He makes his own bad luck...I've seen him punch his windshield, kick the chit out of his console and all other kinds of childish junk. I wouldn't buy a bag of plastic worms from that guy.

I would buy someone else's in a heartbeat though. Get it checked out, warranty and save up to 25,000...

Who wouldn't?

Thats funny as I had ZERO issue getting anything covered by the boat or engine warranty. The guys that I know that bought pro's/guide boats with warranty have had no issue either.

There have been arrangements where some of these boats are returned to the factory where the wraps are removed and seats and carpet are refurbished for the new buyer. My concern would be the overall condition of the engine. Starting an engine that has been sitting in cold water and going to WOT in a matter of seconds without allowing the cylinder heads and cylinder sleeves to come up to normal operating temperatures can take its toll on any engine. Over the years I have watched some guides do the same thing to their engines after cold water start-ups and they usually seemed to be the ones with engine problems such as blown power heads. All this said, the savings of buying a used Pro or Guide boat may well be worth it and most new owners could probably take care of their new investment and make it last long enough to for these savings to pay off.

I'm surprised you needed warranty work.....since the boars are sooooooo we'll taken care of!

I bought my boat off of ABA pro angler Rodney Thompson and if you know who he is I'd recommend giving him a call. I hand selected boat colors and boat features. It was a 21i class skeeter valued at over 81k. I bought it for 53k. ONLY 11 hours on the boat. Give him a call 254-690-3474.

Lost an ECU on the Yamaha over 2 years and 300hrs that I put on the motor. Not a cheap part and i was fixed up in a couple of days at zero cost to me. Can't really blame the pro for that. On the boat itself I had a latch break and it was replaced just as fast. I also had to get my bow roller mount replaced which could have been put back on me for power loading but it took one phone call and had the entire segment replaced. Boat was flawless otherwise. I fish enough that I will take a small hiccup like that per year. None of that could be traced back to the pro. Just wear and tear from normal use. Never got a minute's issue out of it from the boat, engine, or trailer manufacturer even though it had been a pro's boat.
I can only rely on my own personal experience of buying a boat like that and it was nothing but good.

Mark,

Just busting your balls.

Choosing between a new or a pro boat will never be an issue for me......not enough money in education.

No worries man. I have thick skin and I rarely take anything personal or serious on here. Its an individual decision no doubt. I got lucky and had a great opportunity land in my lap when I did it. Doubt that happens again.
Education field is not as easy as some think. I respect teachers in a big way and those that work in that field also that are not teachers. I do not have the patience or the ability to handle what ya'll deal with.

Its gonna be like buying from anyone else. You will be able to tell if the boat was taken care of or not. It wouldn't hurt to have the motor checked if your worried about. Most of them are still gonna have enough warranty to take care of any issues that come up. Some of these boats are great deals. A couple years ago we went on a guide trip with Cody Malone, it was his last trip in that boat before the new owner picked it up. You would have thought that boat rolled off the showroom that day.

Depends on the pro. I have been with some pros who couldnt give me their boat. I would by Mark Rose or Jim Tutts in a second. They treat their boat better than I treat my own.

Some are better at taking care of their things then others. I'm on number 3 boat that was owned by the same pro. He's a great friend of mine and takes great care of his boats. He tightens nuts and bolts before every tournament. Tell me how many weekend guys tighten their transom bolts??? 1 in 10 maybe. He also took a boat in during mid season and spent 1500$ at a glass shop to repair a scratch that only cut in to the gel coat. He didn't want that scratch to get worse years down the road, even knowing he would only have it a few more months. Most guys would never do that. These pros rely on their boats to make them money, why would they let something go un-maintained only to quit on them duribg a tournament?? Some yes, but there are weekenders who do the same if not worse. Who cares if the engine has 200 hours on it. I still get a 5 year warranty with it??? These motors were made to run wide open. Much like a weed eater, who runs it half throttle??? To make a broad statement throwing every pro under the bus just shows how clueless some of you are. I would rather own a boat that was properly maintained and cared for by an experienced person over one that was neglected and operated incorrectly by a weekender. They run the best and rig them out the best. With new boats going for 60k rigged out with all the bells and whistles, I'll gladly buy a 9 month old boat for significantly less money.... Actually I should say the opposite so I don't have people competing with me buying these rigs. Lol

This really is a dog chasing its tail.

Doesn't matter if it's a pro boat, wannabe 15%er, or the Popes boat... Do your homework and buy what fits your need. There are good and bad deals everywhere.

I have bought pro boats with zero issues and would do it again (with a little homework).

Doggone 'pro' Papa just will not let go of that new boat!
Maybe this time next year, well if the 'boss' decides he can 'upgrade' again!
Heck, I'll bet that rascal is out there fishing right now!!

Nice Phoenix shipmate!!!
God Bless