Posted: 7/12/2026 4:23:59 PM EDT
I want to buy a boat, most likely used and don't really know what to look for. Please help me not make a huge mistake.  I've been looking for a small, shallow drafting, fishing boat to replace my kayak on the days I want to cover more ground or take aomeone with me. I'm toying around with a couple ideas and im not sure how to go. My budget is $25k tops and that needs to include a trailer but I'd honestly rather keep it under $12k. One thought is to buy a used 14-16' jon boat and trailer, a new 25-40 hp outboard, and build a casting deck on the front. I think this is by far the most economical and least risky option and I'd have plenty left for trolling motor, batteries, fish finder, etc. One negative to this route is that other boats would handle rougher water better and be more comfortable and it would be tight for more than 2 people. Another thought is to buy an older Boston Whaler 13' Supersport but most of what is available locally are pre 1980's boats that appear to need gelcoaat/fiberglass repairs and they are priced high because of the Whaler reputation. I'm not against this idea but I've not done much fiberglass repair and have never done gelcoat so that might be a fairly large expense having someone do that for me. I'm not opposed to learning how to do it myself but I assume it would take some specialized equipment and a bit of a learning curve. There is a a 1 year old example with 17 hours that seems outfitted well and priced at $22k but that seems like a lot to spend on such a small boat. Building a similar boat on the Whaler website comes up to just under $28k so I think their asking price is reasonable enough. Still, that's pushing my budget and I'd prefer to be well under that if possible. Another possibility is a small (15-17') center console Key West, McKee Craft, etc. but Im mostly finding older boats that look like they need work in the $7-12k range. I think these are where my biggest risk of making a mistake will be. Ideally, I'd love to have a 15-17' Mitzi Skiff, Bulls Bay, Hewes but those basically non existent in my area and pushing my budget to the max even on the used market. Does anyone have any suggestions, advice, tips, resources, etc? Any input will be appreciated. |
| I have looked at those and here's what I've noticed, at least locally. For how spartan they are, they are consistently priced higher than other boats. Maybe there is a reason for that but honestly, the have always seemed to be no more comfortable than a jon boat. Don't get me wrong, their larger boats are very nice and worth every penny IMO, but the smaller ones seem no more than a fiberglass jon boat. What am I missing? |
|
I had a 20’ Carolina skiff. Great fishing boat, miserable when the water got rough. Got rid of it and got a 19’ CC. Good all around boat. Also had a 12’ Jon. Can’t recommend that. Now I’m down to yaks lol. What’s that canoe like thing made for two with seats. Geenoe? |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
| I know several serious fishermen with $75k bass boats that still keep a Jon boat with a reliable 9.9 behind the garage. Nice thing about a heavy duty Jon boat is that you can customize it to suit your needs. Bow fishing for carp has become a thing around here. I see some really ingenious lay outs for a simple boat. |
|
Originally Posted By DVCER: I had a 20’ Carolina skiff. Great fishing boat, miserable when the water got rough. Got rid of it and got a 19’ CC. Good all around boat. Also had a 12’ Jon. Can’t recommend that. Now I’m down to yaks lol. What’s that canoe like thing made for two with seats. Geenoe? Yep, Gheenoe. I considered those but it's a solo thing. I've also heard they have structural issues if they are overloaded. The possibility of rough water is the biggest con against buying a jon boat. If I knew more about boats I'd feel more confident buying used. Although I've researched what to look out for, I'm still concerned that I'll miss something on a larger (or more expensive) boat and end up regretting it. I've found a 13' Boston Whaler on Facebook Marketplace that I'm going to watch and see if it continues to sit and I may go look at it and make an offer. Currently it's about $1500 over my sweet spot. |
|
Originally Posted By Buckeye33: I know several serious fishermen with $75k bass boats that still keep a Jon boat with a reliable 9.9 behind the garage. Nice thing about a heavy duty Jon boat is that you can customize it to suit your needs. Bow fishing for carp has become a thing around here. I see some really ingenious lay outs for a simple boat. A friend of mine had one with a 25hp that he put a floor and casting deck in. We had more fun on that than we ever had on his larger boats. That's the biggest reason I am considering one, otherwise I wouldn't due to the rough water aspect. |
|
An 18' Blue Wave center console. 180SC is your basic no frills bay boat. They are light, well built, last forever, can be found everywhere, and the ones I see for sale mostly come rigged with a Yamaha and T-top. They also don't have the reputation cost the Whaler has. Your Jon boat idea is going to run up against capacity. Jons just don't have that much and by the time you hang a casting deck, batteries, trolling motor, outboard, etc. You don't have much reserve weight for people. They are also a very wet and uncomfortable ride in even the smallest chop. |
|
Originally Posted By John-in-austin: An 18' Blue Wave center console. 180SC is your basic no frills bay boat. They are light, well built, last forever, can be found everywhere, and the ones I see for sale mostly come rigged with a Yamaha and T-top. They also don't have the reputation cost the Whaler has. Your Jon boat idea is going to run up against capacity. Jons just don't have that much and by the time you hang a casting deck, batteries, trolling motor, outboard, etc. You don't have much reserve weight for people. They are also a very wet and uncomfortable ride in even the smallest chop. I found a few of those reasonably priced but not in my area. I'll add them to search. I agree 100% with the negatives of the jon boat which is why I'd rather not go that route unless I had to. So far I'm thinking of checking out a 1970ish Whaler 13 SS with a 2016 motor for around $7k that appears to have been restored at some point, a 2000 15' Key West that appears to be well cared for at $9k. But I'm going to give both of those a couple weeks to see if the price comes down and if anything more comes up in the meantime. |
Joined:
Jan 2023
Posts:
3473
EE: 0% (0)
OK, USA
|
My pop had a olive drab 14' jon boat with a monkey ward's 3hp sea king from the 50's. Since my parents house sits 50 yards or less from the lakes shoreline we used to just pull it up on shore & tie to a tree, only time it was on trailer was few months of winter. The rest of year we ran jug, trotlines & fished crappie in old trees standing in cove otherside of lake. Little fucker wasn't fast wide open, but it always started by third pull and even with somebody in bow seat it raised up pretty high, Most times we stayed in the coves and within few hundred yards of shore, it was jumpy crossing open water to otherside of lake. He still used it pretty regular for few years after I bought a 75' 16' tri-sonic tri-hull 140hp i/o mercruiser. I liked my boat cause it had cushioned seats, lights, windshield, radio, ice chests & do 40 wide open, after running lines, it was water skiing time hahahaha. |
|
Originally Posted By OverScoped: Carolina Skiff. The end. And get beat to death. Get bigger than you need. 16’ gets awful small with two people. Question. Type of fishing? Type of water? Depth of water? Maximum distance from boat landing? |
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
|
Originally Posted By Oldgold: And get beat to death. Get bigger than you need. 16’ gets awful small with two people. Question. Type of fishing? Type of water? Depth of water? Maximum distance from boat landing? 70% Freshwater lakes within 1 mile of a boat ramp. Depth isn't an issue. 30'+ 25% saltwater inshore fishing within 8 miles of the boat ramp. Depth is an issue here, maybe 1'-2' deep in some places at low tide. |
| I tore up the black water rivers of SC in a 14’ jonboat with a 15hp motor on the back. |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.