Bass Boat Pros and Cons

[super ron]

Guys,

Never owning a bass boat, how about giving me the pros and cons of owning one.

Ron

[Buzzman]

Pros:

1. Freedom to fish wherever, and whatever water you want.
2. Excellent casting platforms.
3. Can generally fish / ski from most boats (depending on motor size).
4. Limited seating (I'm listing as a PRO).
5. Shallow water draft / access to shallower areas.
6. Usually set up to be a good platform for electronics.


Cons:

1. Gas prices (all boats will suffer here)
2. In rough water, you will get wet.
3. Protection from the elements is limited to what you can wear (sunscreen, raingear, Fish Hedz, motor cycle helmet, etc.).

[Bassthumb]

Pros:

Protected storage
Whole thing is a tackle box
Quality live wells
designed for two people
recessed trolling motor pedal
Skipper and Jav will leave you alone

Cons:

Glass boats...scratches, dings, cracks in gelcoat, staining
Aluminum...slapping of water on the deadrise when trolling
designed for two people
regular trolling motor pedal
Skipper and Jav will find something else to pick on...

[super ron]

What about maintenance?  What can I expect as normal maintenance for a 150 Merc (XR6)?

Ron

[OutdoorFrontiers]

Hi Ron,

There are many pro's to owning a bassboat over other styles of boats.  Some have been alluded to already.

Bassboats are very stable fishing platforms with large, elevated decks.

Typically, they run faster than a deep-vee with the same horsepower.   

There is a lot of storage in a bassboat, thus making your boat a mobile tacklebox.

With the low-profile, wind doesn't push the boat around, making boat control much simpler.

Fiberglass can be molded into a more efficient hull shape, offering a smoother, drier, more efficient ride than conventional vee hulls.

Con's?

If you like to troll planer boards or crankbaits over a precise depth contour, a deep-vee tiller model will do better.  Plus, bassboats don't like to go slow.   

Maintenance, if done properly will cost about the same for any boat.  You still have fuel, oil, batteries, etc, regardless of what type boat you choose.

Keeping it clean is the same, and if done on a regular basis, is easy.  I like to wipe down the hull as soon as it comes out of the water.  That helps keep the hull clean and a scum line is easiest removed when fresh.  After it's been wind-dried, getting it off can be tough.   

Fiberglass is more susceptible to scratches and sun-fading, but a little caution and keeping it clean goes a long way.

As far as the Merc 150 XR6, it's been a long, staple in the Mercury lineup.  It's just about the most bullet-proof motor in their lineup, having been removed from the lineup only because of the new environmental standards.   

As long as you run fresh fuel, periodically check the spark plugs for signs of fouling and change the lower unit lube at least on an annual basis, you should be good.  The waterpump impellor should be replaced every other year.

Steve