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| Alumacraft 175 CS Navigator vs. Crestliner 1750 Fish Hawk SC The Navigator will have a 115 E-Tec and the 'Hawk a 115 EFI Mercury 4-stroke. I'm leaning toward the Navigator, but what I want to know is from a design standpoint, which is a better built boat. Thanks. |
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Posts: 4266
| I like Crestliners.
All welded hull. Very tough.
I have a Ranger Cherokee. A Crestliner hull with a Ranger interior.
To quote a famous fiberglass boat guy, "Beav, this is the nicest tin boat that I ever fished out of."
Beav |
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Posts: 94
| A friend of mine just bought an Alumacraft. His reason was that he liked the double hull that Alumacraft has. He seems to find every underwater hazard there is and loses alot of fishing time getting his boat rewelded. |
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Posts: 167
Location: Fonda IA | My cousin owns a 175 navagator.It's a nice boat but you can run out of room in really quick.I own a Alumacraft too, a 175 magnum.They are a tough .The crestliner might have cleaner lines inside and out of the boat.I look at both the fishhawk and my boat when I got mine.Dealer's made my decision.I choose the one that wanted my business.Get the best deal and run with it.If possible can you get either boat out for a test run?Back then 3years ago I would of bought a fishhawk but the dealer wouldn't get back to me with a price and I waited a week for them to do so.The dealers selling Alumacraft really wanted to seprate me from my money. Dennis Blume |
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Posts: 5874
| Are these new boats? If so, why not look into the 115 Opti instead of the 4 stroke? Get in both boats if you can, and choose the one that fits what you do best. They're both good boats, and motors. Does Alumicraft still put that carpet on the gunnels? Man, I hate getting a wet arse from that!
If used, check out the classifieds. There's a loaded Lund Angler SS that you would look great in!
Edited by Shep 3/15/2006 3:23 PM
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| Shep,
The boats are new and I'm leaning toward the E-Tec. |
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Posts: 273
| I am somewhat bias since I own a Crestliner, but looked at the Alumacraft before I bought my boat. One of the main selling points for me was the larger casting deck on the fishawk. The Alumacraft seemed cramped up front for my style of fishing. If you are more of a troller you have more room in backe of the Alumacraft. I also don't care for the wide gunnels on some or the Alumacrafts. I am not sure if the navigator series has these, but just seems like wasted space to me.
These are just my opinions, either way you will get a good boat.
Jeff |
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Posts: 2325
Location: SE, WI. | I Owned a Etec and been on evinrudes pro-staff for 2 years now. After running 4 strokes for 6 years I suggest you go With the Etec, especially if you put alot of hours running. I've had more problems with 4 strokes, using oil and making oil. I put about 550hours a year on my engines. I absolutely LOVE the ETEC. As for a aluminum boat, after you've been in a fiberglass you won't ever go back to aluminum...The ride is rough!!! Good luck W/your decision. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I own the smaller Navigator 165 with a 90 yamaha. It is only 8 inches shorter than the 175, 6 inches shallower and 3 inches narrower, so there is not much difference except weight (300 pounds or so) Cannot comment on the two motor choices, but I do like my navigator a bunch. I believe the 175 now comes with a 25" transom, which means less chance of water coming over the back in a following sea, and definitely a better option with the heavier 4 stroke engines...keeps your oil reservoir further away from the waterline meaning less chance for water intrusion. The overall depth of the navigator series seems to be quite a bit more than the crestliner, which in big water meant a bunch to me. I also noticed the bow of the crestliners seem to dip down, which I never liked in a situation where I am dealing with big oncomming waves. The crestliner hull seemed to be more curved at the aft portion of the boat, which to me would seem to allow the boat to lean more to the side you are standing on. The chine width on mine is around 79" and the harder the chine to even a reverse chine the more stable the platform. I don't know if the crestiler has a reverse chine, but if it does, that is a strong point.
Welded or riveted....tough call. Fit and finish...again tough call... storage...depends on what you need. I think no matter what boat, you can never have too much storage. The navigator has 2 rod lockers which one of those could be used to store more gear.
These are just observations that I noticed which affected my decision.
So far, I have had my navigator in 3ft waves and did not feel unsafe at all. As long as you don't overdrive the rig in the conditions it is not bumpy, nor is it wet.
Good luck on your choice.
Steve |
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| Traded a Navigator in on a Crestliner. Crestliner is a much drier boat. No big deal in the summer but in the fall a real big deal. |
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Posts: 23
Location: vermilion bay,ontario | guided out both the 1650 and the 1750,both are good boats,but you get wet if you travel slightly sideways through the rough water.the 1850 is a little bit better.last year i bought a lund 1800 pro V,i would look into this rig,i guide out of it everyday on lac suel for either muskie or walleye,and when a boat can take these waters its a boat,mind you the air ride seats help out.even though its alumium its rides great and dry,fiberglass would be nice ,and have run in rangers,but i need to go on shore for shore lunches during my days and the fiberglass unless i land on a beach would be ok,but scary on the rocks.also the ranger i went out in ,T620 has no room inside whatsoever.i almost bought a alumucraft,they are comparable to the crestliners,but the lund dealer made me a good deal,and am very happy with the boat,has a 90 4 stroke on it and with the stock prop i get around 36 -38 mph.quick enough for a tiller. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | I run a 1750 as well, and my deciding point was the fact that the front deck has a ton of room like Peaches was saying. I love the fact that you can have 2 people up there without a problem. I take it out on Lake Michigan and it handles fine in the rough water.
Not too sure about other factors, but I like the fact that the gunnels are narrow as well, so I don't have to worry about having to bend over the side to figure 8. I'm right there all the time. I run a 115 Yami 4 banger, and get about 45 at top speed with the factory prop and 2 guys with all the stuff we bring in the boat.
Good luck in your decision and have fun!!!! As far as the motors, I was actually looking at getting an etec at first, but the dealer who I trust talked me into the Yami. That being said, I would have gone with an etec as well, as I haven't heard any bad things about them. |
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Posts: 105
| I'm a couple days behind but, If I'm reading these posts correctly, most of the comments on the navigator series boats are on the old hull. The one now called the "Classic"
The new Navigator is a new designed boat first introduced in 2004. It has a new interior layout, the 2 XB hull full length, a 93" beam and the narrow uncarpeted gunnels.
Over the years I've owned and fished out of both Crestliner and Alumacraft and still do with friends. Alumacraft gets my vote for the best tin boat. Just a side note, I have been running glass for several years now, specifically Tuffy Boats, and will never own another aluminum boat but, this is my opinion from personal experience. |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | After fishing out of K-bob's Alumicraft this last year, I was SERIOUSLY thinking of buying one. It was between that and a Tuffy. If I was not getting a tuffy, that's what I'd be getting. |
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