Beast input on fishing boat selection

  • Advertisement

HB Store


P&YBuck1
500 Club
Posts: 973
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:37 pm
Location: S.E. Wisconsin
Status: Offline

Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby P&YBuck1 » Sun Mar 19, 2017 12:45 am

Hi Everyone,

we have a ton of knowledgeable and resourceful people on our site, whose opinions I value since this is a unique site, with constructive information. That being said, I figured what better place to post a question regarding fishing boat opinions. I am looking to upgrade my fishing boat with the following general specs and wanted to get your opinions on your choices/suggestions. I know these are some broad specs but wanted to pick your brains, since I am always amazed are some introspective points of views I read here.

Specs:
- 6 person minimum seating, I use it to take my family out plus have I enjoyed doing some of the Take a vet fishing programs so want some comfort
- 75% used for inland lake/river fishing, 20% Lake Winnebago and 5% Lake Michigan
- I would be trolling at times too
- Aluminum boat
- thinking in the 16-18 foot range
- might pull tubers once in a while but fishing is majority of use, say 99%
- motor horsepower not important, want four stroke motor, with enough power to get from point A to B at a reasonable speed
- Cost will be a factor since no way can I afford those $40,000, plus boats, so maybe may spec list is way over... :)
- thinking single axel trailer with ability of fold away tongue for garage parking

P.S. Additional info for choices, I currently have a old 16 Ft StarCraft and a 14 Ft Mirrocraft boat. I plan on replacing the StarCraft but still love the Mirrorcraft for small lakes since so portable yet stable, so plan on keeping the Mirrocraft.

Let me know, I appreciate your input!

John


User avatar
Edcyclopedia
Posts: 12601
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:54 pm
Location: S. NH
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby Edcyclopedia » Sun Mar 19, 2017 2:11 am

Look @ beam width.
6-people, plus lake fishing, etc screams 8.5' beam...
Expect the Unexpected when you least Expect it...
User avatar
JAK
500 Club
Posts: 1051
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:49 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby JAK » Sun Mar 19, 2017 10:10 am

Tracker Targa good price for a really nice boat
P&YBuck1
500 Club
Posts: 973
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:37 pm
Location: S.E. Wisconsin
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby P&YBuck1 » Sun Mar 19, 2017 1:48 pm

Edcyclopedia - thanks, I do notice most of the new boats are much wider then my old StarCraft which I agree is needed for space.

Jak - thanks, funny I did see this boat and and I too thought it looked really nice and well priced for it's features.
User avatar
Hodag Hunter
500 Club
Posts: 3837
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:14 pm
Location: Northern WI
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby Hodag Hunter » Sun Mar 19, 2017 2:24 pm

Look for a good clean Ranger Reata for a family boat that fishes ok.
BassBoysLLP
500 Club
Posts: 9756
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:28 am
Location: Central WI
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Sun Mar 19, 2017 3:23 pm

Edcyclopedia wrote:Look @ beam width.
6-people, plus lake fishing, etc screams 8.5' beam...


This is good advice.
User avatar
flinginairos
500 Club
Posts: 931
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 7:11 am
Location: WV
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby flinginairos » Tue Mar 21, 2017 12:35 pm

JAK wrote:Tracker Targa good price for a really nice boat


Was just about to suggest the same thing. My dad is ordering a new 18' Targa in a couple months. We went and looked at one recently and it was a sweet boat! Tons of room in it.
User avatar
Jonny
500 Club
Posts: 5747
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 3:11 am
Location: In a van down by the river
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby Jonny » Thu Mar 23, 2017 4:25 am

Alumacraft competitor tiller. I can do jumping jacks on the rail of my buddies, and the boat barely moves. My dad farts in our early 90's lund angler II and the boat wants to flip over. Width is everything, and once you master using a tiller, you will love it. Consoles take up way too much space, although you can get a bigger motor. As far as motors, I love my honda fourstroke. I think its an 04, and under the cap, it looks brand new to this day. Starts up every spring, and never have had any maintenance with it. Only current model I have any experience with that is a fourstroke.

But seriously, get a very wide boat. Makes fishing and moving around tremendously easy. I just happen to prefer the newer alumacrafts to lund. And the price difference is very nice as well. A 18.5' competitor is maxed with a 90 hp on the back. I want to say that the boat, a 90hp yamaha fourstroke, and ulterra trolling motor would cost me about $25,000 when I talked to a dealer last year. Would prefer a honda, but the dealer I know has evinrude and yamaha.

If you do order a new boat from alumacraft, they might give you some headaches though. My buddy waited 2 months to find out his order was lost and never started. Bought a stock boat instead, and loves it.
You have a monkey Mr. Munson?
P&YBuck1
500 Club
Posts: 973
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:37 pm
Location: S.E. Wisconsin
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby P&YBuck1 » Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:09 am

Good input Jonny, thank you for the response.

I do love the Yamaha and Honda motors, my brother has had both and like you said maintenance free/good starters.

Thank again!

John
User avatar
Edcyclopedia
Posts: 12601
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:54 pm
Location: S. NH
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby Edcyclopedia » Mon Mar 27, 2017 2:59 am

I'm selling my 2005 Sea Ray 200 Select Bow Rider.
$44k new!

109 hours - just completed the bellows kit, needs zero work, good for another 10 years...
Fresh water only.
PRISTINE!

Add a few downriggers...
8-Person capacity...

Has 260 Merc, I/O
Aluminum tandem trailer w/ brakes.
NADA = $15,300 - 17,200
Expect the Unexpected when you least Expect it...
User avatar
Jonny
500 Club
Posts: 5747
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 3:11 am
Location: In a van down by the river
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby Jonny » Mon Apr 03, 2017 7:02 am

If you are still shopping around, evinrude is now offering 10 year full warranties on new motors now. Had a buddy dump his merc on Craigslist and picked one up yesterday just for the warranty.

For comparison, Mercury has a 3 year warranty.

Thought you would be interested
You have a monkey Mr. Munson?
User avatar
mag1
500 Club
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 5:32 am
Location: NE Wisconsin
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby mag1 » Mon Apr 03, 2017 11:42 am

But you have to look at the small print on the new evinrude 10yr warranty. Lots of variables to it.
User avatar
Jonny
500 Club
Posts: 5747
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 3:11 am
Location: In a van down by the river
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby Jonny » Mon Apr 03, 2017 12:10 pm

mag1 wrote:But you have to look at the small print on the new evinrude 10yr warranty. Lots of variables to it.


From my understanding it was total warranty. At least that's what the dealer I know told me when I talked to him out fishing. I am sure there is small print, but that's with every warranty. 10 years shows lots of confidence in a product. And according to the dealer, evinrude is doing very well right now
You have a monkey Mr. Munson?
User avatar
Hodag Hunter
500 Club
Posts: 3837
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:14 pm
Location: Northern WI
Status: Offline

Re: Beast input on fishing boat selection

Unread postby Hodag Hunter » Mon Apr 03, 2017 3:19 pm

The 10 year warranty is prorated and the evinrude division of Bombardier is not doing well.

The etecs in the smaller blocks are decent motors, jumping into the large block and they are a disaster. The G2 line hopefully has corrected those problems. So far the G2 seems to be a great motor but we don't know about longevity yet.


  • Advertisement

Return to “Lake Fishing”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests