Looking to purchase a Deep V boat to rig for crappie. Currently fishing out of a fiberglass bass boat, but looking for something a little more kid friendly with 3 kids getting big enough to go now. I would appreciate any leads. Trying to stay under 12k.

Thanks!

I would look at LOWE or Lund deep v 17 foot. I have a d v lowe since 1990 and haven't worn it out yet , will seeat 3 fishermen easily.
.traclker d v are good also but I don't have much knowlege of them but do know the you can get a boat built to your wants.forget keeping price at12 or less. Paid 10 for mine in 91. think you are on correct track to find a boat you can fish IN not ON. Thought I just had is to chck what is available in Northen states On ebay.
PM me or call at 682 935 2511 if you feel I can assite you further

Thank you for the advice. I am looking for a used one not new. I wish I could go new,but do not have that budget. Do you think a 16.5 ft one would be too small? Found a Lowe fm 165 pro that fits in the budget.

If you could go a little more $ for a New Lund ($13,897 Nice boat but under powered):

https://www.lundboats.com/boat-models/1625-fury-xl/

This is a used deep wide Warrior boat, 3 seats asking $10,900 well equipped but who knows:

https://www.walleyecentral.com/classified/adviewer/220454

The Kovash Marine has a nice used Lund too.

Just FYI, SooSports in Sioux City, SD is where I bought my New Lund, I drove up and met them 1/2 way to pick up to save $. They are really great to work with.

http://www.soosportsales.com/

Not mine but saw this

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/d/gainesville-1998-lund-1600-explorer-ss/7048723121.html

location?

Located in Abilene, TX but willing to travel for the right deal.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/d/carrollton-2007-lowe-fm-175s/7068327895.html

Opinions on this model boat? Seems rigged pretty nice. I already have all the electronics on my current boat, but this would allow me to leave them on for this boat.

that lowe is a nice boat - i would prefer a 4 stroke if you could find one. you are gonna be cramped in any 16 or 17 foot boat with 3 kids though - this is just reality.

Here is a more expensive model with a great motor. it's been listed for a while so maybe $12.5 or $13K would do the job.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/d/durant-2011-yamaha-g3-fish-and-ski-like/7052664068.html

Thanks for all the help so far. I found a Express 2008 dvx 175 that is a with a 90hp yamaha 4 stroke. Walk through windshield looks clean with an aluminum trailer that I think would fit in my budget. Any experience with these boats?

Aluminum trailer!? Wow. I don't know anything about this brand, Express DVX, but I looked that boat up, sure looks like a really nice rig. I couldn't find the hull thickness except that they use 5052 aluminum, pretty standard, all welded not riveted. On a Lund the aluminum for Freeboard will be .063", Bottom .080" and the double plated areas .143". They still rivet Airliners because of air pressure, welds are stronger in theory but I believe with a lot of pounding rivets hold up better. I am old and the newer boats may be fine welded. Don't know. I know the Lund I had was solid.

Found the specifications on the Xpress DVX 175. Says aluminum thickness is .125 throughout. Seems like a nice boat. This is the way I am leaning now. Says they use no wood in the boat at all comete aluminum construction.

I fish from a -7 ft Tracker ProV...I just wanted to test the hull design, so I found a used one in decent shape...I like the design, nice stable ride, even in rough water...fishes good...go with a max HP motor. I just wanted to try this boat with the eventual objective of trying to decide if I want a Lund. Right now I am leaning toward an all welded version of a Pro V, center console, with more of a large front deck layout, after a couple years of fishing it. I was thinking about having a boat custom made, as I don’t care for the floor plans I have been seeing. Lund has a pro V bass design that is a good layout for me....but hey, the Pro V is a really good platform for the young and young at heart! Good luck on your search!

I fish from a G3 angler v172 and we like it alot. Good dry ride even in rough water. Plus heavy enough it stays spot locked good and doesn't blow around. We looked at a lot of brands and chose the G3 because we liked the layout of compartments better than some others. They get good reviews, but kinda hard to find used.

Xpress makes good boats. I know a couple people that have CC models that are several yrs old and been fished a lot and still going great. I wouldn't hesitate.