Currently, I have been bass boat shopping for awhile now (buying used). I see a lot of 18fters and 18.5fters on the used market however I was told to look for 19ft and up. My ideal rig would be one that could fish two adults on the bow and another on the stern comfortably. Now I have fished on a 18ft G3 and space up front on the bow was tight for two adults and I have also been on multiple 22ft-24ft bay boats but those of course have a different layout compared to bass boats but other than that I don't have much experience relating length to width on a bass boat.

So my questions are:
Does that 1ft or half a foot really make a difference with deck space up front? Are aluminum rigs comparable in width as a same length glass boat?

I just want to make sure that I'm not passing up on boats because of 1ft or less difference in length.

Thanks

I speculate there are two reasons why you see so many newer/used 18' boats on the market.

1) Someone bought an 18' boat knowing it would be big enough, then learned they'd love to have more room, and upgraded.

2) Someone bought an 18' boat to start out in the hobby of fishing, ended up not using it much, and is selling it to get out from under it.

That being said, I have an 18' boat, not a bass boat. Very few times I've wished I had more boat, but those few times it would have been very nice to have. Never wished I had a smaller boat, been there, done that. I have fished on many bass boats, and yes even if only two people, the larger the front deck the better it is for all on board. Go with as big a boat as your budget will allow, you won't ever wish you'd gone smaller.