I am looking into buying my first boat.   I am looking at a couple of different options.  I am not a small man and I have an issue with my balance.   Bass boats do not interest me.  I am interested in a Pontoon or Center Console.   I live in the middle/upper part of Texas and I live exactly 4 minutes from the boat ramp here.   No real plans on ocean/salt water type stuff.  

#1   Bass Buggy 20DLX.   Seems well equipped and optioned with a 75 or 90.  I think the one I was looking at has a 90 on it.  It is probably slow but thats ok.   I have rented similar sized ones before and they did what I was looking for them to do.   Seems like plenty of room for the family if we wanted to do boating things like just piddle around.  

#2.  Express H20B Center console.  I think it has a 150hp on it and its probably fast.  It is an all aluminum boat with something that seems like bedliner on the top side.  Less room but more fishing friendly.  

Thoughts for a newb?

If it floats, flies or fu(&s... rent it.

At least that's what I have always been told.

Ended up getting married and buying an airplane.

Now wife wants me to sell airplane and buy a boat.

Interested to hear your decision.

Are you buying new?

Hulltruth is the forum you seek.

Ive been happy with pontoons. Cheap to run stable and hold value pretty well.

I'd just make sure it's tritoon ride is significantly better

What do you want to do with this boat?

Bust
Out
Another
Thousand...


Pop's got a small pontoon, we like it. eats money as much as trying to supply one self with ammo, whilst living at a gun range, but we're content with it. Kinda wish he'd got a bigger one cause between my brother and I we fill that lil 16' thing with kids easy...

96 boat with a 77 2-stroke 85hp. Right after we got it the throttle broke some small piece of plastic and it was a nightmare to fix. Cruises at 17mph just fine...

Well yeah, a 77 vintage motor is going to be a bit unreliable. I bought my current pontoon 11 years ago, it came with a 115 Suzuki. I think my annual maintenance over that time has averaged about $125 per year. Mostly just oil changes every few years and replace lower unit lube.
It's been rock solid reliable.

Fishing mostly and dicking around.   Something different because I am getting burnt out on shooting again.    

Yes,   I thought about something used but my FIL said it can be a real shit show if you don't know what to look for.

The FIL is correct especially with an older boat. IMO, a pontoon boat is the best bang for the buck. Lots of deck space

for many fishermen/women and to sprawl out on when not fishing. Pontoons also hold their value pretty well.

Engine wise, the 4-stroke offerings from Mercury and Yamaha are solid choices. I'm not bashing the other mfg's, I just don't

see the others at our marina.

2-strokes are pretty much gone save for the Opti-Max's and Yamaha's HPDI models, but they are pretty complex not to mention

the horrid compressor noise from the Opti's.

4-stroke EFI is the way to go nowadays. We repowered our rental fleet in 2014 replacing 2-stroke 90's and 50's with the

4-stroke EFI counterparts and what a difference in performance. Lots of low end grunt and very quiet with no smoke.

They are good on fuel too. We have seen a decrease in fuel used by our fleet since re-powering.

Check out G3 boats. Very well built boats and plenty of different styles and options.

I will 2nd a Pontoon an older hull with a newer motor may be the way to start out, the boat itself is  basic and fairly easy to work on.

I put my money down on the H20CC today while driving around.   I looked at both in different models.  I.e. Ranger, Lowe, Bass Tracker, Mako and some others to the point I was just going to say screw it.   I had a chance to do a test ride in the H20 they were checking out and it seems to hopefully fill the need of what I want to do with it.

One of these days I would like to try a center console when I have more money than sense.  My boat is below and I love the hell out of it but I also like the massive decks on bass boats and the fact that you can walk around center consoles.  So expensive to try one of each.

I will take it for a starter chick.       If I don't manage to prop it up on some stumps or kill it in a few years I may shoot for a  double motor setup 40' rig.   My buddy has some fiasco that will kick 90mph easily but I think it has 2-454's with blowers.


Hopefully I will get it on Friday.  I noticed someone putting it on the lake when I drove by tonight on my way home.   I was told they do a pre checkout then another lake checkout when I sign for it.   Supposedly saltwater rated but I don't know.  
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Nice!

Gorgeous! Congrats!

I like CCs, and think you made a good choice.  I also LOVE Rangers like callmestick's boat - either type would serve you well in Texas.  

I don't really know why more people don't use CC's on inland lakes - being able to walk around is a plus for most types of fishing.

Update

I have had the boat on the water twice.   We did a family fishing thing  of mostly just putting around then I took it out alone and played with it.   I was able to get it to 55mph playing with the trim which honestly scared me a little bit because I was standing up.  

Things I have learned:

Dont flip the switch on the winch and leave it switched when putting the boat in the water.  There is about 30' of line on there.  

Don't twist the trolling motor handle while its folded.  Luckily I found the piece that came out and was able to get it back together.  

Currently working through a boater ed online class.   I am learning a lot so far but nothing in it so far about how to catch fish.  

Don't stop too quick.   Water coming over the back isn't fun for whoever is sitting down in the seats.  

It has 3 batteries.  2 are for the 24v trolling motor and 1 is for general whatever.    Turns out that is 3 banks and not 2 banks.  Useful information when buying a battery charger.  

She will take a stump like a champ!    Luckily I wasn't moving fast

She will move in as little as a foot of water.   Seems pretty useful.    

Sunscreen!!!  

Upgrades:

Some sort of shade-   Looking at a T-top which looks cool but may actually be useless.     Bimini top seems more useless though.  

Boat cover-  Not a lot to say there.

New shoes-  This thing has a Rhino liner type coating on the deck.   Its nice and grippy when dry but slick as owl shit when wet.   The first time I had my Solomon 4's on which was my mistake.   2nd time I had regular shoes on.  

2 more seats.   I think there is room in front of the center console area to add 2 more seat pedestals for sitting.  

Cooler tie down.   That thing turns into a rocket on the slick floor.

55 at WOT? What RPM?

I see you're from the break in procedure school of run it like you stole it.

Lol yeah the boat guy dealer person said try to keep it under 4400.   .  Have done that for the most part except when I was just piddling wit h the trim.  I hit 5500 a couple of times.  My FIL was on my ass about learning how to properly trim a boat.  When properly trimmed she will scoot.   It's no 70mph bass boat for sure but it is a scary ride if your standing.  

MPH was pulled off my fish finder thingy's GPS feature.  Not sure on motor RPM as I was too chicken to look much further down than the GPS.

Pro Tip -- When coming down off plane, add a little throttle once you "set down" to "outrun" your wake so it doesn't come over the transom.

Well she officially has that fresh fish smell!   Dropped mine and it bounced all over the floor before I could get it out.

Stretch that arm!
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My helper caught a decent one.  

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You need to step up your game. The Captain always catches the biggest fish of the day!

Funny thing, I work at a marina and haven't been fishing in years.