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Posts: 397
Location: Wisconsin | I have been using an old junker alumacraft for a few years now, but think it's about time to invest in a decent boat. Just curious if any of you have an opinion on used boats, brands or models, in the $10,000 price range? Not trying to finance for a more expensive boat. Any opinions would be great! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Tuffy Esox Magnum ... |
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Posts: 1000
| What kind of waters do you typically fish? Could go quite a few ways. If I'm spending $10k on a boat, I'm putting 8 of it to the engine.
Tuffy Esox Magnum is an awesome boat... |
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Posts: 1036
| http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/classifieds/102216/Ranger.C.Fisherm...
I had an old Tuffy, repowered it and it was a great fishing boat. 1989 Renegade, or Rampage. I can't remember. That Esox Magnum is a great boat too.
And if you can find them, these old Rangers are pretty darned solid. Not many of them out there because they are so great and guys hang onto them. But I got that link in here that links to this website and the boat buy/sell. Between an old Ranger or and old Tuffy, I think you will find what you want. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i'd take an esox magnum over a ranger you could buy for $10k. if you go to the '94 and newer Ranger you may acquire it for close to that (a couple or few thousand more than $10k), but once you have it you will spend $5k before you scratch your head and wonder what happened.
for $10k you can find a rigged later model Esox Mag ... i had one and it's an absolutely fantastic boat and unless you are fishing Green Bay all the time it will fish for you. i took mine to Eagle and did just fine, that said i do prefer my 690 but there are days i miss the Esox Mag for how easy it is to pop around lake to lake.
the day i remember being most impressed by one was while standing in my Ranger 200C (basically a 620 with a center console top cap) right next to my buddy in his Esox Magnum. as i looked at his boat i remarked that it was bigger than my boat (fished bigger) an it's true. you could land an airplane on the deck of an Esox Mag. if it's fully powered it's like driving a race car too. fun #*^@ boat!
Edited by jonnysled 5/19/2015 2:03 PM
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | What type of boat do you prefer? I owned a 2000 Alumacraft Navigator 165 with a 50 4 stroke Merc for 7 years. I consider myself a pretty serious fisherman, fish lakes from a few hundred to 15,000 acres, and took it to LOTW last summer. I felt the boat served me well, and moving to a Tuffy 1760 was an upgrade rather than a necessity.
I just sold my Navigator for $7,900 so well within your price range. If you looked hard you might find the newer version of the boat (2005 I think) where they made them wider. A good 16-17' Alumacraft, Crestliner, Lund, etc. should suit you well.
Fiberglass boats are great too, just be careful of rot in the vintage you'll be looking at for $10K.
I would recommend getting a 4 stroke or one of the newer DFI type motors. They are way ahead of old two stroke technology and I think you'll be glad you went with something a little more modern in the motor department.
Tucker |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | ^ true ... older lund tiller pro-v's can be found too. not quite as easy but they are out there ... |
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Posts: 397
Location: Wisconsin | Thanks for the replies guys. I really just want something that won't get blown around much in the wind and is real stable to stand on the casting deck. The more casting room the better. And Like you mentioned with the tuffy magnums, Id like to move around from lake to lake a lot so if it's easy to pop in and out, that's all the better. I don't fish big waters often (rarely fish lakes over 4000 acres) so I don't need a tank of a boat. |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | 1850 fishhawk was my last boat before my 620vs. for a tin boat it fished great. big deck in front. easy to pull in and out of different lakes for an 18 foot boat. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | WiscoMusky - 5/19/2015 3:18 PM
Thanks for the replies guys. I really just want something that won't get blown around much in the wind and is real stable to stand on the casting deck. The more casting room the better. And Like you mentioned with the tuffy magnums, Id like to move around from lake to lake a lot so if it's easy to pop in and out, that's all the better. I don't fish big waters often (rarely fish lakes over 4000 acres) so I don't need a tank of a boat.
Sounds like the Esox would be perfect.
I just bought one last winter (ltd model). I have had it out a few times this year, and I absolutely love it.
Mine is powered by a 40 hp Johnson, and I have gotten over 30 mph out of it. |
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Posts: 397
Location: Wisconsin | Cool. Well now I just need to find one for sale so I can check it out in person haha |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | there was a really nice one on here that sold recently. they come up but move pretty fast so spread the word to your friends and keep your eyes and ears open and be ready to buy when one comes up. |
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Posts: 54
Location: Madison wi | If you prefer aluminum, i would go with a 1850 fishhawk if you can find one. I absolutely love those boats. 1850 fishhawk with a 150 fourstroke will be my next rig for sure |
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Posts: 1036
| Not saying the Crestliner fishhawk isn't a fine boat, but....wind will blow that thing around much more than a glass boat like an older Ranger or especially the Tuffy Esox.
If you can find them, the old Lakeland boats (fiberglass) are similar to the Tuffy ESOX series. My father has a 1672 from 1991 and it still fishes great today. He is trying to sell his lake house up north right now, and if it sells and he moves to sell the boat, I can let you know. He refurbished that thing about 8 years ago and then rarely used it (old age). Instead I used it 2-3 times a year. Tri-hull. Tons of front and back deck space. |
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Posts: 54
Location: Madison wi | Theres no doubt that a glass boat would not get blown around in the wind as much as aluminum would. But thats nothing that a powerful trolling motor cant solve. I personally prefer aluminum. If your content on going with a fiberglass, tuffy boats are built like frickin tanks! As many have mentioned, an older tuffy would be an excellent choice |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | Many guys will respond based on what they themselves own...the BIG question is "whats your style of fishing"....For me, I look for versatility because I want a boat I can effectively cast, troll, fish for Great Lakes Walleye, Bass or Muskies alike. As well as easily fish inland waters. I found that boat in an Alumacraft Trophy 195. Wouldn't even consider anything else, and I have fished out of or owned many others. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | ShutUpNFish - 5/20/2015 11:32 AM
Many guys will respond based on what they themselves own...the BIG question is "whats your style of fishing"....For me, I look for versatility because I want a boat I can effectively cast, troll, fish for Great Lakes Walleye, Bass or Muskies alike. As well as easily fish inland waters. I found that boat in an Alumacraft Trophy 195. Wouldn't even consider anything else, and I have fished out of or owned many others.
the replies were based on what the OP is wanting to do ... bouncing around lake to lake and lots of stable casting deck.
did you notice your post is basically a contradiction of itself? |
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Posts: 349
| How do the esox mags and ranger 680/81s handle big water/wind/waves compared to the 16-17 class fish hawks and navigators? Not concerned about which is the driest or smoothest ride, just which can safely travel in bigger waves... The small glass or small tin boats. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | anything that inland water in Wisconsin can put out i'd drive an Esox Mag through without hesitation. the sponsoned hull is surprisingly good at displacing water and making a decent ride out of what looks like a flat bottomed boat. i had no choice and took mine to Eagle Lake in Ontario and on one nasty day had to cross the main basin of Vermillion Bay. i crabbed across and made it but would rather not have to do that more than one time ...
can't speak to the 681's, but i drive a 690 now and i'd go almost anywhere with it ... nothing stupid, but i've run some nasty big water runs home on Eagle with it that can almost be fun as long as everything is strapped down. you could for sure do that with a 681 too with maybe a little more bouncing from the shorter length but it would handle bigger water than an Esox Mag. you might be able to find a 681VS but as i mentioned before, i doubt you will be all in for $10k, maybe on an older 680C (max hp console 90HP) but that's a different animal. i'd personally prefer the Esox Mag to the old 680C's but of course the VS would be great.
a 16-17' class aluminum boat on those trips might break a rib or sacrifice a kidney and a few fillings in your teeth ... short aluminum boats to me are an awful ride in 2' plus waves (note: this would be most people's 4' wave as waves tend to be bigger for the story just like girths on fish) and as much due to the short length as the lighter weight. a fish hawk would be great for small water but the ones i've ridden in are light and a terrible ride in rough stuff and catch wind like a kite.
Edited by jonnysled 5/20/2015 2:17 PM
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | jonnysled - 5/20/2015 12:21 PM
ShutUpNFish - 5/20/2015 11:32 AM
Many guys will respond based on what they themselves own...the BIG question is "whats your style of fishing"....For me, I look for versatility because I want a boat I can effectively cast, troll, fish for Great Lakes Walleye, Bass or Muskies alike. As well as easily fish inland waters. I found that boat in an Alumacraft Trophy 195. Wouldn't even consider anything else, and I have fished out of or owned many others.
the replies were based on what the OP is wanting to do ... bouncing around lake to lake and lots of stable casting deck.
did you notice your post is basically a contradiction of itself?
If you hadn't noticed, I did state "For me", but you obviously missed that...without more details about how the guy primarily fishes, the question gets harder to answer or give a proper recommendation....BUT, we ALL get it.....You love your Esox Mag.  |
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Posts: 1209
| I picked up a 21' glass deep v. It drafts as little as 10 inches and I have put it in sloughs just need tires on the truck. It's Not a ranger that is designed to draft a lot of water to slow wind drift you can't manipulate weight to draft less. Given your comments that you don't care about a rough or dry ride. I would assume your younger and can figure out how to get any boat in any water you like.
Just get the floor plan you like and make the rest work. I am hoping to get a new zx250 and I will draft more than I do in this walleye boat but I want that floor plan! Best of luck in finding your next ride |
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Location: Contrarian Island | Esox Mag for sure.... doubt highly you can find a good 681 for that...if you can, that is another perfect rig for WI lakes
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | ShutUpNFish - 5/21/2015 7:56 AM
jonnysled - 5/20/2015 12:21 PM
ShutUpNFish - 5/20/2015 11:32 AM
Many guys will respond based on what they themselves own...the BIG question is "whats your style of fishing"....For me, I look for versatility because I want a boat I can effectively cast, troll, fish for Great Lakes Walleye, Bass or Muskies alike. As well as easily fish inland waters. I found that boat in an Alumacraft Trophy 195. Wouldn't even consider anything else, and I have fished out of or owned many others.
the replies were based on what the OP is wanting to do ... bouncing around lake to lake and lots of stable casting deck.
did you notice your post is basically a contradiction of itself?
If you hadn't noticed, I did state "For me", but you obviously missed that...without more details about how the guy primarily fishes, the question gets harder to answer or give a proper recommendation....BUT, we ALL get it.....You love your Esox Mag. ; )
I don't have an Esox Mag ... i drive a Ranger 690. |
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Posts: 84
| I used to have a 17ft aluminum boat and it would get pushed around in the wind like a sail, I didn't have a powerful enough trolling motor to keep it on track. It also rode hard in a chop and I would sprayed even thou it was a side counsel. Now I have a 620 ranger, wow what a difference in ride in chop and moves very slowly in windy conditions. It sounds like you need a glass boat in a low profile style that doesn't get pushed around in the wind. The tuffy boats Ive seen are this type Im not sure of the model that is but Im sure somebody on this thread knows the model I want to say a Magnum? I think would be ideal for what your describing. Keep checking around and be ready to buy one when you find it as stated before those boats move very fast. Good luck in your search. Ive had good luck finding things when I tell all my buddies what Im looking for and if they see it let me know quickly so I can check it out. Ive also found things for my buddies this way. You know your driving around and you see something that you or your buddies have been looking for in a driveway, this has happened to me a number of times. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I owned aluminum for many years and caught fish from it and like I said it served me well, but I will say that there's more to it than a powerful trolling motor. On my last boat I had a trolling motor that would easily move me into any wind that I could tolerate fishing in (as far as maintaining balance in the boat due to waves). The issue was working a crosswind. A sudden crosswind would blow the boat off course, or a steady crosswind would make it hard to keep the boat parallel to structure.
These things still happen with a glass boat, but the effect seems to be less. They just seem to not react to wind gusts and cross winds as much as an aluminum boat. With that said, I felt I was usually able to maintain good boat control, I was just busier than I seem to be in my Tuffy now.
Fiberglass boats can be pretty sweet, but for what I think your uses are, I wouldn't feel the need to necessarily 100% focus on glass only boats. The right tin boat could suit your needs pretty well, and probably be cheaper and certainly more available than having a glass boat that meets your condition and price criteria.
Tucker |
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Posts: 548
Location: MN | jonnysled - 5/19/2015 2:47 PM
^ true ... older lund tiller pro-v's can be found too. not quite as easy but they are out there ...
This ^^^^
I have a 94 Lund Pro V Tiller and it fishes great.
Like all the room without the console.
Not the driest ride but for me... who cares.
Edited by Nick59 5/22/2015 12:31 PM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | it's not perfect for gear by any means...but on a limited budget of 10k you should at least consider the pros/cons of a bass boat. You could probably find one with less wear and tear, good cosmetics, and a decent engine for your budget...
Certainly some advantages for what you described...easy to launch, glass boat, not on big water, good casting deck....
just a thought, I bought a 10k ranger bass boat once upon a time that was in immaculate condition and I got into all kinds of little lakes and had a lot of fun in it for a few years until I could move up a bit budget wise.
Edited by Musky Brian 5/26/2015 9:26 AM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | WiscoMusky - 5/19/2015 4:17 PM
Cool. Well now I just need to find one for sale so I can check it out in person haha
sent you a pm ... |
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Posts: 100
| I bought a Crestliner CMV 1850 last year, it's a variation of the Fishhawk with lower sides, higher decks and a ton of storage. It has a huge (7 ft.) front deck and a back deck that's easily 60".
If you took a typical aluminum walleye boat and crossed it with a bass boat, took out all the wood (it's nothing but aluminum and composite), you'd have a good picture of what one looks like.
It doesn't get batted around in the wind (I run a 36 volt Minn Kota to ensure that) like boats with higher sides, and it goes just fine with a Suzuki DF140 4 stroke. A lot of them have 150s on them and they really scoot...
It's easy to launch, fairly light (the boat is around 1100 lbs. empty), has a huge (41 gallon) gas tank, a center rod locker and just fishes great.
Hard to find @ $10K, but add it to your list to look for, maybe you'll find one. |
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Looking to upgrade to a good boat