boat advice

[MO QWACK]

I'm going to be in the market in the next year or two so I'm looking for some advice. I have an 285xl stratos now and love it but want something bigger,more multi species and kid friendly. I LOVE the Lund 2010 predator ss or at lest love the pic. I've never seen one in person.   The problem is the rivets... the lake I fish is basicly a flooded forest. In big open water I'm sure it would be fine but stumps tend to win lol how do y'all think it wold take the abuse? And I know the deep V's blow in the wind pretty bad but how bad compared to a bass boat?
  I'm also thinking of getting a 3/16 aluminium bay boat built to my exact needs but with a 60+k price take it would be hard to justify but it would last forever. Hmmmmm

[Lamar]

  Three years ago I bought a new Ranger Z519 loaded. I ordered it with everything I wanted. I still love the boat but I swear I'll never buy another new one. New boats are way over priced. And lets face it, only the first year do you have a new boat anyways. I would buy one that is two or three years old. The motors have five to ten year warranties ( they won't transfer it but still a good motor ) and the dealer can hook up to it and tell you the hours on it. You can get a boat 1/3 to 1/2 what a new one cost. The only other advise I would give you is buy what you want. If not your going to be buying boats over and over again. And that will cost you more than a new one.

[ctom]

That predator is a fine craft. While the many who run aluminum boats up here do not have so much a hidden stump problem we do have a huge issue with super waves and wind. Big water boats here take a serious beating from waves and rivets getting beaten loose are very infrequently an issue. Lund stands behind their work 100%. Many Ranger owners that were former Lund owners have gone back to the metal of Lund.

[andrewlamberson]

I'm in the market for a new boat also and as far as I can tell from reading and talking to people you can't go wrong with a Lund (rivet), Alumacraft (rivet) or Crestliner (welded).

I have an Alumacraft and it's a solid boat. I fish the Mississippi and hit stuff all the time  ...with no issues to the boat....can't say the same about the motor! 

Lund is King up here and is obviously the premium quality boat. I've never heard anyone complain about their Lund...and I see plenty with some significant dents! I would have zero worries about the rivets, they have been in service for a long time in some really tough conditions. They use the same process as aircraft rivets.

 I'm probably going to end up with the Alumacraft Competitor 165 Tiller. It will handle some of the bigger water on Lake Pepin but still be easy to launch by myself.

I don't have much issue with my bow moving in the wind (I have plenty of weight in the front when I'm fishing!) but I do get some stern swing if I don't leave the motor down. I would invest in a couple of "drift socks" aka "sea anchors"...amazing results after you learn how to use them!

[Muskygary]

I am also looking for a new boat before I retire next year. I like the Lowe line (made by Lund) The stinger model to be exact. It has a aluminum floor and weighs a little less than some boats.  My boat stays tied up to a pier about nine months of the year. Currently I have a Sylvan Backtroller (1984) I have put new floors in twice from wood rot, this is why Im looking at a aluminum floor. I would love to buy a Lund, but because of the wood floor and me leaving the boat outside all year; I feel the floor will give out in eight to ten years. Yes, I know  Lund's guarentee but I also know guys who have had to take their boats up to minnesota and leave them for three months to get the floor rebuilt.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

For an "off the shelf" aluminum boat with any amount of Vee, I'm a fan of Xpress.  If I really could afford exactly what I wanted to cover all of my fishing, it would be the (not very Young Child Friendly though) Flats Cat.

[wilks19]

My pops bought an '02 Tracker Targa from a private seller with a 115hp Mercury outboard on it 2 years ago.  The boat is fantastic and has plenty of room.  I would recommend the Targa or the Lund.  Both are great boats, made well, and if you are worried about wind, a good anchor or drift sock will help you on that.  I agree with Lamar, I wouldn't buy a new boat unless you absolutely have too.  The depreciation on a boat is not good to a seller.