Corpusfishing.com

letsfish30 · Finger Mullet Joined: 01 Aug 2011 Posts: 34

Hey everyone, I am looking at purchasing a new boat in the near future. I was originally waiting till the spring but I just discovered that there is a big RV & Boat Show in San Antonio later this month. If I can find something at a good show price I am really going to consider it. I know many of y'all have probably been to boat and RV shows before so do they usually have any good discounts or would I be wasting my time? Is there any advice that y'all can offer as far as anything I should consider adding to the boat and what it might cost me? I'm looking at something in the 17 ft range. Nothing too big but something I could take 1 or 2 people out in addition to myself to get some fishing done. Look forward to hearing from everyone.

5moreminutes · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:19 am Post subject:

I heard you can get some good pricing. Whats your price range and what kind of fishing do you do? Houston Boat show is another to look at it. I think it started today!
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letsfish30 · Finger Mullet Joined: 01 Aug 2011 Posts: 34

I'm probably looking at about 20k. Is this reasonable or should I expect to dish out a little more? I usually spend my time fishing from a kayak so this would be my 1st boat. I typically just fish for reds and trout in the bays. I live right outside of SA so going to Houston is a little out of the way for me so I'm gonna wait till the show is in SA.

greenhornet2 · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 448

For 20k you will have a lot more options looking at used boats, nothing wrong with used boats if you do your homework. For new boats you probably will start at 30k and that will be a plain jane small boat n motor. Happy boat shopping!

ceejkay · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:04 am Post subject:

how skinny are you trying to get? that will also help with the whole boat search. a few good bay boats that come to mind are blue wave, everglades, majek, hydra sports, scout, epic, dargle, mako and shallow sport. most of them you wont be able to find at 20k new but used opens up a whole lot of options.
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Johninaustin · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 1114

reallifetexan · Pony Mullet Joined: 08 Jun 2013 Posts: 79

You should look at Xpress boats: http://www.xpressboats.com/
Bernies Boats and Motors in Victoria sells them. They're a great starter boat. They're decked out like normal bay boats, but they have an aluminum hull. It's a flat bottom, tunnel hull boat meant for skinny water fishing (you can pole them in 10" of water with the motor raised), therefore the ride is fairly rough in choppy water, but they're also lighter than fiberglass boats, are easy to trailer, easy to pole, and the aluminum hull is much more forgiving than a fiberglass hull, especially for a first time boat owner.

You can get a new 18' bay boat with many options for probably around $25K, or a new basic 18' bay boat for probably around $20K, give or take.

ceejkay · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:54 pm Post subject:

Johninaustin · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 1114

Jellyfish · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 9:50 pm Post subject:

Would recommend you get a good trailer with the rig. Some of these trailers won't last very long. Aluminum trailers will last a good while especially if you get one with torsion bar axles (no leaf springs to rust). Also, you'll find several banks at the San Antonio show that will do on-the-spot financing if you need it. Good luck!
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Predapex · Horse Mullet Joined: 06 Sep 2013 Posts: 181

Majek redfish twin pro Yamaha. It's like a 4x4 boat
Maverick HPX 17. So light you can push it when you run it on a sand bar. If you are new to boats you WILL run its aground.
The xpress boats are great for first boats too cuz you WILL run it aground.
Mako and all the boats at bass pro are junk don't bother.

Johninaustin · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 1114

5moreminutes · Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:07 am Post subject:

Wow that's not a shallow running boat like the rest of us where hinting at. Looks nice for an older boat.
I recently bought a new Shoalwater in November and couldn't be happier. If your not proficient in outboards pay for an inspection. My previous 2000 Suzuki 140 had every gremlin possible. It cost me more than what I paid for on maintenance, repairs, and refurbishing.
Happy boating.
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Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

captfrankie · Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:39 am Post subject: San Antonio Boat Show

I went to the San Antonio Boat Show last year. It was a big disappointment . There weren't that many bay , flats boats and not that many vendors. I went to the Houston Show the year before. It was a nice show. lots of boats from lots of dealers. lots and lots of vendors. Do you have an idea of what your looking for? Narrow it down to a few boats . Try to go for a few rides then drop the hammer. I did that last year and purchased a Desperado Outlaw 22. Absolutely the nicest , best riding boat I've been in. They make a 16 .
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reallifetexan · Pony Mullet Joined: 08 Jun 2013 Posts: 79