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Posts: 9
| I am looking at buying a new boat, probably this winter or spring. I have been reading/researching and just cant make up my mind what I want. I am looking to spend under 12,000 so that means something used. I primarily fish small lakes and in northern Wisconsin and currently have a Tuffy Esox ltd, and love it, but I went to LOTW this year and plan to fish more bigger water in the future...I need something that is a tiller (dont like steering consoles) and is both comfortable on big water and easy enough to fish small lakes as well...the few that i have considered are:
Alumacraft Competitor 175
Crestliner Pro Tiller 175
Tuffy 1760
Tuffy 1700
Any opinions/facts on any of these models? Any others I should be considering? |
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Posts: 548
Location: MN | How about a Lund Pro V tiller?
My 1775 can handle all sort of water. |
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Posts: 299
| The tuffy 1760 is really a great all around boat. I had mine on everything from little puddles to LOTW/ML/Leech. The G-series is even better as the 1760GT fishes much bigger than the specs would suggest. They are tough to come by. If you go tuffy I would suggest being a bit flexible on your budget and try to find a 2005 or newer as that was the 1st year of the re-designed interior. I think that is when they went 100% composite as well.
If you really want to stick to that 12k budget I wouldn't even worry about the brand. Just shop for the best deal at your budget. They can be found. |
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Posts: 117
Location: Northern Illinois | They have quite a few nice Ranger 681 vs in the classified ads right now and at a really reasonable price. |
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Posts: 633
Location: Madison, WI | Of the boats listed , the 1760 is the best hands down. If you can find one grab it, but might be hard to do for less than 12k. Agreed that the 05 and newer layout is much nicer but again hard in that price range. I fished a 1760 console the last 4 years and sold it this winter thinking I needed a bigger boat....kinda miss it. Those Ranger 680s and 690s are great too. Keep your eyes peeled and stick with a nice glass boat. If you're planning on fishing big water you won't regret it. |
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Posts: 404
Location: Lakeville, MN | 681. |
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Posts: 422
| Just spent a week with my dad's buddy out of his new Crestliner 1750 Pro Tiller....with a 90hp Merc 4stroke. Awesome boat with great layout and storage and tons of open floor space. Couldn't go wrong with any of those, but good luck finding one for under 12k.
craig |
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Location: MN | As NickD stated the Tuffy 1760 is a great boat that fishes big and has a favorable interior layout for musky fishing. I've spent some time fishing out of this rig and really enjoyed it.
The Ranger 680/681 tillers are another option to consider. They are a 17ft tiller that can handle big water conditions and perfect for small lakes too. I regularly used mine on Minnetonka, Vermilion, Mille Lacs, and St Louis River Bay area and it handled the big water fine. It was also small enough to launch at poor landings on small lakes near my old home. Despite their age the hulls are solid and you still might be able to find a repowered one within your budget, ones with original engines should be well within your budget. |
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Posts: 512
| whats the difference between the Ranger 681s and the 618s? |
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | I have always owned Tiller boats too and don't see that changing for me, so I understanding holding out for one. Good plan I think.
I think any of the boats you listed would work great for you. I went to LOTW last year in a 2000 Alumacraft 165 Tiller with 50 hp Merc. We got around just fine. One day the winds came up while we were out and it was a slow ride back to camp but we made it. It wasn't the most comfortable ride but I wan't terribly worried. Any of the 17' boats you are looking at will do better than my 165 did.
This year I have a Tuffy 1760 GT. Awesome boat. We had several windy days on LOTW this year and it handled it very well. It's much better at both running the waves, as well as sitting down at rest and being more stable, with less bouncing and pitching than my aluminum boat did.
If you can find one in your price range, the 1760 is a GREAT boat. I echo the others, that the new layout is really nice, but some guys like the old layout too. I would say the old layout is a little more similar to what the Esox Mags are with the wide side tank layout. I believe the actual hull is pretty much the same design, though it does use wood where the 2005 and later is all composite and has nothing to rot. Never seen a 1700 - don't know how much room they have. Would be less room than the aluminum options that you are considering.
You might look hard and find a good, older layout 1760 around your price range. If not, I think the Alumacraft or Crestliner would serve you well too. I'd also look into some of the 17' Lund options. The Pro V, Explorer, and Pro Angler are a few that come to mind that might fit your price range and fishing style.
One thing I do like in a boat is somewhat of a shelf that runs front to back to set rods down on when going from spot to spot, or just to keep extras. I don't think a Pro V has that, and some of the Alumacrafts don't either. Might not be a big issue for you, as I know several serious musky guys that don't have this sort of layout. |
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Posts: 9
| Thanks everyone for the responses...after doing a bit more research I think i am going to need to expand my budget a bit to find what I want... |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | I think you are going to have to do a lot of searching. A lot of the boats I find that are in decent shape are over $12,000. I was lucky to find my skeeter 1850 Year: 1997 for $7000. As I find out other prices and what people have been spending I think I was lucky with the boat I got. All I can say is don't hop on anything too fast but also don't let a good deal slip through the cracks. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I would go glass over aluminum if you can swing it... glass ride so much better and don't get pushed around by wind as much |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | I would agree with BNelson |
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | I 3rd Brad. There is absolutely nothing WRONG with aluminum and it's very functional, but glass certainly is nicer on the water. |
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| Agree also on glass. I was leary about hitting rocks and such and chipping the gel coat but realized if u dont care about looks gel coat is easy to repair with marine tex epoxy. |
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Posts: 785
| You didn't mention any size or outboard requirements, how about that Lund 1625 Fury Tiller with the 25hp. four stroke advertised on the Home page for $11,695? Neat looking boat, easy to tow, and probably ideal for the smaller lakes of northern Wi. And if you always think safety first, probably could use on bigger waters on calm days. Oh yea, it's a brand new boat! Kdawg |
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