Buying a boat

[Nice Racks]

I have the urge to buy a bass boat, but have no idea what to look for as far as features, brand, motor size, or really anything about them.  I have a budget of 20k.  I'd like to fish lakes like Tapps, Mayfield, and Roosevelt. 

[10Key]

Call and chat with Willie at Nixon's Marine in Lakewood. He was a great resource when I bought my first boat. They carry Ranger and Crestliner, both offer aluminum bass boats that should fit into your price range. If you PM me,I will get you his info.

[Thenewguy]

Walleye Central and starts looking around the boat section

[bullfisher]

My first loan was a new bass boat when I turned 18. I fished mayfield and tapps like it was my job. This was back before they were considered bass fishing destinations. While a traditional bass boat is great platform, I found myself in a walleye style boat within a few years. I've bought and sold plenty of boats since then but for northwest bass fishing I'd have to give the nod to a higher sided walleye platform like a lund.

[huntnphool]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,208096.msg2769864.html#msg2769864

[bassquatch]

My first loan was a new bass boat when I turned 18. I fished mayfield and tapps like it was my job. This was back before they were considered bass fishing destinations. While a traditional bass boat is great platform, I found myself in a walleye style boat within a few years. I've bought and sold plenty of boats since then but for northwest bass fishing I'd have to give the nod to a higher sided walleye platform like a lund.

  Good logic in this post! Especially if you will be primarily fishing the bigger waters. I have an 18.8' Ranger aluminum RT188 bass boat and while it does it's job exceptionally well I would have to be dang careful if the wind kicked up at Potholes or Banks!

Your price range would put you in about a 10+ year old fiberglass bass boat and you would want to take your time and shop until you found one that was well cared for to avoid potentially costly gel coat repairs.

The deeper V aluminum boats have a lot to offer in an overall package for sure! If you see yourself as a shallow water angler and think you'll want to predominately pound lakes under 1,000 acres with the occasional "big water" trip than boats like the RT series form Ranger are hard to beat! The Tracker's with the Revolution hulls are decent in the rougher stuff but their overall build and layout turned me off.

The best advice I could give you though is get one and don't look back! I regret absolutely nothing about any of my bass boat purchases! 

[LeviD1]

If your interested send me a P.M. I have a 1997 skeeter for sale currently for half your budget. Well taken care of. Let me know if your interested

[NW SURVEYOR]

NR,

I bought an aluminum 20' Starcraft new in 2004 for just about $20K with an electic motor and GPS.
The boat have a nive V and doesn't draw to much water.
There is plenty of room and it handles rough water like a champ.
These boats were made for the Great Lakes and they fit in nicely here.

Lake Mayfield and Roosevelt can kick up and the extra freeboard is nice.
It will also do double duty as a way to get the family on the water swimming, tubing etc.
They are light, easy to trailer and launch by yourself.
This is not a riverboat, but it hanldes Seiku better than any sled Iv'e seen out there.

The gunnels are designed for Downriggers with plenty of storage.

I did have a tough time convincing the wife that the Starcraft "FISHMASTER" was not a fishing boat.
But she bought into it and we are both happy.

Good Luck.
Rob.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Just get your 20k in dollar bills, make a campfire with them and make some smores.  You'll save a bunch of time and aggravation!

[Alchase]

Living in Washington where Aluminum boats are represented fairly well, I was totally surprised how few aluminum v-hull boats there are here in OKC with the constant wind. All the traditional 50-70 MPH glass Bass boats are popular, and you can time their mad dash run for the boat ramps to the minute as the wind picks up, LOL.

[JDHasty]

My first loan was a new bass boat when I turned 18. I fished mayfield and tapps like it was my job. This was back before they were considered bass fishing destinations. While a traditional bass boat is great platform, I found myself in a walleye style boat within a few years. I've bought and sold plenty of boats since then but for northwest bass fishing I'd have to give the nod to a higher sided walleye platform like a lund.

I agree.  I used to bass fish a lot back in the 1970's -> ~ 1992 and I vote "Walleye Boat" config and by a wide margin. 

[NW SURVEYOR]

I assume that DBL LUNG is not a fan of the lighter V-hulls.
To each his own.
I have seen a lot of sleds heading for shore at Seiku when it gets nasty.
We can stay and catch fish without getting beat to hell.
Although this is somewhat of a Walleye Boat, it is designed for the Great Lakes which certainly not ponds.
Couldn't be happier.

[10Key]

This is what we went with, walleye style deep v. Great for lakes in Puget sound as well as the Columbia and snake rivers. We mostly bass fish, works great. A boat like this isn't great for fishing tight spots like docks and such, but with a good trolling motor and some practice, it works.

[Thenewguy]

looks good to me, in the sound you will want a kicker motor though- i find the minn kota just doesn't do it

[10Key]

looks good to me, in the sound you will want a kicker motor though- i find the minn kota just doesn't do it

Absolutely, we aren't salties, so we are set