Best all around boat for 20k

[ShipwreckedDude]

Okay I've got a budget of 20k. That must be the "out the door" price.
I know that no boat does everything but I want one that I can go bass fishing on local lakes and salmon fishing in the sound.
It must be able to be launched and recovered by one man (with a bad shoulder). Also this is my first boat.
I'm curious to know what you all think. I am currently looking at the Lund rebel 1650 from Kitsap marina. Do you think it will handle the sound and local lakes?

[TroutSnipr]

Are you in the used market? Something like this would be a good compromise, and well under your budget...

http://www.nixonsmarine.com/images/lusi ... dh06gr.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



It'd still leave you cash to upgrade the electronics, and put in some electric downriggers.

[Bodofish]

Gregors a nice welded bay boat. The Honda motor is really hard to beat.......

[G-Man]

That is an excellent looking setup! I bet it doesn't last long, I'd be tempted if I didn't already have a boat in the garage.

[TroutSnipr]

Nixon's over in Walla Walla are some really REALLY nice guys. You can get a good deal + lower sales tax on the other side of the mountains.

[sickbayer]

that looks a bargin!

[ShipwreckedDude]

Thanks for the quick response guys. I appreciate the suggestion.

That does look like a pretty good deal. But. And this is probably going to sound idiotic but I don't want to drive 5 and half hours to go look at a boat that I may or may not buy.

[sickbayer]

ha ha well that is the price of shopping around mate! I am in the same boat but buying new, not only do i have to figure out driving to Oregon but got to get test rides too. So far in looking at coos bay, medford to name but a few. that boat is well kitted out for 11k. Boats will be more here for sure.

[TroutSnipr]

I'd spend $100 to save $8000...Even if you don't want THIS particular boat, there are quite a few similar used boats on boattrader.com that are closer and look to be reasonable deals.


http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2008- ... ler-356732" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2007- ... -102042068" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

though personally I'd be ALL OVER that Gregor at that price.....

[The Quadfather]

If you are groovin' on the Lund, look up a guy on here who goes by, Rseas. He has a Lund, maybe similar to what you are looking at. ( My Lund is no where near your ideals, lol.) .... of course, when you talk to a guy who already owns the boat you are looking for... he may be overly juiced about it. But he is a knowledgeable and straight up guy.

[stryker17]

I ended up driving to the outskirts of Portland to get what I wanted, 17 ft alum weld striker, 4 yrs old with 59 hrs, the deal was good, I didn't want any boat with carpet in it, much easier to clean up, been very happy so far. The boat before that was an 16 ft smoker craft , we drove to Spokane, looked , bought, and came home, used it 2 times and the wife said SELL, I want a bigger one. It was a no brainier for me, the Striker had almost 2 times the room , much wider and deeper, looking at used boats is fun,,, Road trip no big deal............... everyone will give you their own thoughts, have fun...... good hunting.....

[ShipwreckedDude]

Thanks, at least I seem to be on the right track with regards to the "type" of boat. A 17 to 18 ft aluminum with at least 40hp motor.

[rcthepirate]

Thanks, at least I seem to be on the right track with regards to the "type" of boat. A 17 to 18 ft aluminum with at least 40hp motor.

You probably want more motor than that too. You are not going to get anywhere quickly in an 18 with a 40. I would consider most 17 ft. boats to be underpowered with a 40.

[FishBaitThe2nd]

Thanks, at least I seem to be on the right track with regards to the "type" of boat. A 17 to 18 ft aluminum with at least 40hp motor.

You probably want more motor than that too. You are not going to get anywhere quickly in an 18 with a 40. I would consider most 17 ft. boats to be underpowered with a 40.

+1 we just sold our 19ft boat, it had a 165hp motor on it

[Mossy]

Thanks for the quick response guys. I appreciate the suggestion.

That does look like a pretty good deal. But. And this is probably going to sound idiotic but I don't want to drive 5 and half hours to go look at a boat that I may or may not buy.

I wish I only had to drive 5 hours to look at my current boat. I drove from Spokane to Eugene two January's ago when there were turned over 18 wheelers on the interstate from the wind and ice. That being said, it was worth the money I saved ($4000 cheaper than something similar here at the time) on my hewescraft. I've even seen a similar local setup for $7000 more than I paid recently. I also kept an eye out for a buddy that ended up driving from Post Falls to Tigard to pick up a decent deal on an alumaweld.
By the way, that Gregor is a pretty good deal. I had a 15 foot that held up really well. A good dealer will answer all your questions and should provide more pictures if requested. I was able to negotiate a lower price over the phone so I had a solid number I was comfortable with before making the drive.

[Dustin07]

I bought my current boat, a C-Dory 22ft cruiser, out of idaho. it took me 8 months to find one in my price range beat everyone else to it, they kept selling within 24hrs of going on the market.

We used to fish out of a Fisherman 2000. It was a 2005 Lund, with a Volvo Penta 5.0 inboard and a 15hp outboard. it had an 8+ft beam and 20+ft length. it was extremely stable in the salt and we did catch puget sound salmon with it. We also caught bass throughout WA in it. Its draft was shallow enough, but it needed a bow mount motor.

I prefer big boats for the salt, but I prefer smaller boats for the bass............................ so something in that 17-20ft range is probably the happy medium I'd go for.

Also, I'd opt for an outboard motor. they are just so much easier to work on.

a boat that is common may have more affordable canvas tops too, which is nice for those frequently chilly and/or rainy PNW days. a pilothouse was a must for me this time.

if you're buying used, I'd really try to find a boat that has the basics already in place....

• downriggers can be a $1500-2,000 investment if you buy new and have them installed.
  livewells/baitwells,
  tandem axle trailer if its a bigger boat
  etc etc etc

I tried to find a boat with as many accessories and upgrades as possible already in place because I knew buying a heater, downriggers, upgraded trailer, etc would set me back thousands and take years to acquire.

[racfish]

If I wanted a good boat for 20 grand Id look into a Grady White or C-Dory. For that amount you could get a cabin with a head.Also a kit/icebox.

[Dustin07]

If I wanted a good boat for 20 grand Id look into a Grady White or C-Dory. For that amount you could get a cabin with a head.Also a kit/icebox.

what I really like about the c-dory is the trailer weight. its a 22ft cabin cruiser you can tow with a light weight vehicle. I use a cherokee and I've known of others that used Rangers.