Currently I have a center console xpress boat that I fish out of all the time. I've alway wanted a bass boat and I am in the market to buy a new one this year.

These might be really really dumb questions... I've never done this before. Any suggestions or feedback is very much welcome.

I've had my eye on a 2017 Skeeter FX21 and the equivalent Triton and Ranger boats. I'm leaning towards Skeeter because where I live in Austin, the boat dealership(south austin marine) is 4 miles from me. There are some issues though. It seems all the new boats have lowrance electronics. Why is this?

I MUCH prefer Hummingbird because of the integration with ipilot and ilink. Also almost every single 2017 boat comes with the Minn Kotta Fortrex trolling motors which don't support or include ipiliot or ilink... Why don't they come with Ultrex? Or at least have it as an option?

I asked the salesman about this and he suggested I sell the Fortrex on craigslist and buy and install the Ultrex myself but spending 70k on a boat and having to do all that after the fact seems silly.

Do any of the major boat manufacturers include Hummingbird as an option? I've browsed all the inventory for the central texas dealerships and I can't find any.

It just feels very weird to me to spend so much money on a boat and have to replace a bunch of the standard options for a large sum of money.

thanks!

[quote=wtf242]Currently I have a central console xpress boat that I fish out of all the time. I've alway wanted a bass boat and I am in the market to buy a new one this year.

These might be really really dumb questions... I've never done this before. Any suggestions or feedback is very much welcome.

I've had my eye on a 2017 Skeeter FX21 and the equivalent Triton and Ranger boats. I'm leaning towards Skeeter because where I live in Austin, the boat dealership(south austin marine) is 4 miles from me. There are some issues though. It seems all the new boats have lowrance electronics. Why is this?

Just buy the boat,motor, trailer without electronics...or have the dealer install the electronics you want....very simple issue to me...
You need to be talking to the owner or sales manager...not a salesman...tell them what you want, and have them price the boat the way you want it...or go to someone that will...for that kind of money, they will bend over backwards to get your business...and fire that salesman while you are at it!

To walk into a dealership ready to spend $70K and be told you can't have what you want is absurd. You need to talk to Kenneth Black. I've been doing the air conditioning and refrigeration work for South Austin Marine for years and know Kenneth well. He's the owner, he loves to take care of customers, and he loves to sell boats.

That said, the reason the salesman wants to sell you those items is probably because that's what they stock. The exception would be if they are locked into a contract with a manufacturer like Sail & Ski is with Mercruiser, but I doubt that. If it comes down to it, buy the TM and the Humminbird on line and have them install them when they rig the boat. You'll save a lot of money(hundreds) that way instead of paying full retail at a dealership.

Sent you a PM.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll do some more shopping around and make sure I get what I want

Even if you dont buy it there (better deal somewhere else?) they're still the dealer that youd deal with on any warranty issues & since theyre that close have your regular service work. Id get quotes from dealers in the D/FW area on a boat rigged the way you want. I'll bet they'll match price. At that kind of money spent I wouldnt settle for ANYTHING less than the way I want it rigged on accessory brands. Period. Good luck.

Simply do not buy from them if they want to sell the boat they will let you put whatever accessories you want on the boat PERIOD!!!