Hey guys I am going to be looking for a boat for next year and I am just wondering what to buy. I proablly won’t have a lot to spend. I am hoping to spend between 15,000 and 20,000 on it. I was thinking about a smokercraft or alumacraft. What’s your guys opinions on these boats. Also are tillers cheaper than console boats?
You can get a very nice boat in that price range. Tillers will be less expensive, in general, than wheel boats due to smaller motors (in general) and less rigging.
Don’t forget about glass! Skeeter Boat Center has a beautiful new 1790T special purchase boat that is flirting with your price range!
Outdoor Guy just found a mint 2004… 2050 Skeeter w 250 Yammy and trailer for $23,000..
You can get one helluva used Lund, Crestliner or Alumicraft etc… for $20,000 !!! Depends on the size of the water you fish…type of fishing (trolling or casting)…and what you like. I would never buy a tiller because I run big water quite a bit and sometimes 8-10 miles out. Just uncomfortable for me. But you are you! 
There is a near new Lund Mr.Pike 17…nicely equipped for $18,000 there right now! But that 1790T Skeeter is a sweet ride!
Take a look at the classiieds this winter.
Jason is right, for that coin you can deff find a NICE boat, i would think even a used glass such as skeeter or Yar-craft. But it would help to know what kind of fishing you do, and what is the size of the water you want to fish, makes a BIG difference.
I think for resale I’d stay away from the SmokerCraft, but that’s just my opinion. Like Tom said check this Fall and you can get some great deals, but there are more than usual out there right now as well! Good luck shoppin!
Well I’d say I run small to medium sized waters. I believe like 13 or 14,000 acres is the biggest I run. I may be fishing some tournaments out of this boat. Does glass make a difference in rough water? I have heard some say it does and then I’ve heard some say its the length. Do you think I can pick up a used ranger or warrior for that
I can get you into a new 16′ Alumacraft w/Etec. There are several styles to choose from. Hit their website, or I can send you a catalog…or stop in for our 50th celebration June 6th.
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Does glass make a difference in rough water? I have heard some say it does and then I’ve heard some say its the length.
I think there are two issues at work regarding the ride of a tin boat vs. a glass boat.
First is weight. Many believe that glass is much much heavier than tin. That simply isn’t the case….although many glass boats are a touch heavier than their tin counterparts. For example, the Skeeter 1790T/Yamaha 75 HP combo weighs in at 1670 lbs dry and empty, while an Alumacraft 165 console-75 e-tec combo comes in at 1285 empty and dry. Those numbers mean that the Skeeter is 30% heavier than that particular aluminum combo. A heavier rig means that more wave force will be needed to bounce the boat around, and that alone will likely smooth out the ride a bit.
Next is the ability of a fiberglass hull to be precisely shaped to minimize spray. The molds that are used to pour fiberglass boats are designed to take the spray and fold it right back into the water, which makes for less spray high in the air and therefore a drier ride.
After running glass boats for the past two seasons, I would have a hard time going back to tin. I run my boat on a variety of water bodies, from rivers to small lakes to big inland bodies of water like Mille Lacs and Leech…my glass boat has yet to disappoint me in terms of the ride quality that it delivers.
While there’s nothing better than that “new boat smell”, your dollar will go much, much farther on a gently used boat. Not just because of the depreciation, but because they come RIGGED. Tolling moters, electronics, covers, spare tires, rod holders, etc., etc. add up to mega bucks. And the market it jammed full of quality used boats.
My .02
Jason, don’t you have a Ranger? Or did you get a new Skeeter?
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Jason, don’t you have a Ranger? Or did you get a new Skeeter?
Jason’s special. He has one of each. And I’m not kidding.
Jason aren’t glass boats suppose to be built tougher and able to take more of a beating? What do u run for a boat
Since moving back to WI about 12 years ago, I’ve owned or run a wide variety of boats, including 2 Lunds, a Crestliner, a Ranger, and now a Skeeter. That history puts me in the position to make some well-informed comparisons among different makes and models.
I’m running a Skeeter WX1880-200 HPDI/T8 combo in the FLW league events this year.
Do u think a used rigged yar craft 219tsf is in this price range
I’m running a 2006 alumacraft navigator 175 and love the boat. It rides well and has alot of room for gear and beer. I run a 2006 E-tec 115 and is rated for a 150. I got it with a minnkota maxxum 80, 3 batteries, 2 bank charger, trailer and 4 seats and it was all just alittle over 18,000. I fetl that wasn’t too bad. I’ve fished this boat on some big water had have done just fine. It’s very wide and stable and a good fishing/ beer runner. If I had to do it over again I wouldn’t have any problem buying another alumacraft. The e-tec now thats another story 
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I have a boat for sale! Save some money and buy a used boat. Its listed on the classifieds. Nothing wrong with it everything works and works like new. I know some people shi away from used boats because they don’t know how they were treated. Buying a boat is like a vehicle you get it in the you know what when you pull it off the lot. 
It’s the 2004 Crestliner with the 115 and 9.9 kicker. Check the add and give me a call if you are interested. The price is right! 
Do you prefer a wheel or tiller? Deerdragger is spot-on saying getting a slightly used one “rigged” will save $$$.
Prefered length 16′-17′? or as big as possible 19′-21′? going big needs a decent tow rig. I bought my used 01 Crestliner TS 202 in that price range. Certainly get more boat used than new for the price.
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Does glass make a difference in rough water?
Short answer YES! Glass is unreal compared to tin. I’ve got a tin boat now and will be upgrading to glass in the near future.
In my tin (and other’s), it’s a game trying to find your teeth on the floor after a hard run in rough water. Tin pounds your guts out.
In comparison all the glass boats I’ve fished out of. Running in the same rough water during the same hard run, you’d be hard pressed to spill your coffee.
Glass has a much better ride. Just my 2 cents.
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