the lake or on the lake and the boat won't run. I've been there and also seen it so many times. I can make up the difference in the price with a few minor sacrifices. ie 2 $1.40 pops a day or that 12pack of beer every week. Maybe those $5.00 a pack cigarettes. There is so many things a person can give up to have there extra money for that nicer boat. I guess it comes down to what is more important to you. A good quality fishing boat to take my kids fishing on is more important than alot of other things to me.

[gdn443]

Your so right Tomc, go get the best boat for your money and use it to catch fish. I outfished a triton 3-1 today. But allways helps to ASK other fisherman what they see as a problem with boats from the past. It's only a tool.
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[davetclown]

I beleive any boat that dosnt tip when you move around in it, dosnt take on water, and will allow you to stand up is a good boat.

any thing extra is just that. nothing wrong with having extras.

of corse this is the opinion of a man who never had the opetunity to operate the toys of the big boyz. [shocked]

Living in the great lakes state a man almost needs several boats. one for inland lakes, one for small rivers, one for large rivers. each have thier own type of boyancy needs.

Fishing on waters where you have to share it with ocean going freighters realy makes small water craft look less desirable, especialy in the wake of one of those monsters where the craft compleatly disapears at the bottom of the wake.

there are a lot of bass in the detroit river. I dont know if there are any tournaments held on that river, there are a lot of walleye tournaments held there.

I do see trackers out there early in the mornings but they come in to shore just as soon as the freighters start showing up.
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[Tarpon4me]

A boat serves but a single purpose, to get you to the fish. And to piggy back on what Dave said, the boat needs to fit your specific needs as to the water conditions you'll be fishing. I have three boats. A one man boat for the teeny little creeks, a 16 FT. bass boat, and a 21 foot center console. Each has a specific purpose, to cator to the abilities I need for each body of water I fish. You can plant Bill Dance's rear end in a 15 foot john boat or a 19 foot triton and I can promise you, he will catch fish in either one. To me, the experiance of the angler and quality of electronics are the deciding factors, of course electronics when applicable. More so angler skill and over all luck. Personally, I think the aluminum bass tracker's are better than any of those 20,000 dollar peices of crap. You can run over stumps, trees, pilons, bounce off of bridge pillers; and worse case senario you've gotta knock the dent out when you get home or pop a rivet back in. Nothing a quick tack weld can't fix. You can drag them through narrow sloughs, get better gas mileage, and don't have to worry about scatching the 4000 dollar paint job. Getting an expensive bass boat is like buying a cadillac truck to use for construction work. Sure they run 80+ miles an hour, but really guys, why the heck would you want to go 80 MPH in a boat anyways? [cool]
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