Am thinking of buying something like a 16' Tracker bass or crappie boat. I don't see many for sale that are less than ten years old, most much older. Considering the age of the outboard and the motor, how old would you consider buying?

All depends on the condition and maintenance. My current boat is a '94 champion. It is in great condition and has needed very little work from me.

Bobby, thanks for th reply. Appreciate it.

I just purchased a 2009 Fisher aluminum boat with 50 HP. Hours on the boat were less than 30. Had all maintance records. May have to shop around but there are some deals out there. Found mine on Craigslist in Kentucky

I have a 93 Champion still running strong knock on wood

I drive an '07. I would put it up against many a boat that is newer than it. It all depends on how the previous owners have maintained it. Inside storage a must....you can look at a skeg on a lower unit and pretty much tell if it's been rode hard.

It's just like anything else, it all depends on how it was maintained and probably a little bit of luck on how it was originally built. Personally, I'd take a 12 year old boat that was garage kept and meticulously maintained over a 2 year old guide boat that was relentlessly used and abused.

I bought my 08 Bass Cat in Tennessee. Boat looks brand new, wasn't a single scratch on it and had 104 verified hours on it. Older boats that I looked at around here were pretty beat up. I know when I lived in Tennessee my boats stayed in excellent shape with all of the deep lakes. I looked in several states for very clean older boats and I'm happy with my purchase. I didn't buy it cheap but it's a very clean boat.

As stated above, I'd rather have an older, well maintained boat than a new one that wasn't taken care of. I looked at a couple of late model boats that were in terrible shape. I couldn't believe how bad one particular boat had been treated and it wasn't very old.

I have an 17' Xpress with a 90hp Yamaha for sale. Boat has Lowrance graphs and a Power Pole. I am asking $8500 obo...

Really appreciate each and every reply. The garage in my town home will only accommodate a boat no longer than 16", with a swing away trailer tongue. I'm getting up in age and sold my last boat before I should have. At this stage, I don't want to invest in another new boat, but don't want to buy one that will fall apart on me. An old boat can have hidden damage of boards below the floor and in the transem that I worry about. I've seen aluminum boats made in the 1980s on craigslist, with new carpet, that look good, but I just wonder if there is an age that is too old to even look at.

IMO, no such thing as too old, like Okie said its all about how it has been maintained.

Some key things to check are:

Engine compression-it should be even on all cylinders within 5-10 psi or so

Lower unit grease- if it looks milky, it has had water intrusion and will most likely need new bearings, seals, clutches

Steering cables- steering wheel should turn freely. If not cables will need to be replaced and they ain't cheap.

Batteries- just figure on replacing all of them. The seller will tell you (everytime) they have just been replaced

If there is any wood in the boat like the older Trackers, it will most likely need replacing if the boat has spent any time at all outside

Trailer- plan to replace the wheel bearings and probably the tires too. Even if the tires have good tread they will probably be dry rotted and cracked.

That's all I can think of at the moment but there are many other items you can spend hundreds of dollars on if you aren't careful when you buy. Don't know how handy you are but having a reputable marine dealer rebuild a lower unit on a 50-90 hp outboard could easily run a grand or more.

I've seen 20 year old boats that look two and I've seen five year old boats that look 20 becasue the owner stored the boat outside in the sun.

Also on aluminum boats the all welded boats will last longer than riveted. Rivets leak after a while but can be fixed with a little effort. I fish from a 93 Javelin which treats me just right! Before that it was an old deep and wide 14' Jon boat with a little 9.9 tiller steer and a small deck up front and before that a plastic bass buster all of them work to get you off the bank and on the water.

Yeah I don't think any age is necessarily "too old". I think all the other factors that everybody mentioned will be more important. Engine compression and condition are primary for old boat as well as transom and floor. After that, if everything looks good, then an old boat should be fine. I got mine to get started bass fishing for 1000 dollars on craigslist. Engine runs and cranks like a top. Floor is solid. Transom is solid enough. It worked for me and my budget. But as mentioned above, expect new bearings, tires, and batteries right off the bat. The biggest thing will just be looking over the boat in person. Age doesn't mean much. Boat could be 30 years old but sat in a garage for all of them, or it could've been used twice weekly for all 30. You never know until you go look at it.

saw a 16 ft tracker with a 50hp Evenrude (I think) at a dock on Cedar Creek. If I remember correctly it is a 2012 and he is asking 6900 or something like that. Dont have any idea if price is negotiable or not. I could get a number next time I am on that part of the lake if interested.

Thanks again guys. I will keep an eye on local Craigslist, etc., this fall and winter to see if one comes along at the right price, am thinking in range of $4k. I'm in no hurry. I fish with a friend in his boat, so I can be patient. When he doesn't go for a couple of weeks and I'm wanting to go --- that is when I miss having a boat. Another option is to get a Jon boat with a small tiller motor, a trolling motor, install a good seat, something that requires almost no maintenance. I fish on a little 800 acre lake, so speed is not an issue. All of your comments have given me a lot to think about. Tight lines.