I'm one of the lucky guys who've always had a friend\family member with a boat I could use, but I recently decided to bite the bullet and through a strange twist of events, ended up buying a '75 King Cobra with a 115 Evinrude from one of Alton K's friends for $500.00 that is just like the one I was looking at here in Abilene.
As I stated in an earlier post, fish don't know squat about fishing gear! They don't look at the name on your boat, rod, reel, truck, etc. and they damm sure don't look at price tags.
My original post was started by the repeated experience of running into guys while shopping who immediately proclaimed their superiority over me by claiming that the stuff I was looking at was "junk".
Now these were so-called "fellow fisherman" who never asked a single question (not that it was any of their dammed business anyway) about the intended usage of said equipment.
IMO, this whole "keeping up with the Jones'es" mentality is doing nothing more than driving people away from fishing.
I also feel that the whole tournament gig is unwise but I'm going to keep my mouth shut on that one...

There is much wisdom to be learned in these posts.. I am retired and live on Toledo Bend Lake and I am an outdoor writer. I spend lots of time with anglers that have really expensive rigs .. and I also fish with some that have aluminum boats. Don't ever measure a persons fishing skill and abilities by the price of his toys. Set your budget and stay within it. Keep in mind that you don't always have to catch a big bunch of fish to have a very enjoyable fishing trip. Sure its nice to get that big bag but memories of a fishing trip are made from many other things .. especially when you have a family. JB

http://www.tb-guide.com/modules/gallery2...7e9d20c378852ff

Several years ago I had to make a choice between hunting, fishing, and keeping a wife as I couldn't afford all three. I got rid of the wife and for awhile my problems were solved.Things got tough and later I had to decide between hunting and fishing as once again I couldn't afford to do both.I gave up fishing for two years and that didn't make me happy as I only hunted 3 months of the year and I could fish 12 months of the year so last year I gave up hunting and now all I have to look forward to is fishing and this year my lake got the Golden Algae and all the fish are dead. Life ain't fair..

One of the things I have learned, is boats do not get cheaper.

I would go even further and not buy a boat just a couple of years old, go even older. I have a pretty old boat that has been taken care of and looks like new. because I saved so much on the boat i have been able to splurge on electronics, got my hds 7 a few months ago and just ordered my hds 8. i find that people selling boats only a few years old think they are still worth what they paid for them. blows my mind. they are like cars, the depreciate!

My husband tells me all the time that if we had the money that we have spent on fishing we would not have to work... we both love to fish. We recently bought a (new to us) boat it had very low hours and looks new. As far as boats go, I agree new boats are outrageous if keep looking and you can find decent deals. We try to find the best price on everything we buy, I think the hardest thing is with fuel getting so high.

Enjoy your time fishing, it is priceless!

Problem with most used boats a couple of years old is that most people are upside down in their payments and have financed their boat for 15 years and didn't put alot down and they can't sell their boat anywhere close to what the payoff amount is.

exactly, and it is that kind thinking that has got our economy in trouble. overpay for things they don't really need and then realize they can't afford it. thats why i went with a much older boat. paid cash, got an old truck to pull it with, paid cash, so gas is my most expensive part and if gas is all you pay then it ain't so bad. i always buy on sale or used and look for deals. really helps. ill be the first to admit sometimes i do look at all those guys with 70k rigs and wish i had one but it really doesn't matter.

You are right, it took us a few months of looking to find the boat we wanted. One of the first questions we asked was if they owned the boat out right.
I have also seen if someone sells the boat for less than what they owe that person can get another type of loan on the portion of money they still owe. Also some banks, I have heard will eat some the money owed to get the note paid.

ITS CALLED PLASTIC! THAT IS WHAT GOT THIS COUNTRY THIS WAY IN THE FIRST PLACE! KIND OF FUNNY THAT WHEN THE BANKS GO BROKE & THEN ALL THE CITIES & SCHOOL DISTRICTS GO BROKE. TOO MUCH PLASTIC!!!

I want a Talon so bad I can taste it, but ain't going into debt to get it. Hoping by the time I can get one the "new" will have worn off and they'll have the bugs out and the price right.

Not everyone lives on plastic or has everything financed. Don't paint with too broad a brush. Lots of grown folks on this forum that have the priorities in order and still have nice things.

With you all the way!!!! some people will all ways complain about the prices,,just do not buy this stuff but if you see some one with it on there boat do not asoom its not paid for,, I work two jobs and still do not have all the toys I want

I love my little 10 ft Bass Buster.