Looking to hire: Boat buying consultant for Erie-worthy minimalist fishing boat.

Not trying to be an azz, but expecting an "all encompassing" answer to your post in about 8 hours is a bit much.
 
To try and help, your truck should do alright, yes you may have a few problems at some of the ramps...2WD on a wet, slick ramp might get interesting!
 
You should be able to find something "ready to fish" for 3-5 K, but look for soft floors and leaks...ask to take it for a test run.
A deep V with high freeboard is safer in rough water, but less manuverable for "bass" fishing...A shallower hull with lower freeboard is more manuverable for bassin' but will toss you around in rough water.
 
About mixing oils and fuel...plain and simple - YOU NEED TO LEARN THIS! Otherwise you could ruin your engine.
 
About Erie regulations, look on the PaFBC website, there are certain required safety devices that you must carry on your boat...fire supression, signalling equipment, life jackets & throwables...etc.
 
Hope this helps.
The above reply is only MY thoughts and opinions, others may have more or better information.

Misterr Z...
 I actually like the boat you show above for what you have described, but EM and Bogey both offered good advice and we all have different preferences (which is why there are so many choices out there!)
Some basic points to remember
-it's not just the weather you head out in that you have to be able to handle,
 Erie (and any other large lake) can change in a very short time so be ready
 head in through much rougher water... So it is absolute that you have an
 engine that is in good running order and is strong enough to help you
 maintain control of the boat when you get in two or three footers that push
 a boat around like a giant bobber.
-figure out your motors fuel consumption either per mile or per hour under controlled circumstances at both half throttle and full throttle... and don't go out on the lake without twice what you would expect to use that day. The old phrase 'SH*T Happens' seems to be a golden rule out on the open water and ending up with a powerless boat is a recipe for disaster. (don't forget to include your kicker motor in the figuring if you are trolling also) So if you are fishing Erie look for a good fuel capacity on the boat or storage room for extra gas cans.
- carry an anchor capable of holding your boat in rough water with at least 200ft of good rope (a 6 ft length of heavy chain between the rope and anchor will help you hold bottom much better).... if you get into trouble and call for help you are much better off staying put so you can be found easier...
-anchor off of the bow... it will help point your nose into the waves in rough water and reduce the amount of water getting dumped into your boat
-don't go out without a decent capacity bilge pump and a sure way to keep a battery charged that it will be able to operate on.  They aren't that expensive and can make a difference between waiting on board your boat for help to arrive or waiting in the water because your boat founders...
-don't rely on a cell phone as your communication method... cell coverage out on the lake sucks in many areas and small electronics have a habit of being dropped overboard. A good quality marine radio with a tall antenna is a must in my book
-you should have 2 methods of finding directions... GPS units are great on the fish finders but honestly we have been in fog heavy enough that they have messed up and can't get a lock (that was a horrible long night) and if your electronic system crashes and you don't have power it won't be much good to you... having a simple marine compass on board can at the least keep you headed in the right direction to get back to a ramp.  Ask for advice on the right spot to mount them because I know other dash electronics can interfere with their accuracy.
-I would suggest having a qualified mechanic and/or marine surveyor check on the boat before you buy since you don't have experience with them and even minor repairs may end up costing you a lot if you have to have someone else do it for you
-Make sure your motor has a good battery charging system on it... and I would suggest getting someone to set up your system so that your motor under power can also charge your other batteries... it will extend the time you can be out on the water and it is amazing how fast batteries can run down... it also will help if you don't have to pull all of your batteries out of the boat every night to charge them... just plug in the boat instead.
 
also... practice using the compass, anchor and other tools in controlled area so if you get out on the big lake and need them you are familiar with their quirks..
These are just a few things I suggest... but I'm sure there are some near shore boaters on here that can give more pointers. You don't have to have a 'big boat' to have one that can be very usable on Erie...
Have fun...

If you're buying a used boat, first and foremost, it's all about the motor. That is what you are spending your money on. A decent trailer and a solid hull are fine, but when you dish out 4 grand only to find out that you need to spend another $1500 on repairs, you're going to be mad. All very good advice so far. Based on your budget, you're going to run into more junk than you could imagine. It's finding the right boat in all that mess that will be tricky. If you're trying to fish smallies on the lake, NO on the bass boat. If I'm not mistaken, you call head out in any **** boat you please for most bass tournies. (correct me if I'm wrong), but you don't need to fit into the bassin crowd that can't fish the Great Lakes on a windy day. You're in Erie and you need a deeper hull. Most important from everything else, get educated. You must be able to make minor repairs and maintain your equipment. Based on what you've stated, in my humble opinion, you aren't ready to make a purchase decision and care for a boat properly at this point on your own. Read up on outboard engines. Visit boat forums. Learn about the electronics. It's just not safe to out there unprepared. Good luck.

First of all, your thread title has to be one of the best I've seen in quite a while, LOL.
 
I wouldn't get in too big of a hurry, you're just getting into prime buying time, there will be lots of boats for sale that the owners don't want to winterize and store for another winter. Be patient and watch all the classified sites in your area like craigslist and pennswoods.net and even ebay. The zero mechanical skill thing isn't good when you're looking for less expensive used boats. I haven't had good experiences finding good service, so I now do all my own work. I would also highly recommend getting a tow service membership once you do find a boat. While there are lots of horror stories about used boats, there are lots of success stories. A guy has to start somewhere...Right? 

With the experience you have on the water here in a jon and renting, go for it man. If you do decide to wait until winter to buy, it's going to be a little tougher to confirm good running condition, as you won't be able to hit the water for a test or the motor may be winterized. If possible, at least run the motor for a bit in big tub if you aren't able to make a test run. good luck.