Any Boat Advice?

I know the boat discussion can be along the lines of best truck, car etc....but want advice if anybody has one of these boats:) I've decided I'm gonna' sell my 2014 pontoon, and my 18' crestliner jon boat and get one boat for fish and ski. I've been looking at (priced highest to lowest)...Lund, Crestliner,Lowes and Legends. All in the 17 and 18' range. They all have the flip up back seats that convert to fish platform, and all can have padding on the bow to lay on when not fishing. Anybody have any of these 2019/2020 that could offer some input? Any is appreciated, thx.

Avoid riveted hulls.

Even these days? I was under the impression Lund, Starcraft both have riveted hulls. They have lifetime warranty as far as I know....

ya I was going to ask, why avoid riveted hulls...... just curious

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Originally Posted by fratri

ya I was going to ask, why avoid riveted hulls...... just curious

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Do NOT get a riveted hull unless u want problems down the road.
i have a 2002 Legend, and it started taking on a lot of water in summer of 2018.
Had to take it to Barrie Legend as my Ft. Erie dealer had closed up.
took Barrie 4 1/2 months to repair it...67 rivets and 4 welds later.
and the Legend company wouldn’t cover anything for the repairs!
I still haven’t had it out fishing yet, as I’m having ongoing motor throttle issues now.
i will never buy another riveted hull if I can ever afford to get another boat!!

I had the opposite issue. My Starcraft welded hull split. I had to take it to Elkhart Ind. myself to get fixed under warrantee. The next year, it split again. I dumped that POS and went to a riveted PolarKraft. Never one issue in over 10 years. I’d go PolarKraft again. I will never buy a welded hull.

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Originally Posted by terrym

Avoid riveted hulls.

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I take it you don't fly in any aircraft then.

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Originally Posted by genec

Do NOT get a riveted hull unless u want problems down the road.
i have a 2002 Legend, and it started taking on a lot of water in summer of 2018.
Had to take it to Barrie Legend as my Ft. Erie dealer had closed up.
took Barrie 4 1/2 months to repair it...67 rivets and 4 welds later.
and the Legend company wouldn’t cover anything for the repairs!
I still haven’t had it out fishing yet, as I’m having ongoing motor throttle issues now.
i will never buy another riveted hull if I can ever afford to get another boat!!

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There's the answer..Legend, not the quality control like a buritto, doesn't matter what it looks like it will still give you the sh...s.

I've had 2 princecrafts, an old 1970's, never leaked and a 1996 that I still have, no leaks. Both riveted.

If you pound a boat hard in rough conditions I don't care what make or model you have, it will eventually start to leak. I have a little 12 ft Bluefin that I bought in the early 70's, does not leak one drop to this day. Many of our work boats experienced the same. Ride'em hard and they'll leak sooner or later. Back off in the rough going and it'll last decades.