Alumacraft boats!!!

["The Man"]

Im thinking about buying a new Alumacraft Classic 165sc. They have them has a package deal with a 50hp Yamaha 4stroke, Minn Kota 55pd Trolling motor, Humminbird Graph, 3 deluxe seats and a trailer. My question is what do you guys about a Alumacraft boat thanks


Here is the boat
http://www.alumacraft.com/2011-models/classic/165-cs/

[llg]

I have a 40 yr old Alumacraft. The only thing about it that I would change is welding instead of rivets. It is 14', I have a small motor. I use it in rivers and lakes.

[coombro]

I have a 23 yr. old Sea Nymph and so far as a weld vs. rivets well they say the rivets are prone to leak yet mine doesn't. My boats been through hell and high water. I think every year about a new one then I ask myself why. Lots of Alumnicraft boats out there must be good ones.

[peter]

Hey coombro. Good question--?

I have a mid 80's sea nymph too and occasionally thought about a newer boat. Every time I mentioned a newer boat to someo they said --what for? Couldn't really give them an answer.

The layout and size of mine is what like.

Weld vs rivet?

Rivets can leak and welds can break/crack.
Guess it has to do more with how it's built.
Aluminum thickness is a big factor in welded and riveted boats. # rivets too.
With welded boats you need much thicker aluminum because when alum is welded it reduces the strength of the material around the weld.

I am not that familiar with but have never heard anything bad about alumacraft.
If it were me be I would first see where alumicraft falls re: hull thickness between the most and least expensive similar models of boat.

Good luck!

[The Legend]

I've had tow Alumacraft boats. I sold one, but kept the oldest one, which is a 1982 14' flat bottom. I don't believe you can go wrong if they're still building them like they used to. I've never had a rivet leak or a weld crack on mine. I've made it pretty rough on that old boat. I"ve even used it to break through two inch ice for several hundred yards while trying to get to a duck huntin' hole when the lake has been frozen.

[kygorski]

Aluma craft has a great reputation, almost as good as lund,wouldn't have a glass boat, they may ride better, but after rrailering them for years, the cost of fuel off sets any advantage,

[coombro]

Great point about the weight factor Peter. That was the main selling point to my purchasing a Sea Nymph.