Boats - New vs. Used

[bronzeback_01]

currently have a 1999 lund adventurer, 14-foot with a 30HP e-tec. the boat is small and will only get smaller as my kid ages and i add more rods and tackle to my collection. i'm looking at moving up in size within the next two years to a larger tiller boat such as one of the following:

alumacraft competitor 175T
lund pro guide 1775
lund pro guide 1675

i like tiller configurations as the space is important to me but i can be persuaded into a side-console too. any thoughts or opinions on buying new versus used?

i've looked at smokercraft, crestliner, tracker, G3, and others, but the layouts and storage options in the lunds and alumacrafts are more my cup of tea. and if anyone has a brand new pro guide 2075 they need to get rid of for pennies on the dollar, please contact me!!

[glenn57]

i have a 16 ft long 1600 stinger............and love the layout. similarto the older lund predators. personally i'd never own a boat with a console.

get what you can afford..... AND LIKE............ datz my thoughts!!!!!!!!!

[mike89]

2nd Glenn's thought's on the hand tiller, better boat control!!  But it will be your boat so go for it!!!!

[Rebel SS]

Piffle.

[mike89]

Piffle.

 what the heck is "Piffle?   

[glenn57]

Piffle.

 what the heck is "Piffle?   

ole Reb and a few others have a severe problem with agreeing with glenn much less admitting he's right on alot of things!!!!!!!!!!

[glenn57]

Piffle.

 what the heck is "Piffle?   

ole Reb and a few others have a severe problem with agreeing with glenn much less admitting he's right on alot of things!!!!!!!!!!

[Lee Borgersen]

i have a 16 ft long 1600 stinger............and love the layout. similarto the older lund predators. personally i'd never own a boat with a console.

get what you can afford..... AND LIKE............ datz my thoughts!!!!!!!!!

I had a Lund 1600 stinger tiller until a guy went through a red light at 3:30 am and hit it broadside. Totaled it I loved that boat. I was on the way to da lake. Hang on to that boat Glenn. It's a dandy 

[glenn57]

OOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

Piffle.

 what the heck is "Piffle?   

pif·fle
ˈpifəl/Submit
noun & exclamation of informal nonsense.

It's whatever ya like, but if you want to take people along and do a river or lake cruise, much more comfortable. If it's just you for fishing, and you don't have a destroyed back and neck ya can't turn, I'd do a tiller. Maybe.

[Rebel SS]

Piffle.

 what the heck is "Piffle?   

ole Reb and a few others have a severe problem with agreeing with glenn much less admitting he's right on alot of things!!!!!!!!!!

Ya don't haveta say it twice!

Ya don't haveta say it twice!                     

[bronzeback_01]

guess i should clarify a bit more here:

if you were in the market for an upgrade, would you consider new over used? a new boat is going out at say $23-27k, but a similar model that's 3-5 years old is still commanding a high dollar amount, say around $18-21k.

i know that buying a new rig affords me many nice things, including the knowledge that it hasn't been beaten on....yet. but it also hits hard in the pocket book and gives you that feeling of "i just spent how much on what?"

if you were in the market for a used boat, would you buy from a dealer or a third party? what are some of the things you'd consider and what are some deal breakers?

the prices that some folks are asking for a used boat, you'd think it's a 2017 right off the factory floor and not a 2011 with a seized crank case, a serious case of dock rash, toasted trailer hubs, and faulty wiring issues.

any and all feedback is greatly appreciated.

[Rebel SS]

It really a personal thing....including financial. Boats are some of the hardest flogged engines around, and least well maintained. Unless you know the guy, or it has full maintenance records and the plug in download computer, you really don't know what that engines been through. Hulls, too...I've see twisted or hard hit ones that won't track true...the list can go on and on. But, it' really no different than buying a used car vs new.  It's up to you, just a few pointers that might help. Well-maintained boats sell for awful high bucks sometimes...I sold my '97 Rebelss last July for $500 MORE than I paid for it right off the showroom floor in '97...and the guy didn't try to talk me down. Just piled the cash in my hand.   

[bronzeback_01]

Boats are some of the hardest flogged engines around, and least well maintained. Unless you know the guy, or it has full maintenance records and the plug in download computer, you really don't know what that engines been through.

That's one that terrifies me. My father-in-law purchased a used boat from an acquaintance two years ago. Just last year, the crank case seized up and before that, the driver-side hub froze up. Not an effective way to save $$.

Well-maintained boats sell for awful high bucks sometimes...I sold my '97 Rebelss last July for $500 MORE than I paid for it right off the showroom floor in '97...and the guy didn't try to talk me down. Just piled the cash in my hand.

That's crazy. I'm don't doubt the boat was in good shape, but to make a profit off a 10 y/o boat was probably not something you expected when you first bought it.

[HD]

To me, after buying and owning a lot of boats...I'm at the point of buying new. But, yup the ticket shock would prolly kill me.

I have the skills to check out motors really well. But still not happy with not having a warranty to back it up in case something goes wrong that I might have missed.

I would be ok with a used boat, but I would go with a new motor.....just because of the fore mentioned (you never know how bad it was beat)

There are a ton of nice used boats out there, but you have to know what you are looking at, and what you plan on using it for.

Hard hammering big water? I would buy a Lund, just for the hull thickness compared to a Tracker.
Just running small lakes and rivers? The thinner hulls would prolly be fine.

I guess it all depends on what you are going to use it for, and what you can afford.


P.S.....I'm a fan of console boats for big water, but I often run with one or 2 people in the boat and like the way they ride better than a tiller...and for smaller lakes & the river, I run a tiller

[Rebel SS]

Boats are some of the hardest flogged engines around, and least well maintained. Unless you know the guy, or it has full maintenance records and the plug in download computer, you really don't know what that engines been through.

That's one that terrifies me. My father-in-law purchased a used boat from an acquaintance two years ago. Just last year, the crank case seized up and before that, the driver-side hub froze up. Not an effective way to save $$.

Well-maintained boats sell for awful high bucks sometimes...I sold my '97 Rebelss last July for $500 MORE than I paid for it right off the showroom floor in '97...and the guy didn't try to talk me down. Just piled the cash in my hand.

That's crazy. I'm don't doubt the boat was in good shape, but to make a profit off a 10 y/o boat was probably not something you expected when you first bought it.

CORRECTION: TWENTY year old boat!!!!  Think I set a record.  It was pristine and maintained meticulously by myself. I was just pissed off when I put the ad and pics in, because I couldn't use it anymore by myself with the spinal issues. And on CLIST of all places...I hate that site! Guy called from out of state 15 mns after I listed it and said he'd buy it NOW. Ya, right. Well, two days later he and the wife were up here from Iowa with a big envelope of hundred dollar bills. Really nice couple. We  did the paperwork, and they drove home happy. He's E-mailed me a couple times, they love it. Worked out well for both of us. 

By the way, welcome to MNO, bronzeback!!! it's a great site!   

[Rebel SS]

I'm a Lund guy, but the Alumacraft has an .080 thick hull, and the Lund has an .065 thickness hull. I think. I think as far as a dry ride, they rank about the same. Alumacraft says their 2xb hull is stronger than Lunds IPS...just more to confuse ya. I almost bought a new Alumacraft two years ago over a new Lund. But that don't mean squat. 

[corny13]

Bronzeback  Ive had about 12 fishing boats over the years including 2 that were new, ok one was kinda new still under warrantee that a friend won at a Muskie Inc tournament.  The one NEW boat I bought a Lund Cherokee back in the 80's was a sweet boat that I kept for 15 years.  Im currently running 3 boats all are used to a varing degree.  The 16' lund tiller is 40 years old but I did buy a new Honda engine 15 horse for it, that had been sitting at Resort marine unsold for 4 years and I did get a great deal on it.  Great little boat I paid hardly anything for.  My main fishing boat is Ranger 20' tiller 2005  bought for 1/3 price of a new one with Merten's power steering 150 yamaha .  This was a steal as I knew the owner less than 150 hrs on the engine, meticulously maintained with records.. couldn't pass it by.   So my recommendations are first find the boat of your dreams if you can find one used +/- motor  get it and get a NEW outboard unless a buddy offers you a steal on the same boat well maintained.   BTW I did buy a used boat from a dealer 11 years ago.. that was a mistake hadn't been well maintained and within a year I had to put a lot of $$ into it.   Good luck!

[mike89]

if only going a couple years old for  boat, go new!!

[Rebel SS]

I agree with that.

[The General]

I'm a council guy with full windshield.  I don't like to get wet while flying across a lake.  If it didn't have a Yamaha or an etech on the back I'd never own it.

[Rebel SS]

I like the fact that with a console, I have the snacks and beverages handy right there....   Gotta agree with the spray in the face; when I was zooming across Pepin on those nasty day with rollers, I still got a faceful of spray with the windshield at times.

[Lee Borgersen]

As for me I am and always will be a tiller man. I like all the clean, uncluttered, and clear floor space I can get. Plenty of room to stretch out when you're carrying extra folks aboard. Never bought a used boat or car. I take that back I did buy my pops car once when he was going to trade it in. But, in that case I knew what I was getting. I'm a Lund man all the way. Well designed, strong, and maintains a good resale value.

[Rebel SS]

So, yer saying yer a Tillerman?     

[bronzeback_01]

the feedback and opinions have been helpful. i haven't given much thought to looking at a used boat and putting on a new motor...but that gives me another angle to view things from as i continue my search.

as for new boats, are there dealers in minnesota, wisconsin, etc that you guys would recommend? any that you'd advise to steer clear of?

and as for used boats, other than craigslist or boat trader.com, are there other resources that you've been happy with?

[HD]

I usually go-to Hallberg's in Wyoming, they have used boats there as well...And are willing to "deal"

[mike89]

heard good things about them folks

[Lee Borgersen]

So, yer saying yer a Tillerman?     

  Yep! But, I only drink Ice tea.

Also when it comes to women. I always tiller who's da boss! "And dats a fact Jack"

  Da wife is calling ........I godda go

[Boar]

Whyoming! should be able finf a dealer in MN!





HEHEHEHE.

[HD]

Whyoming! should be able finf a dealer in MN!





HEHEHEHE.

                                                                                    putz