I'm in the market for my first boat, with a budget of about $15000.

I've got a rough idea of what I'm chasing. Something around the 4m mark. Tiller steer. Full floor/casting deck. Stable at a stand still. Purely estuary/fresh water use. Basically something I can comfortably flick lures in all day by myself or two up.

Does anyone have any tips on buying a used boat? Things I should consider, or even look out for in a boat? Hell, particular brands/models to consider or stay away from?

At at the moment I'm thinking something like a quintrex hornet trophy.

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Mrknownothing said..
I'm in the market for my first boat, with a budget of about $15000.

I've got a rough idea of what I'm chasing. Something around the 4m mark. Tiller steer. Full floor/casting deck. Stable at a stand still. Purely estuary/fresh water use. Basically something I can comfortably flick lures in all day by myself or two up.

Does anyone have any tips on buying a used boat? Things I should consider, or even look out for in a boat? Hell, particular brands/models to consider or stay away from?

At at the moment I'm thinking something like a quintrex hornet trophy.

I was reading through your post thinking this guy needs a Quintrex Hornet, then I got to the end

Can't go to wrong with a low hour four stroke with a service history. I always place value in an original boat, as no modifications by the previous owner. Check trailer for rust of course. Don't place too much value on electronics unless they are still under warranty. The best thing you can do is be patient, do your research, watch the market, check new ads a few times a day. And then be ready to grab a bargain when it comes along.

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Mrknownothing said..
I'm in the market for my first boat, with a budget of about $15000.

jbshack a member here on SB is the font of wisdom on all things boats and he is in WA,, Hope he's listening.

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knot board said..

I was reading through your post thinking this guy needs a Quintrex Hornet, then I got to the end

Can't go to wrong with a low hour four stroke with a service history. I always place value in an original boat, as no modifications by the previous owner. Check trailer for rust of course. Don't place too much value on electronics unless they are still under warranty. The best thing you can do is be patient, do your research, watch the market, check new ads a few times a day. And then be ready to grab a bargain when it comes along.

Yep, I've noticed this. A lot of boats are 'fully' kitted out for close to my whole budget. But it's not necessarily the tech I want. So I'd end up replacing a lot of it anyway.

Patience. Something I lack.

Thanks mate :)

Yep hor?et is a great tub, then got a lehmann swiss cat 15, shidtz on the hornet, especially what you want it for, then add the safety elements and it's capability in the choppy ocean, self draining decks, ridiculous low draft, which gets you into spots the hornet wont walk around centre console, only downside is the extra weight , used heavily in Europe for water rescue services etc, I loved this boat so much I put it in a container a few times when I had a couple of contracts overseas,

How tough are fibreglass boats cauncy?

You have any pictures of your old hornet? I vaguely remember seeing photos of your boat on here before.

I'm a big fan of polycrafts. I've got a 5.9 metres, and they're not usually tricked out. I would tend to take on board what is written above, but leave some money in the kitty to do your own add-on's and the usual repairs that come up.

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Mrknownothing said..
How tough are fibreglass boats cauncy?

You have any pictures of your old hornet? I vaguely remember seeing photos of your boat on here before.

The lehmann is used by governmental agencies in Europe, there's a video of them dropping during a test from a crane onto a tarmac surface, approx 6 times from 5/6 mtrs, they then put it in the drink and drove the boat, I used to do solo crossings of 25 klms in 20 plus knts to dirk hartog island, from denham/ shark bay, fully loaded, with a decent side on swell running, hence why I bought a very safe boat, the hornet is a great boat( well hull design) millennium from memory, mate had a sweet Haines Hunter similar in size that's worth looking at too, I'm a lover of fibreglass over aluminium, mainly for safety and ride comfort

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Mrknownothing said..

knot board said..

I was reading through your post thinking this guy needs a Quintrex Hornet, then I got to the end

Can't go to wrong with a low hour four stroke with a service history. I always place value in an original boat, as no modifications by the previous owner. Check trailer for rust of course. Don't place too much value on electronics unless they are still under warranty. The best thing you can do is be patient, do your research, watch the market, check new ads a few times a day. And then be ready to grab a bargain when it comes along.

Yep, I've noticed this. A lot of boats are 'fully' kitted out for close to my whole budget. But it's not necessarily the tech I want. So I'd end up replacing a lot of it anyway.

Patience. Something I lack.

Thanks mate :)

Sounds like you have got it covered mate. IMO kicking around in boats is the most fun you can have with your pants on. As cauncy said low hour 4 stroke would suit a hornet perfect.
If it were me i would be checking for cracks, along keel welds, transome welds and ribs. You never know what the previous owner did with the boat.
Cheers,

Stejcraft best boat ever.

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JulianRoss said..
I'm a big fan of polycrafts. I've got a 5.9 metres, and they're not usually tricked out. I would tend to take on board what is written above, but leave some money in the kitty to do your own add-on's and the usual repairs that come up.

Poly craft are very wet boats! Like buckets of water thrown at ya!

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Flatty said..

Mrknownothing said..

knot board said..

I was reading through your post thinking this guy needs a Quintrex Hornet, then I got to the end

Can't go to wrong with a low hour four stroke with a service history. I always place value in an original boat, as no modifications by the previous owner. Check trailer for rust of course. Don't place too much value on electronics unless they are still under warranty. The best thing you can do is be patient, do your research, watch the market, check new ads a few times a day. And then be ready to grab a bargain when it comes along.

Yep, I've noticed this. A lot of boats are 'fully' kitted out for close to my whole budget. But it's not necessarily the tech I want. So I'd end up replacing a lot of it anyway.

Patience. Something I lack.

Thanks mate :)

Sounds like you have got it covered mate. IMO kicking around in boats is the most fun you can have with your pants on. As cauncy said low hour 4 stroke would suit a hornet perfect.
If it were me i would be checking for cracks, along keel welds, transome welds and ribs. You never know what the previous owner did with the boat.
Cheers,

Definitely a flaw with plenty of Ali boats, especially if used in choppy conditions, my mate used to lift the floor yearly pre fishing trip up north and his hornet always needed some Tlc on the welds, but to be fair he thrashed it constantly fishing and pot pulling

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southace said..
Stejcraft best boat ever.

For pulling the kids on a donut listening to tunes

Keep an eye out for a Quintrex Renegade, Stacer Outlaw or a Savage Scorpion. All very similar boats from the waters edge up...below the water line is where the main difference is. All made in the Telwater so quality is pretty consistent across that range. The 430 mark is roughly the smallest of the lot. Also consider a side console as well. Gives plenty of room for fishing and the like plus you have the nice seating and steering position.

I have just sold my tiller steer tinny and would never get the tiller steer again .Can never see in front of you properly and have to zig zag to make sure you don't hit anything in front of you. Especially with people sitting up front.
For 15K you should get something very decent.
Have fun

I've just moved from a Quintrex 4.35 ( had that for about 3 years ) to a Webster twinfisher 4.3 ( cat hull ) the Webster is 10 times better, more fishing room, super stable at rest, no rocking even with 2 adults standing on one side, eats chop without the usual tinny hull slap/bang and can use front deck as a casting platform, offshore capability, drive on/off on ramps, light enough for beach launch/retrieve. Forward steer or centre console versions were produced.

Some reasonable buys around, unfortunately not made any more and not many for sale. Got mine for just over 15k, runabout version with a 50hp 4 stroke mercury with only 126 hrs. Most on the market come with factory bimini, side curtains and full travel cover.

Like anything, take it out before buying, most small tinnies are anything but stable at rest, go biggest recommended horsepower outboard, unless outboard has just been serviced get it serviced straight away so you know everything is fine, allow at least $500 for a full service, use that as a bargaining chip if not recently serviced.

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cauncy said..

Flatty said..

Mrknownothing said..

knot board said..

I was reading through your post thinking this guy needs a Quintrex Hornet, then I got to the end

Can't go to wrong with a low hour four stroke with a service history. I always place value in an original boat, as no modifications by the previous owner. Check trailer for rust of course. Don't place too much value on electronics unless they are still under warranty. The best thing you can do is be patient, do your research, watch the market, check new ads a few times a day. And then be ready to grab a bargain when it comes along.

Yep, I've noticed this. A lot of boats are 'fully' kitted out for close to my whole budget. But it's not necessarily the tech I want. So I'd end up replacing a lot of it anyway.

Patience. Something I lack.

Thanks mate :)

Sounds like you have got it covered mate. IMO kicking around in boats is the most fun you can have with your pants on. As cauncy said low hour 4 stroke would suit a hornet perfect.
If it were me i would be checking for cracks, along keel welds, transome welds and ribs. You never know what the previous owner did with the boat.
Cheers,

Definitely a flaw with plenty of Ali boats, especially if used in choppy conditions, my mate used to lift the floor yearly pre fishing trip up north and his hornet always needed some Tlc on the welds, but to be fair he thrashed it constantly fishing and pot pulling

Yeah, when i was a teen (not long ago) we used to have to use dads welder nearly time we got back after it was choppy. My mates and i used to just hold the old 6-15hps flat out across 0.5-1.5m of Moreton Bay chop on the way home. Usually stopped twice to bail the boats out. Our boats copped a flogging but we had fun and learnt how to weld.

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southace said..

JulianRoss said..
I'm a big fan of polycrafts. I've got a 5.9 metres, and they're not usually tricked out. I would tend to take on board what is written above, but leave some money in the kitty to do your own add-on's and the usual repairs that come up.

Poly craft are very wet boats! Like buckets of water thrown at ya!

well, it is a water sports forum. The poly's just bring the water to you....

I had an older quintrex 4.5 tiller steer. It was awesome for its simplicity and ease of use, but for travelling any distance the tiller steer gets old pretty fast. I now have a larger ally centre console, and love it (although I do miss how easily i could launch and retrieve the old quintrex).

Thanks legends. All taken on board.

Interesting in regards to the tiller steer. I've fished out of centre/side consoles, but they have all been much bigger boats. So I just figured the tiller steer would leave me with more room in a little boat to move around. Probably best I go around to some dealers and size the console boats up.

I do like the look of the Renegade/outlaws. They'd probably allow me to push out further into the bay on a nice day. Budget might be a bit of a issue though.