So we decided to buy a boat.

The decision to buy a boat was made. So we scanned ebay daily. Checked the local and semi-local nebraska papers. Checked craigslist.org often. I looked at ALOT of boats. Thousands of them. And thats no exageration.



We had decided we wanted something we could fish out of, but also pull ski/tube behind as well (credit where its due. Our daughter is the big ski/tube buff.)

The list of things I was looking for was something along the lines of this:



Runabout type boat with an open bow.



50 plus horse motor, but not so big we couldn't afford to run it.



Trolling motor.



Bilge pump.



Live well.



Fish locator.



Lighting for night operation.



In decent shape.



And on a budget of less than 1200 dollars.



Yeah, we were asking ALOT. So we looked and looked. Then one tuesday or wednesday in june, I found it. a 1994 starcraft 1709 fish and ski runabout type boat with a 1994 mercury 115 outboard for 995$. And it was at a dealer no less. The only trouble was, it was at a dealer in Kansas City Missouri. Thats 6 hours or so away from where we live. Well, I hurriedly explained the hows and whys about the boat, and we drove down to look at it. It was pouring rain when we got there, but we checked it out as best we could - in spite of the rain - and bought it. It towed well home.



Heres a pic of it:







So begins my oddessy into boating.