Your thoughts on Aluminum Boats for Crappie Fishing Boats

[NIMROD]

It depends on your lake and type of fishing. I have 1987 17' Alumaweld bass boat with a 2002 70 yamaha. It has low profile which makes it catch less wind. I fish vertically over brushpiles jigging. There have been others try to fish close by and can't understand when the wind pushes them away while I hold with my trolling motor. I bought it new to bass fish tournaments and replaced the motor in 2002. I down sized motors as I don't move far crappie fishing. I am rough on equipment and a heavy all welded Aluminum boat is very tough and easy to repair.
Look at the all welded boats as they are usually heavier gauge bottoms and have less leak problems. Also if your not on very large lakes stay away from old style deep V with high sides as they are difficult to hold in any wind while fishing. I would have a bow mounted trolling motor with the depth finder transducer on it. Even more so if you don't anchor your boat but hold over cover with the trolling motor.:D
You can get fully rigged Aluminum boats or plain jane. I have a pedestal seat on the front like those used for bass fishermen. I like having an Aluminum subfloor and carpet too.

If you don't find one to suit you there are lots of small boat companies that will work with your local dealer to build you one.

Look at : wwwlegendcraft.com If you like call Don (the owner is my fishing buddy) he will find you a dealer in your state. 1-501-316-4409

[Crappie Stalker]

I would recommend an aluminum boat any day and I'm a fiberglass to alum. convert. I had an 18 ft fiberglass boat with a 150 Mariner that I used for all fishing (crappie, bass, sauger, catfish) When it came time to be lookin for a new boat, I had done a lot of research on the alum. boats, especially Xpress and G3. I was looking for about a 19 footer and ended up with a 21 footer with a 225 Yamaha. Let me tell you, this boat rides! There's no comparison between it and the old boat. It goes were glass boats can't and handles the water as well as any glass boat I have been in.

[gone fishing]

Aluminum boats are great to fish out of for crappie, but I would be very hesitant in buying a Polar Kraft aluminum boat. I own one and I have had major problems with the hull and their life time warrenty is not what it seems to be.

[crome]

i use my 18' g3 to crappie fish texas,and it works great for me.i can fish brushpiles on the main lake or run back up the creek channels and fish timber in the skinny water.it's a 1860 cc g3 with a 90/65 hp yamaha 4 stroke jet.i got the boat to fish the rivers of sc,then we moved to texas in april.it took just a little time to learn to fish in this texas wind,but it's all good know.i do have the lower foot i can change out on my motor to run a prop on the bigger lakes,but with our lakes down so far,the jet is worry free fishing for me in the stumps right now.

[Cane Pole]

I got a 17ft Bass Tracker Pro Crappie. It rides as good as any 17 ft glass boat out there. I have heard people bad mouth Trackers here. All I got to say about my boat is it is a very good boat for the money. Also, Trackers are the number one selling boat in the world for the past 25 years. Can't be all that bad of a boat and be #1 now can it. I looked for a long time before I bought the Tracker. Tracker prices are standard across the country. Try this with other brands. I looked at them all. I wanted a Crestliner, but got turned off by the dealers. I also liked the Tritons. Got turned off by the Birdsong dealer. 2 different prices on the same boat within 2 hours at the same boat show. Go figure. All of 'em will take your money though. haha.

Money was not an issue. I wanted certain stuff and I didn't want a big gas guzzler.

[Slipcork]

Hey I am like Nimrod. Round here you can work with Don at Legend Craft and get what you want. I had a 1660 with 60hp Yamaha tiller handle and it was the best. No steering wheel to get in the way. Like some of the Lund boats they use up north.

You can make your boat any way you want. I now use a 1452 with a 40hp Yamaha tiller handle. Back bench seat with storge under it and a place for 3 seats. Front has a deck with live well and storge. fish finder on both ends. Has carpet now but want Rino liner in it.

But thing is you can make it the way you want it!

[weldcraft]

i fish out of a 1448 weldcraft flat bottom and have put it in some rough water, mainly the intracoastal waterway down around wilmington, running with cargo ships and BIG ferrys...a lil scary but handled the big water quite nicely...its also small enough to get into placed you would probably shy away from in a glass boat...since the boat is 4' wide, it has very little draft in the water and rided nice and high...hit a floating log today with it and we jumped right over and kept on truckin...didn't even back off the motor...i run a tiller yamaha 25 and would bet a dollar the boat will run about 30 mph with just me in it...i carpeted decks and floors so i guess i can refer to it as a "bass jon" all told, brand new, i have less than $7k in it...i love it, it is my second child. lol

[stumpbumpers]

Sea Ark 2072 (striper, double ribbed from center forward, .125 thick, w/ 30gal center bait well, 30gal live well, 30 gal fuel tank, two fishing seats, sprayed in hyde, anchor and dry storage), 115 4-stroke Suzuki (maybe 150hrs), Garmin chart plotter (and hot spots maps), 82lbs thrust Motor guide (2yrs old w/ auto pilot), two brand (used once) new tolling batteries w/ brand new on board charger (used once), aluminum I beam trailer with spare tire, 8 rod "tite loc" (spider rigg'n set up) and several other tite loc rod holders that are adapted to steel clamps (for use any where). I will sell for $18000.00, you arrange pick-up and delivery. PM me

[Minnerman]

I fish out of an 18' Xpress with a Yamaha 115 and I would not have any other brand other than maybe a G3.

[rango]

i agree with 1weezer.