G3 Boats

I have an Alumacraft Tournament Sport 175, 2004 edition. Has been a black hole from day one with quality issues…..everything from basic wiring to screws backing out of the seats to cracks all over the dashboard. Overall fit and finish has been a nightmare. Now looking to trade up to better quality, and would like to hear from some G3 owners. Especially those running the 175 or 185 V series, running 115 or 150 Yamaha outboards (my two Yamaha motors, a 150 and an 8, have been flawless….it’s the boat that has been a nightmare).

Are the G3’s as good as they look?

I have a G3 fish eagle and love it. Only one I’ve ever seen on the water with this model. Mine is a 17’5….wish I would have went with the 18’5 but overall can’t complain. One other complaint, they wouldn’t let me upgrade trolling motors when I ordered it, not sure if that is the norm with other companies to on certain models.

From my personal observation:
G3’s are cheaper in price for a specific reason when compared to Lunds/Crestliners/Alumacrafts.
They are cheaper built.

From wrinkled hulls to windshields falling apart. Again, this is “my” observation, not a “friend told me that a friend had one”.

With my observation, I’d never purchase one unless drastic engineering changes were made in design and material quality.

With the new hull and many up-grades in the interior ,they stack up against any boat out there right now , take a good look at the 2010’s

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screws backing out of the seats

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I think that’s pretty normal. My Lund did that for a couple years until I started using the BLUE Loc-tite.

Sorry to hear about your Alumacraft. Normally owners are very happy with them.

Any reason you’re not thinking glass this time around?

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With the new hull and many up-grades in the interior ,they stack up against any boat out there right now , take a good look at the 2010’s

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Did G3 make any hull or interior changes in 2007, 2008 or 2009, or is 2010 their new benchmark? I’m shopping for a used boat and have ruled out those years of G3’s because of what I’ve seen, heard and read.

I have an angler V185F, bought it 4 or 5 years ago. My first boat, Dad is getting up there in years and wanted something more comfortable then the 14ft row boat I learned to fish in.

I have been happiest with the boat, my Lowrance sonars and the trailer it shipped with, not so much. Having only been on a buddies Crestliner, I have no other boats to compare “fit and finish” with. I would say that yes, some more attention could have been taken with the screws holding the glovebox door on, they uses those self drilling screws and did not trim them off, gotta be careful rooting around in the glove box lest you leave some meat hanging off one of them.

I felt the G3 cost less then the big names I looked at, I think they tried to save on the trailer, 3 new sets of tires and 2 new axles since I got it. It would appear to me the boat is to heavy empty for the trailer, I was wearing the inner bars of tread on the tires down in 1500 miles or so, prolly less. All work was done under warranty, so it did not cost me anything. It was a bit scary to find a silver dollar sized chunk of tread MISSING from one of my tires while tying boat down at big bend dam in SD (middle of no where anyone?)

I think I have everything sorted out now, I got a new beefy as hell axle last year about this time, ready the day before I left for opener near Crosby. Two more new tires, bigger 16in ones this time with a new spare. No sign of tire wear yet.

Again the boat itself has been trouble free, I did not expect nothing to ever come loose or need some adjustment, the Yammy 150 has been trouble free. My buddies claim they can make me out from across the lake from the way the boat throws water off the bow. /shrug Dunno if that is just the way G3’s are or if there is something else happening, it does 45mph when I want it to, survived a light tap from a boulder at midnight on the south end of the big pond and did not sink.

I only wish they had come out with the 20 footer before I bought this one. Oh, and looked at the data plate on the trailer closer before I signed on the dotted line.

Kudo’s to Adrian at Hannay’s for taking great care of me in upgrades, service and repairs!!

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With the new hull and many up-grades in the interior ,they stack up against any boat out there right now , take a good look at the 2010’s

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Did G3 make any hull or interior changes in 2007, 2008 or 2009, or is 2010 their new benchmark? I’m shopping for a used boat and have ruled out those years of G3’s because of what I’ve seen, heard and read.

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Not all had issues only some but they decided it change them any way and the improvements are really nice we have a used one for 22K with t-8 and vantage and full cover if u want a demo let me know

Thanks to all for the input. After a lot of research, and seeing two other similar Alumacrafts with improperly supported consoles (which generated many problems in my 175 from multiple cracks, failed switches, and leaky hydraulics) I am trading the beast in on a Ranger 1850 Reata. See you on the Ranger forum.

thats too bad you had those problems. i’ve had nothing but great results my Alumacraft.