Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
~~ I second Doug ~~
Two additional brands you might want to look at. Princecraft - in
terms of manufacturing quality, they are even steven with Lund and
make a great boat.
This is the one I have (mine's a 2004) and I like it. I knock mine
around a lot - it visits small, back tree lot ponds and water that
have unimproved ramps
http://www.princecraft.com/Content/e...?ProductID=319
I owned it's Lund equivilent years ago and the guy I sold it to is
still using it - at 30 years old, it still looks in mint condition.
I've seen some older Princecraft's in similar condition.
The other is Polarkraft boats.
http://tinyurl.com/2o6cqu
Godfrey Marine has been making aluminum boats for a long time and they
are another manufacturer that build a high quality, no nonsense boat
at the base model. I had the opportunity to mess around with their 15
footer in this model last year and was suitably impressed. Very sound
boat, excellant fit and finish - I don't think Godgrey is capable of
building a crappy boat - it's just not in them. I know a few guys who
have the bigger Polarkrafts and they wouldn't trade them for love or
money.
New /w trailer for a boat in the 14/15' class is going to be around
$5/$6000, 25 horse engine $3,000 to $3700. These are general figures
and don't take into account left overs or demo boats.
Used (two to four years old) - $4/$4500 w/trailer and engine.
Add Sylvan/Smokercraft to the list. I had a SeaBreeze 14 on a small
lake for a few years. I paid $700 for the boat and $500 for the trailer
- brand new a little over ten years ago.
http://www.sylvanmarine.com/utility/index.htm
Whatever you do, skip the jon boats if you won't have a gas motor.
You'll need something with a keel or you will have a tough time pointing
the boat where you want it to go.
Dan