I am looking for a new boat. I am wanting 18’ tiller. Looking at the obvious ones, Lund, Crestliner, Alumacraft. Opinions on those? Any others I should consider? I am 64 so this will most likely be my last boat.
Fishing will be all inland lakes up north.
Thanks in advance
Definitely recommend going to the shows and looking , find what you can get and buy it , or you won't have it in time . I am a fiberglass guy and own an older Ranger so won't be much help. Look for left overs if any or used rigs . They won't be on the floor very long this season that's for sure .
If you are going to buy a boat this year, you had better pull the trigger now or you won’t get one or end up paying a lot more than you thought. I just bought a new Lund Fury 1400 from Zachos in Chippewa Falls. They only got 1 from the factory for 2022 and Lund is not making the anymore Fury’s this year. I really wanted a 16 but it was almost twice as much and was on 4 inches wider and 9 inches longer. I got the 14 footer for a great price ($15,500) MSRP was $17,800 so they took $2300 off and gave me a $500 Lund military discount. I got it fully loaded with a 25hp electric start, tilt and trim Mercury, Helix 7 Hummin Bird , on board precision battery charger and a few other things. I am set for retirement. Like I said earlier, you need to pull the trigger to get what you want now before spring fever hits and everything is gone.
Long story short. My Navigator developed a leak. It was sent to the factory for 6 months. They stated that my leak was caused by mouse piss. I disagreed and wanted to see the evidence and they refused to allow me onto their property to see my boat. They said it was fixed. The following season it still leaked. Again had to be sent back to the factory. This time they stated that when boat was being made they failed to hit the rivets correctly along a spray rail. Again they say fixed. I assumed it was fixed but had enough so traded it in and bought a crestliner. Totally satisfied with the crestliner. The dealership treated me well but was very frustrated and unhappy with the Alumacraft company.
I have had nothing but tillers through the years. Years ago started I started with a 14 ft. smokercrafter, then to 16 ft. rebel lund, then to a 16 ft alumacraft navigator and now a 17 ft. pro tiller crestliner. Crestliner is by far my best performing boat. Had all sorts of problems with the alumacraft and would not recommend an alumacraft.
