Allweld Boats. Or Something Else???

[ww2farmer]

I am sick and tired of either fixing my Tracker, or worrying about what I will have to fix next, and am starting to save my pennies for a new boat. After 6+ years of fishing out of the tracker I know what I want, and what I don't want in my next boat. I don't want a glass boat, I don't want or can afford boat payments. I fish small, local lakes, small local tournaments, often in shallow nasty water, no need for a big tournament rig. I want a plan jane, 16' foot boat, with a stable casting deck. I don't want or need carpet all over the place, I fish in the rain alot. I don't need storage for an entire BPS isle to fit in, and I want everything easy to get to. Wind is my enemy now, so I have learned to deal with it. I have been looking at the Allweld 1652VZ as a replacment, I would add the side console option, and some other small stuff. I will make my own livewell, take the Merc 25hp off my current boat, as well as my electonics, and 24V TM. Anyone have any opinions on the Allwelds? I am not married to it, as I just started the looking process, and depending on how much trouble the tracker gives me, the purchase is a little while down the road. But I for sure want some thing else. Lowe? G3? maybe?? Not another Tracker. By the time I am done with that tracker it's going to be junk.

[00 mod]

I have a weldbuilt. Same construction as the big names without the price. Check them out. Plus you can get it in any stage of completion and build it like you want. That is what I did.

Jeff

[Bluebasser86]

I fish out of a Lowe Rougheck 1652 with a 60hp Mercury 4stroke and a 24V Minn Kota Maxxum 70lb. It's been a great boat for me, no carpet and no frills, just functional. They don't make the roughneck anymore but the Frontier series is very similar. I can get into very shallow water, less than a foot as long as I'm not loaded down. Runs about 32mph with the motor I have on it. My biggest complaint is my livewell is too small but if you're building you're own then that won't be a problem for you. I've taken mine out on bigger lakes and in rougher water than I probably should but I've never once been in a situation I didn't feel it could handle. Not sure what they go for now but I got my boat, motor, and trailer brand new at Cabela's for just over 12K in 07.

[tnriverluver]

Be sure to check out the Express line of allweld boats also. Great boats and often a little lower price than the Allweld itself.

[Fishes in trees]

Next spring will be my 11th year with my Lower 2002 180WF. Virtually no major problems. I had the lower unit seals fail in 2007, other than that - nothing major. Every other year or so often I get a flat tire on the trailer. At some point I need to re-do the lights on the trailer. I swap out the batteries every other year.

Other than the storage kind of sucks, (very limited under deck rod storage) I'm pretty happy with this boat.

I've got to recommend LOWE for long term durability so far.