One of the Good Days

[jdmidwest]

I think RPS was referencing the ongoing maint. required to keep a boat in good shape.  Boats take alot of time and tender loving care.  They are never a money making investment. Break Out Another Thousand is a good point.  You are always a rock, blowout, stump, or just a little distraction away from loosing a grand on repair.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I’m gonna break out the prowler again this spring when the river floods.   I really like fishing out of it.  It’s. Pleasant.  

[fishinwrench]

28 minutes ago, jdmidwest said:

I think RPS was referencing the ongoing maint. required to keep a boat in good shape.  Boats take alot of time and tender loving care.  They are never a money making investment. Break Out Another Thousand is a good point.  You are always a rock, blowout, stump, or just a little distraction away from loosing a grand on repair.

People always buy way more boat than they need.   If they didn't then the expense to own it wouldn't even be a thing.    

Seems that the majority believe that bass fishing can only be done from a 20k+ boat with 10k worth of electronics on it.   

The crappie and catfish guys are even starting to live that way.

Spoonbill snaggers are lined up to spend big coin to install FFS and high dollar trolling motors this year.

 

[jdmidwest]

I started out fishing out of a 14' Aluminum Jon with a 9hp tiller back in the day with my Uncle.  I sold my 14' Jon with a 9.5hp tiller last year to another new and upcoming fisher.  I don't own a boat that costs more than 8k and still have alot of fishing in them.

That old boat of my Uncles would barely get us out of sight of a boat ramp before it choked.  Mine tend to be more reliable.

[Seth]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

People always buy way more boat than they need.   If they didn't then the expense to own it wouldn't even be a thing.    

Seems that the majority believe that bass fishing can only be done from a 20k+ boat with 10k worth of electronics on it.   

The crappie and catfish guys are even starting to live that way.

Spoonbill snaggers are lined up to spend big coin to install FFS and high dollar trolling motors this year.

 

You got it. If I didn't fish hard year round, I definitely wouldn't have the boat that I have now. It's not a cheap setup (almost 40k new these days) but it's far from the most expensive and it took me nearly a decade and a couple of good boat deals to get in to it. I just shake my head when I see people going out and buying the latest and greatest toy without knowing for sure if they are going to actually get their use out of it.

[rps]

You guys have turned this into a great thread.

I am 73 now, and do not have the stamina I once had. While there are three lakes within 45 minutes of here, none are really good fishing lakes. Tablerock spoiled me. Between the drive, slip rental, poor fishing and boat upkeep, I was beginning not to enjoy going to the lake. For the first time since I was 18, I have neither boat nor outboard. I cashed out. That money is going into a separate account to be used only for guides and travel to good lakes.

[rps]

6 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

That took a while didn’t it, @rps?

Yes. I had a number of tire kickers, but no one was willing to pay what it was worth. I attribute that to two things.

1. A very large misinformed percentage of boat owners think anything other than a Mercury or Yamaha is no good.

2. My boat was only 16'8". Therefore it was too small. QB has fished with me in that boat. Plenty of room for two. Other than guides, crappie fishermen, and the sainted man with kids, who fishes with more than two in the boat?

In any event, I held out until now. Retired Army guy from Manhattan Kansas wanted his first real boat and evidently researched a bunch. When he got here he looked at and touched everything. Then we went out on the lake in 25 mph gusts for a boat ride. I think that is what sold him. My Lund might have been too small for most, but it is a safe boat in ugly waters.

Putting the boat on the trailer was a hoot. The wind was blowing across the trailer and I had to do an into the wind approach and time the turn and thrust to even get it between the guideons. Nailed it first time (dumb luck) and then pretended it was nothing.

[fshndoug]

I bought my first boat when I was 19. 14 Fisher Marine with a 9.9 Evinrude on it .I have a small 13 Boston Whaler that is 41 years old in March. Use my Gambler on big lakes and my drift boat on rivers and the two  2 man boats for small ponds and lakes. I want to be buried in one of my boats after I turn 100

[snagged in outlet 3]

10 hours ago, Seth said:

You got it. If I didn't fish hard year round, I definitely wouldn't have the boat that I have now. It's not a cheap setup (almost 40k new these days) but it's far from the most expensive and it took me nearly a decade and a couple of good boat deals to get in to it. I just shake my head when I see people going out and buying the latest and greatest toy without knowing for sure if they are going to actually get their use out of it.

That’s why I bought my cheap little blazer.  I knew I could easily afford it, it’s perfect for what I like to do and it’s small and light enough to handle it by myself.   But I sure looked at those Legends at Cowtown though.   Drooled a little too😂

[Seth]

1 minute ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

That’s why I bought my cheap little blazer.  I knew I could easily afford it, it’s perfect for what I like to do and it’s small and light enough to handle it by myself.   But I sure looked at those Legends at Cowtown though.   Drooled a little too😂

I love my Legend but I find myself wanting a little beater flat bottom more and more for things like the Meramec and gigging. Boats are just a tool and one size doesn't fit all (although I will say that my current rig does a lot things fairly well).