Alumacraft Escape 165 CS

I am looking at used Escape 165 CS with a 50 HP Yamaha.  Does anyone have any experience with this boat?  How would it handle Green Bay or Lake Winnebago?  Thanks.

I had a 16.5cs Aluma Magnum basically the same boat! Fished everywhere with it! I now have a 1600 Lund Explorer tiller,a touch wider but basically the same size,with a 50 ETec.I fish Green Bay, Michigan,Winnebago,and ALL the skinner water and rivers in between! Watch weather on Big Water,and use common sense and that boat will do agreat job anyware!

I had a Classic 165 with a F60 Yamaha tiller. I fished Lake Winnebago and Sturgeon Bay with it several times. That boat was 84” wide and weighed 200# more. It was marginal for fishing that size waters. If I was going to fish those waters often I would want at least a 17.5’ boat.

My brother has the Escape 165 with a 40hp ETec. It’s a very nice boat with plenty of room to move around. If he had a side console it would be somewhat cramped with two people fishing.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

I have a 2002 Alumacraft yukon 165cs with a 40 Honda . I fish Rainy lake a lot , also Lake of the Woods . This boat has worked well for me in a lot of situations . But, like almost any boat or body of water , there will be times where good common sense and safety have to prevail . As others have mentioned , trailers and launches well , and , will work well in shallow water areas and rivers . Stores easily in my garage too .

I messaged u. I have a boat for u.

On picking your boat size it depends on what water you fish most.  You mentioned green bay and Winnebago.   These are big bodies of water.  If you fish this size of water most of the time, get a bigger boat.  If those waters are the rare occasion, any boat on a calm day or the lee wind side could fish those waters.  This would make a 16 footer just fine.  If you fish skinny rivers, a 16 footer will be easier to trailer,  maneuver, launch and sneak through log infested waters than a big heavy deep 20 footer, and probably less likely to hit bottom.  Also think about storage.  In the garage or outside.

What I am saying is think about what fishing you do the most and get a boat to match that.  Then use that boat appropriately to fish the other waters.

Good luck in your purchase and happy fishing!

Looks very similar to the 2005 Alumacraft 165 LTD CS that I own.  I did see one trolling for walleye on the bay when I was out with a friend.  Handles rough water OK.  Fishing with more than two can be tight.  Loads, unloads, trails great.  My opinion would be that for those big waters you may want a wider beam, but see what other say.