Think long and hard about how much time you think you will actually have to use it. My brother lives near Akron and bought a boat years ago thinking he'd like to fish on Erie. He gets enough free time to do it about twice a year. The rest of the time that boat sits in his garage. I have friends that are slaves to their boats and feel like they have to go every weekend, since they are making payments on the thing, especially when it's sitting in the garage over the winter. Then they complain about costs for fuel, launch fees, hotels, insurance. Duh.
I have had a canoe for 30 years and it gets a lot of use for fishing. I do not have enough free time to load up a trailer, travel somewhere, launch fish, maybe spend the night, etc..., even though I love to fish. I do have enough time to throw the canoe on the truck, take it with me to work and hit a small lake, pond or creek on the way home. I believe I actually get more fishing in that way doing short trips that are convenient.
If you can rationalize an inexpensive boat purchase like you are describing with the time you'll have to use it, then go for it.
Dirty Steve
I have had a canoe for 30 years and it gets a lot of use for fishing. I do not have enough free time to load up a trailer, travel somewhere, launch fish, maybe spend the night, etc..., even though I love to fish. I do have enough time to throw the canoe on the truck, take it with me to work and hit a small lake, pond or creek on the way home. I believe I actually get more fishing in that way doing short trips that are convenient.
If you can rationalize an inexpensive boat purchase like you are describing with the time you'll have to use it, then go for it.
Dirty Steve