ATV Florida Forum

Hi yall, I need some boat buying advice. Im looking for a 14-16 foot boat. I will use it mainly for fishing with some duck hunting and some other hunting and the occasional riding down the river. Im definitely gonna be getting an all welded jon boat like a G3, Lowe, or Tracker Grizzly or a skiff/flats type boat (not good for duck hunting though). Out of the G3, Lowe and Grizzly, I like the looks of the Lowe the best. Lots os storage with 2 huge decks and a livewell for fishing and its green or camo for hunting and it has a ton of room for me to put a deer or hog if I kill one on the river. Do any of yall have one of these 3 kinds of boats? If so, would you buy another one? Would you get a different one next time? Any other makes to look at? Thanks.

Famous quote all my boating buddies told me when I was boat shopping:

A boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money.

After owning one and a few recreational watercraft, I can say that it is true, but doing your homework can certainly make the bleeding far less initially.

Well, Im  buying one new for one thing, my dad learned the hard way buying one used long time ago. We had a Tracker bass boat a couple years ago and never had a problem. It was extremely well taken care of. Completely detailed and cleaned after every use. If we took it to salt water, we took it to a fresh water dock on thew way home (live 5 mins from a ramp) to run it in the fresh water and clean the trailer good too. I know the maintenance with them. Our Tracker was a very nice boat but the Grizzly (Tracker) jon boats just dont have any storage or anything. Very plain. They lack decks too. I need a deck to fish from. This is the one I really like: http://www.loweboats.com/showroom/welded-jon/roughneck-jon/r1655cc.php

Best advice you will ever get, buy a Yamaha outboard. Clearly the most reliable outboards on the market IMO.

odk, the mercury we had was pretty good and my buddy has a 16 foot skiff with a 25 mercury 4-stroke on it and its unstoppable. we beat the holy hell out of it. i would get a mercury, honda or yamaha. nothing else though. all the boats im looking at come with mercurys though for the most part.

i have a 17 foot lowe with a 70hp johnson,but its a rivted one from 97.it it great shape.
email me if you want it.
mattstetson76@gmail.com

get the ULTIMATE ATV boat an air boat ;D fish hunt and go anywhere

thats npt gonna do me much good in salt water.

I fish salt water flats from St Marks to Tarpon Springs in an airboat and have for 35 years try u will luv it

dude the lowe is a nice boat i like it

The best days of a boat owner is the day you buy it and the day you sell it ....there is alot of fun in the days between good luck and enjoy

I got some advice don't buy one . Thats the best advice you'll get here.

Your welcome to come pump 250 gallons of fuel in my skiff & use it for the weekend.@ 1.1 mile per gallon we should be able to fish hard,but bring some extra cash just in case ??? Those yammy 250's get real thirsty pushing around that 32' Custom CC ;D

I'll buy the beer,ice & two stroke oil. Than after you catch that one monster fish that equates to about $40 per filleted pound you will realize I was right & you will haul ash before I ask you to help wash it & kick in for that trim motor($475) that just happened to go bad on your trip ;)

B break
O out
A another
T thousand

 >:D :'( :N

i am not buying any big boat. i want a small flats boat or jon boat with a 25 max. i can fill up a 6 gal tank and fish all day. i have no desire to go offshore. unless its a few hundred yards off the beach. we had a boat for 2 years until my lil bro was born and we never had any problems. it was a bass boat though. im not getting a bass boat. it doesnt float shallow enough. and i dont care for airboats. im actually looking at a 2004 Ranger flats boat now. i know i said i wanted a new one but i really like this one. the guy traded it in on a bigger center console ranger. it has a 25hp yami on it. built in trim tabs, power pole, remote control riptide, its basically setup exactly how i want one. i like the tiller motors better cause of the extra room. the whole boat is open.