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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fratri

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

---

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by terrym

Avoid riveted hulls.

---

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

Quote:

---

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!!

---

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sawbill

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.

---

I have a 14' Blue Fin from the mid 80s, they made a solid boat!

Quote:

---

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!!

---

I knew a guy who had a welded Hull Legend I think it was an 18 footer and the seam split in rough water by the time he made it to the Launch she sunk and destroyed the motor

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fisherman

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

---

Do planes take on water?
my Sylvan Profisher has leaked for years.

Lunds lifetime warranty is BS I have an 06 bought new that started leaking after 4 years. Its now epoxied almost every rivet inside and out, bedliner on the inside aswell and hasnt leaked a drop since then, that was about 6 years ago.

Dont even want to get into how much of a headache it was trying to get it fixed but I will say cost $800, lost a whole season and boat came back worse than it was before.

Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nick613

Lunds lifetime warranty is BS I have an 06 bought new that started leaking after 4 years. Its now epoxied almost every rivet inside and out, bedliner on the inside aswell and hasnt leaked a drop since then, that was about 6 years ago.

Dont even want to get into how much of a headache it was trying to get it fixed but I will say cost $800, lost a whole season and boat came back worse than it was before.

Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk

---

Thanks bud, that's what I was looking for. I guess there's lemons in all things. I'm looking at the lowes 1775 and Starcraft 176, it's hard when theres almost 10k difference and pretty much same set up. I may wait til they do an unloading sale, but afraid it might not happen til spring. Boat sales are up huge right now. Thanks for everyone's input:)

Id buy a Lund or Alumacraft all day long...both well built solid boats.

I would take a good look at Basspro. They have a huge service section and a huge reputation to protect. Google will help find all the reviews you want as to wether or not their boats are any good.

Fiberglass is a better ride, and more stable fishing platform. It's heavy and the wind will not push you around as much. What is your budget?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bandwagon

Fiberglass is a better ride, and more stable fishing platform. It's heavy and the wind will not push you around as much. What is your budget?

---

I hear ya, I've had glass boats in the past, and loved how they handled in big water. My cottage lake isnt that big, so I'm not worried about big water any more. I'm trying to keep it around 35k.

FG are a good idea, like said ride is better and only leak if you hit something. All companies have problems and all have good quality. I have a welded polarkraft that split while under warranty. Sent back to company in November, got it back in April the next year. Turns out they had forgot to put in a cross member.

I love riveted tinnies. I've had a 16' for many years that doesn't owe me one nickle. Last season,I put a new motor on it (Merc 25 4-stroke). This year,I'm looking at replacing it with a comparable model with the same options (bilge,lights,livewell,trolling motor pre-wire). Imagine my shock finding out it'll set me back $10K. Holy crap!! Maybe,I'll just do the repairs on the old one. It needs a transom beef-up that will cost a hell of a lot less than $10K. :whacked:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trimmer21

I love riveted tinnies. I've had a 16' for many years that doesn't owe me one nickle. Last season,I put a new motor on it (Merc 25 4-stroke). This year,I'm looking at replacing it with a comparable model with the same options (bilge,lights,livewell,trolling motor pre-wire). Imagine my shock finding out it'll set me back $10K. Holy crap!! Maybe,I'll just do the repairs on the old one. It needs a transom beef-up that will cost a hell of a lot less than $10K. :whacked:

---

I love my tinner I have now too, lol. 18' Crestliner John boat. Has a 2013 25hp Mercury sea pro with 60 hrs on it. Also have a full custom duck blind cage that goes on it. Sadly, it will be for sale soon too. Just looking for a one boat does it all type of thing:)

Same here. I just replaced the chunk of plywood on the transom on my almost 50 yr old Bluefin with a piece of white oak. Should get another 50 years.

Modern pontoons/tri-toons can also fit for both fishing & skiing.
My bubby has a Lund tri-toon with a 115 Merc.
Used mostly for fishing & cruising but would have no problem pulling skiers.

So far I've had a Princecraft (it was good ..no issues) a 2006 Lund Classic 1775 Sport (great boat..traded it in in 2019) a 2009 Lund WC, a 2019 Lund Impact 1875 Sport and this year a 2020 Lund 1775 Impact Sport...I plan to hang onto this one for a while.. I have had no issues with any of the Lunds, never had a leak either ... re sale has always been good as well.. they are my favorite boat..

If you want to see what Lund owners think, good and bad, there is a Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Lund...ers/?ref=share

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by terrym

I would take a good look at Basspro. They have a huge service section and a huge reputation to protect. Google will help find all the reviews you want as to wether or not their boats are any good.

---

There are an awful lot of bad reviews for Tracker boats.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 73hunter

There are an awful lot of bad reviews for Tracker boats.....

---

Yep,the metal is only .065 thick all the way through them.The hull is only .090 (Pro 160). They've been best described as a "floating beer can".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trimmer21

Yep,the metal is only .065 thick all the way through them.The hull is only .090 (Pro 160). They've been best described as a "floating beer can".

---

You are being pretty kind, at that !!!!!

Went and looked at the 2020 Starcraft Renegade 178 this morning. Its definitely winning me over. Thanks for all the input guys....

I have an older made Lund Tyee, it’s been used hard over the years and doesn’t leak a drop of water.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fisherman

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

---

I have an early 90's Princecraft 196 that I bought a couple of years ago. It's a riveted hull and still holds water out like a fishes butt.

2006 Sylvan Explorer 1600 and dry as a popcorn fart

No problems with my 16’ Starcraft, great boat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trimmer21

Yep,the metal is only .065 thick all the way through them.The hull is only .090 (Pro 160). They've been best described as a "floating beer can".

---

There is a reason why they are cheap to buy......you get what you pay for

Lund, Alumnicraft, Princecraft....they are the most expensive but are the best! My 1989 Springbok (Princecraft} pro 169 is still in service and still no leaks. My Lund Impact is a great boat as well but its a 2014 so I can't comment on longevity yet.
I just couldn't bring myself to buy a Tracker(Cracker) or Legend.

Choosing a reliable, high-quality boat is very difficult. I support those who say that it is not worth buying a boat with a riveted hull. This can result in a lot of repairs and not the most pleasant situations. If I had the money to buy a boat , I wouldn 't buy such an inconvenient one . Although I haven't bought my own boat yet. I prefer to rent from miami boat rental because I can't afford to keep it and maintain it properly technically. By the way, renting is a very convenient option in such a situation.