Some bass boats can be expensive compared to many other types of boats that are the same size, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend an arm and a leg to buy a quality bass boat at a very affordable price-point.
In fact, plenty of modern, high-quality bass fishing machines come in well under the cost of an average new car ($36,718 in 2019, according to Edmunds), which would seem to be a reasonable cut-off point when judging affordability. Check out our Boat Loan Calculator to see how a boat’s specific MSRP shakes out into monthly payments, then figure out a budget that’s realistic for you and your own personal finances.
Start by exploring these new 2021 affordable bass boat models to ensure you're on the right track.
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1. Crestliner 1700 Storm
If you want a no-frills bass boat and competition-level speed isn’t a big concern, the Crestliner 1700 Storm may be right up your alley. List cost is under $13,000 and you can have the boat fairly well outfitted with a stock 20-horse outboard for under the $15,000 mark, or up the ante and get a 40- or 50-horse outboard while still staying under $20,000. The Storm can take even more power, with a maximum rating up to 60, if you do want to run at speeds up into the mid-30 mph range.
Power aside, the Storm delivers the fishing basics including a 17-gallon livewell, a foot-pedal controlled electric trolling motor, and a bow stowage compartment with fitted slots to hold three removable tackleboxes.
Visit Crestliner to learn more.
2. G3 Sportsman 2400
One problem with most bass boats is that they’re only designed for a couple of people, so what’s a die-hard angler with a large family supposed to do? Check out the G3 Sportsman 2400, which has a person capacity of 10—more than double that of the average bass boat. At 23’11” with an 8’5” beam this is the largest boat of any type in our roundup, yet list cost with a Yamaha F150 outboard is still quite affordable at just over $32,000.
While it’s true that the Sportsman 2400 is too big to be considered a competition-style bass boat, the fact that it will allow you to fish with your spouse and as many kids as you’d like at the same time means that family-oriented bass anglers are going to love this option.
Visit Sportsman to learn more.
3. Lowe Stinger 178
The Stinger 178 is an aluminum hulled option which features all-welded construction, extruded gunwales and one-piece keel, and a built-in 19-gallon fuel tank. The most surprising thing about this rig is how many hard-core fishing features come in the stock boat (which barely breaks $22,000), including a 23-gallon bow and a 30-gallon stern livewell, integrated tackle stowage with pull-out tackleboxes, locking rod lockers, pedestal-mount fishing seats, and an electric trolling motor with recessed foot-pedal control.
If you want a boat that offers virtually everything those fancy tournament rigs have at a fraction of the price, this might be your boat.
Visit Lowe Boats to learn more.
4. Lund 1875 Renegade
The Lund 1875 Renegade (MSRP is just over $24,000 with a Mercury 75 ELP outboard and a Shoreland’r trailer) will be a great pick for gear-head fishermen who just never seem to have room for all their stuff. Rodracks hold three rigs up to nine feet long, and the bow rodbox holds eight more rods (two to 8’0” and six to 7’6”). The captain’s and passenger’s seat bases swing open to access a bulk stowage compartment, there are two more large stowage compartments in the aft deck (plus a livewell and battery box), there are three more bulk compartments in the foredeck, and there’s even an additional stowage space built into the step up to the bow.
Go ahead—bring the entire tackle shop.
Visit Lund Boats to learn more.
5. Nitro Z17
At a base price slightly over $27,000, the Nitro Z17 provides a very affordable way to step into a fiberglass bass boat which packs a lot of power and the speed to match. The stock outboard is a 115-horsepower Mercury FourStroke, which delivers a top-end over 50 MPH.
The package includes a trailer as well as the big-ticket items you’d need to compete in tournament fishing, such as a 23-gallon livewell with aeration and a timer, a bow-mount electric trolling motor, and a flush-mount fishfinder.
Visit Nitro to learn more.
6. Ranger Z175
Listing at a hair over $30K, the Ranger Z175 in one of the more expensive option we’re calling affordable, but the MSRP still puts this bass fishing machine well below the average cost of a new car. Just what do you get at that sort of price-point? A top-end in the upper 40 MPH range and a cruise in the mid-30s with a 115-horsepower outboard, a custom-matched Ranger Trail trailer with a swing-away tongue and Road Armor protectant, and all the fishing goodies you want and need in a serious tournament-level bass boat.
The Z175 package also has some special touches like stainless-steel compression latches, gas-assist struts on the hatches, an onboard Dual Pro battery charger, and aluminum wheels with a matching spare for the trailer. That means this boat will be the pick of anglers who demand top quality, and are willing to pay a bit more to get it. Want to see the Z175 in all its glory?
Visit Ranger Boats to learn more.
7. Skeeter ZX150
Starting at just over $36,000 the Skeeter ZX150 just barely squeaks in under our pricing bar. But we’re glad that it makes it into this mix, because with the Yamaha SHO V Max VF150 on the transom, it’s gets into the mid to upper 50 MPH range and is the fastest competitor in this roundup.
It’s also rigged with some features that are well above par, like the Humminbird Helix 5CHIRP fishfinder/GPS flush-mounted at the helm, oversized side-bolstered seats with headrests, tilt-hydraulic steering, a 70-pound-thrust electric trolling motor, and a remote drain plug. If you want to be the first angler to the hotspot while running a bass boat that can be reasonably called affordable, the ZX150 will be a top pick.
Visit Skeeter Boats to learn more.
8. Tracker Bass Tracker Classic XL
The Tracker Bass Tracker Classic XL isn’t just a throwback to the original Tracker comfortable-if-no-frills basic aluminum bass boat design, it’s also a throwback in the pricing department. Listing at a hair under $12,000, just about any average American will find it easy to afford.
And that price tag includes a surprisingly large stock 40-horsepower outboard which will net you a top-end over 30 MPH. That’s some potent bang-for-your-buck, made even better by the fact that this package includes a trailer and a 12-volt electric trolling motor.
Visit Tracker Boats to learn more.
9. Triton 179 TRX
With an length overall of 18’6”, the Triton 179 TRX is the largest fiberglass bass boat that makes it into our affordable roundup, carrying an MSRP just under $30,000. The rig includes a custom-matched trailer and a 115-horsepower Mercury FourStroke outboard.
This boat also has the largest livewell of any of the fiberglass contenders at 36 gallons, the largest built-in cooler at 51 quarts, and ties for the largest electric trolling motor with a Minn Kota Edge 70-pound thrust rig on the bow. Added customization bonus: Triton gives you your choice of 10 different color schemes to choose from.
Visit Triton Boats to learn more.
10. Xpress Xplorer XP200 Catfish
Bass anglers who enjoy hunting in the off-season will want to check out the Xpress XP200 Catfish, which is covered in camo from bow to stern. List price sits just over $26,000 with a Yamaha VF115LA outboard, and also includes a trailer.
This boat features a longer, deeper cockpit than most bass boats, so you’ll have plenty of room for decoy bags and extra gear as well as tackle boxes and rods. But you still get complete bass boat utility including pedestal fishing seats, a Minn Kota Edge trolling motor, an aerated livewell, and a Humminbird PiranhaMax 4 fishfinder, all included standard.
Visit Xpress Boats to learn more.
Are there other good choices out there which also meet this pricing bar? Absolutely. Should you limit your search to these 10 boats only, when you go looking for your next bass fishing machine? No way. But these 10 most affordable bass boats each have unique perks, features, or attributes that set them apart from the crowd.
So if you’re on the hunt for a bass boat and you’d like to keep the budget at or below the cost of an average new car, make sure you check out these options.
Read Next: 10 Most Affordable All-Purpose Fishing Boats
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