09-17-2019, 02:42 PM
Jeff, as a past and present owner of 2 riveted hull boats (Lund 17' Pro Sport ) and 14' WCDLX, I can say that a good riveted hull aluminum boat is.........., well.......... a good boat. As far as hull strength and float-ability. After that it's all what you add to it in the way of motor(s), electronics, etc.
If you are looking for a more stable boat for use in rougher water, like almost any lake in Utah when the wind blows, be looking for something that has a deep V hull (more keel = more control) that means a boat that will most likely be too big (too much draft) to use up there in your local river and marsh playground.
A boat in the class like Weldcraft, Hewes, Thunder Jet, like the one dubob bought are GREAT boats. But pretty spendy, even used ones.
If you are like most of us, owning 2 boats isn't possible. So 1 good boat that is able to cover most of the places and conditions you want to use it in is the compromise.
A smaller boat (like mine) lets me get on the water in low water times, and on shallow waters like the marsh around you. But it isn't the boat you want to be in when the winds turn huffy [:/]
Your old tri-hull is a pretty good boat for lakes like Willard, or Hyrum, or East Canyon or Echo, or Utah Lake in good water depth years and in mild weather conditions.
But something between my size boat and your current size boat may be something like a 16 or 17 ft. Tracker Deep V. Not as expensive as the high end Thunder Jets, and probably more available.
[signature]
If you are looking for a more stable boat for use in rougher water, like almost any lake in Utah when the wind blows, be looking for something that has a deep V hull (more keel = more control) that means a boat that will most likely be too big (too much draft) to use up there in your local river and marsh playground.
A boat in the class like Weldcraft, Hewes, Thunder Jet, like the one dubob bought are GREAT boats. But pretty spendy, even used ones.
If you are like most of us, owning 2 boats isn't possible. So 1 good boat that is able to cover most of the places and conditions you want to use it in is the compromise.
A smaller boat (like mine) lets me get on the water in low water times, and on shallow waters like the marsh around you. But it isn't the boat you want to be in when the winds turn huffy [:/]
Your old tri-hull is a pretty good boat for lakes like Willard, or Hyrum, or East Canyon or Echo, or Utah Lake in good water depth years and in mild weather conditions.
But something between my size boat and your current size boat may be something like a 16 or 17 ft. Tracker Deep V. Not as expensive as the high end Thunder Jets, and probably more available.
[signature]
"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
Or so it says on my license plate holder