02-16-2016, 04:54 AM
You can certainly buy a decent boat for that much money. Your first boat will likely be a learning lesson on what you will want to get in the future but I'd recommend a 16 to 17 ft open bow with at least a 50 HP motor. If you can find one with a kicker motor or elect trolling motor, more the better. I'd also look for one the has windshields and of course a steering wheel. For that price you should be looking for a late 70's or 80's boat. IMO the motor is the most important thing, do not buy a boat without hearing it run or hopefully take it out on the water. Make sure the weep hole has water coming out of it. Good boats, even older ones sell fast, so you need to check KSL daily, maybe even Craigs list, BFT will occasionally have boats for sale in that price range. I sold my last boat for $1500, it was a 1978 Starcraft with a 75 hp Mercury, with a 4.5 kicker, it had a bow mount elect and a down rigger. So you can find them but it takes some effort on your part. Most older boats will require a little work to set them up like you want but that is good because you will learn what you want and what works best for you. One more thing, if you are willing to go out of the state looking for a boat, try looking in Colorado. My current boat came from Colorado and the prices there can be several thousand cheaper for what that same boat would cost here in Ut.
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