I'm soon to be upgrading to fiberglass from aluminum. I've seen lots of good deals on gently used 18' -19' boats. My questions are these......1. Is 150 hp where I have to be? 2. Stratos boats? Opinions? 3. If I'm looking closely at boats from 1999-2005 are there many concerns about age, or should I be focused more on the actual condition?
It'll be my first glass boat.
Let me have it.

As far as horsepower depends on how fast you like to go. I personally have a 150 Merc on my 18 foot Nitro. Biggest you can put on my boat. After 18 years with this boat I would like to go faster! If you just cruise at 50MPH no point in having alot of horsepower. I don't know anything about Stratos. Those years should be nice. Definitely go for condition both boat and motor.Good luck! Let's us know what you get. I have a 97 Nitro 800 it's been a great boat! I think Nitros are a better boat than people realize.For what I paid new it suited my needs fabulously!

Transom and motor are 2 main concerns I'd have on an older boat. Check both extensively

look for something that has poles or talons --updated electronics -- your gonna want these things anyway and they are a 3-5
thousand upgrade to an older boat -- most anything out there is gonna run 50 mph with a 150 hp
55-58 in a triton -bass cat - bullet !

It may be hard to determine, but the actual hours on the motor would be a concern also. Another concern would be the hull, and prop. There are many things to consider, but in the end, if your happy with it thats what matters.

optimax gonna be the dominant engine you find out there (quantity wise) take it to any mercury dealer (or a lot of private boat shops ) they can scan it for run time (hours) --- leaky engine mounted oil tanks are common on optimax -see if its been changed -if not its easy 100.00 bucks or so --they leaked around the cap but the replacement has been redesigned --problem solved with replacement

Take your time and look around, like said before the engine and transom are very important after you look around it will be obvious witch one has been taken care of and witch one hasn't.
Again take your time.

The BassCat Pantera is a 19ft. Boat and is rated up to 200hp. Good luck in your search.

whatever boat and motor combo you get just make sure you get the max horsepower motor for that boat. and good luck on your new ride

I would not go smaller than 19'. I owned 17 1/2' champion for 12 years before buying my 19 1/2' ranger. World of difference in room, fishability and rough water ride between the two.

I have a 2000 model basscat pantera classic w 200 mercury efi. Runs great. I bought based on a recommendation from Tommy at Rockwell marine. I would go around to various dealers and ask them to call you when they have a good boat that someone is trading in.

No one has really mentioned or asked your price range. With a couple exceptions, most all "Cookie Cutter" boats have about the same re-sale value, so do your research and don't pay "Too Much". For the year models you mentioned, unless you plan on paying in cash, financing will be hard to come by. Not to say you can't get it because you can and you will most certainly pay a higher finance rate when you do. The biggest piece of advise you can get is to have whatever you find checked out by a reputable shop! Fiberglass hulls and motors can hide defects even the current owner may or may not be aware of. Newer motors can be checked not only for current hours but it can actually show you hours in certain RPM ranges which can indicate how "hard" a boat has been used. Don't isolate your search within your local area but expand it out. Boats in say "Kansas, West Texas, Colorado etc... will usually have fewer hours on them than boats in areas with more and bigger bodies and of water!

Good Luck!!