When to buy my new bass boat, that is the question

I looked at a Phoenix bass boat for sale (actually someone did for me because it is a long way from my home). It is an 09 someone is selling and it is in mint condition. Although I would be happy with a number of bass boats, I like the depth and style of the 21' Phoenix. Some boats are a little too deep inside for my taste.

One of the draw backs to buying a used boat is financing. My credit union offers 144 months on new boats but only 84 months on used. And the interest rate is a little higher on used. Now if I was independently wealthy, it would not be an issue. Unfortunately I'm not. I need the longer payment to keep the payment in my budget so I still have money to buy gas to use it — especially in the first couple of years as I pay off my truck. Once that is done, I can accelerate the payments to get it paid off before I retire.

The one for sale will become available later this fall. But I am facing 2 surgeries this fall so I'm not ready to use the boat until ... maybe January 2010. And my previous surgeries and complications took most of the down payment I had been saving. I need a little time to save again.

I feel nearly 100 % after my surgeries in April and May so I want to go fishing badly, but I still am taking medications that could cause me harm if I had a mishap in the boat (blood thinners). Can you say, hook in finger or arm — I know, not likely, but I have had it happen 5 times in my lifetime. Worse, I have a hole in my skull where the brain surgery was and so if I fell or slipped in the boat it could be dangerous. One of the surgeries (maybe in Nov.) is to put a plate in my skull.

Anyway, enough rambling. Hey if you are in Conroe TX area in Oct. check out the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. I went to the previous two tournaments, but I might not make it this year. Too bad. It's fun and an unique format.

Now that I feel better, I'll try to dig up new info to post here.

Lost Opportunities

I so wanted to have a new bass boat by now, but a series of health problems has kept me back. I don't want to bore you with too many details, but I woke one morning in early April with vision loss in my right eye. (About 60% loss.) After a few doctor visits, MRI and CT scan, it was determined that I might have a tumor on my brain wrapped around my right optic nerve. Turns out it was a cyst, but I still needed to have it removed. So on April 16 I had the surgery. I felt pretty good so I was allowed to go home.

After a few days at home I began to have a lot of pain. It seems I contracted bacteria meningitis and now I had to go back in the hospital. I was quarantined for a few days until they figured out what strain it was and started the anti biotic, which I am still on. The infection spread to my skull where they cut me open so the doctor had to remove a piece of my skull. In a few months I get to go back and have a plate or something put in.

So after a little while I went home again. Memorial day I woke up with serious chest pain. Back to ER. This time I had blood clots in my lungs. Now I'm on a blood thinner for 4 to 6 months. I spent 28 days in the darn hospital so I missed some of the best spring fishing.

If the stock market hadn't tanked so much, I would have been able to pay cash for my new boat. Now I need to finance part of it. I have it narrowed down to two boats. A 21' foot Ranger or 21' foot Phoenix. I'm leaning toward the Phoenix. I think this will be my last boat in my life time so I'm not worried about resale value, otherwise I would go with a Ranger.

With two more surgeries this year, I will hold off making a purchase until after my last surgery, which may be in December 09.

I fished the Texas Bass Federation state tournament in March and did well enough to qualify for the 12-man state team. I was looking forward to fishing the BASS Central Divisional in June. I would have had the unique opportunity to fish in two different Divisionals in my career. I gave up my spot because of my surgeries. Plus I have a hole in my head where they took out part of my skull, so I have to careful not to bump my head.

I think now is a good time to buy so I might do that even if I can't use it till late next winter or spring. I love to fish so much that it pains me to think of all the lost opportunities again this year. I hope your year has gone better than mine.

Texas Bass Federation Nation State championship

I am looking forward to fishing the top 6 tournament next week @ Amistad. I am hoping to experience a ride in several boats too, but mostly I'm looking forward to fishing. It's been a long time since I fished a big tournament.

The weather looks interesting. I bet the bass will be post spawn. The fishing is going to be tough and I will rig up some lighter rigs just in case.

I set up a twitter feed to this blog so you can see my updates or follow me on Twitter.

http://twitter.com/basseditor

randy

Back on Track to Buy a New Boat

So I had to work in Arlington TX last week at the fishing show so I started to look at boats again. I saw a new manufacturer, Phoenix Boats, from TN. Interesting boat. I liked the way it looks. I'm still trying to build my web site but so much stuff gets in the way. I know I need to get it done and then incorporate a blog on that site.

Back to the Phoenix. I need to look into it more. I want to drive one. I know there is a dealer in Lake Whitney, TX so one of these days I'll venture up that way and check it out more. I know one of the owners of the manufacturer (from back in the days when I was selling Stratos Boats and he worked at the factory in TN). I hope he finds success with his new line of boats.