I am finally ready to buy my first boat. I am looking for any advice when buying used and also any leads on a boat in my price range.

I am looking for a 20 - 22 ft . Price limit is 27k

Thanks for any help I really appreciate it

Come to Fun n Sun boats Saturday, they are having seminars and one will be what to look for in buying a used boat.

Best advice and recommendation I would give is try your best to buy a boat with a 4 stroke on it. I'm running a 150 SHO and is without a doubt the best motor I've ever had. Low maintenance, quick starting, real thrifty on fuel and really quiet.

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they will answer any questions you have.

Bump

i may have something that's in your price range.

Look on Boattrader.com you will be able to see what boats of different brands are selling for. Good Luck their are a few boats of different brands to chose from in your range. I believe their was a 210 Champion on Bass Boat Central that is a 2008 for 27,000 for example.

Can get a great boat for that.

Keep your eyes open on here. I got a good deal. Your price range should get you a nice boat. Don't settle and keep looking. I was going to buy new but a used boat popped up with the electronics I wanted for almost half of what I would have paid. Different motor and colors than I wanted but saving over $20k it was easy to accept and the seller couldn't have been a nicer guy. As a thank you I gave him a really nice bark river skinning knife new in box.

Boats will be bargained price between now and spring.

Good luck

Buy something with some warranty on it with that amount of cash!

KEEP LOOKING ON THE TFF and look often and tell your friends to watch for you as well on here. Don't get in a hurry, unless u find one like I did.. A buddy found my boat for me on here and in a matter of a few hours it was sold, to me, and seller showed me over 50 messages of people wanting to come get it. A custom ordered 1996 Champion 202 dcx elite sits in my yard. Original owner, like new condition.

Look at as many different ones you can and see what layout you like best. For the most part they will have either Lowrance or Humminbird electronics and either a Motor guide or Minn Kota trolling motor. Again, choose what you like best.

Stick with the better known brands.

Bass Cat
Champion
Skeeter
Ranger
Legend
Phoenix

Take your time.

look for a boat priced about 22-25k, you will want to change some things when you find one and don't wanna max out the card.

accessories like new gps/finder, power poles, jack plate and whatever else you might end up wanting/needing can quickly get to be over 5,000.00.

go take the fun n sun seminar then find a mobile mechanic (boat specific) that will do a check for ya for a reasonable cost.

some of the key elements to check are: do all guages/electronics/trolling motor etc. work? any major work done on engine? if not a composite boat (which about all in your range will be) check the transom for soundness/seal at bolts etc.
your mechanic should do a compression check on the engine, lower unit oil check for abnormal shavings etc.


boats are a constant learning process, I have been around them for more than 50 yrs and still am learning.

None of these above