SteveHTN Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 Hate to bore everyone with this question, but I'm looking for opinions here. I've done quite a number of upgrades to the ole Astro. New seats, livewell pumps and valves, new trolling motor, EZ troll tray, led bow lights, depth finders, ect. But, it still needs carpet in the near future probably, and I'm sure the power head will need to be rebuilt in the next couple of years, plus who knows how long the lower unit will last. That said, I have no payment on it. So, do I just hold on to it and sink what will eventually be another $10k probably in the next few years into a 20 year old boat, or sell and get say a brand new bass tracker 190? I don't want to spend $50k+ for a brand new one, don't really need the speed of a full glass rig honestly though I could technically afford it, and I don't want to buy another used boat. Sorry for the long post but I'm really chewing on the smartest way to go. Structurally my boat is still in perfect condition. Just a few cosmetic blemishes but not even a hint of rot or anything. And I like the layout overall but it can be a pain to drive sometimes with the flat pad hull and I never run it what it's capable of anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronzebackhuntr Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 In my opinion a newer used boat that still has motor warranty is the best bang for the buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainman Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 +1. Its very easy to find 1-3 year old boats in immaculate condition with warranty for very good prices. Demo boats & boats from "team" guys are usually a steal. With the cost of parts, esp for outboards, its easy to justify a newer, slightly used boat with a 2 or 3 year warranty. Check out bassboatcentral.....tons of used boats for $10-15k less than a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverFox Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Keep the old one and fix it when it breaks. If you buy an aluminum boat you're gonna have the same type ride and a payment. If you buy the glass boat you're gonna be in the same shape in a few years as you are now with no warranty. Put the new boat payment back each month so when something breaks you have no worries. Carpet is cheap and your motor may run another 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHTN Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Well what worries me is I've heard at around 1000 hours or so it's best to go ahead and get the motor rebuilt on those mariner Eli's from the 90's or if you wait till it blows then it can crack the block. But idk for sure. Isn't it the same motor as the mid-late 90's promax? I mean I otherwise like it but it has a few quirks, like sucky handling plus it needs new gauges if I ever start night fishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinTR Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 I thought the boat had an awesome lay out. That was one of the things I liked best about fishing off of it. We had PLENTY of room and some to spare. The take offs were a little shakey but once we got going it cut through the water nicely. Overall a very very nice ride and setup you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHTN Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 The takeoff would probably be ok with a 4 blade prop, like Andy has told me 100 times. I'm just wondering if it's worth thinking about a motor rebuild and all of that for a 20 year old boat. Idk. Something to stew on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassfisher15 Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 In my opinion a newer used boat that still has motor warranty is the best bang for the buck. +1 if i could have made it happen i would have just bought a motor with warranty for my boat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHTN Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 +1 if i could have made it happen i would have just bought a motor with warranty for my boat Do you mean you'd have still bought your older boat, and just put a newer motor on it when it blew? I mean I'm thinking about a repower too, but a rebuild would also be warrantied wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainman Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Most rebuilds are warrantied for 1 year. Some less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peck Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 If you like the boat layout and it has no major issues lurking (motor hours being high not really an issue to me as long as it is still running fine and proper maintenance has been done) then hang on to it. The it's paid for line is a great thing to hear. If you hang on to it a few years and trouble starts, then you can weigh your options (rebuild or buy new/used) but until you start having problems I'd hold on to it. Sounds like you have done a lot of stuff already to get this one like you want it and functional. You would likely have to do some of the same work to the next boat, like electronics, EZ Troll Tray, pumps, TM, batteries are all a possibility when you buy a used boat, carpet and seat would probably be ok on a newer boat. You could be putting down some money for stuff you already have like you want on your old boat. However......boats have gotten better over the years. I'm sure they are lighter, more fuel efficient, better hole shot and maneuverability. Layout may be better and probably better use of space for storage. Plus everyone likes getting a shiny new toy! If you decide to upgrade, I wouldn't buy new. There are too many good used boats on the market for a fraction of the cost of new. Be patient and you'll find a sweet ride for a steal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainman Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 I'm sure they are lighter, more fuel efficient, better hole shot and maneuverability. In all honestly, Brandon & I were discussing this the other day, and if I average fishing 2 weekends per month(which is a low estimate for me) I can make 1/4 of my boat payment with the fuel savings over my old ride. Now, I know 1/4 of a payment aint a lot of money, but you average that out over a year and its a significant savings. For example & as a comparison, I can run from 25E bridge on Cherokee to the steam plant & back on about 8 gallons of fuel. My old hydrasport with a 150 had a 32 gallon tank. If I filled it to the brim and made the same run, I would have about 10 gallons left. Now, thats not a perfect apples-apples comparison, as Id run my old boat WFO all the way up & all the way back and new boat I keep it under 5k RPMs in that run....but still, the difference is quite significant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassfisher15 Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Do you mean you'd have still bought your older boat, and just put a newer motor on it when it blew? I mean I'm thinking about a repower too, but a rebuild would also be warrantied wouldn't it? In my case yes just because it's what I was looking for as far as the boat goes motor wise depends on cost of rebuild I got out pretty cheap considering everything that was done but if I was not going to get out so cheep I probably would have re powered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHTN Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 As far as being light, mine is quite light compared to some of the newer rigs, like nitro and ranger, plus being a flat pad boat if I did repower with say an optimax (this is in theory) it should actually be more fuel efficient than a lot of the newer boats in the same size and horsepower. And the storage, deck space, ect is all plenty good for me. That said, it comes down to a) it can be tough to handle at higher speeds because it's a flat pad, and definitely doesn't do as well in turns as some of the newer boats with the sharper v's would, which on lakes like Cherokee and Douglas being able to cut turns is quite valuable, and in all honesty my trip to chick is the first time in probably a year I've even had it up to wot, since that's the first place I've really had room to do so, and honestly just don't care much about going as fast as it is capable of if I keep it, I'd definitely like to replace the gauges and probably make new panels out of aluminum, since the plastic panels are cracked and old, and I'd like gauges that light up since I'm wanting to start night fishing c) the trailer is in need of a full refurb. All that said, structurally speaking the boat is in excellent shape. I used to do fiberglass work years ago so I know what I'm looking at, and I have almost as much confidence in the strength of my hull as I would one 10-15 years newer. It just all boils down to whether I really need the speed it's capable of, and whether I want to invest a lot more money in a 20 year old boat. Part of me says it would be awesome to completely redo it with a new optimax, or at least a rebuild of mine when it goes, those awesome looking switches like Phoenix has on their boats, and other cool toys, and yes I've already spent thousands on upgrades so that definitely makes it a little harder to sell. Just can't decide what the smartest thing is to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHTN Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Of course peck you do make the point of it may very well continue to run the next 10 years with no problems, especially considering I don't get to fish like most of you guys given my job. And I could always just finish the rest of my planned or dreamed up upgrades then if she blows, go full repower since I'd basically otherwise have a new boat at that point. It just all boils down to whether to sell it now while I can get a good amount back out of it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHTN Posted May 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2015 Well fellas, I got an offer on the Astro so I took it. Just gonna get a few things in order and buy a new one either before the fall bite or definitely by spring. She was a good boat but I just didn't want to keep doing projects then be faced with a big money decision if she blew on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-91 Posted May 9, 2015 Report Share Posted May 9, 2015 Westly Strader of the FLW has a 2014 Z521 with a 250 on it and its loaded "he says you can't get nothing else on it wants for 53 K for it but maybe you can get him down some. If you want his phone number let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHTN Posted May 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2015 Thanks for the heads up. I'll let you know but I'm probably gonna wait a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainman Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 Congrats on the sale. Holler anytime you want to go. I'll be looking forward to seeing what you replace it with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHTN Posted May 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 Cool deal. Thanks Andy. I'm gonna research a little the next few months and look at some different stuff. Depends on how much money I wanna spend I guess. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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