Wife says yes to a new boat!!

[turn_in_poachers]

My first boat, actually. Ive talked my wife into getting my first boat. Im looking for an aluminum bass boat, something in the 17-18 ft range. So far, I like the Triton TS/VT boats, Tracker's Avalanche, and G3's HP180. Im open to other suggestions, but those are the ones that caught my fancy. Anybody else with opinions? Thanks.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm not questioning yoru decision.. but why aluminum? I just want to know why you have chosen alum over glass?

[turn_in_poachers]

I dont plan on fishing big, rough water, so a boat in that lenghth will do for me. Ive looked at glass boats in the 17-18 foot range, and dont really like any of them. If I were looking for a 19 ft+ boat, Id go glass. Also, as a first boat, an aluminum boat probably would be a better idea. Maybe later on Ill go fiberglass.

[Northlander]

Out of the boats you listed the Triton is the Class of the 3. The G3 would be my very last pick until they get some bugs worked out. There is no comparison to the 2 in my eyes. Tracker always underpowers everything on their boats from motor to graphs to bowmounts. When you break away from their packages the deals no longer a deal.

[Blaze]

I'm with Northlander on his recommendations - I have not been impressed with the G3s or Trackers I've seen, and I haven't seen any Tritons on the water. IMO, I think it's well worth it to step up to a Lund, Crestliner, or Alumacraft. If you plan on having the boat for 5+ years, I think you'll come out ahead.

[turn_in_poachers]

As far as Crestliner and Alumacraft go, their aluminum bass boats are the CMV1759 and the VS170? Ive looked at them briefly, but I cant seem to find a price on them unless I email a dealer. I wont be getting the boat until next spring. Im doing my research right now on exactly what I want, and then Ill go pick it out. Ill take a closer look at them though for sure. Does Lund make an aluminum bass boat?

[Freckles]

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE DIFFERANCE BETWEEN A WALLEYE BOAT AND A BASS BOAT? LUND HAS LARGE FOREWARD CASTING PLATFORMS IN SOME OF THEIR BOATS.

Freckles

[Deitz Dittrich]

Frec- usually a bass boat has lower sides and a larger front casting deck. Also, a alum bass boat is often times flat bottom for working in shallow water, where walleye boats have a deeper V for working bigger waves.

I have owned both an alum bass boat and a glass boat. I have always felt the fiberglass bots were more stabil in the water. And you can usually pick up used bass boats for a decent price, depending on what you are looking for. The ride in an alum bass boat in rough waves can be touch on the back. Of the ones you listed I would give a serious look at the Triton.

[swampbuck]

For pricing on the Crestliner CMv, go to the Crestliner web site and under I want a Crestliner use their build a boat section. this will give you MSRP on the boat/engine/trailer package.

MSRP is always higher than what the dealer will sell for.

[Blaze]

tip - my bad! I missed the "Bass Boat" piece.

I will say, the typical Lund/Crestliner/Alumacraft boats certainly double as bass boats just fine, though, with the added ability to handle rougher water if/when needed.

[Daze Off]

My wife wanted a boat that we could "all" feel comfortable in so we ended up with a Lund Explorer. I only fish for species other than bass perhaps twice/year. I also fish in a bass club so get to fish out of multiple boats. DO NOT go the Lund/Crestliner route if you can avoid it - glass boats have a WAY smoother ride, handle better, get to shallower water easier, and are much easier to bass-fish from - they are a real pain to flip/pitch or skip from compared to the bass boats - too much freeboard - mine is loaded with nicks from the jigs hitting it before it gets away from the boat. Lund/Crestliner are not set up for fishing tournaments either - rod lockers are both in rear, gear up front, for the most part. At least they have livewells in both ends. Not sure if you ever want to get into tournaments but it might be a consideration.

Oh, by the way - "all" of us have only been in the boat twice in the three years we have had the stupid thing....go figure.

Finally, remember this sage piece of advice that someone wise shared with me and I do believe it is true...."The two best days of a boat owners life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it"

Daze Off

[turn_in_poachers]

Dont get me wrong, if I find a nice fiberglass boat at a nice price, I wouldnt hesitate one bit. I just feel as a first time boat buyer/owner, an aluminum would be a safer route. Or........am I not making any sense? Doh!

[Guest]

Dude,

1st time boat, don't go all out man. Just like mine, I stayed with something simple, yet effective. 1st time boat owner, you WILL hit docks, have scrapes etc so do aluminum. Once you learn the tricks to boating, then get something more expensive. I say just get a tracker like mine..

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Dont get me wrong, if I find a nice fiberglass boat at a nice price, I wouldnt hesitate one bit. I just feel as a first time boat buyer/owner, an aluminum would be a safer route. Or........am I not making any sense? Doh!

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[Sandbar]

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My wife wanted a boat that we could "all" feel comfortable in so we ended up with a Lund Explorer. I only fish for species other than bass perhaps twice/year. I also fish in a bass club so get to fish out of multiple boats. DO NOT go the Lund/Crestliner route if you can avoid it - glass boats have a WAY smoother ride, handle better, get to shallower water easier, and are much easier to bass-fish from - they are a real pain to flip/pitch or skip from compared to the bass boats - too much freeboard - mine is loaded with nicks from the jigs hitting it before it gets away from the boat.

Lund/Crestliner are not set up for fishing tournaments either

- rod lockers are both in rear, gear up front, for the most part. At least they have livewells in both ends. Not sure if you ever want to get into tournaments but it might be a consideration.

Oh, by the way - "all" of us have only been in the boat twice in the three years we have had the stupid thing....go figure.

Finally, remember this sage piece of advice that someone wise shared with me and I do believe it is true...."The two best days of a boat owners life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it"

Daze Off

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Wow, nice way to "generalize" all Lunds and Crestliners. Have you actually been in any of the "high end" C-liners or Lunds lately?

[Umma Gumma]

I'm always surprised that nobody mentions Sylvan or Smokercraft when posts like these come along. I've had one for quite some time now, and I'd compare the layout and quality to most Lunds/Crestliners/Alumacrafts. The big knock on these boats seems to be holding their value, but you don't pay as much in the first place, so you don't usually lose as much when you do sell.

So, if you’re buying a boat to keep for a while, it would be worth it to at least take a look at these boats. You won't be disappointed. They offer pretty much all the same features as the rest of the boats mentioned in this posting, as well as the same quality.

[JDM]

I agree with Umma Gumma. I bought a new boat this year and ended up choosing a brand of boat that I would have never imagined. I bought a Starcraft Starfish. It is very comparible to a Lund Explorer except that it is slightly wider, deeper, has center and side rod storage, better warranty, thicker hull, and 25 more horses for $4000 less. I even get a lot of compliments from my many Lund /Alumacraft / Crestliner friends. Starcraft doesn't make bass boats, but my point is that it pays to look at all of your options. If you are not buying until Spring, I would go the boat show where you can see everything. Fall is also a good time to get a great deal as the dealers are trying to move inventory and the private party guys don't want to winterize and store their boats.

I would have bought the Triton fiberglass if I could have afforded it.

[caseymcq]

I will put a plug in here for getting a multi-species boat. Living in Minnesota there is a lot of variety in fish and fishing environments. Unless you are strictly on "bass" waters and that will be a vast majority of you fishing you may want to consider something that handles rough water a little better than a bass boat. Take a look at Alumacraft's Navigator Series. It is actually a lot of boat for the money. I have a Navigator 175 with a 75 hp Yammy four stroke and it is a great boat.

[big musk411]

My two cents. Go with an alumanum tiller. My boat, by no means, is on the level of what these guys are takling about. I fish a 16.5 ft alumacraft with a 25hp. I have been looking/dreaming about a new boat for a while now. As mentioned earlier, the alumacraft Navigator/Dominator series will give you a nice boat for the $$. Especially if you go with a tiller. You would be looking at 115-135hp as compared to 60-75hp. This will save you big bucks that you can spend on better boat, electronics and additional motors. Also, tiller will be better for casting for bass. I am biased because I fish mostly walleye/muskie from boat. I have a few cataloges laying around and there are some sweet looking bass modified V style boats made from aluminum on the market. I'm saving for the 18ft alumacraft tounament tiller .

[Guest]

I use my 17' Bass tracker for all species of fish, except for walleye because i don;t know how to fish for them and I LOVE the boat!! "Persona Opinion" I like bass boats because of the casting platform and low profile.. You feel more like you're right on the water and can walk around. Hey TIP, next time we go fishing, you can sit up front and work the trolling motor to see how you like it

[DougSpringBay]

[Note from admin: _Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[beeonkey]

I have had many new boats and one thing to really remember is the valu and easy selling of a used boat. There is a LUND differancs. The boat maybe more money at frist but it's there when your ready to trade or sell also. Go aluminum, watch the resale and trade-in valu of glass boats. If you are planning to fish lakes with rocks all over and you are pulling up to shore camping, aluminum all the way. Do a quick knuckle test, and knock on the side and bottom of the boats you are looking at. You will here the differance.

[Valv]

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Hey TIP,

Send me an e-amil. I have some contact information for you with regards to a Lund Pro V.

Doug

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Hey Doug, what's so wrong you can't place an ad for that boat of yours ? I think it's more appropriate than trying to post a reply like you did.

[Duffman]

TIP....

If you got your heart set on a bass boat, go for it. There are a lot of options out there, but don't overlook some multi-fish boats that can be had at a decent price. Here is my bass boat.....

...it's also my walleye, pike, muskie, sunny, and salmon boat.

[beeonkey]

Your right good for all types of fishing. Nice Boat

[Daze Off]

Only other thought I can add to consider is that multi-species boats like mentioned earlier tend to catch the wind more than bass boats because of the higher profiles - harder to hold on course when up front running trolling motor for that reason. Flip side, of course, is that in high wind and deep rollers it is easier to stay in the boat because of the high sides....

Daze Off

[DougSpringBay]

[Note from admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[turn_in_poachers]

That is a sharp boat Duff. At first, I looked at deep v boats only. Then I started thinking: I fish for bass 99.5% of the time. The only time I fish for another species is ice fishing season. So, yeah, I have my sights on a bass boat. The search continues....

[Valv]

Doug, let's stay on topic please.

[caseymcq]

Quote:

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TIP....

If you got your heart set on a bass boat, go for it. There are a lot of options out there, but don't overlook some multi-fish boats that can be had at a decent price. Here is my bass boat.....

...it's also my walleye, pike, muskie, sunny, and salmon boat.

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Another Navigator fan. It does my heart good to see it. I will still contend for the money they are the best value.

[DougSpringBay]

Valv,

I was on topic. TIP is looking for a boat. Off that topic was your call.

Doug