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Looking for a used fishing boat, 1995 or newer. Must be aluminum (river purposes), 17-18 foot range. Would really like to find a aluminum deck boat, but having trouble locating. Only seen two in my life, so I guess they're not too popular. Would also like any comments about the quality of G3 boats from anyone with knowledge of that make. Thanks in advance for the help guys.
Its not for sale, (you wanted opinions of G3 Boats) but I have a 2000 G3 Pro 175 (17'6" welded aluminum) with a 40 HP Yamaha on it. Its a great boat. There were (are) a couple of things I didn't like about it (front seat/holder was too close to the front and configuration of the rod locker and storage holds) but both of these problems have been fixed on the newer models after I told them about them. :-)
I fish out of this boat BY MYSLEF about 90 percent of the time and do not have any problem launching (with a line attached to the trailer) or driving the boat back on the trailer (then walking through the back of my Van). It rides well in rough water that I have encountered on Nolin, Rought, Green, Barren, etc. size lakes and if you are not in a big hurry it will get you anyplafce you want to go. I have been putting it on rocks and ramps since I had it and the keel does not show any signs of wear.
Hope this helps.
I've got a buddy with a CHERRY 16ft tracker. 50hp 2000 or 2002, I think.
Under $6000.00
Post if interested........
I've seen the G3 catalog and it looks like a well made boat. But I'll let the guys that have actually used one give their thoughts.
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off topic:
I did see something in this post that interested me though. So I hope you don't mind me asking something about what was said in the thread above.
Someone mentioned that he walked though their van when they were recovering their boat. I have a open bed pickup truck that I use and I do that too. But I have to jump out of the truck bed and then jump into the cab of the truck. I use to own and drive a dodge minivan and when I used the van to recover my boat I could walk though the inside of the van and then hop up into the front of my boat or vise verse.
So the idea of walking though the van made me wonder what type of van you have? I may need to get a new vehicle someday and I am thinking of what type to get that will still allow me to launch my boat by myself and to recover the boat easily when I am alone. That's why I am interested in the van type.
If I put a camper shell on the back of my truck then I can't launch my boat as easily without getting my feet in the water. And I want to avoid walking on slipper wet cement if at all possible. I hate taking off my shoes and shocks just to launch and recover my boat. But then I can't put stuff in the back of my pickup truck's bed and leave it unsecured when I go camping. That and the camper shell will keep everything in the truck bed from getting wet when it rains. I need to get my camper shell's windows fixed now if I am going to continue to use my pickup truck for fishing and camping. I hope to have the windows fixed by March so that I can go up to Patoka and camp out and do some early season crappie fishing.
I would like to check out other vehicles that can be used to haul my boat and camping supplies but still allow me to walk though the SUV or Van to get to the front of my boat. Most anything that I carry on the way to the lake will be dumped off at the camp site and stored there while I am fishing. Tents and coolers for example are not going to be in the vehicle when I am launching the boat.
I too use the rope launching method when by myself. I have tied to quick release snaps on both ends of a long 75 ft rope which makes launching by myself very fast and efficient. That makes the fishing trip much better. And my small boat works best when I am the only one in it. If two people fish out of it' it works but I don't have much room for storing any extra gear. So when I take someone out in my boat I keep the gear and down to a min or I have to take a lot of my rods and reels out of my boat before we go. And that's a pain sometimes. But I do it when I get someone who wants to fish with me in my boat. Most of the guys I fish with have their own boats and we just take both boats out on the water sometimes. That makes it much easier on both of us and in case one boat breaks down you have someone there to help get you back home.
Regards,
Moose1am
Moose, I made that comment and I am talking about a Chevy Venture Van, but I am sure you could do the same thing with any medium to full size Van or SUV. I too use snap hooks on about a 30 foot line. I just back down to the water, unhook the bow strap, hook up the release line; then get back in the Van, back far enough in the water to float the boat off the trailer, then drive back up enough so I can manually pull the boat to the side of the ramp.
When I am done fishing I put the trailer all the way into the water; drive the boat on; hook up the bow strap and continue on through the back of the Van. BTW, I have added those "non-skid walk planks" to the top of the trailer tongue, which make it a lot easier to go over the bow and get down on the tongue so I can hook up the bow strp, then go into the van. A four inch, painted trailer tongue can get awfully slippery.
As for the gear in the boat, I still fish a lot with my old fishing partner (he still works but I retired in May 2000) so I keep a lot of my gear and my rods in the Van and just transfer it to his boat or my boat when I am by myself. That leaves room in my boat for someone else when they want to go with me.
Grumpy
Give me a call @ Plapps Pro Outdoors, we have a used G3 hp 180 and a few good deals on 06 leftovers.
Richie Young
859-240-0043 cell
could you send a picture? I am his buddy and told him I would watch the post while he is at the Orange Bowl
[email][email protected][/email]