Any Boat Advice?

[dean.f]

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!

[dean.f]

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

[terrym]

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

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

[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

[LiveBates]

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

[kokes]

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

[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.

[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?

[LiveBates]

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.

[sabmgb]

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.