Thinking of a new boat

[Zeeter]

So one of the dealers called. They have a 2011 Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600. 50hp, bimini top (not that a top is a factor), 55 thrust wireless trolling motor, so presumably I could use the trolling motor if I'm in my kitchen. It's a nice looking boat from the stock pictures. He's going to send me some pictures of the actual boat and I will post them here. I'd like a bigger engine; at least a 60. 

Yet what I'm looking at is the higher quality of Crestliner over Tracker but maybe below Lund, and the lower payments. Like...a LOT lower.

1 minute ago, fishnkamp said:

Are you looking at a Lund Impact 1775 ss?

Yes, but right now my sites are set on the Fish Hawk in my latest post.

[fishnkamp]

Would you consider a really sharp looking used boat. Go to Reading boat works. http://www.readingboatworks.com/pre-owned/aluminum

  They have a nice 2002 Lund 1700 Angler SS It has a 80# I Pilot trolling motor, a 3 bank on board charger, top line electronics etc. It does have 2 Honda engines on it. The kicker motor is a 9,9. That is an expensive option. The boat is on consignment, meaning the boat would have to be purchased as it is packaged, but I talked to the salesman and he said it was possible the shop may be interested in taking it in and giving you money for it.  I know where the dealership is and I had dealt with them years ago. Their price for the package is $13,900 The boat is 17 foot 2 inch with a 93 inch beam

[Zeeter]

That's a nice looking boat and I might look into it. Found out the rod locker on the 2011 I was looking at is only 6'6", which doesn't bode well for my 7'3" rods. The only issue with this one is that it's a 2002 and I was hoping for something newer. I dealt with a 16 year old boat a few years back and it was more headache than fun. Last time I deal with a private seller. Dealers are sharks, but at least they still have to maintain their reputation and will try to make amends. 

[fishnkamp]

Check one more this is located at another one of my friend's dealerships. Take a look at this  http://www.lakesidemarinepa.com/index.php?view=inventory&viewid=780    This is a 2008 Alumicraft Navigator. This is a nicely loaded boat,  2014 galvanized trailer, Honda 90 motor etc .The boat has a Riptide 80 # hand control  trolling motor. They will pull it and put on whatever you want so I would go with one of the Minn Kota Power drive or something like that.  Barb and I have been doing business since 1990 and I have sent several people up there. The good news about Alumacraft is if you buy one we have a dealer right here in Middle River, about 10 minutes from Route 40 and the 695.  His shop is called Port Side Marine.  The boat is a 2008 and has a lot of goodies including 1 power pole and good electronics.  Lakeside Marine is located just outside Harrisburg PA. 

 

[Zeeter]

I'm really thinking about that Lund now. Going to try to get there today if I can. I just talked with the guy and they say they've serviced it ever since the owner bought it and it's in great shape. It's 14" longer than the Fish Hawk and the 130 is just about the max engine for it, compared to the 60 on the other one.

Little things that I like are that both fish finders still have their plastic covers, which I probably would have lost the first trip out. Electronics have recently been re-done and the trolling motor is newer. It's 2K more than the Fish Hawk, but between the added footage and the motors I think this is a better buy.

[Zeeter]

On 8/9/2016 at 0:26 PM, fishnkamp said:

Would you consider a really sharp looking used boat. Go to Reading boat works. http://www.readingboatworks.com/pre-owned/aluminum

I looked at this today. Great boat! Lots of extras. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on it.

[fishnkamp]

I thought it was just about what you wanted. I have nothing to say bad about the Tracker but it is packaged for price. by the time you bring up the trolling motor to 24 volts, add decent electronics and two batteries add a better charger you have added  about $2500 to 3500 and it is important to compare boats like you saw today all decked out to an equally decked out rig.Now the kickem motor is the wild card. It can be a great asset if you decide to go and troll for walleye and trout in the northern lakes, or stripers here on the Chesapeake Bay. A set of rod holders and you can catch some big perch, stripers and cats, just minutes from my home, here on Middle River and the bay.  Your arm could get a nice workout. I hope it works out it look like a safe boat to cover the water you want to cover. If you choose to get rid of the second outboard I know a couple of places that will gladly buy it, but I think it is a great asset. Something else to consider if you decide you want to fish in a smaller lake (possibly one with hp restrictions) you could launch and just run the 9.9 motor. This could be a benefit if you wanted to fish a small lake in Delaware or in Canada and New York.

[Zeeter]

15 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

I thought it was just about what you wanted. I have nothing to say bad about the Tracker but it is packaged for price. by the time you bring up the trolling motor to 24 volts, add decent electronics and two batteries add a better charger you have added  about $2500 to 3500 and it is important to compare boats like you saw today all decked out to an equally decked out rig.Now the kickem motor is the wild card. It can be a great asset if you decide to go and troll for walleye and trout in the northern lakes, or stripers here on the Chesapeake Bay. A set of rod holders and you can catch some big perch, stripers and cats, just minutes from my home, here on Middle River and the bay.  Your arm could get a nice workout. I hope it works out it look like a safe boat to cover the water you want to cover. If you choose to get rid of the second outboard I know a couple of places that will gladly buy it, but I think it is a great asset. Something else to consider if you decide you want to fish in a smaller lake (possibly one with hp restrictions) you could launch and just run the 9.9 motor. This could be a benefit if you wanted to fish a small lake in Delaware or in Canada and New York.

It does have some rod holders in it. Just bought a towing receiver and hitch; I'm thinking my 6 cylinder Colorado should be able to tow it. I like the idea of the kicker engine, but at the same time I wonder if it might be better to store it unless I'm sure I'll need it. That's an awful lot of weight to add on there for something I may not use that often. Without it I think the 80# thrust could really fly! 

[fishnkamp]

That is an option. It should weigh in around 90 pounds. I would run it as is.As for a colorado no problem my friend Bryan tows his 19 foot Ranger ( with a 200 hp outboard) with his V6 Toyota Tacoma and I use a 2002 Chevy S10 ZR2 to pull my Lowe, no problems even when running those VA. and TN. mountains.

[Karma]

I just got tired of all the mechanical issues I was having with my 1990 Javelin so I sold it and went looking around for a new one. I really liked the Triton TRX-179 but honestly.. I am not paying over $20k for a fishing boat. I paid that for my pick up truck, used with 40k miles on it. I use the truck every day, the boat I may get to use 3 or 4 days a month depending on my work schedule. I ended up buying a brand new 2015 Tracker Pro Team 175 TXW with a 60 hp Mercury 4 stroke.

I bought it July 6th, they really wanted it gone so they could make room for the new 2017 models. I wanted the 15 model because it had features the 16/17 models don't. The extra forward livewell and the built in cooler. It had the vinyl flooring which I didn't want and it was peeling in places, so with the flooring a little messed up and them needing the space, I was able to haggle the price a bit. I got the boat for less than $15k.

Other than the flooring, peeling in places (it will be recarpeted this winter), I have had no issues with my Tracker. In fact I am more than happy with it. I do miss the extra 20+ mph that my old Javelin had. The fastest I have gotten my Tracker up to using both my phone and its speedometer was around 39 mph with a full forward livewell with two grown men aboard with gear and 3/4 tank of fuel.

The few minor complaints I have are that the lights on the trailer are not sealed. I will be replacing those with sealed LED lights as they go out. The rear restraint straps are beyond cheap. They are absolute garbage. I have replaced those with boatbuckle straps. The electronics mine came with (a lowrance elite x4 pro) is garbage as well. I should have looked into upgrading that when I bought the boat but it slipped my mind. Oh well.

[fishnkamp]

Consider moving it up front and add something like the Lowrance Elite Ti. It cots 4*00 and it offers capabilities very close to the much more expensive HDS units. Have one of them put back at the console, move the "4" upfront and hook it to a trolling motor transducer.  This way you are wasting very little.

[slonezp]

On ‎8‎/‎9‎/‎2016 at 9:33 AM, PourMyOwn said:

Lund makes top quality boats, and are easy to resell later. 

 

and I'm willing to bet I could sell my 2013 Lund Predator 2010 close to or possibly even more than I paid for it based on the estimated pricing of the new 2075 ProV Bass. A 4 year old Tracker with zero depreciation????......not so much.  

[Karma]

1 hour ago, fishnkamp said:

Consider moving it up front and add something like the Lowrance Elite Ti. It cots 4*00 and it offers capabilities very close to the much more expensive HDS units. Have one of them put back at the console, move the "4" upfront and hook it to a trolling motor transducer.  This way you are wasting very little.

 

I had a Garmin Echo 551 DV from my old boat I mounted on the trolling motor. I will probably be upgrading both console and bow to Lowrance Elite 7 Tis this winter when I replace the carpeting.

[fishnkamp]

For the money the Ti is a nice unit. If you link them they do not share as much is info as the HDIs but it is the same size as an HDS 7.  Most of us that are not running a 20 footer and a new 250 engine do not need to do things like monitor engine stats on our gps units. Also the HDS7 can operate a power pole. These are the extras a HDS can do and why they cost 2x as much.

[PourMyOwn]

11 hours ago, slonezp said:

and I'm willing to bet I could sell my 2013 Lund Predator 2010 close to or possibly even more than I paid for it based on the estimated pricing of the new 2075 ProV Bass. A 4 year old Tracker with zero depreciation????......not so much.  

I have a Tracker, by the way-but I got a screaming deal on it, and it is exactly what I want for New Hampshire....however, every time Bass Pro has a boat sale its value is less.