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Bass Boat Buying Guide
What Is a Bass Boat?
A bass boat is a fishing boat built for bass fishing or fishing of other panfish. Bass boats are normally used in freshwater, like lakes, rivers or channels and usually come with places for rod holders, casting decks to fish from, and large storage compartments to store your catch of the day and give you peace of mind knowing your head earned fish will be safely stored until your return to dock. Whether you need a fishing boat for some recreational fishing, or consider yourself a pro bass angler, a bass boat can be a great way to fish on your local lakes and rivers.
How Much Does a Bass Boat Weigh?
Bass boats will come in a range of sizes and weights, depending on the model you select. Some things that can impact the weight of your fishing boat include:
- Materials – what is the boat built of? Fiberglass or aluminum?
- Layout – Do you have a casting deck on the bow? What about large storage compartments?
- Engine size – Is it a smaller trolling motor, or a larger diesel engine?
- Anchor size – The size of your anchor will depend on the size of your bass boat.
- Added extras – How many rod holders do you need and how heavy is the equipment you will use in them?
On average, most bass boats will start at around 1,700lbs with some weighing over 4,000lbs before you add any gear or equipment to the load.
How Much Is a Bass Boat?
As with any boat type and style, the costs will vary. A few things to keep in mind that can affect the overall price of your new bass boat:
- Length
- Age
- Condition
- Engine
Some may start at as little as $30,000 with others costing upwards of $250,000.
Why Are Bass Boats Sparkly?
Most bass boats are sparkly simply due to design and hopefully catching the eye of potential boat buyers with a shiny coat of paint on the boat hull. While other bass anglers in the community seem to think fish will be more attracted to a sparkly boat, although this is hard to prove! The added sparkle can also be a great way to hide nicks and scratches which are common on fishing boats due to the wear and tear while fishing.
Can You Take a Bass Boat in Salt Water?
While you technically can take a bass boat in salt water, it’s generally agreed that this is a bad idea. Bass boats are usually built with components better suited to freshwater, with salt water causing an increased rate of erosion on your beautiful, sparkly boat. From salt getting into the rod holders, eating away at carpet on the casting decks, causing damage to your trolling motor, or even getting into your storage compartments and causing them to rot from the inside out, it’s usually a good idea to keep your boat in freshwater for peace of mind.
Can You Take a Bass Boat in the Ocean?
If we know that salt water can wreak havoc on your bass boat, you may also want to avoid heading out into the ocean with it. Bass boats by nature are smaller boats, so they may not be able to weather the waves and conditions like a bigger boat. However, they are also shallow and don’t have a lot of protection from the elements. For peace of mind, stick to freshwater rivers, lakes and waterways, set your rod holder up and enjoy the best fishing in the area.
How Much is Bass Boat Insurance?
Similar to other boat insurance rates, your coverage will usually cost around 1.5% of the purchase price of the boat. So, if you purchased a bass boat for $50,000, your insurance would cost around $750 annually.
What is the Best Bass Boat?
When it comes to selecting your next bass boat, there are a number of reputable brands available for the bass anglers out there:
- Crestliner
- Lowe
- Lund
- Nitro
- Ranger
- Tracker
How Fast Do Bass Boats Go?
The speed at which a bass boat can go will depend on a few things. How big is the boat, how heavy and weighted down is it, and what engine are you using? If it’s a large motor output, you can achieve around 40 – 70 miles an hour, while smaller trolling motors will give you less power, but will be ideal for fishing in small rivers and channels so you can cruise gently from one fishing spot to the next.
