alumacraft versus Crestliner ride/dryness

Thanks

Everyone for your comments.

I think I am going to stay with Alumacraft again. Probably The Alumacraft Competitor Sport 18.5

My Alumacraft is the best boat I've ever owned. Tournament Pro 175 CS Elite Series. My 125 Mercury can push this boat 40mph no problem. Fully loaded it weighs 2000 lbs. I only get wet when Im not driving it correctly. With the single console I get twice the room for fishing. Very easy to fish the Big Pond as well as the smaller lakes.

Good luck with your search.

If you go on other boating sites,they do talk about how wet crestliners are there nick name is wetliner.I have only been in two and it was relatively calm when I fished out of them.I do not know if the newer alumacraft hull are the slowest but my Navigator is not as fast as a similar powered lund. I think the only way you are going to answer your question is to test ride the models you are interested in yourself.If a dealer will not let you test drive them walk, know run out the door.Its crazy that some dealers expect you to buy 20 to 30 thousand doller plus rig with out a test ride.They should also know how to prop it correctly for YOUR use.

Autopilot, just so you know, the Alumacraft seats can face any direction when fishing. They lock facing towards the front or back as a safety feature when under power. The lever under the seat releases them to face any direction you'd like. I have a 2011 Competitor and have been very pleased with it.

Crestliner has best ride Hands Down.Let's just say i drove a lot of boats,worked in the marine industry too long.

In order to provide an accurate recommendation or opinion you need to tell us more. There's a big difference between 18' boats in each manufactures line. One model may be better in one manufacture model line than in the other. You have lots of options in the 18' class. If you're looking at the alumacraft Dominator and Crestliner Fishhawk type models? I don't have any real life experience with these. However, I can tell you that comparing the model in the 1850 size like the sportfish 1850, Lund Tyee 1850 and the Alumacraft Trophy 1850 is not a fair comparison. The Crestliner 1850 is not in the same league as the Alumacraft and Lund. It's shorter, shallower and lighter. And even though on paper it's not by much, it's a huge difference in real life. On the water, the Sportfish 1850 seems more in line with the 1750's tyee and Trophy's. I now own an Alumacraft. And it's ride and overall quality is better than the Lund or Crestliner's comparable models. It's fit and finish....is a bit less than the Lund and Crestliner. But it's a fishing boat, and for the Huge cost savings of the Alumacraft I'm more than happy and have said before, it's the best boat I've owned yet.

Navigator slowest hull in the industry? I find that hard to believe on my experience. Sure it's wide, but also dry and stable.

I can face the side just fine in my Alumacraft seats if I want to jig.

I went through the same thing and settled on the Navigator. All are fairly equal between the big 3, but Lund can't make a level deck around the boat unless you want to pony up. In reality, I'd go with where you can get the best deal, but I do put the navigator over the others and don't be afraid to broaden your search. I ended up getting the best value in IL compared to others dealers in WI.

sc

i've had a 1950 sportfish,1650 fishhawk......175 navigator.......i'd definitely say the alumacraft is drier. its also the SLOWEST hull in the industry.......the crestliner coverIMHO is the best in the industry..hard to compare weld vs rivets much...weld wise cresty at the top.....fit n finish? cresty is excellent, warranty excellent.............not an alumacraft guy..so i will reserve comment beyond what i have stated already..........

Thanks Crestliner Kid,

I was at Ken's looking at the boats and eyeballing them pretty much up and down.

I liked that the seats can face the side of the boat they are on. What I mean is the drivers seat can face the same side of the boat and their is room for ur legs.

Alumacraft seats face forward or rear. this makes it hard to jig fish unless u r in the bow or aft casting deck.

appreciate your comments!

Autopilot,

I can only give you the Crestliner point of view. I am on my third Crestliner Fishhawk 1750 having replaced a 2005 last fall with a new 2011. I will tell their is a big difference in the Crestliner Fishhawk series pre 2006 to the current models. I have noticed that since they moved the fuel tank to the front of the boat, it holds to the water much better than my previous 2005.

I've had very few wet rides in any of Crestliner's, and the days I have gotten soaked, I suspect it would have happened in any similar boat as well.

What puts Crestliner over the top for me when compared to other similar boats is the amount of storage they offer. I like to keep all of my geared stored away in my boat and I have yet to find a boat that offers as much storage as a Crestliner Fishhawk. The two front storage compartments on the casting deck are great for large life jackets and tackle trays.

If you do decide to go with a Crestliner, I highly recommend the factory offered custom cover. It's so easy to take on and off. Not sure where you are located, but I'll also put ina plug for Ken's Power Sports in Kaukauna. They have a great selection of boats, great prices, and the best staff I've ever done business with.

Sorry I could not tell you anything about the Alumacraft. Good luck.

CK