If you’re a beginner looking for a bass boat but don’t have a lot of money to spend, you may find it challenging to choose from the numerous options available. While the best bass boats are costly and designed for specific purposes, we can help narrow down your search by highlighting ten beginner-friendly options that are affordable, easy to maintain, and operate. This roundup will assist you in finding a bass boat that meets your needs and budget.
Here are some of the best affordable bass boats you can consider.
The Best Budget Bass Boat for Beginners
XF 179 Crestliner
The Crestliner XF 179 is a must-see for any beginning bassist. Crestliner Boats provided the image.
Crestliner has long been a standout in the beginner bass boat market, offering a wide variety of aluminum rigs that are reasonably priced and rigged for serious fishing. The XF 179 is an excellent example, with a starting MSRP of $23,196 that includes a 60-hp outboard and a bunk trailer.
A 23-gallon livewell with an aerator and a timer, eight-foot rod boxes, a Motorguide X3 bow-mount trolling motor, and a fiberglass console with room for 12-inch electronics are among the standout features. It’s also worth noting that the hull sides and bottom are made of 0.10-inch-thick aluminum.
For more information, see Crestliner XF 179 boats for sale or go to Crestliner Boats.
1710 G3 Sportsman
The G3 Sportsman 1710 is incredibly well-equipped. Sunrise Marine Center provided the image.
The G3 Sportsman 1710, equipped with a 40-hp Yamaha outboard, costs far less than most new cars, with an MSRP of just under $27,000. The standard features in the base package, on the other hand, are likely to make you take a second look: a Minn Kota 55 Edge electric trolling motor, a Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5X fishfinder,
a two-bank battery charger, an aerated livewell, a locking rod box, built-in tackle trays, and a custom trailer. If you want to compete from the start without having to do a lot of extra buying and rigging, this package is ready to go right out of the box.
For more information, see G3 Sportsman 1710 boats for sale or go to G3 Boats.
188 Lowe Stinger
Most anglers will agree that the Lowe Stinger 188 is an especially attractive bass boat. Photo courtesy of Lowe Boats.
Lowe recently refreshed the Stinger line, and the resulting package looks and feels like a high-end fiberglass bass boat, but without the high-end pricing; MSRP starts at $30,710 with a Mercury Marine 75 ELPT FourStroke outboard and a trailer.
It has a wide-beam design (stretching the tape at 7’10”) and features such as a red-backlighted console, lighted toggle switches, a recessed trolling motor foot pedal, and bucket seats. With an overall length of 18’8″, this boat provides significantly more sheer space than many competitors that cost significantly more.
For more information, see Lowe Stinger 188 boats for sale or go to Lowe Boats.
The Nitro Z17
Do you want some hot performance in a low-cost package? The Nitro Z17 does not disappoint. Bradford Marine and ATV provided the image.
While most beginner bass boats are made of aluminum for economic reasons, the Z17 is a fiberglass fishing machine with an MSRP of $30,995 with an outboard and a trailer. The real shocker is that the standard engine is a powerful 115-horsepower Mercury ProXS FourStroke that will have you racing to the hotspots at speeds of over 50 mph. A bow-mount trolling motor, a 23-gallon livewell with an aerator and timer, and a Lowrance HOOK 4 fishfinder round out the package.
For more information, see Nitro Z17 boats for sale or visit Nitro Boats.
ZX 150 Skeeter
The Keeter ZX 150 is one of the smallest, most affordable bass boats available, putting you on par with the pros. Sunrise Marine Center provided the image.
While the $39,695 NAP price tag is another relatively high one in this roundup, keep in mind that it is still well below the average price for a new pick-up truck in this day and age — many middle-class Americans will find it thoroughly affordable. This package is also one of the most powerful in the group, thanks to the Yamaha V Max SHO VF150 outboard, which can reach speeds of up to 60 mph.
That’s a lot for a beginner to handle, but it’s also enough to elevate you from a novice to a professional. A 10-amp three-bank battery charger, a standard (and upgradeable) Humminbird Helix 5 CHIRP fishfinder/GPS, tilt-hydraulic steering, a 24-volt 70-pound-thrust electric trolling motor, and a 12-inch jack plate are all included with the purchase of a ZX 150.
For more information, see Skeeter ZX 150 boats for sale or go to Skeeter Boats.
