Buying new boat this spring, some questions...

[UBDSLO1]

Well, it is time for me to buy a/my own boat this spring. I have always had acess to a boat at any given time, but I want my own. I know what I want for riggings, etc. I'm pretty sure that I'm buying new from a MI dealer. So...

When you buy, is it like buying a new car/truck? Can you haggle a deal? Or do they give you a price and that's it??? I assume that one can purchase an extended warranty?
I'll be looking at 17-18 foot aluminum "deep Vee's", and I want a Yamaha(stuck on the Yamaha) 4 stroke motor, 50-90 horse. I will be doing my own rigging. 2 depth/fish finders, 2 electric downriggers, nite lights, ship to shore radio, etc. Anything I should be looking for in the purchase of the boat? I want to pry the bigger waters with this boat, so not looking for somehting for smaller lakes, etc.
I'm open to any advice here guys, so have at it. Thanks for the replies.
Noah

There is also doc fees, freight, dealer prep, MI trailer plates, tax, and what else? Should I have them throw in a boat cover, spare trailer tire, etc???

[kroppe]

Congrats on the decision to buy a boat. Sounds like you are committed to a new boat. May I suggest you look at used boats. With the economy the way it is, you are almost guaranteed to be able to find a good rig at a good price. March and April are prime time for used boat sales. Lots of boats change hands very quickly at this time of year. If you find a good one, put a deposit down. It will probably be gone in a few days if you don't. Speaking from experience.

[krause]

The deep v is the way to go in my book.Ask about coast guard ready I think thats what they call it.I have a 17 foot-1976 with a 60 horse johnson-1986.Two guys it pushes 35/38.I was going to a larger boat it was between crestline and a monark.The crestline looks great but the monark was set-up more for fishing.Same size boats the monark is anywhere from $4000-$6000 less.Tell the dealer I cant afford that much after you get your extras on to the boat.Detroit boat show is in a few weeks.

[Slick fishing]

Here is a great boat right here, I dont know if you where looking for some thing bigger..

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=5696
I have always been a brand new boat buyer myself but man there are some good deals to be had a on a used one, but if your heart is set on a new one this is the one I would be looking at real hard at the new StarCraft STX 2050..

http://www.walleyecentral.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=6&topic_id=236719&mode=full

I was just re reading your post and yes Yammie 4 stroke is a awesome motor thats what I have on my boat and I love it, it's a tad heavy but great motor..

The thing is I have a buddy that fish last years FLW tour and man he was pretty convinced on the Evirude E-Tec and we went to the Novi fishing show and I wore my Yammie hat nice and proud:lol: and they had a 150hp E-tec there and they ran it for us and man was the quiet running two stroke I have ever heard, that is some thing to think about..

I would really look hard at the StarCraft line of boat because people are starting to compare there quality to the Lund with out the price tag.. Yes you can haggle with the dealer on price or extras they can put on the boat for you.. Michigan is in rough times right now and I am sure there not selling a ton of boats these days.. Good luck on your boat purchase and take your time and another thought to consider if you buy a new boat is look for a 1 or 2 year old boat that is new on the dealers lot it can save you a ton of money as well.. Cya Slick

[UBDSLO1]

thanks for the advice, and thanks for the links slick.:)

[shametamer]

Well, it is time for me to buy a/my own boat this spring. I have always had acess to a boat at any given time, but I want my own. I know what I want for riggings, etc. I'm pretty sure that I'm buying new from a MI dealer. So...

When you buy, is it like buying a new car/truck? Can you haggle a deal? Or do they give you a price and that's it??? I assume that one can purchase an extended warranty?
I'll be looking at 17-18 foot aluminum "deep Vee's", and I want a Yamaha(stuck on the Yamaha) 4 stroke motor, 50-90 horse. I will be doing my own rigging. 2 depth/fish finders, 2 electric downriggers, nite lights, ship to shore radio, etc. Anything I should be looking for in the purchase of the boat? I want to pry the bigger waters with this boat, so not looking for somehting for smaller lakes, etc.
I'm open to any advice here guys, so have at it. Thanks for the replies.
Noah

There is also doc fees, freight, dealer prep, MI trailer plates, tax, and what else? Should I have them throw in a boat cover, spare trailer tire, etc???
lots of haggle room! depending on brand the boat/hull warranties are from 5 to 20 years or life of first owner etc..they pretty much run the gamut, as long as you are purchasing from a reputable manufacturer and dealer there is plenty of information on line..if you're looking at 2007 a lot of the brunswick boats are mercury prerigs(yamaha will b extra cost, as will e-tec) and i believe starcraft now has a deal for mercury prerig on its 07 boats. This time of year good deals are abundant at the shows and manufacturerers offer incentives on engines like extended warranties or dollars off..spare tires, covers are options on some models standard on others. bees sports has yammies and lund/sylvan.....freeway sports yammies polarkraft/mirrocraft wonderland marine lowe.yammies wilson marine yammies/smokercraft lindy sales yammies lund/g3 chapmans yammie lund/starcraft jans yammies and ultracraft/monark anglers marine(prop n sail) has crestliners yammies..on the west side of the state sportfishermans center..sells about everything(kitchen sinks even..lol)........do you want an elec trolling motor? kicker?(very few boats are 'packaged' with a kicker)(always an extra) lund,polar kraft, triton will be at the top end of price range.....tracker,fisher,ultracraft will be at the lower end of the price range........some are welded hulls others are riveted(pretty much personal preference as to which is best...regardless what ANYONE says)..flooring ranges from aluminum, to treated wood to marine grade plywood) carpets or vinyl and even snap in carpets over vinyl are all choices.....17/18foot boat 50 is underpowering for a deep vee, most folks will say a 90 is underpowered.......if you are intent on big water fishing..the power glide, shock reducing type seats are welcome.....bimini or tops with side curtains can b a luxury for rainy weather out well into the lake
..........i run a 17 1/2 foot crestliner with a 90 e-tec..but ifish both big n small water..if i was going stictly bigwater deep vee..i'd look at starcraft super fisherman 170/180..smokercraft pro mag 182..tritom dv magnum186 .. the 18 foot G3 ...alumacraft 185 tournament sport..polarkraft kodiak 18..crestliner candian1850..lund 1800 sport angler.................the smallest of these/bare package/90 yammie around 22k the bigger with all the bells n whistles near 40k out the door...........t-8 yammie kicker package is a good fit, i really do like mercury's pro kicker with 4 bladeprop on its 9.9 4 stroke(best speed control of the ones we've had)

[Slick fishing]

if you dont wanna pay high $$$ for them seats you can do what I did.... Cya Slick

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=165536