Selecting a boat, info on two models wanted.

[Gone Fishin']

New guy here looking for boat recommendation.
I'm heading Saturday to look at two used boats, mostly for crappie fishing, some occasionally bass fishing and riding the grandkids around.

2017 Alumacraft 1860 AW SC (non tunnel) with 90 Yamaha. Has way better TM and fish finders.
2018 G3 17PFX (17'10") with 90 Yamaha. Pretty much stock.

Any known issues with either of those brands or models? Ride, stay dry, durability of them?

[artcarney_agr]

I would lean more towards the G3 as it will have more features and have a better layout/storage options for fishing than the Alumacraft. The Alumacraft is a bit more of a dual purpose duck hunting/catfish boat geared more towards utility use than fishing based on the layout/storage options. You said the G3 is pretty well stock, they tend to come with a lot of stuff in the stock package.

It appears Alumacraft has two storage boxes adjacent to the front seat, which pretty well eliminates adding seat bases for side-by-side crappie fishing up front (which is great with kids)....that may not matter to you though.

With no mention of duck hunting as part of your intended use, I think it's a clear choice to go with the G3, but to each his own.

[Gone Fishin']

Thank you for posting the pics together. I agree with you 100% on the layout. I'll explain further why my decision is hard, the Alumacraft has a great reputation, and the particular one I'm looking at is $2000 cheaper than the G3 and comes with a Terrova with spot lock and remote and it also has a 7" and 9" Helix with side scan.

The G3 has a small Lowrance, lower end FF and Edge TM. Again, priced $2000 higher. Given more information you may see my deliberation.
I am indeed leaning toward the G3 but by the time I add a good FF and TM, I'll be into it for substantially more money. Decisions, decisions...LOL
It's not a bad dilemma but I'll give both a good going over and hope that clarifies the decision.

[Indianachigger]

Maybe a millennium sidekick for the alumnacraft? Hard to pass up better TM/FF FOR $2000 less


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[Gone Fishin']

Maybe a millennium sidekick for the alumnacraft? Hard to pass up better TM/FF FOR $2000 less


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Yep. About $500 for that setup and that would make it $1500 difference on the purchase.
But then it would block my storage access panels on the front deck and I'd have to move it every time I wanted in them. And they are most of the storage...
See my dilemma? I'm enjoying this decision making process and the boat shopping very much. I'm excited to go see both boats tomorrow. The G3 has a small edge in my mind right now but my self imposed budget says I can add a good side imaging unit right away but a Terrova or similar TM would have to wait.

[Ranger R61]

picture yourself fishing out of either one

which one best fits your style of fishing.

[Ranger R61]

don't know about the Terrova but with an Ulterra you can lay a track then run the track and the tm follows the track and you can fish or whatever you want to do

[artcarney_agr]

Thank you for posting the pics together. I agree with you 100% on the layout. I'll explain further why my decision is hard, the Alumacraft has a great reputation, and the particular one I'm looking at is $2000 cheaper than the G3 and comes with a Terrova with spot lock and remote and it also has a 7" and 9" Helix with side scan.

The G3 has a small Lowrance, lower end FF and Edge TM. Again, priced $2000 higher. Given more information you may see my deliberation.
I am indeed leaning toward the G3 but by the time I add a good FF and TM, I'll be into it for substantially more money. Decisions, decisions...LOL
It's not a bad dilemma but I'll give both a good going over and hope that clarifies the decision.

I would still go for the G3, it's a bit higher because it's a year newer and has a lot more metal on it due to all of the compartments. The Alumacraft is more open and bare....less storage compartments mean lower price.

Fish finders and trolling motors can be changed. Storage compartments/layouts cannot.

[artcarney_agr]

How do the trailers compare? That's something else to consider.

Swingaway tongue vs. non-swingaway
Single vs. tandem
Big tires vs. small tires
LED trailer lights vs. incandescent
Painted vs. galvanized vs. aluminum

[artcarney_agr]

The G3 has a small edge in my mind right now but my self imposed budget says I can add a good side imaging unit right away but a Terrova or similar TM would have to wait.

Last year I bought a brand new 80 lb Terrova I-Pilot Link with a Helix 8 SI+ on a 12 months same as cash deal, it was only $230 a month and has been worth every single penny. Not too bad when you look at it that way.