Thread: Thoughts on new aluminum boats

SeaArk and WarEagle are two of the better made aluminum boats

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Depends on whether you want a deep v or flat bottom bass boat design. Brunswick Boat Group owns a bunch of boat companies but that doesn't make them equal. Most are still very much different and have different floor plans and company reputations.

I'd look at Xpress as well. I love the idea of having an aluminum trailer.

First thing you need to do is find 2-3 boats you think you like. Find them and crawl around in them. Check amount of storage. Ease of getting to batteries. Where is fuel tank. Check fit and finish. Look at lids for compartments. Are they rigid or reinforced. Do they appear to seal properly ( which on most any brand of aluminum ) is suspect at best. How much walk around room after tackle bag, minnow bucket, cooler. I like the width of the front deck on Lowe but deck is flimsy to be mounting anything to and no access under deck. Look closely at the Crestliner, made real similar to the ranger. And much lower price point. Second G's opinion on SeaArc and Wareagle for being well built very tough boats.

Hello: Check out Alumacraft boats. Ranger Aluminum boats have a serious problem with welds breaking. I know a guy that bought a new Ranger Aluminum boat 2 years ago. Had it replaced under warranty because of the stern welds cracking. Replacement boat also has welds. cracking. Good Luck . O - R

Xpress ! The original allweld aluminum boat.

Have an '04 G3, that I'm thrilled with. My only complaint is they could have used a heavier gauge metal for the floor of the cockpit.
Look the trailers over good also. I never hear anyone mention that. After all, that's what gets you to the lake and back. Have superlube hubs on mine and I love them.

I own three alumacraft boats if that makes any difference.

I looked at them all before each purchase. Lund, G3, Starcraft, Ranger... In the end, I purchased an alumacraft in all three instances. Tons of reasons but, once you look at one and start comparing it to other boat manufacturers on the market, you will make up your own mind. Everyone owns "the best". You never hear someone say "my boat is a piece of crap"!!!

As for the ranger aluminum lineup. Here is a little "inside information" on that one.

When the boat market started to tank, large holdings companies purchased several boat manufacturers. Ranger was one of those companies purchased by REC boat holdings. They owned several companies including BRP (evinrude), glastron, scarab, gruman, the list goes on and on.

About 8 months prior to REC anouncing that they have sold Ranger/Stratus/Triton to Johnnie Morris (NOT Bass Pro) they introduced their aluminum lineup. The writing "SHOULD" have been on the wall at that time but not many people really caught on to it. Looking at one of those boats they were cheaply built, the fit and finish wasn't good, and they were not in any way superior to any boat on the market. A vast cry from their fiberglass counterparts. Many people said "Why in the world are they trying to get in to this market".

IF you looked close at the boat, you would have seen EXACTLY what it was!!! Fast forward 8 months, the company is sold and instantly you understood "where" the boat actually came from. Ranger did not start an aluminum lineup. It was a conglomeration with TRACKER! Yes, you heard that right. Prior to the deal going through, Ranger was already working with the Tracker lineup (owned by Johnnie). There was no way they were going to build an entirely knew shop to build aluminum boats while being owned by a holdings company that has no desire to pump money in to them. They thought they would capitalize on the name "Ranger" with an aluminum boat purchaser. Unfortunatley, it backfired as many people took one look at it and said the same thing: Expensive rebranded Tracker boat.

I have nothing against Tracker. Many people own and love them. Understand that I live in the deep V world. In the deep V market, Tracker is the lowest boat on the totum pole and many people consider them to be entry level boats built and sold cheaply with sub par materials, design, and makeup.

How do I know all of this? My sister works for the vice president of REC boat holdings!