Im still using a 12 foot mirocraft made in 1965 . Im 50 now and I’ve been catching hundreds of bass in my lifetime. I don’t have any electronics and being in that small boat keeps me thoroughly fishing through every spot. I’ve fished out of bass boats which will definitely spoil you but the goal is to get out there put in the time and never quit learning.

I don't understand the negative feedback on this one. It is not a "free ride" upholding your end of the deal with a sponsor, alot of work and commitment involved. To anyone who doesn't appreciate the content of this channel, please keep your negativity to yourself and find something else to watch. Alot of people including myself read the content of some comments to upbuilt by likeminded people. Thanks Randy for creating this channel.

I haven't seen a boat with a 50 horse with tandem axle, but I agree with you

That's a nice rig you have there. I used to fish in a Bass club for years and finally got the Skeeter I always wanted in 1997 ZX 185c. I still have it and have had absolutely no problems with the boat or my Yamaha Pro V 150 other than minor up keep and up grades. My wife and I still use it every year and still love the boat and it still looks a runs great. A word to all boat owner is keep your boat inside and out of the weather when you are not using it and it will last a lifetime.

Excellent message. Thanks for sharing

Nice topic Randy!!!🤓day time insights in the backyard flipping grounds😁

Must say Randy I respect you and I like your take on things. I agree on most of your points and although there’s a few things I thought were my own secrets that you let out the bag! there’s also many things you’ve opened my eyes to. One of the few people on social media I can say I truly benefit from. Feels like I know you. Thanks man, keep doing what you’re doing….

great info! thanks Randy.

Gorgeous rig you have man, I’ve had my ‘99 Tracker for almost 5 years now and am looking forward to an upgrade, but I love how little I spend on gas and towing. The only major downside with my rig is running in rough water. I pretty much have to stay off the big lakes if the forecast calls for 15+ mph wind. Someday I’ll get a bigger rig but I catch plenty of fish out of what I’ve got

Hey Randy thanks for the great info advice on buying a bass boat I'm hoping by next year I'll be able to purchase a bass boat. I'm going to get a aluminum boat better on gas and alot more affordable for me and I don't get a chance to go out as much as you do. Randy I have alot of knowledge but Randy you have to go out on the water all the time and use that knowledge to my advantage. Randy I haven't had a chance to go fishing this year because of my medical issues . Thanks very much for those awesome tips on buying a boat especially the trailer and battery tip. Randy I have get a smooth moves seat for my bad back but all the homework I did I really need this seat . Sorry I don't watch every video but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate you Randy I've learned alot of things about fishing and that's because of you bro much appreciated 👍 God bless you and your family your pal fisherman Mike. Ps great video on people littering Randy even though I smoke cigarettes Randy I never ever throw my cigarettes in the water or on shore and if I am fishing on shore if I throw them on the ground I always and I mean always Randy pick them up and through them in the trash. Randy if you ever started a program to clean up around the lakes here in Missouri. Randy I would gladly come down to the lake and help you do some cleaning up. Bless you bro for caring about our lakes and nature. I was thinking one day to grab some garbage bags and go down to table rock lake and do some cleaning like you say if we all help we can keep nature. You know Randy I think alot of people don't realize just how good we have it here in this country. Randy I won't you to never forget what I'm about to say. Randy there is just not many people like you who really truly care about our lakes and nature God bless you always.

I have heard that same thing in regards to getting a 36v trolling motor before on In Fisherman, they have said this very same thing, to max out the troll motor no matter what boat you get. You have a really nice setup for your boat and thanks for sharing these tips with us!! :)

Great bit Randy, I couldn't agree more. I wanted a 20 ft Bass boat so bad, I searched all 2019 from Bass Cat to Phoenix to Skeeter, as you mentioned my wife and kids played a role on my decision wifey likes to crappie fish, my son likes to Bass fish when their biting and my daughter just wanted to boat and tube. We have a local place in a gated community in Foristel MO, small lake 285 acres, 20ft limit on boats. We decided on a 2020 Lund Impact 19ft with a 150 Merc. Fantastic boat, so many memories. I put it's first 100 hrs on it in 6 months. Been everywhere from Shoals, Rock, Chickamauga, Watts Bar to Grand lake Ok. Now I've been tournament fishing and really wanting a Bass Cat puma..just to expensive. Great channel Randy we love it

In 2019 I bought a new aluminum Tracker 185 V hull walk thru windshield. I love it for the deep sides and light weight on the trailer. Only issue with metal hull is it scratches much easier

Great video and excellent advice Randy

Hahaha i got one of them plastic pelican sundolphins im getting ready to putmy seats on and some rubber floor pads and my 60lbs thrust trolling motor, all i can do for now, ever since i was like 12 i have wanted a dang bass boat, just something simple, hopefully i can get one in about 5 years. Really enjoy this channel!!!!

Randy. Im hoping to purchase a boat soon. Please do more of these boats videos.

Great info

My buddy and I have been fishing out of an aluminum g3 with a 60hp and it def gets the job done. Love that Lil boat.

All great points and advice........I've had a total of 8 and currently in the market for #9

Agree with Power poles, 36 volt TM, tandem trailer. Would add hydraulic jack plate, spot lock. Disagree with Hotfoot. I like both hands on steering wheel....

I agree with everything you have to say. And the Skeeter is a great boat. I totally love my Phoenix though and I've never been in a better handling/riding boat. It rides smooth and dry (even on Lake of the Ozarks!:)

Good stuff!!!!!

I've had two bass boats and B.o.a.t. really does stand for "bust out another thousand!" Just got my wife and I two kayaks, can't wait to hit the small lakes and rivers here in SC!

8 foot pond prowler and I love it. 😊 Man you got some big birds.

My first was a custom built aluminum welded , then a 18”6 ft Champion elite , now I have a 22ft Bullet SF , and a 20 ft Pathfinder Bay boat which was my dads that he left me

Love my 17 1/2 G3 Aluminum 50HP Yamaha!

Hey Randy thanks .

Randy I’ve been using a modified 2014 tracker , my buddy had it and it was his saltwater boat that he used to take into the key bridge area of Baltimore Maryland and fish for rockfish. Well he took all the gas supplies off, I have a live well I have it boarded out all my batteries are in an area where they belong I left at the same I lifted the front up so it’s all one walking height I made it all one level instead of the bunks on the side I use one of them to store three rods I have a 36 V upside down golf cart motor in the back that runs on 6-6V batteries, and I have 212 V batteries right next in line to them that is bridge for my gator mount motor guide 75 pound thrust upfront trolling motor and I have a basic HDS seven with a structural Box big transducer plate and I used to have only two55 lbs. 12 V motors on back and they used to get me all through the reservoir you just Gotta have battery capacity long as you got battery capacity Randy you can do a lot but I system on a boat like yours fish for two weeks out of a nitro and it’s a total different game changer I got to different areas quicker and it made it a lot more efficient and a lot more hook up ratio anything that stresses your mind while you’re out there is not good for you that’s why I believe in everything you say because you don’t say this is how it’s gonna be you say this is how it worked for you and how it works for others so in your experience it works for a lot of people other than just yourself and I like how other people are speaking up we don’t need negativity on here when it comes to comments if they can’t be respectful they don’t need to listen to your channel because this is a respectful area and we are all here or safe and we love your advice when it comes to what you do for a living and I believe in you 100% you and Matt, like you said Randy behind every good man especially construction running a business and fisherman and a sports player athlete any kind of creativity in the mind of a real man and a real woman that woman makes that man the great person he is and a lot of people don’t agree with it’s true just look around you throughout your life everyone who reads this post facts are facts, And the best thing about it Randy is having a boat you know you can do a lot, you can take your kids out not even fish pull them around on a tube fission brings so many other adventures to light I wish everyone enjoyed what we do but I can’t speak for everyone can only speak for the people enjoy what we do tight lines and smart brains take care Randy and thank you God bless

I'm working on saving to get me in a boat. I wish more guys or do videos about their boats

Great video man. Only thing i do diff is i do like hotfoots, but im in a 20 foot bullet boat with a 300R merc so i need two hands on the wheel.

Lithium batteries are the best upgrades I put on all of my boats, from my personal kayak and bass boat, all the way to my Regulator 37 tuna charter boat (actually that boat came with them) I never run out of juice, I rarely even have to worry about them. They cost me thousands to upgrade, I put 3 200AH on my Ranger bass boat, and while I never tried, I’m positive I could run the boat for a 3 day tournament and not have to charge them, and probably wouldn’t be worried the third day. It was well over 12kUSD to upgrade 3 boats and a kayak. It sounds like a lot, but depending on time of season, we charge 2000$ a day per person, plus tax. It’s important to me that my clients have the best experience possible, and both them and my employees are as safe as they possibly can be a hundred miles offshore. I’m going so damn stir crazy waiting for July 15 (beginning of our Tuna season, which runs through November) in what has been over a week of constant rain and wind.

Reading thru the comments and found a hater. Who did you piss off? Must have been a litter bug.

I'm stoked about your opinion on the hot foot, I've never had one that I could feel comfortable with. I thought I must be nuts until now. And battery weight was always the determining factor in my TM selection. With lithium, the sky's the limit. Not a power pole guy though, most of my fishing is in 10ft + right off the bank.

I just sold my Tracker 175 and bought a 190 aluminum V hull. Had 8 - 10 problems I had to fix. One left to work on.

36v is a have to have can fish multiple trips between charges. Laughed at guys putting power poles on older boats till I got a set and now don't know how I fished without them. I agree 100% on the hot foot my phoenix came with one I am going to remove.

I don’t know of a single person I’ve heard that said they regretted having too much hp. I have heard several though, that said they wished they had more. Some great tips though, I’d just recommend including a compression check and a thorough transom inspection on used boats. You absolutely cannot go wrong with Skeeter! There’s not a better hull on rough water IMO.

I have a bass tracker pro tournament 19’ that has more deck space than most glass boats. Nice wide deck all the way up front with flat deck beside graphs and trolling motor. The 90hp merc moves it 40-45mph fully loaded live well full. Poke a hole just tape it up for weekend and weld it when get home. Lol

I feel hot foots are a benefit to a boat where in rough water you can have both hands on the stearing wheel and still have throttle control

Bought a new Tracker Classic and have no complaints. It does everything I want it to do, it fits in my garage, 50hp runs 37to 38mph. And it didn’t cost $50,000 to $80,000…

2007 champion 183, 150 optimax bought brand new at 26k. Boy have times changed!

Love my skeeter St15

My late, great, and much lamented boat mechanic always opined "never EVER get a Hotfoot. They're dangerous, and more stuff to break!"

Nice skeeter

I have a rt 188 I love it

Do you feel the outboards of today are more durable then the ones back when you made the 190 mile trip in your other videos?

I use a multi species deep v aluminum boat.

Champion

As far as the extra cost associated with lithium batteries, the extra cost is easily offset by the reduction in wear and tear on your back. Installing and replacing lead-acid batteries in a boat has caused serious back problems on many an angler!

You do not need 36V batteries if you're fishing a 16' aluminum boat.

I would love to buy a boat but I have trouble not buy fast cars instead. I'll get a truck soon enough and then a boat one day. Long term goals

Hi randy . Really enjoy your page . I have a 2009 skeeter 20i any recommendations on power poles? Thanks !

I’ve had several new bullet boats. Absolutely love them. However, the money spent on a new boat simply does not justify the cost unless you are using it nearly every day of the year. I have since purchased an older used norris craft in near perfect condition with an engine that has less than 20 hours on it. Cost less than I could have bought a used aluminum boat and it will last me the rest of my life

Buy what makes you happy, but the biggest key is a good motor, without that you are dead on the water. Also, make use of your time off the water by making sure all your wiring/electronics/pumps work so that you can be worry free on the water. Lastly, they are a tool the way a tractor is to a farmer.

I don’t know of a single person I’ve heard that said they regretted having too much hp. I have heard several though, that said they wished they had more.

In other words, don't go the cheapest route. Spend enough to make sure it has all you can possibly afford. This will make you happier and help with resale value. And last, shop around, there are very few deals out there but sometimes you find it by accident.

I bought a 3yr old used Traacker Pro Team 175 w/ 75hp merc with 37hrs on it. It was basically new. Randy, did you run power poles on your aluminum before your jump to Skeeter? I’m worried about the extra weight since I can’t afford lithium AND power poles. Those bats in your boat are $900 a piece right now. I agree with your entire video. I had a 19ft Skeeter back in my tourney days. The only thing I miss every time I go out is the storage. Thanks for another winner video.

Ive came to the conclusion I can’t have anything nice. I have a 79 ranger V16, it’s almost completely restored and updated. “Should” be on the water looking brand new in a couple weeks. Me and my buddy bought it for a steal and only have 2k in it, minus the graph… that’s a whole new can of worms!

How do you get into pro bass fishing?

I'd like to see this same video for buying a used bass boat.

I loved Champion and Skeeter

Two questions Randy, what's the smallest boat someone should fish in a BFL, and how did you like your Ranger 198P overall as a tournament rig...likes and dislikes?

The hens got you surrounded

Me with $8 in my bank account, I need to watch this video about buying a bass boat

I’m over the speed thing now , getting older

People are trying to sell 30 year old boats for twice what they was new!

Rule of 72……divide the interest rate into 72…..that is the number of years when you double the price of the boat. Example: buy a 50 thousand dollar boat at 10%….in 7.2 years of payments you have paid a 100 thousand, in 14 years $150,000. So read the small print on the tag. It’s not how much are the payments….it’s how long, interest rates, and the cost of the boat. Too many young guys buy an expensive rig…maybe for 15 years….only to find out they later fell in love, got married, started having kids, and wanted to buy a house. Due to time restraints they don’t fish that much any more, gas is up, kids start summer sports…..and they are so upside down on the boat they can’t sell it without still having payments. I looked on Bass Pro Shops ….Z21 Nitro….$72.,000……10%……10 years. At that point you will have paid over $160,000 for the boat. How much is a 10 year old Nitro worth? Put $22,000 down….you’re still in the $120,000 range. On the other hand ….pay cash for a used aluminum….even put a new 70 hp on it with the $22,000. Then take the monthly payments you would have made and put them in a Roth IRA every year for the 10 years….you’ll retire a millionaire at 65 and all the earnings are tax free!

Links dead

ur giving a lot of game out how does one know if it will lead them to success

Jason Christie Bassmasters Classic winner...Aluminum boat. Just saying...

Chicken farmer 😁

The 2 best days of owning a boat....

You forgot got 1 Randy, avoid boat all together & get a kayak...

get cheeee

"Investment" and boat don't belong in the same sentence. LOL...

You have lost your mind! Everyone does not need a 36 volt trolling motor. A 36 volt trolling motor on a 16' or 16 1/2' boat......Come on man! There's nothing wrong with a single axle trailer. Boats have been trailered on single axle trailers for years and had no issues. Sorry, I have to disagree with you on this one.