I am younger and just wanting a cheap bass boat to take around to different lakes. I was wondering if it was best to start of with a 10 ft john boat with a trolling motor or a 15 to 18 ft bass boat with high horsepower engine that can be a fix me up kind of boat. I am just wanting something to take to lakes that will stay close to the banks but is steady enough to take the waves. Also how many horses do I need for the engine. Thank You

If it were me I would stay with a 16' bass boat with a 50 or 75hp. You should be able to pick an older one up cheap. Don't get a Jon boat.

is there a price range?

stephen, i just got my new to me bass boat last year. its an 18 footer with a 150HP. it is fast enough, and fishes great for my needs. i would suggest a bass boat at least 16', at least a 70HP motor, at least a 50 pound thrust trolling motor, if you're going to be doing any kind of serious fishing (say, once a week) and you want to stay dry in rougher water.

whatever you buy, though, you had better test drive it at the lake before handing over any cash.

Don't buy a jon boat. If you have no other choice, buy an aluminum deep V.

Get a Bass boat, 16 footer with a 90hp or better, dont waste your money on something that you wont be happy with

Buy what your budget allows you to get. Don't think you need a expensive and big boat to get started on fishing. My first boat was a Basscat with a 200 horse... I spent more time running in that thing than I did fishing. I had to downgrade to a '14 jon with a 15 hp nissan for a couple of years and I really started to catch fish...

But yes, if you can afford it, a 16-17 foot boat with a 50-90 hp motor would be a really nice starter rig and you'd be able to fish a lot of water with that.

Yeah get a bass boat not a jon boat. Like everyone stated 16 to 17ft with a 90 to 115 motor. Then if you get addicted to fishing like most of the ppl on this forum you can always up grade.

My starter boat was a 15'3" Javelin with a 50 hp on it. Nothing wrong with that size boat, once you learn to drive it navigating medium waves is no problem, you should just expect to get a little wet from time to time. The boat fished GREAT and was so easy to maneuver around docks and things. It doesnt matter if you go aluminum or fiberglass, but do yourself a favor and get a boat with at least a 50 hp motor on it so you can run around to where the fish are instead of being confined to only where your trolling motor can take you.

I've had both (recently) and I say get the 16 foot bass boat with a 90 hp motor. It will last you a lot longer before needing to upgrade. You'll also find yourself wanting to cover more water than you think you do now, and you'll be glad you have a boat that is capable of safely doing it even on semi-windy days. More storage, better ride, handle more passengers, more distance, more stable, etc . . . . . . you get the idea.

bass boat no doubt, BUT remember if you get a 'fix me up' make sure it's cosmetic, not the engine..

My first is a 18'6 Champoin bass boat with a 150 hp, nit new but was well worth the money and it is a very dry boat, is a little older but I did not want to have to borrow money and I did not. It does everything I want it to do

you need to determine what you plan to use the boat for. (what kind of fishing) I've never herd anyone wish they had a smaller motor. I recommend 17-18ft no less than 90hp. Also think about resale not just cost.

I run a Carolina Skiff center console and it is a great all around boat. It is a 1985 and not real pretty, 17ft with a 115 on it. Not the fastest or best looking but it gets the job done and best part, paid cash!

Stephen, it would be good to know what part of Texas you live in... if you live in East Texas and are planning on fishing smaller, shallow lakes, a jon boat might be just the thing... but, if you live near large reserviors and plan to fish them, then a jon boat might be a bit undersized.

I have bought 4 boats in my life...

The first was a 10' jon boat when I fished in Louisiana where I grew up... it was fine for the bayous and small lakes there... I paid a $100 for it and used a paddle. I caught a lot of fish out of that boat and when I met my wife, she paddled that boat for me when I went fishing. Then she caught her first bass out of it... a 6lber, after that, I had to do my own paddling.

The second boat was a new 17' with a 75 on it when I lived in Austin and fished Lake Travis...

The 3rd was a used 18' foot boat with a 150 on it... it worked out well for fishing Lake Whitney...

The 4th was a new 20' with a 200 on it....

I will tell you this, I knew the guy that owned the used boat so I thought knew what kind of shape it was in.. but it sill required some repairs that cost almost half what I paid for the boat.

The two new boats I bought were "demo" or show models... they came fully equiped but were deeply discounted... bought in the winter when prices were low.... and within my pre-established budget... I knew what I could spend.

So, maybe you should figure out what kind of water you are going to fish in... then know your budget...(paying cash is good) and try to buy a boat in the winter when prices are down... now until December is a great time to buy... its the end of the season...

Good luck!