Semi V or deep V

[BigRiverMarine]

I'm in the aluminum boat business, and as you can tell, you've opened a real can of worms. Everybody likes THEIR boat or they wouldn't have bought it!!! And there are ton of nice boats out there.

You have more than two choices when it comes to aluminum boat hulls. The mod-v boats will beat you to death in rough water (Lowe, Tracker, G3, Xpress HD's, SeaArk, WarEagle, and ALL mod v's, brand doesn't matter) try one in 3 foot swells and headed into a wind blowing 40.

Deep v boats are much better in those conditions, and you can fish them in a foot of water if you want. The performance isn't quite like a bass boat, you're way deep in the boat, and they seem a bit bulky, but I fish out of one quite often in bigger water and they do perform nicely. (I used to sell the Alumacraft boats).

The other alternative is a boat with a 15-18 degree RAKE, and a Pad Ride type hull. Like all of the fiberglass bass boats. The Xpress H and X series boats have the Hyper Lift Hulls like this and they are aluminum. These boats give you bass boat performance, better fuel economy, and NO wood.( I know you hear everybody defending their tracker, and they do make a pretty boat). The hulls on the Xpress don't have ribs, they have aluminum stringers like a fiberglass boat has stringers. On an aluminum boat the metal on the hull WILL cup, and when it does, the ribbed boats will lose some of their performance because the ribs cause a ridge that traps the water flow from front to rear, where the stringers will still let the water flow and maintain their performance. The hulls are welded to the stringers and the sub floors are welded on top of the stringers, then Xpress Foam injects everything in between for a SOLID 4" hull system, and the hulls are Pad Ride which means that they lift you up on TOP of the water with not much boat IN the water just like a Fiberglass boat. It makes them more performance oriented, and they don't have the problem of porpoising like a lot of the aluminum boats. ( bouncing up and down in the bow). Xpress makes several Multi species boats like the H-18PFC, ( finest pro style crappie, multi species boat out there period. Has a 67" bottom and a 94" beam and a pad tide hull with a 17 degree rake. And it's rated for a 150, but runs great with a 115), and they have a new 17 footer just like it for 2012 rated for a 115. The 18 footer is the Widest boat out there in it's length class. Call me at 870-635-0202 and I can tell you more, or go to the C.C sponsor classifieds for my info.

Watch out for one more thing. There is one company out there that says they have a 15 degree HULL, but really they have a 15 degree RAKE and NO pad ride.

I do sell the EXCEL boats as well and they are built just like the Xpress, as far as the stringers and hull go, but don't have the Pad Ride hull. They do have what they call an acceleration hull with a V shaped Chine. It isn't a Mod- V nor is it a Pad. Its in between, but won't beat you up in rough water. They make a 1860 open floor plan Crappie boat with side console that is a great boat. I used one for my demo last year and it handled 3-4 ft rollers on Bull Shoals without any trouble. I would call it a multi species as well. I was walleye fishing in it. :-). All boats with dual livewells and three across seating in the front are considered multi species boats to most people.

I'm certainly Not trying to criticize ANY other brand of boat out there, Every manufacturer makes some great models for the money, and if I offended anyone, I do apologize.

Sorry for the book. Just call me if your interested.

[lcookie]

I have a tracker pro angler V-16 (deep V) with 50 hp 4 stroke. It is a good vessel and has treated me well. I went with this boat b/c I got a heck of a deal and I could take my lil one out without fearing she would fall out of the boat whle walking around. She is bigger now so not as much of an issue. The boat sets up well for all my applications. It is on the smaller side and is only good for fishing one person up front and one person in the back (mama dont like to go anyways). It takes wake well and it keeps you dry. Really easy on the pocket in the water and in tow. No plans of getting rid of her anytime soon.

[EnonEye]

One other thing to consider is if you have litttle ones that will be on the water with you the deeper the boat inside the safer for them.

[kwerdal]

Thanks again this is really good information... one question do the deeper V boats ride lower in the water then the modified V boats?

[sparkie51]

My Lowe does. My 14' semi v is tippy as all get out if you fish from the front while the modified v is stable.

[Dutch552]

I had an older 16' Lund deep v tiller with a 50hp Merc on it before someone hit it on the highway last year. In a hurry I thought I would try something new and went with a Javelin bass boat with a 115 and hate it. The ride is smoother on plane but I like sitting "inside" the boat when I'm trolling. I also almost troll exclusively and fish for more than one species of fish and the open floorplan of the "walleye-style" hulls just seem to fish better in my opinion. I've always been partial to a tiller because I spend m0re than 90% of my time fishing and not driving 60 down the lake so I'm not a big fan of the console boats. The wider deep v hulls ~90" that I've been looking at lately are rock solid stable but there is considerable difference in construction quality between brands when you start to pick them apart for the price. I'm looking at the Alumacraft Navigator currently and it is leading the pack thus far.

[EnonEye]

Thanks again this is really good information... one question do the deeper V boats ride lower in the water then the modified V boats?

To my previous point I can tell you that on my Crestliner 175 Fishhawk I can literally walk around on the edge of the boat and it barely moves sideways and I'm well over 200lbs. The wider the better.

[moswampy]

I looked and looked at boats all Spring from mods to deep v's, rode in several and haggeled over a few with folks. Since my boat is going to be a multi-use boat and I have small kids that like to go and a lot of buddies that like to go I went with a wide deep v. Even on the 4th of July weekend with the pleasure boaters out on the lake making it rough on the little boats I did not even put too many droplets on the windshileld. Worked fine fishing standing timber with a long pole and I did not baby it by any means getting into the junk. instead of riding up on a stump it kind of slides around them. it does catch more wind when on the TM but that is the price I pay for having a family friendly boat. The ride is so smooth I don't know if I'll ever be able to run across the lake in anything else.

[alamancecreek]

I recently went from a flat bottom skiff to a 2011 Tracker Super Guide V16. Night and Day difference. It's a nice boat, not the most fancy or expensive but it rides well and with the 40hp 4 stroke it's easy on the wallet. Everyone I've taken out rants and raves about the ride. Alot of people frown on Tracker boats but so far so good with mine. This is the first Deep V Boat I've ever had and I think I'll probably never have anything else. I fish mostly two people but it's not a problem to fish two out the back using the trolling bar and me up front working the Tbar system. I only run about 27mph with 3 people but I'm not into speed anymore. My old 21' Champion Bass Boat broke me of that. Doh

[Kokomo Bob]

If you are old like me you should get the widest deep v you can. And maybe we won't fall overboard. lol.
Mine is a 17' Smokercraft w/75 Merc. 40mph tops. The motor is a little small for this heavy boat. But we are not in a hurry to get there unless a storm comes up.
My wife and I can fish 6,8 hours comfortably. But we only fish for crappie and gills. Perfect for us. But we're old. lol

Good Luck on what ever you decide. Just have fun.