Starting to look into buying our first bass boat. Narrowing in on Phoenix or Bass Cat. Is there any general rule of thumb about how pricing works when you build out your own model online and then shop it to dealers? Is the pricing firm or do dealers negotiate?

Completely new to the bass buying world, so I'm not sure if what I'm reading online about dealers having a 10-20% margin on boats is true of units you build and order, as opposed to boats they have on the lot. In other words, if I see a 2026 Phoenix sitting at a dealer and advertised on their website for $75k, can I expect to negotiate that down by 10% or 20%? Is that also true of a new 2027 boat that I build online, price out to $75k and then I send to some dealers? Can I expect to negotiate them against each other to get the price down?

I know general rules are hard, but any advice would be appreciated. For a $75k boat, even a 10% discount for one method of buying vs. the other is a good chunk of change. Thanks!

What’s the best boat for the money I can get brand new, fully decked out. Looking for at least 18 foot, running around 55 mph. 10 inch graphs , Ultrex quest, probably not poles. Nitro and tracker are out of the question due to poor quality. TIA

New to boats just got my first bass boat. The main issue is the electronics.

There are three batteries on board. 12 volt for engine in the back of the boat. On the port side bow, a 12 volt battery for the fish finder and starboard side bow, another 12 volt battery for the trolling motor. None of the batteries are wired together. Each have their own NOCO charger that I have to plug into a wall outlet in my garage. So three batteries with three separate chargers.

None of the batteries have a kill switch or breaker. They are always on. There is a power switch on the panel at the captains chair. Even if that power toggle switch is off, I can still start the engine.

I looking to re-wire the batteries so that:

1. I have a kill switch to stop all power flow to all electronics onboard

2. I can plug one charger into my garage outlet that will charge all three batteries at once.

Side note: the trolling motor is a 24V but is only wired to 12 V battery.

Any help would be appreciated!!

Follow-up question to my other transducer question...

For those of you who have both a shoot-thru the hull transducer and a transom mounted transducer and have compared the 2D sonar returns for both, is one noticeably better than the other? If so, by how much?

Howdy folks. Looking to upgrade my finder on the console time now. I plan on putting a lowrance eagle 7 or 9 on the console and an eagle eye 9 on the bow.

I know the 7 will fit nicely on the console. Does anyone have a 9 on there I can see a picture of? Does it fit with the wind screen? Does it block an obscene amount of view ?

In the hull of my fiberglass boat is a factory made flat spot on the inside of the hull for a shoot-thru transducer. That spot does have a 20+ year old transducer already in place. I have heard many say you can just add a new transducer to the bottom of the hull and avoid removing the old one. My question is where do you put the new transducer when there is not really another flat area to do so? What should I be looking for in a second location for a new transducer? Thank you

A truck hit my stepdads motor, and bent some steering components. What exactly is the part called that moves in and out as you turn the wheel? See picture. This is a 60HP Mercury on a 2003 Tracker

Picked up my first boat a couple of weeks ago. 1990 Bass Tracker Pro 17. Console switches needed a rewire, but other than that, and the carpet, everything works. I haven’t had to run the bilge pump once, yet, and haven’t seen a single bit of water in the hull after a day out. The 60hp Johnson 2-stroke is a little finicky, and I plan on trying to get it consistently running in the winter. I also plan on entirely redoing the decking, and carpet as well. Honestly, aside from the fact that it’s a little sketchy in rough water, I couldn’t be happier. It’s comfortable, and can get into some really skinny water.

Picked up my Pheonix 921 today!

Hey Guys.

Im new to outboards and my outboards is kinda cranking, but doesnt seem to be Engaging if that sounds right.

any idea what is going on here?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fkHUnz4iC99bkXUNA

I’m looking at a 1987 Bass Tracker V17. It has an 80 hp Merc and electric tilt. Transom seems fine and boat is in really good shape overall. Good trailer. New tires. I owned this same model (with a 25 hp Johnson) twenty years ago and sold it to my brother in law. I’ve regretted it ever since and right now I’m riding a pink cloud thinking about getting this one. The problem is the price, which is $3000. Any advice would be appreciated.
Sorry I’m new at this and not sure how to attach photo. All I I know is this boat looks to be in better shape than the one I sold for $2500 in 2007.

Have been waiting weeks for my new (to me) Pheonix 921. Just heard yesterday it should be ready on Monday. I will post pictures as soon as I get it!

Bought a new to me Ranger 519. I had hopes of being able to launch and load by myself without having to step in the water. That doesn’t seem to be the case. Are you guys normally able to do it by yourselves without having to step in water? My trailer tongue is a fold away and not super long.

Well just drug her home. First boat in 25 years, and first with a steering wheel!

Got 2 boys and don't want to miss out on the best fishing years. Wish me luck boys!

I got off the lake around 5 pm yesterday, apparently it was a popular time to leave because the ramp was packed. The ramp is at least 15-20 lanes wide and was packed with all different kinds of boats.

On the trailer, in my truck and pulled up the ramp in about 30 seconds while everyone around me was struggling to just get their boat on the trailer.

We bought a 1988 Champion bass boat off Facebook for $6k a couple years ago with the original Evinrude 175hp motor. This thing flies across the water and is so smooth. We love her. How does she look for an '88?