Budget Friendly Aluminum Fishing Boat

[Tony L.]

Hello All!

 

I am a lifelong fisherman (and student it seems), but I am now fresh out of grad school and looking to start my first "big boy" job. I might be getting a bit ahead of myself here, but I am already shopping for a fishing boat as well, as I have grown tired of mooching. I have my choices narrowed down to the Lund 1600 Fury SS and the Alumacraft Fisherman 160CS. These boats have all of the features that I am looking for, plus they are within my price point. 

 

I am looking for an aluminum boat that I can take onto local lakes and rivers. I don't want to go above 25 hp because some waterways have horsepower restrictions, I want to keep fuel costs down (and don't want to bother with a large tank, especially if i don't use it frequently),  i don't go out on to enormous bodies of water, and I really am just not in much of a hurry. I am also looking for versatility- I am a multi-species fisherman and like to target bass, crappie, catfish, stripers, and walleye/pike on rare occasions. These  boats have the aluminum hull, console steering, rod and tackle storage, casting platforms, motor size, and all around general features that I am looking for, they can be easily towed by a small truck, and they are at the price that I have limited myself to.

 

My question to you all is this... Do any of you have any firsthand experience with either the Lund 1600 Fury SS or the Alumacraft Fisherman 160CS, and can you offer your impressions of either one? Also, does anyone have any suggestions for another versatile, full-featured, aluminum boat that fits the same price point of ~$10,000 or less?

 

 

I have included links to both

 

 

 

The Lund website shows a picture of the Tiller package, but the layout/floorplan of the Console Steered SS model is on the right side of the page

 

http://www.lundboats.com/boats/2013-aluminum/fury-new

 

 

 

And here is the Alumacraft:

 

http://www.alumacraft.com/fisherman-160-cs.php

 

 

 

 

Thank you all in advance!

[Catt]

Both boat will be under powered with a 25 hp, other than that good solid choice.

[Christian M]

Ur gonna want at least a 40hp, good boat if ur out alone a lot

[Team_Dougherty]

Both boat will be under powered with a 25 hp, other than that good solid choice.

 

 

Ur gonna want at least a 40hp, good boat if ur out alone a lot

 

I have a Crestliner Angler 16. With a 25 HP on it. It will go 23MPH with two people and a lot of stuff in the boat. Those boats will be fine with a 25HP. I have two props a 15" for when I am by myself and a 13" if I bring someone.

[BKeith]

If you have a 25hp restriction on enough lakes that still makes it worth grossly under powering a 16 foot hull, then I would go with the 25. If you go with a smaller prop, it will do fine, it just won't be a speed demon, but it will get you around just fine. I might suggest be careful how much you get tied up in it, because of the fact it will be so underpowered, it will make a huge depreciation the day you sign the paper work, because it will be very hard to get rid of when you decide to upgrade. After all, I have a 25 Merc I use on my Lowe 1436 that only weighs about 150 pounds.