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| Any one fish out of one of these? How do you like it? How does it handle? |
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Posts: 89
| I do. Navigator 165 tiller. Great boat. Handles nicely, a little back heavy with a 75 yammy tiller. Stable, etc. |
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Posts: 82
Location: Central WI | I have a 165 Navigator with the side console and I love it. I have a 75hp Evinrude and it seems to do just fine. There is a lot of room for a couple guys and all their gear,nice livewell/baitwell setup and plenty of storage. It is the most stable aluminum boat I've owned and you can probably pick one up pretty reasonable right now. I looked at Lund's and Crestliner's too, and there all very nice, but for what I paid, I am happy with the Alumacraft.
Chris |
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Posts: 291
Location: Minneapolis | I've got a 2000 Navigator 165 tiller. I like it. Mine's rated for 60HP; the new Navigator Classic (which is the same as mine) is rated for 50 HP.
It's stable and has tons of storage. I've comfortably fished on Mille Lacs, LOTW, and Rainy with it. Mind you, the center of Mille Lacs when it's blowing hard is not a good place to be, but that's true in bigger boats, too. |
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| I have a Navigator it's a nice boat it's a 2006 with a 75 rude.Lot's of room unlike some people I like the storage boxe's on the side and back rather then the wide gunnel's on the Dominator I like to set down rod's on them so they don't have to be on the floor for my freind's to step on.The center rod storage is nice but then they had to put a little live well up front.The Navigator has side rod storage and a nice long livewell in the front. |
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Posts: 619
| I have 165 Nav CS w/ 90 Yamaha, 08, i like it.......good speed w/ 90 HP, like the beam, but wish i would have got the 175 for extra length and a few more inches for beam. Works for all types of water, including big water. I do wish the compartments on the side would keep stuff dry, cause when it rains, it makes the storage bins all wet too. In MN u can buy that boat in that $15K range now (165 Nav, 90 HP, side counsel). |
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Posts: 720
| Boat,
I've got a 175 sc with a 115 Yamaha four stroke. I love it. Love it, Love it, Love it. Its been a terrific boat a good sturdy ride. Its fishability is very versitle whether trolling or casting I'm comfortable and dry. It was a great investment. |
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Posts: 21
Location: Wallingford, KY | I have a tournament pro 185, dual console with a 200 honda, less than 100 hrs on the whole rig for sale real cheap right now if your interested just let me know. |
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Posts: 138
Location: Aurora IL | Ive got a navigater 175cs with an evinrude 115 and its the best boat ive ever owned. Handles great very stable dry plenty of storage and the roomiest boat out there. Alumacraft is using better rivets double hulls and full marine plywood. Ive only run it one season but I dont miss my lund at all. A friend got a navigater last year and I couldnt wait until I could justify one for myself. I think you would be very happy with one. Bill |
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| If you are getting quotes, be sure to get a price from Lecannes in Faibault Mn.
Mike Ruff |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I have a 2000 Alumacraft Navigator 165 with a 50hp 4 stroke. I really like the boat. Plenty of room, stable, lots of storage, big livewell. Have nothing bad to say about it. My uncle bought a new Navigator 165 with a 90 Etec on it this summer. Very nice boat also. They made them even wider. For a 16 foot boat, the new ones almost have a "big boat" feel to them. We had his on some big waves this year, probably 3 footers for sure, and it handled them quite well. The older style handles pretty big water quite well also.
curleytail
Edited by curleytail 1/19/2009 1:06 PM
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| My dad runs a 165 Navigator single console with a 90 Etec, and really likes it. He's had it for 2 years. The storage compartments are not dry storage, but that is really the only drawback in his eyes. I have run it/fished from it, and it is a nice stable rig. I thought it blew/whipped around a tad easily in the wind, while fishing, but I am used to fishing from a glass rig, so that might be why I thought so. I am impressed with the use of space in the boat, and how it seem to convert easily from a Musky rig, to a kid/tube pulling boat in minutes. I looked at the 17 or 18' tiller one time, and was very impressed with the layout and would fit my style of fishing perfectly. Dad bought his from Galles marine in WI Rapids, WI and is happy. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I also have the 165 Navigator with a 90 hp Yamaha 2 stroke. Engine-wise, I would say I am disappointed with my choice since the yamaha is the smallest displacement 90hp motor made. Speed is o.k at 38mph and mileage is decent....motor runs smooth too...just not enough "umph" in the engine for that particular boat. I do find that it is a very dry ride unless conditions are really poor and you have to go in a cross wind (then nothing is dry).
As for fishing from it, it's pretty hard to beat. Very stable, and with the side storage being on the same level as the front and rear decks, it makes walking around with a big fish on the line an easy thing to do...unless of course you have the dual console. The rear deck area is a great place to fish from...right above the water and you can be right out on the edge of the boat.
Rigging up electronics on this boat is a snap!! Lots of area to work and no real major issues "fishing" wire up and around things.
Storage-I agree the compartments are not dry and for the most part, that is not a big issue. Rod storage is nice...you can fit a 7'-6" stick in either compartment.
If you do choose this particular model, get the biggest displacement engine you can get/afford. I have been very intrigued in the past year or so with the Honda 90 with the Vtec technology... Fuel savings would be huge for just cruising around, and the low end torque is quite beefy.
Definitely the best boat I have owned to fish from....
Steve |
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Posts: 61
Location: Sioux Lookout On Canada | I own a 165 dominator with a 90hp 4 stroke yamaha on the back. I love my boat. Perfect for two people and my son with excellent rod storage. Not a tournament boat because of the small livewells.
Good on gas and I take huge waves with it. I feel safe and so far the boat is holding together.
The boat is pretty wide as well. I like this for stability but it slows the boat down a bit.
They can only get better.
Neil Michelin
LAc Seul Fish Fry Co.
Canadian Heartland Fishing
Host of Cry of the Loon Fishing Adventures on APTN
807-737-2246 |
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Posts: 21
| I just finished my third season in my 175 single console navigator, 115 yamaha. I love it as well.
The only things I have trouble with, is the screw fastners in the deck loosen constantly after pounding waves or a long trailering trips. I just finished replacing +/- 50 screws with s/s bolts.
Also, be careful pulling rods in and out of holders, the folks at the factory installed some screws fastening your livewell valve switch that stick into the comartment and act as perfect ilet benders/line cutters! I also had to install my own system to seccure rods after they are in the comp.
I think that my 2005, which is rated for a 115, may have been designed for the lighter 2 stroke 115s of yesteryear, and not my heavy 115 4 stroke.....ass sits a bit low in water. Maybe they have fixed that because I believe they are now rated for a bit higher H.P.
I WOULD BUY ANOTHER.
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Posts: 619
| scews from my deck are also popping out and loosening, 08 used 1yr.... i should contact Alum. overall nice boat. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | As with anything with screws, vibration will loosen them...no matter if it is lund, Crestliner, Lowe, Alumacraft, princecraft, etc. What can help with this is a little bit of loctite on the screws...something that will allow the screw to stay put. One time, and it's all done...
Steve |
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Posts: 338
| I have an 08 Navigator 175 with a 150 Evinrude E-Tec and absolutely love the boat. It feels a good bit bigger than it actually is. The only negative thing is that the 50 inch shaft Motorguide Trolling motor that I installed after purchasing the boat is TOO SHORT for my boat. Sold it, so now I am just getting ready to purchase a 36 volt 60 inch Motorguide that should be more than sufficient at 109 lbs of thrust. My dealer told me that a 50 ich shaft would work just fine for my boat. Freakin clown!!!
Roger |
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Alumacraft 165 Dominator and Navigator