Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Ripsnort on August 26, 2003, 02:15:39 PM
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I want to narrow a list down to about 3 brands so I can do some shopping in the upcoming boatshow in December. Basically looking for a 16-18 footer with outboard and center or side counsel drive. Previously I've only owned larger "traditional" boats (18' Winner and 19' All American) and haven't a clue about good aluminum boats.
Also, recommend a good outboard motor, my experience has only been with Evinrude and Volvo (which has been relatively reliable to me in the past)
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A quote from another thread discussing jet-skis and boats:
Wlfgng...I rent jetskis..I don't own them. Boat and jet-skis are "holes in the water" into which you pour money. It costs me $100 to rent a ski for an hour...expensive...maybe...bu t when I'm done I hand it back to the rental place and never have to give it another thought.
Some friends of mine bought a boat. They claim that the word actually is an acronym for Break Out Another Thousand.
- Curval
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Is Grady White still in the business or are they fibreglass-only now?
Grimmage made some fantastic wooden hulls, but alas there wasn't a market for that skill anymore.
Best canoe I ever used was made by Grumman (yeah, the same that made F6F Hellcats). It was nearly bulletproof until a flood carried it away.
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Originally posted by Curval
A quote from another thread discussing jet-skis and boats:
Wlfgng...I rent jetskis..I don't own them. Boat and jet-skis are "holes in the water" into which you pour money. It costs me $100 to rent a ski for an hour...expensive...maybe...bu t when I'm done I hand it back to the rental place and never have to give it another thought.
Some friends of mine bought a boat. They claim that the word actually is an acronym for Break Out Another Thousand.
- Curval
I'm fully aware of the financial responsibility that comes with boat ownership, all too aware I;m afraid. :)
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Honestly, I would go with a fiberglass boat. My grandfather and myself have used an aluminum boat since I was about 8 years old. The aluminum is too light, and is blown around too easily. The fiberglass is alot better, as long as you can tow it. He curses himself every time we go fishing for not buying a fiberglass boat. IMHO of course, but I would go with fiberglass.
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I wouldn't buy an aluminum boat.
Get an 18' Maritime with a center console. It's well worth the money.
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Check out Tracker Rip...btw...buy used. Let someone else suck up the depreciation, which is substantial in boats.
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Originally posted by Rude
Check out Tracker Rip...btw...buy used. Let someone else suck up the depreciation, which is substantial in boats.
Actually, I price em, then hit the boat shows. Then about a week after the boat shows, when the dealers start getting invoices for new boats, thats when I start wheeling and dealing ;) My last boat cost $22,000 new, but I got it for $16,500 :D
Dealership salesmen hate my type, I pay cash, I'm not in a hurry to buy.
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Originally posted by Ripsnort
Dealership salesmen hate my type, I pay cash, I'm not in a hurry to buy.
Kid at the local xbox shop finally threw you out for all these months of promising ;)
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Grew up in almost 20 years worth of Dad's Starcraft boats.... Dunno what they're like, now.
18' center console outboard
21' center console outboard
22' cuddy cabin cruiser OMC Sterndrive
26' cabin cruiser OMC Sterndrive
all 8' beam and trailerable, all sturdy and dependable. They all took years of abuse on Long Island Sound. Hell, dad even dropped the 22' on the ramp one weekend, and nothing came of it. Other than a lot of gawking by onlookers and storytelling by family members. :D
Lots of GREAT memories.
22' was the 1980's version of this boat:
http://www.starcraftmarine.com/aluminum/isl22103.htm
BB
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LUND made in Oregon , great shop, great employee's , quality workmanship .
i went to the factory about 6 years ago .
Keep them in mind Rip they may have what you want.
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Ya Lund's are nice. If you have the $$$, why not look into a Honda 4 stroke? Man they are very quiet and reliable.
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Originally posted by Steve
Ya Lund's are nice. If you have the $$$, why not look into a Honda 4 stroke? Man they are very quiet and reliable.
Honda 4 strokes are very nice. I loved mine. If your area has recreational emissions laws, they comply with those, also. I assume since you are looking for an aluminum boat, though, you aren't going to fork out the cash for a honda.
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Tough to beat Starcraft for quality. I restored my fathers 19ft cabin cruiser which had seen nearly 40 years of hard ocean service. It had no cracks or corrosion on it anywhere. As far as the alluminum vs fiberglass debate I think it's safe to say that alluminum is lighter and more durable during collision and over the long term. That's why they hold value better. Depending on the conditions you operate the boat you might find more weight an advantage in light/mod chop or strong winds at the cost of mileage and power requirements. For example, my 19 cabin cruiser topped at 45 with a 115 hp outboard while my uncle had the same top end with his 265 hp I/O bowrider. The weight does come in handy squishing 1-2 ft chop and resisting wind but costs more to engine.
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http://www.busterboat.com/en/ (http://www.busterboat.com/en/)
Harppa
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Had a couple Grumman aluminum canoes for years, and when sold them they were still tough as ever. Can't say the same for some fiberglas small boats I've had -- fading colors and sometimes delaminating (ancient Windsurfer).
Had a little Evinrude putter which was reliable. But if get the chance, I'd go for a Honda 4-stroke over any 2-stroke (which I heard somewhere will eventually be banned because so much more polluting).
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Okay, got my choices narrowed down to these 3 brands. The Alumacraft is "least likely" since its not built as tough as Lund. North River is the "Cadillac" of this bunch, with plenty of diamond plating is abound in key areas.
Vote which you like the best! :)
Lund
(http://www.lundboats.com/display/40/53/product_images04/1900lrg.jpg)
Alumacraft
(http://www.alumacraft.com/images/trophy_rigs.gif)
North River
(http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/blueseahawkwhonda4.jpg)
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Give a look at this site. http://www.xpressboats.com
Friend of mine has been using one for a few years and loves it.
Robert
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Originally posted by SmokinSS
Give a look at this site. http://www.xpressboats.com
Friend of mine has been using one for a few years and loves it.
Robert
nice boats! I must have something with a deeper V than xpress has though. Fort Peck and the Pot Holes res. sometimes get some unexpected squalls that kick up and can make a nice day nasty real fast.
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There is one in the Modesto classified, 14 ft. Sears Gamefisher, 15 hp, used only once to go sturgeon fishing on San Fransisco Bay last Christmas. Includes concrete anchors, thouroughly cleaned.
You can take delivery in a couple months.
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of course u want a GRUMMAN!!!!
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duckworth makes a really good bass boat:) my dads buddy gots a jet boat duckworth,,,thing goes up rapids nicely,,gots a 351 winsor,,so it moves out for a bass boat:)
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Aluminum weighs half of what fiberglass does for the same hull. That means twice as much rig to tow & twice as much moter to push it around.
Lund is a very good name with a reputation for long life & top quality here in the midwest..
Had a lund cannoe for 25 years & finally sold it. I didn't wear it out, it wore me out.
:)
Enjoy Rip!
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Originally posted by Ghosth
Aluminum weighs half of what fiberglass does for the same hull. That means twice as much rig to tow & twice as much moter to push it around.
Lund is a very good name with a reputation for long life & top quality here in the midwest..
Had a lund cannoe for 25 years & finally sold it. I didn't wear it out, it wore me out.
:)
Enjoy Rip!
Thks Ghost! The reason Lund is a finalist is because of what you said above (and it seems to be a wide general conception among many of Lund) and the fact that I will be back in Minnesota in June 2004. My father, being an ex-salesperson, who loves to wheel and deal, is going to try to perform his magic on the Lund dealers in Minnesota this winter. I may end up towing back a boat along with his camper I buying, as long as "the price is right".
Ghosth, you liverelatively close to I90 or I94? Maybe we could stop in and say hello for a couple hours?
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Originally posted by hyena426
duckworth makes a really good bass boat:) my dads buddy gots a jet boat duckworth,,,thing goes up rapids nicely,,gots a 351 winsor,,so it moves out for a bass boat:)
Damn, forgot all about Duckworth! Definately worth checking out at the boat show! Well, that bumps my narrowed choices back up again. :mad: :aok
Duckworth
(http://www.duckworthboats.com/sadvanout.jpg)
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I have one of these set up for fishing and would never go back (to aluminum)....
http://www.whaler.com/Rec/default.asp?content=boats&family=dauntless&number=180&type=Dauntless
h
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Check out Princecraft Ripsnort..They are great aluminum boats.My brother has a 16' with custom built deck...As for motors he recommends Honda 4 strokes from trolling and Evinrude for main.
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Originally posted by Ripsnort
Okay, got my choices narrowed down to these 3 brands. The Alumacraft is "least likely" since its not built as tough as Lund. North River is the "Cadillac" of this bunch, with plenty of diamond plating is abound in key areas.
Vote which you like the best! :)
Gee, I just can't make up my mind. This is so exciting too.
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Why would you even post Creamo? Just to be an bellybutton is my guess.
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Ya think?
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I can hook ya up with a man that has 30 years of boatbuilding/repair/reconstruction experience. Custom made wooden, fiberglass, or combo that will last longer than you will. Not cheap, but worth it.
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Ripsnort,
Bout a mile North of I94, the University exit in Fargo. 701-293-3537 Call me when you have details.
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Is it just the AH board where you are taking this vote or is there other boards we can go vote on too?
MiniD
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Ghost, got your number stored. Will give you a call when we have the itinerary next June.
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Alum. vs Fiber.
I'm not down playing Alum, but why? I mean how durable is it really. I know their great for Johnboats & cannoes. But can they take a beating recieved at a dock? I would be really worred about denting the sucker. On the other hand fiber glass chips & cracks.
I have a 99' 17" Trophy center con. w/ modifed - v. I use for intercoastal salt water fishing. She' sound, but years of abuse by the prievous owner and my learning on her the bump rails and bow look like crap. How would an alum have handled this type of abuse?
I'm really tempted to get a flats boat :D
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I've owned both Alum and fiberglass boats in the past. Fiberglass requires alot of care to the gel coat to keep it in good condition and prevent it from bleaching out from the sun. Algae stains the hull.
Aluminum, OTOH, is about rinse and store. Very little work needed to keep it in good shape.
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Aluminum hulls are designed to be reinforced at wear points.
When my parents bought a lake cabin some 15 years ago dad found a pretty sweet boat to use. Built back in the early 70's, it had some minor bangs & chips in the paint. Mostly sun faded, interiror needed some work.
We spent a winter takeing it apart, sanded down & repainted the hull.
Reupholstered all the fabric, added some floation wherever possible. Since then it has given hours & days & years of service.
You just don't see the same kind of durablity with fiberglass. It gets old, brittle, stress cracks, delaminates, & just plain starts decomposing. UV helps this process along.
I'll take aluminum over Fibre anyday.
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Actually, alumnium is a terrible material for big boats. It stress fractures much worse than fiberglass, too. I have been on several 50 year old fiberglass boats that looked like brand new, and been on several aluminum ones that were only a few years old that had problems.
For a little tow-boat though, it is not an issue. Just be sure and carpet the whole interior if you plan on fishing, because they do make a racket.
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..because its just too damned expensive when I go..:)
Well, just finished the Seattle Boat Show yesterday...
Oh man, did I shift gears again..ended up going with glass again..and a (gulp) CANADIAN boat! Delivery in Feb., I'll post more pics then.
20 ft. Campion Explorer, set up for fishing and has a waterski tow bar attachment too. Added a 6 hp trolling motor to this package as well.
My pics of this boat from the boat show:
(http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/Boat_view.JPG)
(http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/Cuddy_and_helm.JPG)
(http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/Rear_deck.JPG)
(http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3034.JPG)
Website pics of the same boat...
(http://www.campionboats.com/images/explorer/542_SC/542_SC-1-main.jpg)
(http://www.campionboats.com/images/explorer/542_SC/542_SC-3-main.jpg)
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Damn, forgot all about Duckworth! Definately worth checking out at the boat show!
yes they are a very good boat company that alot of people dont notice,,but my buddys dad road in there rapid show boat,,had two 454 side by side,,,and he was sold,,,his is like 30foot with 351 winsor,,and it turns on a dime,,turns so good i guess it allmost threw him out of the boat while showing off to his freinds,,lol,,it can go max speed about 50 or 55 mph and you can turn it at max speed and face the othere way,,thing is amazing for a boat
only draft 5 inch in the water for a v desine thats pretty good,,goes up any rapids he ever wanted to get to fishing holes,,he even hit a few boulders before,,and never hurt his aluminum at all,,thing is tuff as nails
as for fiber glass and aluminum,,,,aluminum for me,,notice most rapid desined boats are aluminum mostly,lol,,,and he has owned his duckworth for over 15 years with hard service,,even had a motor replaced over the years,,and still a nice boat,,as for stress i would give the edge to aluminum than fiber glass,<~~if aluminum can hold together a jet at mach 2 its tuff anuff for a boat,,lol,,its light and it doesnt break apart easly,,,,unless you just got cheap desined junk,,,fiber glass makes a good boat too<~~see some falling apart and some in great shape,,i guess its all in the luck of the draw and how ya treat your boat
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Elco PT Boat :D