It’s that time of year to be searching for a bass boat to enjoy this summer. It may be your first bass boat, or maybe you’re just looking for a new or a used model. Either way, there’s tons of manufacturer websites and boat selling websites to sift through to find what you need.
I tried doing as much of that grunt work as possible for you to give you a solid idea of what you can expect in the current market, and hopefully it will help you start your journey with a better idea of what lies ahead.
I went ahead and sifted through the websites of the top 14 bass boat manufacturers to look at 124 bass boat models and will try to present data so that you know the following:
- Cost of the newest 2023 models by brand and by hull type
- Approximate cost of used models by brand and hull type
- Fiberglass vs. Aluminum when it comes to pricing
- Most affordable brands and models
- Most expensive brands and models
- Shallow vs. Deep Hull when it comes to pricing
- Average cost per foot of aluminum and fiberglass hulled bass boats
Without further adieu, let’s get started!
How Much Does a Bass Boat Cost
The cost of a bass boat is not as simple as throwing out a number. When searching the market, you need to consider:
- New vs. Used
- Length
- Fiberglass or Aluminum Hull
- Shallow or Deep-V hull
- Brand
- Engine Make and Model
- Additional Accessories and Motors
I analyzed the 14 primary brands that are listed in this article and looked at 124 new models that fit the bass boat category. When all of the major brands in the bass boat industry are analyzed and the numbers are averaged out, I came up with the following ranges one can expect to pay for new and used bass boats.
For a new bass boat, one can expect to pay a range of $29,300-$40,300 for a 16′-22′ aluminum hull, or $58,500-$80,500 for a 16′-22′ fiberglass hull. Used boats that were manufactured in the last 10 years will generally cost $20,500-$28,200 for a 16′-22′ aluminum hull, and $40,950-$56,350 for a fiberglass hull.
| Hull Type | Cost for New 16′-22′ | Cost for Used 16′-22′ |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | $29,300 – $40,300 | $20,500-$28,200* |
| Fiberglass | $58,500-$80,500 | $40,950-$56,350* |
How Much More Expensive is Fiberglass vs. Aluminum on a Bass Boat Per Foot of Length?
When choosing between fiberglass and aluminum for a bass boat, fiberglass is definitely going to be the more expensive choice. Aluminum is far more affordable.
But how much more expensive is fiberglass over aluminum per foot of length?
I analyzed the 14 primary brands that are listed in this article and looked at 124 models that fit the bass boat category. I excluded Princecraft aluminum boats from the aluminum average, as they were exceptionally high in price compared to the others and were a clear outlier.
The results indicate that one can expect to pay 100% more for fiberglass over aluminum per foot of length, with fiberglass averaging $3,658 per foot (new) and aluminum averaging $1,832 per foot (new).
| Bass Boat Hull Material | Average Cost Per Foot of Length |
|---|---|
| Fiberglass | $3,659 |
| Aluminum | $1,832 |
Of course, some brands will be far above these averages, and some will be much lower, but these are the results from looking at 124 models across 14 brands.
Average Cost For a Bass Boat (New vs Used)
When calculating these numbers, I had all of my data from the manufacturer’s websites on 2023 models but I also had to find used boat pricing data as well for previous years. I relied on boattrader.com to compare models today and their prices based on the date of manufacture from 2022 through 2010.
I tried finding as many of the same model of boat, but I couldn’t find each and every one, since some models were discontinued and some are new and were never created before. I did find enough examples in both the aluminum and fiberglass categories to get a general idea of the trends as far as depreciation.
There were lots of boats that were in “used but new” condition, and those with lots of hours, so the variances were drastic at times. Removing the outliers, I did my best to get a general depreciation percentage (value the boat has decreased based on the today’s new sale price versus the current price of a boat based on its year of manufacture).
I also eliminated Princecraft from the average since they were the outlier in the aluminum category and were abnormally high in price. With them eliminated from the average, the prices better reflect the other 9 brands that were analyzed.
Here are tables with the results of what I found:
Aluminum
| Year | Average Cost Per Foot of Length of Aluminum Hull Bass Boat | Average Depreciation % | Cost Range for 16′-22′ Boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1,832 | 0% | $29,312 – $40,304 |
| 2022 | $1,740 | 5% | $27,840 – $38,280 |
| 2021 | $1,722 | 6% | $27,552 – $37,884 |
| 2020 | $1,704 | 7% | $27,264 – $37,488 |
| 2019 | $1,667 | 9% | $26,672 – $36,674 |
| 2018 | $1,648 | 10% | $26,368 – $36,256 |
| 2017 | $1,502 | 18% | $24,032 – $33,044 |
| 2016 | $1,465 | 20% | $23,440 – $32,230 |
| 2015 | $1,282 | 30% | $20,512 – $28,204 |
| 2014 | $1,191 | 35% | $19,056 – $26,202 |
| 2013 | $1,099 | 40% | $17,584 – $24,178 |
| 2012 | $1,044 | 43% | $16,704 – $22,968 |
Fiberglass
| Year | Average Cost Per Foot of Length of Fiberglass Hull Bass Boat | Average Depreciation % | Cost Range for 16′-22′ Boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3,659 | 0% | $58,544 – $80,498 |
| 2022 | $3,403 | 7% | $54,448 – $74,866 |
| 2021 | $3,403 | 7% | $54,448 – $74,866 |
| 2020 | $3,403 | 7% | $54,448 – $74,866 |
| 2019 | $3,330 | 9% | $53,280 – $73,260 |
| 2018 | $3,110 | 15% | $49,760 – $68,420 |
| 2017 | $3,000 | 18% | $48,000 – $66,000 |
| 2016 | $2,708 | 26% | $43,328 – $59,576 |
| 2015 | $2,488 | 32% | $39,808 – $54,736 |
| 2014 | $2,305 | 37% | $36,880 – $50,710 |
| 2013 | $2,195 | 40% | $35,120 – $48,290 |
| 2012 | $2,122 | 42% | $33,952 – $46,684 |
Average Cost Per Foot of Aluminum Hull Length by Brand (New and Used)
Below is the price range for each brand of aluminum bass boats, followed by the average price-per-foot to get an idea for making estimates in the field when shopping around. Sea Ark was left out, as their website was missing prices and I was not going to use an incomplete data set.
| Bass Boat Brand | Actual Price Range | Range of Length | Average Price Per Foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crestliner | $15,185 – $52,589 | 16′ – 21’5″ | $1,544 |
| G3* | $18,590 – $43,270 | 16’10” – 23’11” | $1,427 |
| Lowe | $15,545 – $49,995 | 16′ – 19’10” | $2,014 |
| Lund | $24,597 – $62,478 | 17’9″ – 20’10” | $2,081 |
| Princecraft | $69,056 – $83,343 | 19′ – 22′ | $3,710 |
| Ranger Aluminum (standard hull) | $27,395 – $38,995 | 17’10” – 19’10” | $1,735 |
| Ranger Aluminum (Deep-V hull) | $23,395 – $56,395 | 16’3″ – 19′ | $2,337 |
| Tracker | $14,995 – $32,995 | 16’8″ – 18’7″ | $1,365 |
| Vexus | $29,832 – $51,820 | 18’1″ – 20’2″ | $2091 |
| Xpress | $28,995 – $43,995 | 17′ – 21′ | $1,897 |
Average Cost Per Foot of Fiberglass Hull Length by Brand (New and Used)
Below is the price range for each brand of fiberglass bass boats, followed by the average price-per-foot to get an idea for making estimates in the field when shopping around.
| Bass Boat Brand | Actual Price Range | Range of Length | Average Price per Foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitro | $33,995 – $82,995 | 17’4″ – 21’7″ | $3,075 |
| Ranger | $52,995 – $104,995 | 18’10” – 22’10” | $4,016 |
| Skeeter | $50,250 – $111,170 | 18’6″ – 22′ | $4,277 |
| Triton | $37,995 – $77,595 | 18’6″ – 21 | $3,086 |
| Vexus | $29,832 – $51,820 | 18’1″ – 21’11” | $3,954 |
Most Popular Brands of Bass Boats
I initially was going to research 16 of the most popular brands of bass boat manufacturers, but I found that one (Stratos) is no longer in the business, one had incomplete data (Sea Ark — some prices provided but not all), and one wouldn’t provide prices (Bass Cat), so I focused on 13 instead.
Since I don’t waste my time with companies who cause people to jump through hoops when every other competitor is upfront about their pricing, I decided to not pursue any further data with them. Looking at you, Bass Cat.
Below are the names of the brands and they link over to the website where you can check out models and prices.
- No prices listed
- Fiberglass Hulls
- New models broken into “Premium”, “Advantage” and “Vision” categories
- Boats between 22′ and 17’7″ in length
- Aluminum hulls
- New models broken into “MX”, “XF”, “XFC”, “Ridge”, and “Storm” models
- New models: Very affordable when compared to competition ($15,000-$50,000)
- Boats between 21’5″ and 16′ in length
- Aluminum hulls
- New Models: moderately expensive for the aluminum category, but unlike all of the competitors, G3 gives you the base price of the boat only — not including an engine and other basic accessories
- Prices: $18,500-$43,000 but you must also add an engine on the website ($10,00-$15,000) just to make it more comparable to other brands as far as pricing
- New models use the “Sportsman” prefix followed by a number indicating the length
- Boats between 23’11” and 16’10” in length
- Aluminum hulls
- New Models: Affordable ($15,500-$50,000) with 4 of the 9 models being $21,000 or less
- New models in the “Stinger 8”, “Stinger 5” and “Skorpion” series
- Boats between 19’10” and 16′ in length
- Aluminum hulls
- New Models: Moderately expensive in the aluminum category ($24,000-$62,000)
- New models in the “Pro V Bass XS” and “Renegade” categories
- Boats between 20’10” and 17’9″ in length
- Fiberglass hulls
- New Models: In the middle as far as cost ($33,000-$80,000 depending on model)
- New models have “Z” or “ZV” prefixes followed by a number which roughly aligns with the length of the boat
- Boats between 21’7″ and 17’4″ in length
- Aluminum hulls
- New Models: Most Expensive for aluminum ($69,000-$83,000)
- New models have the “Platinum SE” prefix
- Boats between 22′ and 19′ in length
- Aluminum hulls
- New Models: Moderately expensive ($27,000-$38,000) for standard hulls (more expensive for some Deep-V hulls)
- New models have a “VS” prefix followed by a 4-digit number which roughly aligns with the length (first 2 digits for feet, last two for inches) of the boat, but it’s not always correct
- Boats between 19’10” and 16’3″ in length
- Fiberglass hulls
- New Models: Tied for Most Expensive ($52,000 to $105,000) with 11 of the 15 models being $80k+
- New models have “Z5” or “62” prefixes followed by a number which roughly aligns with the length of the boat
- Boats between 22’10” and 18’10” in length
- Aluminum hulls
- New models: Expensive in the aluminum hull category ($50k-Unknown) — Only two models listed and the larger one was not given a price
- New models have “BC” prefix followed by a number that denotes the length
- Boats are 21’6″ to 19’6″ in length
- Fiberglass Hulls
- New Models: Tied for Most Expensive ($50,000 to $111,000) with 8 of the 13 models being $80k+ and 4 of them being $100k+
- New models have “FXR”, “ZXR”, “Solera”, and “WX” prefixes followed by a number which approximates the length in feet or feet and inches
- Boats between 22′ and 18’6″ in length
- Aluminum hulls
- New Models: Most affordable ($15,000 to $32,000) with 4 of the 6 models being under $24k
- New models include the Bass Tracker Classic XL, “Pro” and “Pro Team” prefixes, followed by a number designating the approximate length of the boat
- Boats between 18’7″ and 16’6″ in length
- Fiberglass hulls
- New Models: Moderately expensive based on competition ($37,000-$77,000)
- New models have the base name “TRX”, sometimes followed by the suffix “Patriot” and the number is actually the prefix
- Boats between 21′ and 18’6″ in length
- Glass-infused Aluminum hulls for some, fiberglass for others
- New Models: Moderately expensive in the aluminum category ($30,000-$51,000), more expensive for fiberglass ($83,000-$85,000)
- New models have the prefix “AVX” for the glass-infused aluminum and “VX” for fiberglass
- Boats between 21’11” and 18’1″ in length
- Aluminum hulls
- New Models: Moderately expensive for the aluminum category ($29,000-$43,000)
- New models have an “X” or “H” prefix, followed by a number denoting the approximate length in feet
- Boats between 21′ and 17′
What are the Most Affordable Bass Boats?
When it comes to selecting the most affordable bass boat, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of factors that will determine the price, and we mentioned many of those before in a previous section.
However, if you’re just wondering about a general rule of thumb when it comes to what bass boat brand is cheaper, then I’ve got you covered.
The brand Tracker is the most affordable aluminum hull bass boat on the market for both new and used models. If you don’t mind buying a used boat, you can regularly find a 16′-18′ tracker boat on sale in the $8,000-$10,000 range.
The brand Nitro and Triton are the most affordable brands in the fiberglass hull category, from my research. Their prices are generally 25% less than competitors with fiberglass hulls.
What are the Most Expensive Bass Boats?
The most expensive brand in the aluminum hull category was easily Pinecraft. They were 58% more expensive than the second most expensive brand, and they were often 100% (or more) expensive than other aluminum hull brands.
The most expensive aluminum hull bass boats were the following:
- Princecraft Platinum SE 227: $83,343
- Princecraft Platinum SE 207: $73,952
- Princecraft Platinum SE 190: $69,056
- Lund 2075 ProV Bass XS: $62,478
Skeeter and Ranger consistently had the most expensive fiberglass bass boats, with their prices being about 25% more than their competitors. They often had boats that exceeded $100,000 when new.
The most expensive base models that I found were the following:
- Skeeter FXR21 Apex: $111,170
- Skeeter FXR20 Apex: $109,260
- Skeeter WX 2200: $109,250
- Ranger 622FS Pro: $110,995
- Ranger Z521R LE: $104,995
What Makes a Bass Boat Different than Other Boats?
Bass boats are specialized fishing boats designed primarily for bass fishing in inland waters. They are different from other types of boats for several key reasons:
- Design: Bass boats have a unique design that often includes a flat deck and one or two swivel chairs that can be moved to the bow and stern for better casting and reeling in. They also usually have a V-shaped hull to handle choppy waters better and a shallow draft to allow them to navigate shallow areas where fish often gather.
- Size: They are generally smaller than other types of boats, with most ranging between 16 to 22 feet in length. This size makes them easier to maneuver and allows for better access to tight fishing spots.
- Engine and Motor: Bass boats often come with powerful outboard engines, as well as an additional trolling motor at the bow. The trolling motor allows for precise movements and stealthy approaches to avoid scaring the fish away.
- Storage: These boats often have built-in storage compartments for fishing gear, including live wells to keep the catch alive. This is especially important in bass fishing tournaments where the catch is released after weighing.
- Electronics: Bass boats typically come equipped with sophisticated fish-finding and navigation equipment to help locate prime fishing spots.
- Speed: Bass boats are usually capable of high speeds, which can be beneficial when moving between different fishing spots quickly, especially during tournaments.
Remember, though, that not all bass boats will have all these features and some will have other features not listed. The specific features of a bass boat can vary based on factors such as the manufacturer, model, and the preferences of the owner.
Final Takeaways
When choosing a bass boat for this summer, there are many variables to consider such as whether it’s new or used, its length, hull type, brand, and additional accessories. The research conducted here provides a comprehensive understanding of the bass boat market, analyzing 124 models across 14 major brands.
The results showed that for a new bass boat, prices can range from $29,300 – $40,300 for a 16′-22′ aluminum hull, and $58,500-$80,500 for a fiberglass hull of the same size. Used boats can range from $20,500-$28,200 for an aluminum hull, and $40,950-$56,350 for a fiberglass hull, depending on various factors.
The cost per foot for fiberglass boats was found to be almost 100% higher than aluminum boats, averaging $3,659 per foot (new) compared to $1,832 per foot (new) for aluminum.
I found Tracker to be the most affordable brand for aluminum hulls and Nitro and Triton to be relatively affordable for fiberglass hulls. On the other hand, brands like Princecraft for aluminum hulls, and Ranger and Skeeter for fiberglass hulls, were found to be more expensive.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced boat owner, understanding the trends and prices in the market can help you make a more informed decision. Remember, the most important thing is to find a boat that fits your needs and budget. Happy boating!