What Is The Best Bass Boat For The Money

Msc Canvas Boat Cover

Many boaters prefer this heavy-duty cover for its sleek cut and versatility. The MSC Heavy-Duty 600D boat cover is usable on several other boats, such as the V-hull, a runabout, and a Tri-hull. The versatility allows boat owners of different types to use it to protect their boats.

Not only it has seven different sizes, this model also comes in six different colours that can make any boat look good. Many boaters love the sophisticated beige cover, but we personally love forest green cover. Weve seen a pacific blue before, and it looks pretty damn good too!

As much as the color options are sleek and modern, MSC boat covers are really about the quality and durability. Not to worry, this one got that too. This cover is made from marine-grade polyester that will keep your boat dry and protected come rain or shine.

Each MSC Heavy-Duty 600D boat cover comes with 11 adjustable webbing straps. Since this cover is suitable for mooring or trailering, you will need these straps. These adjustable straps have strong quick-release buckles, so it takes you half the effort to secure them on.

To ensure these straps stay on your cover, the webbing loops are sewn in onto the cover with double stitching. This gives your boat an overall secure and snug fit. Once its on, youre ready to store your boat for the season or take it on the road for trailering.

• Secured with double-stitching webbing loops

• Requires a support pole because of weight

Lowe Boats Skorpion 17

Another budget-friendly option is the Skorpion 17 from Lowe Boats. It is easy to maintain and delivers great value at a relatively cheap price which makes it ideal for beginners.

Its made from high-quality all-welded aluminum materials with 16 oz. marine-grade carpet flooring. Its equipped with a Motorguide X3-45FW trolling motor with a 12 Gallon portable fuel tank. Its also equipped with a Lowrance Hook2 in-dash fish finder.

It features huge bow and stern casting decks as well as two fold-down seats and two pedestal fishing seats.

It has plenty of storage space including a side rod locker that can hold up to 5 8-foot rods, bow and stern tackle storage compartments, under-the-seat storage compartments, and an aerated live well.

Pros Vs Cons

• Its made from all-welded marine-grade materials
• Its equipped with a trolling motor with a portable fuel tank
• It comes with a fish finder
• It has two-fold down seats and two pedestal fishing seats
• It has plenty of storage space
• It comes at an affordable price

The Cons

• The trailer is purchased separately

Bottom Line

The Skorpion 17 is the best choice for you if youre a beginner looking for an affordable bass fishing boat thats reliable and low-maintenance.

Ranking The Best Bass Boat Brands

Bass boats have never been better than they are today. The only downside is that it can be hard for buyers to sift through all of them to find the very best fit for their fishing style.

Thats why I put together a quick list of the bass boat brands that I consider to be the best. From top to bottom, these are the first brands I would consider in todays market.

Obviously, theres quite a bit of controversy when it comes to picking favorites. Dont take any one ranking here as gospel. Everyone has different needs and I really do believe that every brand listed here has something to offer the right fisherman.

Without further ado

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Expensive Bass Boat Reviews

• Fuel Capacity: 33 gallons
• Horsepower Range: 115 to 175

The Bass Cat Sabre FTD offers large performance in a compact package. The base model fits most recreational budgets and the optional Special Package transforms the Sabre into a tournament-ready bass boat.

Equipped with an outboard motor at the stern and a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor at the bow, you will have the power to get around quickly and the maneuverability you need when you are fishing.

The Sabre FTD also features a hull made completely out of fiberglass, tilt hydraulic steering, pump-in and pump-out livewells, and two eight-foot rod boxes at port and starboard locations.

• Fuel Capacity: 52 gallons
• Horsepower Range: 200 to 300

The Bass Cat Cougar FTD offers a little more horsepower for the experienced boater and also boasts design features that were included with the tour angler in mind. One of those features is the large central storage area that allows for easy gear access without shuffling rods around constantly.

It also boasts an upgraded captains console that can now display single or dual graphs to help you map contours and learn more about where you are fishing. You will also have plenty of fuel capacity with the dual 26-gallon fuel tanks onboard this bass boat.

This boat also comes with a bunch of tournament-ready bells and whistles. Some examples include two Helix 7 Chirp GPS units, livewell lights, a Minn Kota 3 bank charger, and two fully insulated ice chests.

PC White River Marine Group

How Should You Clean Your Boat

Cleaning your boat regularly is a good idea to keep it in working order. The carpet is probably the most prone to wear, with frequent contact to dirty feet, fish slime and occasional food and beverage spills. If you need to clean it, use a power washer and go from one end to the other to lift the gunk from the fabric. You might also consider a wet-dry vac. Next, when you clean the live well, make sure to use non-toxic products, as things like bleach can harm the fish you place in there. For consoles, which are often make of plastic and glass, an all-purpose cleaner works great and for viynl boat seats, opt for a vinyl shampoo like Star Brite. Finally, for cleaning the hull, start with a good power wash, making sure to get all the nooks and finish with a heavy duty boat soap.

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What Vehicle Do You Have To Tow Your New Bass Boat

You will also need to consider your vehicles towing capacity before you choose a new bass boat. Simply put, your vehicle will need to be able to handle the weight of pulling your boat and the trailer without putting too much strain on the frame, transmission, and brakes.

When you are considering this, you will have to go a little deeper than the advertised dry weight of each bass boat. That weight does not factor in any fishing accessories or personal gear that you will load into the boat for your outings.

In some cases, manufacturers also will fail to account for the weight of the outboard motor when advertising a boats dry weight. That can add a few hundred pounds to the overall weight, not to mention you will also need to factor in the weight of your boat trailer.

All of these combined weights should never exceed your vehicles maximum towable weight capacity. In fact, we would recommend trying to keep the total weight you are towing below about 80% of what is advertised in your vehicles owners manual or on the door sticker.

Best Aluminum Fishing Boats Top 10 Picks For 2021

by Kyle WUpdated on July 2, 2021.

Boat Safe is a community supported site. We may earn comission from links on this page, but we have confidence in all recommended products.

If youre in the market for a new fishing boat and arent quite sure which one to get, have you considered buying an aluminum vessel? For one thing, theyre cheap certainly cheaper than getting any of the ones made from fiberglass. They are also quite light a feature youll soon appreciate the moment you have to push it off of or on to sandbars.

Theres also the fact that they can take more of a beating than boats with a polyester construction. Not to mention that they are extremely low-maintenance and corrosion-resistant. So, they typically dont have any lifetime limit to them.

Nonetheless, to reap these benefits, you have to ensure you get the best aluminum fishing boat for your angling needs. In this guide, weve reviewed the top 10 picks and put together a comprehensive buyers guide to help you choose the best one.

The Alumacraft Trophy 205 represents the next frontier in heavy-gauge aluminum fishing boats. It is built with the latest livewell technology, comes with spacious storage for all your fishing gear, as well as adjustable ergonomic seating for those long days spent out on the water.

It also has a lockable 8 in. rod compartment and several other fishing accessories guaranteed to give you a memorable experience while youre out fishing.

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Are Bass Boats More Expensive Than Similar Boat Types

Bass boats must be technologically equipped if they want to stand out in the competitive world of bass fishing.

With that in mind, bass boats are often associated with high-end manufacturing and have a degree of luxury about them.

However, more often than not, the companies which produce bass boats will also produce regular fishing boats, and often for a similar price.

The only problem is that bass boats are so finely tuned and specifically designed for bass fishing, that they are not much good for any other kind of boating.

This means that if you want a boat that does it all, a bass boat would be a waste of money.

Minn Kota 1082341 Ulterra Best Trolling Motor For A Bass Boat With Gps And Sonar Review

The Minn Kota 1082341 Ulterra is an 80-pound thrust motor that can power and run a fully loaded bass boat effortlessly.

It comes with a 45-inch shaft that has a sturdy propeller to help you cut through dense vegetation.

It is a saltwater motor, therefore, it is build using materials that are resistant to corrosion and rust.

So you can take your boat out fishing on saltwater or freshwater with this motor.

It requires minimal maintenance. You can use it for months even years without needing to clean it and it is still going to deliver optimal performance. But it cannot hurt cleaning at least once a year to extend its lifespan.

The motor comes with a GPS system that is capable of locking onto a fishing spot, recording and saving routes, and steering and navigation.

On the motor head, there is a battery meter that displays how much battery power you have left. And to help you find a good fishing spot, the motor comes with an inbuilt sonar system that provides clear images.

To control your boat and steer it in whatever direction you want, you have the option of using the foot pedal or the i-Pilot remote that comes with the motor. If you are feeling a bit lazy or tired, you can put the motor on autopilot.

So all things considering, this motor is great if you need to operate a large bass boat. And although it is expensive, it is worth the investment.

Main Features

• It is not ideal for only saltwater fishing

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Bass Cat Cougar Ftd Sp

MSRP $66,995

Why its great: This boat is all about comfort. An extended beam and padded deck gives you plenty of room to cast from, and storage options allow you access to your gear without having to stop. The electronics have a built-in security system, meaning you can leave the dock with peace of mind. A grab post makes it easy to get yourself up and into the boat, and lighted handrails make it easy to get around even as the sun goes down.

Top Fish Finders By Type Of Sonar

Every few years there seems to be some type of new sonar technology that pushes the envelope for consumer grade fishing electronics. For many years, flashers were the deal, like Lowrances famous Green Box locator, and Humminbirds equally renowned Super 60 flasher. From there, fish finders turned to paper graphs, and then LCD displays that revealed more information about what was below the boat.

Then in the mid-2000s, Humminbird was the first company to release affordable side imaging to the consumer, and it was a smash success. From that point on there has been an arms race that some have come to call the Sonar Wars. The guide below will help you understand each of these fish finding technologies and help you decide if you need them in the unit you purchase.

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What Is The Best Bass Boat For Your Money

Bass boats are highly customizable. They vary depending on the individuals needs.

Some boats may prioritize speed, but lose out on space, some might have all the bells and whistles and gadgets, but not have the power to match another model.

Many people will spend the money on the aspect that is most important to them, and may have to accept other parts of their boat may not compare to someone elses.

Some things to consider when thinking about what you need in your boat:

• Do you want to use your bass boat for simple, relaxed, recreational fishing?
• Will you be using your bass boat for competitive or professional angling?
• How important is a smooth ride, and reliable performance on the water to you?
• Will you be taking your bass boat on any custom bass fishing excursions?
• Do you intend to use your boat for multi-purpose fishing excursions?

With so many factors, it is hard to give a single one size fits all recommendation.

If youre looking for an all-rounder, the Puma FTD from Bass Cat Boats might be the one for you. Although boasting the lofty price tag of nearly $67 000, the Puma FTD really does have it all.

The FTD in the boats name stands for Full Team Deck, which means the boat is plenty big enough for you and a buddy to cast side by side on the boats deck.

Not only have the folks at Bass Cat fitted this boat out with all the gadgets you might need, but theyve also done it twice!

Bass Boat Buying Guide

Theres more to buying a bass boat than simply looking up popular brands. You need to know exactly what youre looking for, especially if its your first time purchasing a boat. Even the best brands can prove unsatisfying if you dont buy the boat that fits your needs.

So, here are some basic yet important things you should consider about a bass boat:

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Lund 1875 Crossover Xs

When speaking about, Lund 1875 XS is a multi-species boat, definitely not a bass boat any more today. That said, if we desired to encompass as a minimum one boat of this style in our compilation due to the fact an extensive wide variety of bass aficionados who fish with the own circle of relatives in lakes and rivers which can get hard will want to choose this style, and which has deep gunwales that corral the children and a tall bow that breaks the waves.

And even as it could now no longer be the best for bassing, it does nevertheless provide the basics: pedestal fishing seats, an 18 gallon lighted live well, and a rod locker withinside the deck.

Top 5 Faqs And Answers Related To The Aluminum Bass Boat Manufacturers

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Sun Dolphin Pro 102 Mini

When Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow wanted a new pond-hopper, the Sun Dolphin Pro 102 was his choice. Having spend many a day at the lake on this boat, we can happily report that its a ball for two anglers fishing in relatively protected waters. With a 55-pound thrust 12-volt electric outboard it goes jogging speeds, theres a livewell molded in, it has twin swivel seats, and the complete package including a trailer and a pair of deep-cycle batteries barely broke the $3,000 mark. News Flash: if you have a pickup you dont really need the trailer because itll fit in the bed of the truck .

Visit Sun Dolphin Boats, to learn more.

Another aluminum rig that makes the Top 10: the Tracker Guide V-16 Laker DLX T.

How To Maintain A Bass Boat

In order to maintain your bass fishing boat and keep it in working order, its crucial to clean it regularly.

The consoles are often made of plastic and glass, so you can use an all-purpose cleaner. For cleaning the hull, you can use a power wash and make sure to clean all the nooks with heavy-duty boat soap.

When it comes to the carpet which is in frequent contact with dirty shoes, fish slime, and the occasional food and beverage spills, you can clean it using a power washer to remove all the dirt from the fabric. As for vinyl boat seats, you can use a vinyl shampoo.

Finally, for cleaning the live well, make sure not to use any toxic products like bleach as it can cause harm to the fish that you place in there.

Dont forget to check out my guide to bass fishing in the winter here, and my guide to choosing the right fishing rod for bass fishing here.

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