Please help me out guys, give me ur thoughts.(sorry this is long)
Ive been over this, over and over. Im shoping for a new boat. I plan on using it for crappie, catfish(jugs), bow fish, white bass, black bass in this order. (Fresh water) These are the boats im looking at. Please give me ur thoughts. I like them all the same.

Boat one is a Lowe Stinger 175, 50hp, 46lb troll,fish finder, 2007 for $14,500 Good starter boat
This boat is nice, i like all the compartments, rug makes it look nice and comfortable, but will be a problem for catfish(slim) and bow fishing(blood).Not enough horse power. I like to bring people along, room will be a problem. Still a nice boat.


Boat two is a G3 1860CCT DLX, 90HP, 55LB troll, fish finder, hydralic jack plate, 2008 for $20,900
I like this boat, has plenty of room, non slip liner(easy clean) Just looks cool with motor sitting high. Tunnel? Down side is not enough compartments, expensive, doesnt look like much without it having carpet. Looks like a boat and motor and nothing else. O and i love the driver seat/cooler.


This boat is the same as the one above except its not a tunnel, this one doesnt have the same seat for the driver and i realy did like that seat, this is what drew me to the boat.
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Please let me know what yall think.
Thanks

i forgot, the g3s are desert green and come with yamaha motors.
The lowe motor is a Mercury

Carpet sucks in a fishing boat, I know I have one impossible to keep clean.
Johnny

Lowe is a nice hull but severly underpowered with a 50, pass on it or you'll cuss it as long as you own it.

If you have the need (not just wanting to look cool) of running in very shallow water the tunnel is the deal, if not, it's not.

Tunnels run shallow, but it's slower, turns harder, less efficient than a v hull...

I'd keep looking if I were you, I think you can find some non-currents that you can find a better deal on.

And, if you're looking at a tunnel hull make DANG sure it's on a aluminum or galvanized trailer.

Well i test drove both of them, the lowe boat was a smoth ride, but was under powered. The dealer told me that, that boat rode better with the 50hp, and if i decided to get it with a 75hp it would bounce up and down(he used a different word) and i would not like it. He would not budge on the price.

The g3 was a rougher ride, very little wind. I had to play with the trim pretty often. I had to trim down on take of, trim up for a better plan, trim down on sharper turns (cavitate). I expected a little more out of the 90hp. The dealer did go down $2,100, it surprized me. He did good. But it still played hard ball. Didnt close the deal though.
What do yall think?
Thanks

Find a late model xpress with no carpet, they call them Duck boats, you can find some late model DBH51's, no carpet, 90 hp Yamaha, good on gas, and not a flatbottom, H stands for hyperlift hull. If you set on that G3, there is one just like in Amarillo, 90hp 2 stroke, 2007 model, 13,995 plus tax if he still has it, extrememarine, check their website.

I second what PatGoff wrote...on the Tracker my guess is the dealer told you it will porpoise?? If that's what he said there are things that can be done to offset that like proper trimming of the motor,adjusting motor height, prop adjustment, etc...Find a boat that has lots of storage...you'll be surprised how quickly compartments fill up and you don't want to have to be walking around stuff all the time...Good luck!

Are you interested in looks or funtionality?

is this your first boat?is it your first new boat? how much do you fish or get on the water?rick

basshappy "porpoise" thats the word he used. He acted as if it would do it no matter what.

Tallgrass05, im interested in looks and funtionality. Im finding out that there isnt a boat out there for me, that seems to satisfy all that im looking for in a boat.

fishtoad, this will be my first boat ever, I will be on the water alot, Ive been blessed with a very good job, I work ten days a month, and will be fishing the rest of the month.

Guys finding the right boat is tuff, im excited, and cant wait to be able to go fish in my new first boat. I get so excited at times that any boat will do, i just dont want to fill that i made a bad buy after its done.
I hope i made any sense.
Thanks

smoke, I'm doing the same thing. I've had center consoles and won't have another...takes up way too much room. I like lots of room for the cats and my gear, plus I use a boat to sink brush for the crappie. Carpet is a no no if you are gonna catfish or bowfish. Also, don't go smaller than 16 feet in length. All I ever do with storage is fill them up where I can't find anything and add way too much to the weight of the rig. I've gone to a boat bag and pack it for the trip, not the lifetime of the boat.

I'm looking at a 07 SeaArk 1860-VPLD with welded seams, no wood anywhere, and Zolotone spray for non-skid, keeping the aluminum cool, and easy cleanup. Unfortunately, the SeaArk people don't see fit to put pictures of all their boats on the web (dumb). If you have a dealer close by, I'd look at the flyer and specifically the X series.

Smokepole,
I too have been looking at new boats for two months. Went to the Houston and Ft Worth Boat Show. My number one pick was the
G3CCT DLX. I was very disapointed to read your report on the test ride. Curious to know what you decide to do. Please post again.

Wayne

wpedigo,
dont base ur decision on what i have wrote, u might think that i rides ok. I know it is an aluminum boat and does not weigh much. I still thought it was a rough ride, wind was about 5mph. I bought my friends boat, 84 or 86 gambler, just untile i make my decision on what bought i want to invest alot of money in. I dont know if its the best decision, but i have a boat to go fishing in. and thats that
thanks

I don't understand carpet in a fishing boat either. You are right about the 17' with a 50 being small, it's perfect for one person or two every once in awhile.

I like your other choice but without the tunnel. It still should draw under 2' and it's light enough to push off if you do get stuck.

Don't skimp on troll motor power or electronics.

One other small point is that with an aluminum boat you will break your transducer off occassionally. Maybe not that big a deal for you.

Oh yeah, I definitely recommend 4 stroke. Much easier, quieter, starts with just a bump of the key.