Reply With QuoteThey float, at least the last one I was in!
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Senior Member
Any of you ever owned one? Fished out of one? Just gonna be buying a boat in the near future and this manufacture product has me interested. I'm leaning toward a 17-18ft model and not a center console. Just really hope someone out there has some input on quality. Thanks.
Senior Member
They float, at least the last one I was in!
DJ, also consider a Raider. More bang for the buck. If you want you are welcome to come see mine' drink a beer, and have a chance to experience a product in a non sales atmosphere. 270- 735-7814 to set a time.
Senior Member
Alumacraft makes a pretty good boat. I like my revolution hull on my tracker, but I hear the mod V Alumacraft is pretty good too. They also can handle a bigger motor, so I suspect they are a little beefier.Originally Posted by DJD
You thinking about something like their allweld Aluminum or their Pro Series?
Like I said, I LOVE my tracker, and fish lots and lots of water with it. I still get pushed around on KY Lake, but outside of that I fish pretty much where I want.
No matter what you get, make sure it is ALL WELD. The riveted boats simply don't hold up as well and will eventually leak.
Later,
Geo
http://www.raiderboats.com/our-boats...sherman-models
Pro 185, all welded aluminum hull with a hull thickness twice the industry average and ready to handle Cumberland debris in the spring, and beaching on gravel banks without a care.
POC is Jon, at http://www.inland-boats.com/
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...t-WB-102065957
Senior Member
I appreciate the info fellas! I am just looking, gathering info and plan on buying around boat show time or maybe right after as folks trade in older boats for shiny new ones. I sold my little Grizzly and ATV to get some cash together for a bigger boat. If the boat show doesn't have a deal beyond belief then I will do a used one. Really wanting to stay 10K or less right now.
Being a bass fisherman.....The perfect boat for me would be 18ft or less, nice big casting deck, ample storage for 7-7.6" rods, maximum 4 stroke motor for the boat not the minimum as most come, all welded, no wood and very stable. I like to see 60" bottom or more along with a 84" beam. Swing away tongue would be nice but I can add that later myself.
I mainly fish small lakes and creeks but want to trailer to bigger lakes here or lakes in other states. The Lowe boats have my attention and have entertained the Tracker boats but I am a little gun shy after having a Skeeter rot on me years ago from water seeping into the wood floor.
I have a 5hp motor I will bolt on for fishing my club lake so the transom needs to be pretty open. That's where I am at right now!
Senior Member
Don I had an Xpress 16' a few years back and they build a great boat. I would stick with the 18' inho.
Senior Member
Man I looked at those and I like them but wow are they expensive!! Very fast and stable from what I have read.
I really like the 17-18 ft size lowe products and have seen a few basic hunting/utility boats that I can build decks on to save cash like I did my tracker grizzly.
Senior Member
I got mine used and sold it 3 years later and made a $100 on the sale of it. I guess I was in the right place at the right time.
Senior Member
George,
I looked at trackers today and was impressed. How does yours fish? Does the bow sit pretty high in the water so as a long day of fishing your legs get weary?? So that hull handles the water ok??
The brochures talk it up good with the ride, turning and stability but would rather hear first hand. Thanks.
Senior Member
The hull rids high......and it IS an aluminum boat, so you get beat up a little.
I fish everywhere. I will be the first one to tell ya that is it not enough boat to fish KY lake when Ky is rough. What I mean by rough is 10 out of south, southeast, north, northwest. Most other times I'm good, but it will BEAT the tar out of you in really rough water.
That being said.....I LOVE IT. Fishes pretty good, and has reasonable room.. They seem to be built pretty well too, and the newers ones ( 2008 and above) are much drier in the rod lockers and boxes.
It turns ok but will "break loose" and slide if you push it too much......sometimes SCARY but you will figure that out by driving it.
The 17 was not enough boat for me. The 19 is much better, imho. Also, you cannot go wrong with the OPTI motor. I only wish I had the 115 instead of 90. With that said, the 90 pushes it along quite nice, around 45 or so. When I'm cruising ( 4000rpm), I get about 9mph....Yea, you heard that right. I can fish all weekend, 3 days on a tank of gas, and that is a 13 gallon tank. All over NORTH end of KY Lake, no problem.
I hope this helps.
Later,
Geo
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