boat comparisons...

[nofishfisherman]

I have been reading alot about boats lately with the hopes of trying to buy one in the next few years. I am wondering what the differences are in boats that account for the cost difference.

Also what would you guys rank as the top 5 boat manufacturers out there?

[Northlander]

Tin Boats

LUND

Alumacraft

Chrestliner

Then the rest can fall in line anylace

Glass boats would be like this for me

Triton

Ranger

Skeeter

All the rest can fall in line anyplace

Just my opinion, you may find that you like 1 boat over the other for many different reasons. Lots of boat opinions are based on how the individual will use them. Buy what your happy with and can afford not what someone says you should buy.

[eyepatrol]

Differences in prices can be attributed to a number of factors and IMO the best way to compare is to go with a standard base boat with same size motor and see what the prices are. The thing you need to be careful with is that many of the boats are sold with different standard equipment, so if you're not careful, you won't be comparing prices "apples to apples". Some have a cd/stereo standard, some do not; some may come standard with 3 seats, others with two, some may have standard bow control panel, some may not, and the list can go on. So when you start comparing price, you'll really need to look hard at what is standard and what isn't, so that you can compare fairly. Glass boats, more often than not, will also cost more than aluminum.

I've only owned one boat in my life so far, so my ranking will be without experience, but the top five (in no particular order) in my own opinion would be as follows:

Aluminum

Alumacraft, Lund, Crestliner, G3, Polar Kraft

Fiberglass

Ranger, Triton, Stratos, Skeeter, Warrior

HOWEVER, I'd suggest researching many, many boat manufacturers and models. Size and location of livewells and baitwells are something I look at, personally. My wife wants comfort, so seats and roominess is important to her. There are a whole slough of other makes out there that are good also. I'm in a similar situation in that we're getting a boat next spring, and I've been researching boat makes and models for at least 3 months now. It's been hard to decide, but it certainly is fun!

Good luck!

[DuluthGuy]

Glass - Yarcraft! and some others~

I have ridden in almost every boat during walleye tourney's.

All have pro's and con's...

My typing sucks to much to go on for pages about them.

You can describe your fishing type preferred then budget, then decide metal vs. glass. etc.

B2

[PerchJerker]

I wouldn't argue with anything Northlander said in his post.

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

I also gota go with northlander, except I might bold the LUND

[Northlander]

Harpoon just for you. I too am a LUND guy.

Very nice eye in your avator! How long and how heavy? Is it on your wall?

[wisconsinfish]

I aggree with basscatcher. It's really hard to compare prices with the different amount and types of standard equipment. Some boat brands/dealers have better trailers standard. One trailer may have side guides, torsion axles, brakes, liquid hubs, bunks vs rollers, etc...

Some boats have better livewell and baitwell airation systems standard.

Also, sometimes you can buy an accessory package and get the accessories at a discounted price (usually a limited selection-is the downfall of going this way). Depending on what accessories you want, they can add a LOT of $ to the total price.

I also agree with the selection of boats that everyone has said so far. They are the best of what is out there, and most of the companies stand behind their product.

[Slyster]

How about TRACKER? Any good?

[eyepatrol]

Tracker? I'd have to say yes....guys I've heard of that own them like them.

[RK]

I've been running Trackers for the last 4 years - an 18 Tracker Tundra. Love the thing. Would get another without batting an eye.

Ran Lunds for years - loved them too.

Many good boat Mfgs out there, each with strengths and weakenesses. A Lund in the same class has nice fit/finish features my Tracker doesn't. But, I like the interior design better on my Tracker, and the rough water ride is far superior. To me those things outweighed Lund's advantages. You can make the same +/- comparison of features and benifits between any boat and any other.

I've bought quite a few boats over the years. Because of what I do I get to fish out of several different brands and models each season. I've seen most of what the marine industry has to offer...

The one thing I can say with certainty is EVERY boat is a compramise at some level. Best you can do is get clear in your own mind what's important to you for the way you fish, along with all the other factors (budget, dealer nearby, motor brand, etc...) and find a boat that meets as many of those needs as possible. You'll never check off all the boxes, but you can usually get close.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[JohnMickish]

From what I can tell about a Tracker is they are good but do not hold their value compared to a Lund, Alumacraft, Ranger and so on. Just something to keep in mind if you ever want to trade/sell it later.

[jgeatz]

I have also ran a Tracker for the last 15 yrs. They are a good boat for the money. And tracker stands behind their product so I quess it's just what features you like. In 1993 I bought a 16' deep V and after first year the hull leaked. Called the company and they came and got the boat and upgraded it to a 95 took about 5 months to get back but it was well worth it.

[NEANGLER]

Stay away from Tracker, they do not hold their value, not near as well built, and if you go to sell them they are hard to get rid of. I shop for boats this spring and looked at new trackers and used and other brands of boats and went with Alumacraft. Also you will have a hard time getting other equipment rigged than the standard options they offer. Not too user friendly from the time I was shooping them and from what I have heard from other owners.

Lund, Alumacraft, Crestliner, Polarcraft would all be much better choices.

[EJ]

Agreed on the above approved boats, BUT Tracker is one to stay away from. They have had numerous problems with the hulls and have not stood behind them.

EJ

[caseymcq]

I will put in another plug for Alumacraft here. I grew up with Lunds. My dad and my brother both have Lunds and I thnk they are great boats.

Last spring I looked at buying either a Lund Explorer 1700 or a Alumacraft Navigator 175. I went with the Alumacraft. It seemed like it was more boat for the money. It was $400 cheaper, 6" longer (17'6" vs. 17'0"), about 2" wider (93" vs 91"), holds 13 gallons more of fuel (40 gal vs. 27 gal), double plated hull vs. double plated bow, it has a gauge cluster w/ spedo, tac and fuel gauge. It was only 110 lbs heavier (1145 vs. 1035 lbs.)

The other deciding factor was that I wanted a Yamaha 4-stroke 75 hp outboard on the boat. Some dealers told me they could only get Mercs on Lunds and some told me they could get other motors but it would be $600 worth of extra rigging to put something other than a Merc on a Lund.

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

Northlander, I didn't weigh that fish but it was a 28" one of the many that we boated this year on the rainy. We had a few bigger than that so no that one won't be going on the wall. I had a fat 28.5 that I am sure broke the ten mark that I have been thinking of getting a replica of.........

[Northlander]

Man it looked bigger than that in the pic.