Low End Bass Boat

[3crows]

I had for many years a small "Panfish" type aluminum fishing boat with stick steer. I converted it to have a forward casting platform. It had a 25 horse two stroke Merc and it would haul tail for a little 16 footer. I stupidly sold it for some reason. I also currently have a (very) expensive Boston Whaler Outrage and a fleet of kayaks so justifying a higher end bass boat is just not there for me and it is not the type of fishing I like anyways. 

 

What I would want would be a simple, no frills, 16 feet, 25 to 40 horse aluminum rig. But looking at many of these aluminum boats, even expensive ones, they do not have the fit and finish of my Whaler. There is cheap carpet covered plywood lining the inside for one thing. That wood I am sure would be a rotten mess in a few years. And it is heavy thus requiring a larger engine. 

 

I grew up remembering when a bass boat was the little two seat stick steer Skeeters and similar outfits. I appreciate that some people need to go 70 MPH to get from spot to spot but that is not me. I would rather sneak around backwaters and bayous and cutoffs and smaller lakes or explore inlets from larger lakes. 

 

So, who makes a quality, small, bass boat these days?

[J Francho]

Take a look at Tuffy boats.  The Esox, Magnum, and X-170 sound right up your alley.  These are NOT low end boats, but solidly built and strictly for fishing.

 

http://www.tuffyboats.com

[Catt]

http://www.progator.com/progator/progator-150c/

 

 

[3crows]

Those Tuffy boats are walleye boats. We do not use that type of boat down in bayou country for bass. The bayous are often narrow and the backwaters shallow. No need for a Vee-hull boat. 

 

I already have a BW that cost as much as a small house, I want a bottom end value boat with a simple, shallow Vee for small water bass. I am just not impressed with what I see in the market. 

[12poundbass]

Tracker makes a stick steer called the Panfish 16. If you want something a little cheaper they have the Pro 160. You made a comment about wood decking, if you take care of it, it'll last you 20+ years.

 

I had a 14' that had 25 year old wood on it. It was still good and firm when I redid the boat. Leave it outside in the elements all the time and you're right it won't last. Don't be afraid of wood and don't be afraid of getting it wet. 

 

Those 2 boats are about as cheap as you'll get new, unless you go the john boat route.

[3crows]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

http://www.progator.com/progator/progator-150c/

 

 

That is the correct platform. But I am leery of glass boats. Glass and cypress stumps do not mix. 

 

Those are nice, thanks, I will research them. Those are similar to the old Terry boats. 

 

Bass cannot swim 70 MPH, I could keep up with them quite well in my (self made) pirogue. 

Just now, 12poundbass said:

Tracker makes a stick steer called the Panfish 16. If you want something a little cheaper they have the Pro 160. You made a comment about wood decking, if you take care of it, it'll last you 20+ years.

 

I had a 14' that had 25 year old wood on it. It was still good and firm when I redid the boat. Leave it outside in the elements all the time and you're right it won't last. Don't be afraid of wood and don't be afraid of getting it wet. 

 

Those 2 boats are about as cheap as you'll get new, unless you go the john boat route.

That is exactly the the platform but it is also exactly the brand that I am accusing of poor construction and carpet covered plywood that will turn to a rotten mess in a three years or less. 

[J Francho]

3 minutes ago, 3crows said:

Those Tuffy boats are walleye boats.

Try looking at the the boats I listed.  They are NOT walleye boats. They are pretty much EXACTLY what you described you wanted, lol.

 

 

For aluminum, try Xpress.  I miss mine.  Should have never sold it.

 

https://xpressboats.com/utility-series/

 

Configure it the way you want.

[12poundbass]

3 minutes ago, 3crows said:

That is the correct platform. But I am leery of glass boats. Glass and cypress stumps do not mix. 

 

Those are nice, thanks, I will research them. Those are similar to the old Terry boats. 

 

Bass cannot swim 70 MPH, I could keep up with them quite well in my (self made) pirogue. 

That is exactly the the platform but it is also exactly the brand that I am accusing of poor construction and carpet covered plywood that will turn to a rotten mess in a three years or less. 

Untreated wood wouldn't even rot in 3 years. Good luck in your search.

[3crows]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Try looking at the the boats I listed.  They are NOT walleye boats. They are pretty much EXACTLY what you described you wanted, lol.

 

 

Oh, okay, I see now, the Exxos model. Interesting.

 

I live in Wichita now but I am from the deep south and will soon return upon retirement. I am not a midwesterner. That is why I am looking for a new boat to sneak around the bayous in again and hunt large mouth bass, those big ones that hide in the cypress stumps between the alligator nests with the water moccasins hanging from the limbs.

[Megastink]

I live near a lake with Monster Bass and a 20hp limit. After researching and shopping around, I've settled on a Crestliner Storm 1600. Top end with a 20hp is around 20-22mph. It has 6g fuel capacity, but the livewell is 16 gallons, much bigger than similar boats of the same size. I can pick one up for around $11,000; a very doable price.

[3crows]

3 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Untreated wood wouldn't even rot in 3 years. Good luck in your search.

Actually it would rot out in about two. I am looking for all aluminum or aluminum with composite materials.

 

I may have to purchase an aluminum hull of the desired type and outfit it myself.  I will not save money that way but I can get a galvanized trailer, no wood construction and keep it light so I can use a smaller engine. 

 

I just hate another project, I have my third airplane project underway and still work full time so my time is the limited resource. 

 

I like the carpeted decks and general layout of the Tracker Pro 170. I do not like the wood lining, thinner than competition aluminum hull thickness and painted trailers. The platform and general size is correct.

[Megastink]

@3crows, I believe Crestliner has what you want. I believe they're Wood free; at least the decks are. Small boat, small engine, built for bass fishing. Give them a look.

[J Francho]

Xpress is all aluminum, too.

[3crows]

22 minutes ago, Megastink said:

@3crows, I believe Crestliner has what you want. I believe they're Wood free; at least the decks are. Small boat, small engine, built for bass fishing. Give them a look.

Yeah, the 160 is very very close. Yeah, that is cooking with gas as long as the construction is composite. I think a galvanized trailer is optional.

[Megastink]

43 minutes ago, 3crows said:

Yeah, the 160 is very very close. Yeah, that is cooking with gas as long as the construction is composite. I think a galvanized trailer is optional.

What sold me on the Crestliner is that is has a thicker aluminum hull, bigger livewell over the tracker (7 gallons bigger), and the 1600 has a rod locker that can fit 8' Rods (tracker doesn't have one). 

 

The Crestliner is actually cheaper for me too, by about $1,500. Easy choice for me. Good luck in your search.

[3crows]

3 hours ago, Megastink said:

What sold me on the Crestliner is that is has a thicker aluminum hull, bigger livewell over the tracker (7 gallons bigger), and the 1600 has a rod locker that can fit 8' Rods (tracker doesn't have one). 

 

The Crestliner is actually cheaper for me too, by about $1,500. Easy choice for me. Good luck in your search.

Thanks. There is also Lowe and Alumacraft, not sure about their construction. 

 

The Tracker 175 looks okay though it is more boat than I want (wood aside), but I like the design. And it has the full 0.10+ hull.

[slonezp]

So let me get this straight. You want a low end boat with high end features?

 

Alumacraft is not a low end boat. Their prices dictate that, and personally, I'm not a huge fan of their layouts. As far as hull construction, I have heard/read very few issues. As far as Lowe, there are threads around, albeit not many, about cracked welds and warped/hooked hulls. Lund has a new boat for 2018 but there is little info available. It's called the Predator. Not to be confused with the Lund Predator that I own which is exactly the opposite of what you are looking for . The new one I believe is based off their Renegade hull which is something you might look into as well. The Renegade is a competitor to the Tracker and Rangers RT, and relatively inexpensive in the grand scheme of things. The new Predator is designed for shallow water and pics I have seen show it has sponsons on the transom which leads me to believe it may be run with a jet drive if need be. Have no clue what the pricing is, as Lunds website has not been updated with the 2018 models yet. The Renegade can be had for under $20k     

[3crows]

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

So let me get this straight. You want a low end boat with high end features?

 

Alumacraft is not a low end boat. Their prices dictate that, and personally, I'm not a huge fan of their layouts. As far as hull construction, I have heard/read very few issues. As far as Lowe, there are threads around, albeit not many, about cracked welds and warped/hooked hulls. Lund has a new boat for 2018 but there is little info available. It's called the Predator. Not to be confused with the Lund Predator that I own which is exactly the opposite of what you are looking for . The new one I believe is based off their Renegade hull which is something you might look into as well. The Renegade is a competitor to the Tracker and Rangers RT, and relatively inexpensive in the grand scheme of things. The new Predator is designed for shallow water and pics I have seen show it has sponsons on the transom which leads me to believe it may be run with a jet drive if need be. Have no clue what the pricing is, as Lunds website has not been updated with the 2018 models yet. The Renegade can be had for under $20k     

I mean lower price range, smaller size, no more than 17 feet, low horsepower, 20 to 40, shallow water capable emphasis, aluminum only, little or no wood. Really, what I am asking and did not do a good job of it is the opinions and experience of those who own small, aluminum low horsepower boats. 

 

I fully understand that it is unlikely such boats will meet up with the quality standard of my Whaler but carpet stapled down on cheap plywood is not what I want. I can afford any boat I want, any boat. But I do not think I can justify, regardless, owning two such boats. A no guilt boat that will not hurt my eyes. And that I will not need to strip and rebuild in a few years. A brand that has a good reputation for value and quality. I have more projects that I can finsih in two lifetimes and time is short as it is. 

 

New or used, the same criteria remain. 

 

Lund builds a nice boat but I see nothing that would skulk through a cypress swamp in their lineup. Those Vee hull are nice for the big water lakes and northern lakes but do not see them much on the bayou. 

 

You guys ever seen the old Terry bass boats and Skeet boats from back in the 60s and early 70s? I know they were glass but that is the concept. 

[slonezp]

http://www.lundboats.com/boat-models/1775-renegade/

[3crows]

3 minutes ago, slonezp said:

http://www.lundboats.com/boat-models/1775-renegade/

Oh, I did not see that one on their site. Thanks. I do like it, yes.

[3crows]

Anyone familiar with G3 boats? Their bottom model looks good but have never seen one up close. 

 

I guess nobody makes the 14 to 16 foot boats like I grew up on. The world has gotten too complicated. 

 

As I ride down country roads I am always on the lookout for an original Skeeter boat. Add a platform up front, call it good. They were glass, but they were tough and sneaky.

[J Francho]

I'd put G3 in a class above Tracker.  In fact, they are the Yamaha counterpart to Skeeter.

[Further North]

On 9/20/2017 at 6:46 PM, slonezp said:

So let me get this straight. You want a low end boat with high end features?

 

Alumacraft is not a low end boat. Their prices dictate that, and personally, I'm not a huge fan of their layouts. As far as hull construction, I have heard/read very few issues. As far as Lowe, there are threads around, albeit not many, about cracked welds and warped/hooked hulls. Lund has a new boat for 2018 but there is little info available. It's called the Predator. Not to be confused with the Lund Predator that I own which is exactly the opposite of what you are looking for . The new one I believe is based off their Renegade hull which is something you might look into as well. The Renegade is a competitor to the Tracker and Rangers RT, and relatively inexpensive in the grand scheme of things. The new Predator is designed for shallow water and pics I have seen show it has sponsons on the transom which leads me to believe it may be run with a jet drive if need be. Have no clue what the pricing is, as Lunds website has not been updated with the 2018 models yet. The Renegade can be had for under $20k     

Found 2018 Predator: http://www.hennepinmarine.com/New-Inventory-2018-Lund-2070-Predator-CC-Hennepin-Illinois-3961470

 

Worth a look, IMO.