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| I was thinking about buying a new boat next summer and with the new intrest in Musky, I wanted to make sure I had the right set-up. I have looked at Crestliner, Lund and a few others. One thing I have noticed right off, is the long rods dont fit in the storage on my boat. I also like to fish Erie for Walleye, so I need somthing with deep sides. Thanks guys. Wish I could make that Island trip. It sounds like a blast.
RandyW[:sun:] |
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| What is your price range? That is #1.
I would go with a Ranger, no questions asked. I have a 519 Comanche (bass boat) and I am very pleased with it. Lungin has a 690 Fisherman (deep-V), and it could handle the roughest of waves. Long rod lockers, 2 livewells, storage up the wazzu. What I like most about a Ranger, you can walk around all you want, and the boat barely moves let alone rocks back and forth. It is SO SOLID!!!!!
If they are out of your price range, look for a used one. It will be worth the looking around. |
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| The crestliner fishhawk 1850 and the lund explorer 1800 both have rod boxes big enough for 8ft rods. Not all lund and crestliners do. G3 boats have long rod boxes, just about all of them. Most rod boxes top out at about 7ft so take your tape measure. |
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| Randy....
Tin boats:
I have fished out of Crestliner's and Lund. My preference was the Lund, "Shep" on the board has a very nice one.
Glass boats:
I have owned or fished out of Warrior, Tuffy, Ranger, and Skeeter and Yar Craft. Only one I didn't care for was Warrior and that was an interior layout based opinion not performance related.
I prefer the fiberglass models due to a little nicer ride and stability but if I were an Aluminum boat person I would probably opt for a Lund or SmokerCraft due to reputation and interior designs.
Good luck...
Mark |
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| I agree with Comanche Jim. I have to we both fish out of 519 Comanches. I consider this boat to be the best cross between the "Walleye" big water hull and the "Bass" boat hull. It is a little deeper that your normal Bass boat hull while being a little shallower than most of the "Walleye/Muskie" hulls. This lets you get the best of both worlds. I found mine used, I would not hesitate to do it again. |
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| Well, now. You have some options. Contact Steve for Patriot's new line of Musky boats. Or Gregger for Crestliner, or Ranger boats.
I highly recommend a Lund 1700 Angler SS like mine.
And there's always Tuffy, Triton, Alumacraft(I added this for Rick's benefit), Procraft, Skeeter, Warrier, Champion, Starcraft, Yaw Craft, Misty Hoover, Fisher, Minnow Craft, and Coleman Crawdad.
My head hurts, now.[:knockout:] |
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| I have a 1750 fishawk. Rod storage fits by 7'7" rods without a problem and I would think 8' as well. Great layout/great boat. As with anything you get what you pay for, I think all the boats mentioned above would offer you what you need based on whatever your budget is. |
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| Randy,
I would definately agree with some of the above posts, I think Ranger, Crestliner and Lund have some awsome layouts. I have a 620vs and wouldn't change a thing. A big thing that I didn't have on my old boat, but absolutely love on my new one is having a livewell that's 50". I will not look at a boat the next time I'm in the market without a livewell that's at least 48". I can't even explain how much less stressful it is on the fish to stick it in the livewell and pump it with air while you clean up the boat and get it ready for a picture. I know Jason preaches the 10 second rule, and with a livewell that size you can preach the 5-7 second rule.
-Phil |
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| I checked out the Crestliners today and compared them to Rangers. I gotta say that for the $$ the Crestliner was the best deal. I like the layout of the Commanche, but the $37000 price was a bit much and I wanted somthing a little deeper. I checked out both the 1750 and 1650 crestliners, and like both. Only problem is with the rod storage. The 1650 has 90", and 87" on the 1750. Does anyone know if that is exact or will take a little more?? The longest rod for me is a 7'6". I guess only question now is powerdrive?? Merc/Mariner/Yam, Ev,Johnson?? 2Stroke/4Stroke. I have heard that some of the Direct injection 2 stroke are great motors, but I havnt found much in the way of price yet?? Thanks for all the information. If I get anything soon I will post a pic if now will be next spring. Thanks again.
RandyW |
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| Randy,
Can't help ya with the Crestliner rod storrage question, but I'm sure someone will reply.
Here's my take on the motors...
If you can afford a 4 stroke...buy it.
If you're gonna stick to a two stroke some things to consider.
Options you will be faced with...
Carburated/injected or Opti-max / Ficht.
Hypothetically (not sure on spelling of that one..[:sun:] )
150Hp Merc XR6 Carburated model will be roughly 3,500-4,000 cheaper than say a 150 Opti or Ficht.
Just my humble opinion but unless you are going to do allot and I mean allot.... of long distance running you can buy whole bunch of gas for $4,000 plus the interest you will pay on that amount over the course of your loan.
Don't get me wrong the opti's and Ficht's are good motors with about 30-35% improvement on fuel economy but think about the extra cost long term.
Another thing....
Spark plugs for a regular carburated or injected motor run about $5 each for good quality NGK or Bosch. A friend of mine told me that a set a plugs for his 150 opti was darn near a $100 bill..[:0]
Guess if it were me I would opt for 4 stroke if I could afford it, if not I would choose a carburated model.
You will get varying opinions on Merc/OMC/Yamaha etc... Purchase what you have confidence in and can get good service on in your area.
Seems like no matter where you live you can always find a Merc dealer and overall they are darn good motors.
Just my .02 cents...
Mark |
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| Randy,
I was having a little fun before. But, I will say that before you buy anything, get out in several different boats. Get in that C'liner, Ranger(both Bass and Multi-Species), Lunds, Tuffys, and whatever else strikes you as a possibilty.
I bought a new boat this spring. A Lund 1700 Angler SS, 135 Opti, 9.9 4S kicker, MK 65AP, Eagle trailer. I'd been in many different boats. I had to gauge functionality vs economy. I think I made the right choice for me at this time. Although my rod lockers only hold 7'rods, I didn't see that as that big of a minus. SOme people do. I love the layout of the boat, fishes great, sits level in the water, it's fast, rides nice, loads and tows great. I could have gone glass, but I just couldn't justify the extra money for the same size boat, and not as good a layout. IMHO.
Not trying to sway you towards the Lund, but just trying to let you know how I approached it. There are a lot of great rides out there. You just have to find the one that's right for you. Good luck on the purchase. Again, I urge you to get in sevral different boats. Then you'll never look at another and wonder, "Did I make the right decision?"
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| Bought my first boat last winter at the show. Decided on Crestliner over Lund and Alumacraft. I went with Crestliner for a # of reasons: Resale value, reputation, warranty (outstanding), and service. I happen to have Crystal Pierz down the road.
Take your time, sit in all the boats you may like and go from there. I wish I had more storage, lockable storage, a bigger livewell, etc....Then again, I bought what I could afford and all I needed. It is all I still need today. I am young and when I am a bit older, I'll go bigger! And I'll kno exactly what I want!
Your right, for the $$, Crestliner is an awesome deal. When I shopped around, even Lund was off the mark with pricing. I almost went with Alumacraft, but something just clicked I should go with Crestliner.
Good Luck............
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| If I can give you any advice at all it would be not to skimp on the engine. I went from a 75hp Mariner Oil injected to a 225 Mercury Opti. Anyone could see that is a difference in size, suprisingly the 225 gets much better mileage than the 75hp did. It does cost more money up front, but saves you a ton in the long run. If you are going in that horsepower range with a boat I would say it's almost a must.
If you are staying down under 135hp, I would say a 4 stroke is the way to go. I have fished in quite a few boats with both and it's hard to not justify one. The most impressive I saw was a 115 Suzuki 4stroke. I have fished out of quite a few boats with suzukis on the tail end of them and they are just elite in their class.
Tip for both- If a engine has 40% better fuel economy than another put it into these terms. For every $1,000 you would spend on the one engine you would only $600 on the one with the better fuel economy. Add that up over the years and you'll save. Plus have a cleaner and smoother running engine without any smoke.
-Phil |
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| A jon boat and a set of oars! Make sure the boat is longer than your rods![:bigsmile:] |
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| Keep looking for a used Ranger. I came across a deal 2 years ago: A one year old Ranger 690 with a 175 HP Mercury for 20 grand. That is a hell of a deal. I know 2 people who get new Rangers every year in the Chicago area. This is about the time they dump their used ones. I'll find out what they have to offer this year. I will also talk to the midwest sales division head and see what he has to offer. |
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| As far as rod storage in the c-liners, they will take my 8' rods WITH normark rod balancers on the butts, also room to spare. I have owned a 1650 and an 1850 fishhawk in the past, 7'6" or 8' rod are not a problem. |
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| HEY RANDY,
At the start of the year I purchased a Mr Pike 17 and has been nothing but a pleasure to use. Large sides offer great big water fishing. 2 casting decks and lots of storage, we have a 55 pound thrust Minn cota on the front and would recommend larger for sure. Also I have a 4 stroke Honda 75 on the back enough for me but only goes about 40 mph. I fish alot of rocky areas and so would not get a fiberglass hull, and with two fish finders and a GPS on it your ready to go. Also get the on board chargers they are a must in my book and so handy, the only other thing to get is locks on the lockers, and maybe a bigger rod storage. The other thing is price they are not cheap, but hey you get what you pay for. Hope that helps
Musk. |
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| Look into the boat you really want used. You'll save a ton of money and get the boat you want. You can pick-up a 1-2 year old glass for 30-40% off list if you look around. If you in MN you also avoid paying the 6-1/2% sales tax.
If you do decide to go used make sure you are critical! If you have to sell yourself on the boat, don't buy it. Also, have the motor checked out if possible. Just beware 200 block Merc opti's in the 2000-2001 range and Evinrude Ficht's in the 1999-2001 range. Some are good, but many are bad. |
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| I agree with Treats on the engine blocks, I have the 2002 upgrades on my opti.
-Phil |
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| How does a 1750 crestliner w/90hp merc 4stroke sound? Will be hard to give up my 14' alumacraft with the ol 25hp Mariner, I have grown to love. Does anyone have a barn I can hide my old boat in?? :)
Thanks again for all the expert information. Experience is the best source, and this page is full of experience.
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| Sounds like a nice boat.....I'm going through the same thing right now with looking for a new rig. I've looked at everything and though I think Lund is top o the line when it come to tin boats, I gotta say Ranger hands down makes the best boat I've seen to date. I love everything about Rangers except I wish they made a true fishing boat that has a full windshield, Treats made me see the light on the full windshield up at Cass. I was told last year when I bought a boat not to skimp on what I get and to just get what I really want right away and I wish I would have listened. I really like my Lund but I did worry more about $$ than what I really wanted in a boat so here I am a year later looking to upgrade. I've been doing some looking around and you can find some really great deals on used Rangers that would be comparable in price to what you're looking to buy,not that a 'liner is a bad rig by any means, I really liked the 1850 Muskie Edition.
PK |
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| Randy,
That sounds like a nice setup...
Nice size boat.
Great motor choice, you'll have good top end as well as being able to troll. Nice quiet, efficient, reliable motor.
Good luck,
P.S.
Greg M. from this board is now selling Crestliners for Crystal-Pierez in Rice Lake, WI. Before he took the job he was telling me about their aggressive pricing on certain models, might be worth checking into.
Mark |
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| Randy, Sounds like a good decision. You'll love the motor.
PK, you can get a full walk thru windshield on the 617, 619, 620, and the 621. FYI[:)] |
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| PK,
I got a full windshield on my 620. Doesn't take up any more room that the bubble windshields. Also a life saver on the cold.
-Phil |
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| Randy,
Buying a boat is really a matter of personal preference. I would recommend that you ride in and fish out of as many as you can before you buy. They all have pros and cons! I also agree that local service can really be a plus. My 1st rig was a Smoker Craft 182 Pro-Mag and it was a good 1st boat
I caught a lot of nice fish in it. I currently fish out of a Lund Pro-V
1900 LE powered by a Yamaha 200 HPDI. I can't say enough about the Lund or the Yamaha! Again it's a matter of preference but here is what I like about this rig:
-The LE version has the aft counsel SOFTER RIDE ON ROUGH WATER!
-Lund seats are also second to none!
-Large front casting deck w/ easy access rod storage for 7ft rods
-From my seat at the wheel I can troll w/ the big motor,adjust my electronics,or troll w/ the 8hp kicker elec trim and tilt.
If you are considering a used boat check w/ a dealer BEFORE the boat show season and tell him what you are looking for so when a clean trade comes in he can call you.
Good Luck,
Lungehead |
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| I have a good friend that is selling his boat. E mail me and I will let you know all the details. |
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