175 or 185?

I’m torn between a 175 or 185 alumicraft, and I know 185 is bigger, but for smaller water and big water is the 175 a better all around ?

No, bigger is always better unless……………….smaller suits your style of fishing better. Bigger is to big for your garage. Bigger is to big for your wallet.

Bigger gets you more horsepower and a better ride.

I have a 175 competitor. I’m up at LOTW right now and the boat handles just fine. I’ve been in 3-4 foot rollers on mille lacs and I’ve been in tiny crappie holes. Having said that, I wouldn’t mind the extra space a bigger boat provides. A pile of walleye rods and tackle bags can make space disappear quickly.

I’m with Dutch. Bigger is better, my wife would agree.

I sacrificed fishability for familyability…..yeah that’s a thing.

The extra length is freakin awesome, out on some choppers in leech last Saturday to get to the beach on bear island the kids had a blast skipping waves all the way out. Best water ride you won’t find in a mall. Coolers, water toys, tubes, 31 bags full of towels, snacks, the list goes on.

With that said I pull my hair out on boat control still. Trying to sit on a spot with wind socks or backtrolling with the big fella, is a huge PIA. The smaller boat would be easier to control, how much, idk. Alot of factors.

From 175 to 185, seems like a bit bigger would be nice.

biggill wrote:

I’m with Dutch. Bigger is better, my wife would agree.

Funny she hasn’t divorced you then. Sorry just had to.

Thanks Bob, that’s the kind of advice I needed

Which model are you talking about as it makes a difference. If it’s the Trophy, the 185 is a much bigger boat all around than the 175. Taller gunnels and inside cockpit depth is higher. Which is what you want if you fish big waters all the time, but not want you want if you don’t want that floating in a bathtub feeling.

If Competitor or Edge, there is not that kind of a difference between the 175 and 185.

I’ve not spent time on the water in a 185, but perusing them at sportshows and such they don’t feel to me to be a whole lot different from a 175 (layout excluded from model to model). I would be curious if there is much of a change in handling though, it not apples to apples but I’ve got a lund pro sport 1600 and my dad has a 2012 175 navigator sport. Both are walkthrough windshield boats, I’ve got a 01 Merc 90 4stoke, he has a 12 140 Suzuki 4 stroke. At trolling speeds I feel like mine is more nimble and responsive (possible it’s just comfort level of my own rig versus on the handful of times I’ve operated his), running on plane in calm water, aside from the fact he can leave me in the dust I would say handling is a push, rough water, his all day long. But we are talking about boats with a 18″ length and 12″ width difference whereas the 175 to 185 jump is not as stark.
me personally if the handling differences aren’t as big as the are 16 to 175, I’d go with the 185, but if low speed nimbleness is just as much a difference for an extra foot of length, I’d stay at 175.

queenswake wrote:

Which model are you talking about as it makes a difference.

X2

The other question, what’s important to you? How many people? Familiability a need? See, I can use it too

I was looking at Dominator/Competitor and intentionally went 175. Beam was the same, weight and length were different. Typically don’t fish more than two people, not a family boat, and looking to keep costs and fuel sucking down. Chose a 115hp and would recommend bigger if the 185.

In that boat I think either length works equally well for different lakes. More boat is always more comfortable but not necessarily to the wallet.

Go 185.
I have a Trophy 175 and I wish I could go back in time and go 185. Actually 205.

ClownColor wrote:

I’m going thru that struggle as well. I think I’m going 175 for multiple reasons: less motor, almost same beam length, cost is significantly lower for some reason, still seat up to six in back, one axle vs two. For me, different boat, but going from 165 to 175 is a big change for the better for not much more but going from 175 to 185 cost way more but not much difference.

Obviously, if money is growing on trees, I’d go 195 or larger but from personal experience and research, typical, pending the boat, 175 is a great choice that is significantly cheaper, better deals from dealerships, and will handle big waters with ease.

My Dad and I were talking about that a few months ago. He thinks once you get to a 175 the next step up that is worth it is a 20′ boat.

OP. If it was me and I could afford it I would go 185.

IMO I would go with the 185 and a 150HP motor for two reasons. Many guys put a 115HP on a 175 and regret it afterward. A 140HP isn’t bad, my buddy has a 140HP on his 175 Competitor and it does pretty good, but I don’t think it was propped correct.
Cost-wise yes, going this route will be thousands of dollars more, but if you can swing it I don’t think you will regret it.
I have a 185 Tournament Sport, but its a 2006 and is a completely different hull than what that model uses today (18’11”). I have a 150 Suzuki on it and it is all the motor I would want. It is rated for a 200, but I hit 50 mph with a 23 prop, but my trolling speed was too high so I opted for a 21 which brings me in mid to upper 40’s for speed and a good trolling speed for crankbaits.
I know it was mentioned about single vs dual axle trailer, not sure if that is a dealer preference or not, but I have a single axle under mine and no issues thus far.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Many guys put a 115HP on a 175 and regret it afterward.

thought about this overnight, will I be one of these guys?

175 is plenty of room so no worries there for me. 115hp is a curious question. Do I care that it tops out at 37mph instead of 50, not at all. Do I wish I could run my preferred 25-30mpt at lower rpms, I do but how important is that?

So far I’ve only fished Gull and not a big lake. One of these days we’ll take my boat instead of my buddy’s to Rainy. That will be a good test.

Personally, I probably wouldn’t do a 115hp on a 175.

I have an older (’04) T-Pro Sport 175. Like CaptainMusky’s it’s bigger and heavier than today’s 175s, measuring 17′ 11″. Bought my 175 used with a 115hp and swapped it out a few years later to a 150hp.

Do I need to run 50mph? Nope. It rarely runs wide open throttle, and tops out in the upper 40’s. I usually cruise at about 35mph getting 5+mpg, based on the smart gauge. Where the 115hp would top out at maybe 38mph on a good day, was run WOT all the time, and got maybe 3.3mpg. But it’s nice to know that I can add 10mph above the cruise speed when I need to get off the lake in a hurry.

Even with today’s smaller and lighter 175s I like the idea of not running my outboard wide open all the time. The fuel savings is cream on the top.

Kyhl wrote:

Do I need to run 50mph? Nope. It rarely runs wide open throttle, and tops out in the upper 40’s. I usually cruise at about 35mph getting 5+mpg, based on the smart gauge. Where the 115hp would top out at maybe 38mph on a good day, was run WOT all the time, and got maybe 3.3mpg. But it’s nice to know that I can add 10mph above the cruise speed when I need to get off the lake in a hurry.

Even with today’s smaller and lighter 175s I like the idea of not running my outboard wide open all the time. The fuel savings is cream on the top.

Same with me. I realize the cost difference can be a big deal for some. A 150 is considerably more than a 115. Which is a main reason I opted for a 150 vs a 175 or 200 that my boat is rated for.
My buddy just bought a 2012 175 Competitor with a 140. Its OK, but like I said, not that great. He has been messing with props to try and get it better but he basically has the worst of both worlds. Not a very good holeshot and top end isn’t that impressive. I think it could be his motor is mounted too high myself.
Anyways, he bought this boat after having a 165 Navigator that had a 115. That thing was terribly slow and really was susceptible to an extra passenger. That 115 didn’t have the oomf.
I run my motor like half throttle most of the time and I am going 38MPH or so. For my running the last half throttle doesn’t add much speed, but increases RPM which just eats mileage like Kyhl pointed out.
Here is how I look at it. 37MPH is moving along at a good clip on the lake, if you have a 115 that baby is TAPPED out. A 150 its grabbing you a cigar, frying some hotwings and pouring you a cold beer while pushing your boat 37MPH.

Same question ,but
Garage size doesn’t help so i end up 175 and yamie 115 vmax. From 165 to 175 is big different 175 to 185 not much. I like my edge 175 so far.

Just went and looked at a 2017 edge with a 175 Suzuki, is there any way to find a MSRP for negotiations?

Just purchased a 185 edge with a 175 Suzuki. It’s got a roller trailer, no experience with those, do you guys that have them just unhook when the boat is floating? Is power loading an option or is it just as easy to hand winch? I appreciate all the info everyone has given

I habe a roller trailer on mine and they crank up super easy. I back trailer so the fenders have water half way up. Do not unhook any straps from front until trailer is fully in the water. The boat may roll off.
I somewhat power load mine but really just run it up then connect the strap and crank the rest of the way. Works best with 2 people but if you are alone, like I am a fair amount, I run it up, leave the motor idling in gear and run up to front to strap, then turn off motor and crank it up.

Congratulations on the purchase. Depending on the angle of the boat ramp you are using the right depth to back into is somewhere around the top of the tires being at the surface of the water or just below. I wait until it is backed in the water before unhooking anything. Unhook the safety chain and crank the winch out until the boat rolls back a ways and stops. Give it a little slack and unhook the strap and hop in. Kind the same for loading. Pull the boat on the trailer and hook up the strap and crank it in and hook up the safety chain. It should crank up relatively easy.

Congrats. You will enjoy that rig for a long time. Pics are expected.

As others have said, back it in until it’s semi-floating then disconnect the strap. You don’t want it floating enough that it can float off to the sides.

I’m usually alone too. For loading, I don’t go in nearly what others have suggested. I get the second roller about half way submerged, then slowly drive it up to the post with the motor trimmed down.

I’ve found that running the trailer any deeper when loading leaves the back of the boat floating which causes it to load crooked.

Not the greatest of pics, but I can tell you it was a pleasure working with Dans Southside Marine, we shopped around all over and no one else came close to price! Wife fell in love at first sight and wanted to buy it more than I did! Thanks for all the info you have all given, I did at trailer guides, upgraded the trolling motor and the console unit

If I could buy a brand new boat that boat would be on the short list.

That is a super nice boat, great job!!!

Thanks Pat! Had it on upper gull tonight trolling for northern, my daughter christained the boat with a small northern in the rain. I believe I’ve seen you post from gull sometimes, any tips where to get her her first walleye?

Craig Sery wrote:

any tips where to get her her first walleye?

PM sent

Congrats!! Sweet boat

Wow…well that could be another lesson for other’s too. You first posted here on August 11 what you were thinking about and on August 27 you decided what you wanted and bought the 185. And then were fishing with it on Gull Lake this past weekend. I think of some other’s that had posted here about ordering a new boat at the boat show and then having to wait months with the delivery date continually pushed back. Who knows…maybe some are still waiting?
So in little over 2 weeks your thinking about what to get and now you’re already out fishing in it. Might be something to consider for anyone thinking about ordering a new boat.
Very nice rig BTW!

Walleye student, my in laws have a place on gull and my wife and I have wanted a boat for a long time, she fell in love with this one simply because the bow mount cushions so she could read while I fish…we can afford it so figured why not go all in? We’re not getting any younger and our kids aren’t either, may as well enjoy it!