Is there such a thing as a cheap fishing boat? That’s a very good question, and the answer is- with qualifications- Yes, there are cheap fishing boats.
However, there will be very few cheap fishing boats that are also new fishing boats. Let’s be honest- that shine and glitter of a new fishing boat is not cheap, and all the newest gadgets and add-ons to a new fishing boat come with a high price. It’s just not likely for an angler to find a brand new fishing boat of any kind that could be considered cheap. New boats are expensive.
Perhaps the best way for an angler on a budget to locate a cheap fishing boat that is also a good fishing boat is to look at previously owned boats. But this kind of a boat buying deal also has its points of caution. Quite often, buying a used boat from a dealer who knows boats and knows how to put used boats in good shape is the best idea.
Definition of Cheap Fishing Boats
So, let’s just define our term- Cheap Fishing Boat. And that’s the hard part, because a cheap fishing boat for one angler may not be suitable for another angler at all- it’s very individual.
One of the most important elements of any cheap fishing boat is that it can do what a particular angler needs it to do. One angler might need a boat capable of long offshore fishing trips in the open Gulf. Another angler might need a boat that works in the bay and protected inshore water. Another angler may need a boat that is lightweight, easy to power with a small outboard motor and shallow draft for small water fishing. The point is, a cheap fishing boat needs to serve the angler’s needs.
No matter what the final price of a boat- new or used- if it does not serve the angler’s needs, it’s not a cheap boat.
Pros and Cons of Cheap Fishing Boats
In every possible way, every boat being considered for purchase needs to be evaluated and judged based on the boat’s appearance, its background and history of use and abuse, and whether it is functionally sound or requires work to make the boat seaworthy.
In every case, there will be advantages and disadvantages to any boat. Let’s look at some of the points.
Price
Of course, the biggest advantage to buying a cheap fishing boat should be the price. It is possible for a boat buyer to find a good boat at a good price sold by a private individual who needs to sell the boat. And that asking price for most cheap boats sold by individuals is just a starting point. Some bargaining on the price should be expected.
Insurance Costs
One big advantage to buying a cheap fishing boat is that the insurance for such a boat should be considerably less than insuring a new, top of the line fishing boat. A buyer of a used boat should be able to save considerably on insurance coverage compared to buying a new boat- especially a new boat financed through a bank- which might require total insurance coverage which comes at a very high price.
Hidden Problems
The biggest problem with buying a cheap fishing boat from a private individual is that the buyer really has only one way to know if the boat is solid and functional, and that is to inspect the boat with a professional boat repair person. If a “cheap boat” has a lot wrong with it which needs repair, that cheap boat might turn costly in a hurry. If the seller of a “cheap boat” won’t allow a potential buyer to have an on-the-water test run, then something expensive might be wrong with the boat, and that could make the deal much less attractive.
A good way for an angler to locate a cheap fishing boat is to work with a reputable dealer who sees a lot of trade-in boats as part of their daily business. Bucks Island of Southside, Alabama is such a dealer.
We spoke with “Katie the Boat Lady” who is the sales manager at Bucks’ Island, and she tells us that they will help buyers with financing a good cheap boat. She says, “We can finance used boats less than twenty years old, and we use different lenders through our financing services, and we can provide better rates of financing and longer terms than most other sources.”
And another and perhaps even more important advantage of working with a good dealer like Buck’s Island is the fact that they check trade-in used boats before any re-sale is considered. This protects buyers looking for a good used boat at a good price.
Katie tells us, “ Before we even consider a trade-in boat, our technicians go through the boat and check everything. We do compression tests on the motor, we check the prop and lower unit, we go through the electrical system, even the trolling motor. We do a second check of all systems, and then we do an on-the-water test. And then when a customer is interested in a boat, we take the boat and buyer to the water and do another water test run.”
And Katie adds, “ We do offer a used boat warranty as part of the sale.” This is a big benefit for a used boat buyer. A private seller will rarely offer any kind of warranty on a sold boat. If issues are discovered after the transaction, you’re on your own. Repairs of undiagnosed issues can turn a great deal into a great deal of headache.
Important Considerations When Buying a Cheap Fishing Boat
That old saying, “If a deal looks too good to be true, it’s probably not true,” is especially important to keep in mind when an angler is considering buying any boat- new or used.
A cheap used boat needs to be thoroughly examined and preferably run on the water before a potential buyer reaches for the checkbook. A cheap boat can hide lots of problems that a new buyer might have to deal with before the boat is usable.
If lots of motor work, wiring work or repair to damaged hull is involved, a “cheap” boat might get very expensive quickly. And don’t forget to look closely at the boat trailer. Repairing boat trailer problems can run into big money just as quickly as boat repairs.
