If you were to look for a used boat at what year would be your cutoff? When do you feel a boat over a certain year old is to old? 5 years, 10 years, 15 years? When do you start worrying about things becoming high maintenance, the little stuff that sometimes gets overlooked. Like screws, bolts, wireing, connectors, pumps, etc. general and overall integrity of the boats makeup and structure? I realize that it all depends on how a boat is taken care of and treated but do you set an age limit when purchasing a used boat or any boat in your price range is fair game?

As you stated depends on about 500 variables. Age, make, usage, storage, overall care, etc.....

When you're looking you just have to pay attention to the details you just mentioned until you find a good one. Also make sure parts for the motor are still available if you start looking too old.

No age limit here, just look at condition and always try to buy from someone in know. All boats are high maintenance, even new ones. Good luck and happy hunting, look at enough and you will find her.

My boat is a 96 and looks good, but I went thru alot of not so nice looking ones to find it.

I don't believe there is no magic age. I would use 10 yrs as a benchmark . You can tell a lot about a boat by just looking around. Is the seller showing the boat at his home, or some other location? Is his property well taken care of, or does he have a goat tied in the front yard ? Things like this will give you clues if you account for them.

Boat are all in the motor. The newer the motor the more easily a shop can inspect it. Try to get a feel for "who" owned it before you. The tournament guys know how to treat them and for the most part are very good. Some guys beat em to death. Some non-tournament guys let them sit too long without taking care of issues like batteries, fuel stabilizer and so on. If you want a number I would say the latter 90's would be my cut-off, but again it pertains more to the motor than the hull. Worst thing you can do is settle when it comes to boats, they will make you pay. In fact they love to.

Mine is a 96 and i looked at some real junkers before i found this one. Stay away from the ones that soom goober has done a bunch of bad modifications to.

As others have said, there's no magic formula.

Most manufacturers switched to all-fiberglass transoms around the late 90s or early 2000s, from what I've heard, so something that age or later would be a plus. I've got a '97 Triton without any wood in it that hasn't spent a single night out of the garage and has been babied all over the place and it's much cleaner than many other 2-3 year old boats that have sat outside their whole lives. Probably no more than 150 hours on the motor and it's never given us a problem. Each boat is a different story.

There was a 1996 Ranger in the classified ads on here a couple months ago that was as clean as any late 90s boats I'd seen.

each case is different,look at the overall condition of the rig,boat ,motor and tralior ,it shouldnt take long to figure how its been run and cared for.if the owner starts making excuses for this or that walk away.my rig is a 1997 492vs ranger that i like as much as the day i bought it new.just put on a new 250 pro xs, ready for another 15 years.its not so much the age it is how the rig has been cared for and maintained.

Im fishing out of my 89 champion 186 dc and will replace the engine and rewire everything before I buy another one...It is that nice of a boat and is kept in the garage...fits me great and is trustworthy!

I fish out of my 92 Champion, great boat. Will need to replace the motor soon as it is a 84 model but runs really strong, so will run it till it drops.

Took my time, looked for over a year and found a '97 Skeeter that was cleaner than many boats that were 8-10 years younger. No regrets with the age, just need to be careful when looking. One thing I noticed, the seller of the boat that I purchased had his household as neat and clean as the boat. Pride of ownership goes a long way.

My boat just hit 20 years old and I love it. I have no desier for a new one ......YET

Same here, I have a 99' basscat that I am in love with. Great deal on an older, clean boat. Only aluminum basscat I have seen so far. LOVE MY BOAT!!!

97 was a good year. I bought my 97 Triton from Joel here on the forum. Very clean boat. It had been well taken care of and I'm trying to continue that for the person who has it after me. The way things are going, I may keep it til I die! I love that boat!