I'd like opinions on a few boats I've picked out.
I'm really leaning towards a center console.
Just can't decide on mod V tunnel hull using prop,
Or a mod V flat bottom with a jet motor.
I mainly catfish. I want to be able to go in shallow rivers but still handle in the open lakes

I'm looking around 15k
I really like the Alumacraft VB 1860 CC tunnel
The Tracker grizzly 2072 cc
Lowe 1860 cc

Jets are cool, but terribly inefficient. In a properly set up tunnel boat you can go (almost) everywhere that a jet can. when I was buying my boat I thought I could get by in an 18 footer but a few years down the road, I am very glad I went with a 21.
If your'e thinkin of a tracker, go to bass pro and crawl all over one, I was playing in 1 in the parking lot and they just feel cheap to me (no boat expert)
I was also hell bent on an aluminum, but went fiberglass, sunday morning while rolling into my duck spot I hit a partially submerged pole/stump and had I been in an aluminum boat, I feel it would have swamped.

best thing you can do is go run some boats and try not to make any decisions based on what you read online

That's weird cause ei hear many ppl go wih thick aluminum just incase they hit something. Not sure but Id imagine aluminum will be easier maintenance.
I'm not sure of the pros and cons going from 16ft to 20ft also

sorry for the confusion, when I hit that pole sunday morning my boat listed to the point that the right side was our of the water, and water came over the left side, left me with 6-8 inches of water front to back, but it bailed out the scuppers, if it had been an alumacraft or the like, it more than likely would be sitting on the bottom

16-20 ft is going to be a world of difference, 16ft is a LITTLE boat, not sure if you have a family of your own that will be spending any time on the boat, but if you do bring them along and go play on some parked boats...DO NOT LET YOUR WIFE GET ON A PONTOON, you will wind up with a floating minivan

if you're a single guy, and its going to be you and some buddies, who gives a [censored]....dudes will never complain about a rough ride or lack of space as long as they are on the water

What ever you do, I repeat, whatever you do, get a prebuy evaluation. I can't tell you how many people come into our shop with major issues from boats they baught and trusted the seller. Most shops will do them for around 200-250, I guarantee you, when it comes to buying a boat, it will be the best money you ever spent! If the boat is as it was advertised the seller most of the time not have an issue splitting that cost. We do prebuy inspections here in Gainesville as well as our other dealership in FtWorth. If you dont get it done with us, by all means get it done by a qualified and certidied facility. Good luck on your boat purchase!!!

the main thing is before you give the money take it to the lake spend some time in it check all the pumps depth finders trolling motor an make sure the motor is running the way it should. if the titles are not in the name of the person you are giving the money to run from it because it will be more trouble to get right if it can be done than its worth.

I would definitely like to get a new boat. A used one is an option. But I the satisfaction of knowing that if anything goes wrong I have no one to blame

I prefer the satisfaction of knowing someone else lost their mind when they put those chips in the gelcoat, I dont feel so bad when I put one next to them.

if your budget is 15k, that can get you a sweet broken in rig, or a "meh" brand new one

I like that Alumacraft, but its over your budget unless you don't get a motor with it.
One thing to look for when comparing is internal storage areas. That's my biggest complaint about the Tracker I own. They left a lot of un-accessible space under the decks. Looking at the one you mentioned, it appears there is only one small storage cubby for the entire back deck.