Semi V or deep V

[IkenI]

I believe boat selection is about like the message title above. Everyone has their favorite. Hopefully I won't be too long winded but here is my experience from many years on the water, tournament and pleasure fishing.

I've owned several boats and here is the way I would rank them as my favorites to fish from (with quality of build a major consideration):

1. Lund 1725 Explorer SS
2. Crestliner 1650 Fishhawk
3. Alumnacraft 145 tiller (similar to the current Fisherman)
4. Champion 18' 3" with flipping decks
5. Skeeter 19" bass boat
6. Tracker 17' (no longer made, but similar to V hull bass boat)

I've also tournament bass fished from many other popular brands (Ranger, Bass Cat, Triton). Almost all were excellent boats. When I quit bass tournaments I became more interested in multi species boats (and began to have much more fun fishing). Crappie is my favorite species but I fish for others as well. I fish alone primarily and one of my absolute favorites for that was the Alumnacraft. I have had large bass boats fall in behind me in large lake rough water so they didn't take a beating. The little boat just cut right through. Obviously, that small a boat is not as good for more than one person. The Crestliner was an excellent boat but I bought it instead of a Lund and always compared it in my mind to the Lund. It was unfair to the Crestliner, as it is a great boat. The Crestliner was welded and the Lund riveted. I could tell no difference in quality. The Tracker was the one I kept the shortest time. It was an excellent layout but the hull just didn't perform well (rough riding and plowed). A friend also had a Tracker mod V and he complained about the quality constantly as he couldn't keep it out of the shop (and he was a manager at BPS). In all fairness, I know several other people that have had Trackers and really like them. I think it's just like most other things - you can get a good one or a bad one.

As you can see, my preference runs to the aluminum v hulls. I also married a brunette.

[Tracker123]

I agree with jimp - I have a Tracker proteam 175 as well. Love it.

[skiptomylu]

I have had a 20' Skeeter Bass boat which is about as good as they come, but also had a Mod V G3 which I sold and bought my 17' Lund Crappie Edition Explorer model and I wouldn't trade it for anything other than maybe a bigger Lund. There are just a lot of reasons I lioke it so much and the design is a big part of that. With the gas tank being in the middle of the boat in the floor it helps weight distribution a lot and right in front of that is the TM batteries with great access to them. A 17' Lund has a lot of width and room to move around where the G3 was 17' 6" was not near as stable and didn't take rough water near as well.
I can't say much about the ones your looking at because I have never had either of them. Just look at what guides in Alaska use, they are all Lunds and there are reasons for that. If you want great speed and rough water good boat then you may want to look at a high end Bass boat that is at least 20'. Mt Skeeter was a great boat, but my bass fishing days all the time are done as I just can;'t stand on that front deck all day any longer. A Lund Explorer type doesen't feel like an aluminum boat like most do.

Basically you will get what you pay for and the Lund is not going to be a low priced boat, but they deserve their rep! I have two huge live wells and plenty of storage everything is laied out great and I put a 115 4-stroke motor on it and your speed empty is about 46 and loaded is about 44 which is enough for me. My Skeeter ran over 70 MPH, but I don't really need that now even though I did still like it a lot.

I have also had some what I will refer to as regular aluminum boats too and some pretty good, but in rough water they will beat the heck out of you too. Check out the way Lunds are built, when I did I was comparing my Lund to a G3 and the G3 at the same size boat was 300 pounds heavier and I determined they just double plate the entire boat where Lund double plated it where it's needed. So My way of looking at that was the Lund will float a bit higher or not need as much waster to float it. Also should be a bit faster and you never loose the view over your bow in a Lund when coming out of the hole.

Have also had a lot more boats in my life, but don't see anything that would make them a good comparison so didn't talk about them.

Skip

[wilbur]

I agree with jimp - I have a Tracker proteam 175 as well. Love it.

x2

[Splitshot82]

My first boat was a Tracker 165. It was a very good boat - just a little small for what I wanted. My current boat is an Excel 1860 Crappie and I love it. A good buddy of mine has a Lowe Stinger 175 that is really nice. I think if I had to choose between Lowe and Tracker I would pick the Lowe. That being said - you really just have to look at what you want/need in a boat. Do your homework and you'll be happy. I wouldn't rule out the smaller aluminum boat manufacturers. I looked at every one I think. There are some really good ones that aren't as well known...

[skeetbum]

I should have said this in my earlier post. If you're looking to buy a boat that you have never spent time in, you need to find out if it fits you, and the way you fish. I climb into the boat and go thru a fishing trip in my mind. This doesn't take just a few minutes either, 15 or 20 is a minimum in my mind. As you sit there, you will be surprised what comes to mind, and what you notice that does or doesn't work for you. Best to leave the wife home, they get kinda antsy after a few minutes. I walked away from 2 boats that I really liked after doing this, too much wasted space and other considerations. Just my opinion, but it worked for me and saved me some grief and money by not buying a boat that didn't fit. After you do it once in the boat, you can stand alongside and pick up things like I'm talking about.

[Okie Bob]

I'm brand new to this forum but, wanted to add my 2 cents. I have a 16' Lund Mr Pike model with a 75hp Merc 2 stroke and I love it. I live on a 35,000 acre lake in E Tx and it can get pretty rough. Had a 16' Charger bass boat prior to the Lund and got to where I stayed in the house if the wind got up at all, it scared me to death. The Lund is a deep V aluminum riveted boat and contrary to the above comment about buying a welded al boat, I totally disagree. Welds will break and rivets will not. I know a lot of owners and not a one that has ever had a leak.
Main thing I like about the Lund is how deep you sit in it and how stable it is in rough water. Obviously, I'm not talking about 3' white caps but, normal boat wakes and standing on the gunnals it is rock solid. I'm 68 years old and feel very secure in this wide stable boat.
Okie Bob

[HARLEYBOY]

I like my Alu.165cs alot , 75hp yam.4, fits me and rides great, safe for my gran. baby too

[sparkie51]

I would go with the Lowe. Mines a 1710 model. Got it when the kids were little. They could get up and walk around and I didn't have any worries about them fall overboard. It will easy handle 4-5 foot waves. Sure the wind does move it but I'll take the safety of being a big high sided boat anytime. Leave it outside in the winter ( 50 miles from lake Erie) and never have had a loose rivet or any rot. Floors and transom are solid. Bought it new in 88.

[rednecksooner]

I had the same predicament when I bought my first boat last summer. I ended up with a Lowe Fishing Machine 175 which is the deep vee with a 90 hp mercury. I came to this decision because I knew I would be taking my boat out all year long, even in the dead of winter. The deep v is a much dryer ride and this is key when its below freezing out. It does catch alot of wind but just get a good trolling motor and you can get used to controlling it. Also get a bigger anchor than you think you need. I ended up going with lowe for two reasons. The first and main reason is that Lowes are double walled hulls and Trackers are singles. I knew with it being my first boat I would be running into stumps, docks, ect. and didnt want any risk of puncture. The second is i have heard horror storys about trackers maintenance/customer service. Everyone i talked to said it always took longer than anticipated any time they had their tracker in for service. One other thing I just thought of was the deep vs have a deeper, more open area which allows for more people to ride/move around the boat. Right now i wouldnt trade my lowe for anything short of a Lund Explorer Crappie edition but thats twice as expensive as what I got. Whatever you get make sure u are getting what you really want and allows you to do everything you want in your boat. Good luck and enjoy the new boat when you get it.