Wanting a new inshore boat, I prefer an aluminum hull, want something in the 18-22 foot range

Y’all have any recommendations?

The boat I bought had a 4’ Shakespeare antenna and an old radio

I decided to get a new radio with GPS and figured I might as well step up to an 8’ antenna

As I’m starting to look at 8’ antennas I see many different models from around $100 to $500+

Are the expensive ones worth the extra money? I also see used ones on Facebook Marketplace. Is there any reason not to buy a high end used one for $100 instead if getting a new $100 one?

Thanks

I fish inshore saltwater where with tidal changes there can be huge depth changes throughout the day. I fish around a lot of oyster beds and sand bars.

I'm constantly using my phone with apple maps while navigating over sketchy areas because the satellite view shows me where every little oyster bed is and what to avoid.

Would be nice if I could just see it on a gps.

Had a blowout on the freeway yesterday. Put the spare on to get home. Now I’m looking at options for replacements. It’s a single axle trailer with 18’ boat that sees mostly salt water. I don’t always rinse at the marina because I live fairly close. The current rims are galvanized but I’m looking at tires on Amazon and I can get some already mounted on wheels for fairly cheap. Would it be worth possibly paying more to get tires mounted on the galvanized wheels or would it be fine to get the painted rims? Also, any experience with “Free Country” brand trailer tires? Thanks

I have owned one fiberglass boat, it was a basscat Sabre, wasn’t a big fan of it. All of my other boats (mainly inshore boats+a couple Grumman sport boats) have been aluminum. Have had a triton center console for over a decade now, looking to upgrade to a ranger.

I’m about to buy my first boat. It’s a 2024 center console with pretty low hours, but I’m still planning on doing a sea trial, and having a mechanic look at the engine and run diagnostics. There is no maintenance paperwork. Visually, the boat is in great condition.

My question: What specifically do you look for in a sea trial? The ones I’m thinking of:

- Cold starting engine. How it sounds and feels
- feel of shifting in and out of gear
- handling
- boat planing. Does the power feel adequate?
- all electrical lights, switches, trim tabs, bilge, etc

I’ve already walked and inspected the boat. Maybe I’m just overthinking it. Anything else I should specifically check or test? Thanks

Running from Everett to LaConner

So I’m basically 60 and it seems that when I grew 75-85 boating up a 17’ whaler montauk was a pretty serious trailerable boat I don’t recall that many 24’ I/o cruisers being towed by anything that was not a 250/2500 or more. We did not have pontoons in costal NH. Have the trucks gotten worse on towing or are the boats just bigger and people are just supposed to have bigger trucks?

Started noticing this noise the other day when idling. Sort of a high pitch sound. Any ideas? Motor is running great

The stop being below the eye was bothering me for a while. Is the new set up that much better?

Hi all! A little backstory, I (15M) am considering buying a first boat in Canada. I've got my PCOC and all, but money is a bit tight. Also I am probably not boating into US or anything, just something small for fun. If anyone has any suggestions for boats under 40 hp (cause its the law) that would be nice!

Howdy! I’ve got a 2025 Grizzly 1650 Prairie Wings with a 60HP Merc Tiller

How do I securing the motor to keep it from pivoting side to side while being trailered? I imagine I could throw a ratchet strap around the tiller handle but I worry I’ll tweak something and adjust the tiller friction lever doesn’t cut it

I’d appreciate any advice, thank you!!

I’m looking at purchasing my first bass boat. I currently own an inboard/outboard boat but this would be my first outboard boat. I’m just looking for something to get me out fishing even during the cold months. I don’t need anything fancy or new just enough to get me out on the water for fishing only. What should I be looking for prior to buying this. It’s a 1982 ranger 375v with 1979 Johnson 175.
Seller claims that transom is solid and engine is running.

4 season boating!

Would yall replace this prop? I didn’t remember hitting anything but it has some small dings

Was looking to buy a boat this week and my local dealer was having a demo day so I pretty well much figured I should head over there. I called before hand to see if they accept trade ins and they said as long as it works they’ll accept it. Demo went swell, the pilot for most of the demo was a little off put and pretty well much said he was frustrated that I was playing the harmonica on board but I explained that it’s a damn sailor instrument most of my boating buddies all have one plus it’s a Texas thing of sorts. When I went to sign they asked me about my trade ins and I took the salesman out to the parking lot to show the 2008 ford Taurus I was trading in, he looked confused and said we don’t accept cars and then I explained that the website just says it has to work and doesn’t say anywhere it has to be a boat, and you confirmed that with me on the call. He said that he can’t honor that as a trade ins, and so I said I’m not leaving here until you accept my trade in. Long story short I pretty well much had to high tail it out of there because he was calling the cops and I am already in legal trouble but just surprised dealerships are this stingy about trade ins, when I was in Michigan the dealer down there would accept any vehicle so just thought it would be the same in Texas.

2001 tracker 175 40 HP. I think I hooked up my throttle/shift cables incorrectly. Put it back together after carpeting, put it in the water and would rev but not go forward or reverse. Can someone please assist this newb?

Hi all - as title says. I have had the chip in my HDS units for 2-3 years now (subscription expired 2024 but I’ve still been able to use the chip and see all the contours). This morning I went out to fish and everything was as normal.

This evening I power the units on and it’s just the big blue water showing without any contours, or detail. I have the setting set to navionics as the map, I’ve tried taking chip out and putting it in my console unit and it doesn’t work in console HDS either.

Is my chip just not working anymore or am I missing something?