New Boat Questions

Two questions:

I will be selling my 14' aluminum boat which has front and rear bass
fishing decks in the next few weeks and then start looking for a larger and
better aluminum bass boat. I am really looking at Bass Tracker as they are
popular, nice boats, and easy to find. I'm will be looking for a used (5-15
years old) 17' 175. I'm looking for a 45hp-70hp engine. Anything larger
would drive the price too high for me. I want to stay away from the 25hp
engines as I don't think I'd be happy with it (I've owned an 18' aluminum
Grumman with a 90hp engine and am 18' Procraft with a 150hp engine). I don't
mind the boat running 25-30mph with 2 people.

I live in Florida and like fishing smaller lakes (Harris Chain, Butler
Chain, and sometimes Kissimmee... but near shore). I'm looking to spend
about $5k. Any comments?

Another thing I _really_ want is to have a depth sounder. I find that fish
finders are about useless for high-speed passes to find holes. They are just
too slow. With a sounder I can locate them and then go back with a fish
finder. Would you all agree/disagree? I will probably need to add this item
and won't have a lot of money left. The boat will probably come with 1-2
fish finders. Would I be better to buy just the depth sounder or a fish
finder with a digital one built in?

I think that a flasher or other sounder properly adjusted for higher speed
readings of bottom depth would be good at the console, and a nice high power
LCD graph with water temp up front on the trolling motor is probably trhe
best combo.

Personally, unless you get really lucky I'ld reccomend you find the boat you
want and plan on adding the sounders, flasher etc you like.

--
** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com


"Todd Copeland" wrote in message
.net...
Two questions:

I will be selling my 14' aluminum boat which has front and rear bass
fishing decks in the next few weeks and then start looking for a larger
and
better aluminum bass boat. I am really looking at Bass Tracker as they are
popular, nice boats, and easy to find. I'm will be looking for a used
(5-15
years old) 17' 175. I'm looking for a 45hp-70hp engine. Anything larger
would drive the price too high for me. I want to stay away from the 25hp
engines as I don't think I'd be happy with it (I've owned an 18' aluminum
Grumman with a 90hp engine and am 18' Procraft with a 150hp engine). I
don't
mind the boat running 25-30mph with 2 people.

I live in Florida and like fishing smaller lakes (Harris Chain, Butler
Chain, and sometimes Kissimmee... but near shore). I'm looking to spend
about $5k. Any comments?

Another thing I _really_ want is to have a depth sounder. I find that fish
finders are about useless for high-speed passes to find holes. They are
just
too slow. With a sounder I can locate them and then go back with a fish
finder. Would you all agree/disagree? I will probably need to add this
item
and won't have a lot of money left. The boat will probably come with 1-2
fish finders. Would I be better to buy just the depth sounder or a fish
finder with a digital one built in?