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Getting ready to upgrade the 2004 Fisher 170 Sport Hawk w/90 Merc and looking seriously at new boats ...
and oh man there is alot of information out there on each and every type. I am looking at one that is multi-purpose (fish & play), one that I can enjoy fishing on, and one that I can pull the grandkids around on.
I have narrowed it down to roughly 3 as mentioned in the subject
Lund 1875 Crossover with 150 Merc XL 4-Stroke .... great looking boat and lots of features ~ and yes Lund is proud of there boats
Tracker Varga with 150 Mer XL- 4 Stroke, price nice as a combo package .... but not too many good reviews and resale doesn't seem to be all that great
Alumacraft Competitor 185 with a 150 Yamaha .... not seeing many reviews but appears to be a great boat.
While I know this always generate discussion ... just looking for opinions and what I should definetly not forget when it comes to options
Thanks In Advance
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That Fisher is a nice package and I wish I would have known you wanted to sell it. We just traded up to a 2006 Smokercraft 162 ProMag w/ 90 prop. Good luck deciding what you want because I know the decision is not easy. I'm not a fan of the Trackers but I got several buddies that run them and are happy. Lund or Alumacraft will both treat you right. Don't rule out Smokercraft and they got a beauty at Bish's in Boise right now. If you want to really see a decked out fishing boat go check out the Polarkraft 200 Pro WT Kodiak at Allan Marsh in Boise.
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I have a Crestliner and couldn't be happier with it. It is 10 years old and everything still works. I have never met a Crestliner owner that didn't love their boat. I just spent 7 hours in it today and wish I was still out there !
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It is a nice boat .. just time for an upgrade, and want to get an all around combo (fish/Ski). Might have to take a look at the smokercraft at Bish's
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Where is the Crestliner dealer in the Boise area?
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Personally if I wanted another boat it would be between a Lund and this beast... I'm leaning toward the ranger... 
http://www.rangerboats.com/models.cfm?gid=36&mid=7083
Matt
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check out this overloaded 10' jon boat with 5 adults..
This is my boat and I run twin aircooled 2 stroke Gamefisher 1.75 hp outboards..It' s a very reliable motor along with the boat..I have been wanting to upgrade to a 12 footer but..still having fun with the 10 footer ha!
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I Own a 2007 Lund WC14 DLX with 15Hp Merc 4 stroke bought new from the dealer in 2007. Boat before that was a 2004 Lund 1700 ProSport with 115 Merc 4 stroke. You can't go wrong with a Lund, and yes, they are a bit spendy .
But if you want a fish and play combo, I would recommend also looking at a Triumph.
[url "http://www.triumphboats.com/"]http://www.triumphboats.com/[/url]
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"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
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A bit of advice for you. Buy your new rig in the Midwest, specifically SD, ND, IA, MN, or WI. The dealers in the Boise area are absolutely ridiculous.
Idaho Marine sells Alumacraft and is awfully expensive. Capitol Sports sells Lunds and they are just as bad.
Even with the additional expense of time/fuel to pick your rig up out east, you'll still save a bunch of money.
If you want a good list of dealers I've personally dealt with, let me know. Keep in mind, you'll still have those Boise dealers to carry out your warranty/maint work if needed.
Me? Go Alumacraft. I'm on my 4th Alumacraft boat and they have all been great. I fish Lake Oahe, Lake Sakakawea, etc. Some of the biggest bodies of water in the USA. I've also fished Cascade, Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir, and Lucky Peak. I never worry about the integrity of the boat or my safety. These boats are tough!
Good resale on Lunds and Alumacrafts too. That's one thing you wont get with the Tracker. Trackers are a decent boat at a budget price, but in the end you could take a bath on it, if you need to sell.
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Here are my last 3 rigs:
2005 Alumacraft Magnum 165 tiller/60hp 4 stroke Merc
![[Image: 035.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/saleen281gt/Misc/035.jpg)
2011 Alumacraft Competitor 175 sport/115hp 4 stroke Yamaha
![[Image: SAM_0039.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/saleen281gt/Misc/SAM_0039.jpg)
My current rig:
2014 Alumacraft Tournament Pro 185 sport/175 and 9.9 Suzuki 4 stokes
![[Image: ac_zps514d8188.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/saleen281gt/Misc/ac_zps514d8188.jpg)
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Nice rigs SD....
I like my 1872 sea ark tunnel hull, I can haul 10 people 1300+lbs, handles big waves and goes in 3" of water.... I think there are some options for you, you need too decide what your going too be doing the most and buy a boat for that, and make it work with other things your going too do.... I'm a river guy/duck hunter/carp shooter, so carrying weight and going in shallow water are my top priorities, the sea ark is wide and doesn't draft much water with tall sides... Good luck,
Matt
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sdhuntnfish
Just curious ... how has it been getting your warranty work done at Idaho Marine, with you buying the boat from another dealer.
I only ask because I made the mistake one time of buying a boat outside of the area in which I lived, and took it to a local dealer and felt like they were doing the work because it was warranty, but when I had an issue with the warranty I felt they didn't want to go to bat for me ..... and I had to work with the manufacturer to make it happen
Thanks In Advance
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I moved to Boise in the early spring of 2012 from South Dakota. I already had my boat, which I bought new in 2011. That boat, with the Yamaha outboard, never had to see the shop while I lived in Idaho. The crankcase and lower unit oil were incredibly easy to change on the 115 Yamaha, and Alumacraft makes a solid boat. With proper care, maintenance, and pride of ownership, it's rare to need a dealer. If you do need one, they are obligated by law to provide you with warranty work for those manufacturers.
I moved away from Boise back in February.
They don't need to know how or why you didn't buy the boat from them. For all they know, you were like me and moved here from out of state.
Look on their website for a price example. They are listing a 2014 Alumacraft Voyager 175 sport with a 90 for $25,200. That boat can be bought in MN or SD all day long for 2-4 grand less. That pays for the sales tax and then some. Heck, you can buy an upgrade model, the Competitor 175 with a 115 Yamaha around here for $25k, and its a much beefier, wider, better hull than the Voyager, with a larger motor.
Food for thought.
Andy
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Yes, I have been doing alot of research online about the Lund & Alumacraft boat, and yes even went and talked to the dealers already in town. I am leaning more towards the Lund due to the fish/ski package they have put together in the Crossover, I couldn't find that in the Alumacraft unless I missed it
The wife and I enjoy the fishing aspect, and we would like to take the grandkids/neighors out for some skiing/tubing also on occassion ....
Just last week I was able to find two different dealers out of town that posted there prices online, and when I asked for the invoice there was at a minimum 10% mark down from the MSRP ...
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I've got an Alumacraft Invader 195, bought the hull from Idaho Marine and freighted a motor in from Texas to put on it. While I have not had much go wrong with the boat I have had a couple issues with seat brackets cracking and trailer lights going out while under warranty. I will say that, unfortunately, I have not been impressed with the warranty service. Not sure if it was on the Idaho Marine or the Alumacraft side but I ended up doing my own repairs after a few months of trying to get them to fix the issues.
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+1 jacksonlaker, the wife and I run a 2000 Crestliner Tournament 202 that we bought new with a 225 Evinrude and it still runs like a top, we have had no problems with the big engine through all those years, our little Yahmaha kicker has had a few tune ups but the big boy is still running strong. I have a friends that run the other major brands and none of them have gotten that kind of service from their big motors. As far as the boat itself it's a little over 20 Ft. with a welded hull and has no leaks and handles the rough water just fine. Pretty hard to beat that kind of service.[cool]
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