My 1st Boat

[bexm1tanker]

I am looking for a little advice from some of those who have owned boats.
Currently I am looking at Aluminum Deep V (due to the type of waters around here). I have narrowed my short list to a Lowe FM165, Lund 1675 Explorer, or Polar Kraft V 165 SC.
Does anybody have any experience with these boats and any pro's and con's?
At today's cost I want to make sure I get it right the first time.

I have a fair amount of experience in boating, I have just never owned one so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Bill

[Bender]

I should try to make a list sometime of all the stuff you should ask the dealer to throw in with a new boat. Here's a few things I can think of off the top of my head:
Life Jackets
Required Safety Gear
Trailerable Cover
Boat Buckle tie downs
Upgraded electronics
spare tire

I'm sure I'll think of more and they might not give you all of those, but ask anyway. Maybe also check around with people who own them and see what they say and have added to their boats.

I've never had any of those brands but have heard only good things about all of them.

[bexm1tanker]

Great points...especially to ask for the fre ones

I appreciate your input

Bill

[1FASTLASER]

All 3 of the boats have there qualities that exceed the other........the main thing that I would point out is...
1. Lund has been around for along time..longer than the other's
2. Out of those 3 what boat has more of the qualities that appeal to you?
3 Which boat better suites your fishing and water that you frequent.

With those in mind I can be rest assured you will make a good descion

[bexm1tanker]

1fastlaser

Excellent points, thank you very much for your time

Bill

[nofearengineer]

The best advice I can give you (and you are doing it right now, so that's good) is to research, research, and when you think you've made your decision, research some more.

You're still going to make some mistakes in your selection. You just hopefully will limit them to small, fixable mistakes. You really don't want to drop a pile of cash, only to figure out 6 months later, you made the totally wrong choice.

As far as asking for extra items from your boat dealer. Make sure you know exactly what those items will be, or else you are going to get the cheapest, most crappy quality items you will have to replace anyway. I mean this mostly for the life jackets, safety gear and boat cover. I think electronics is something you can really make good decisions on, as you can easily look that stuff up on the web.

Take my case as a learning experience. I have a Mercury Optimax, which is a pretty expensive motor. It has what is called Smartcraft technology, which lets it sommunicate electronically with controls and gauges. Well, the original owener of my boat must have decided to save a few bucks by going with all analog gauges instead of digital, which I am sort of in the process of upgrading these days. They will cost me far, far more to replace than they would have cost on Day 1 from the factory. It's those kind of things you need to look out for. Do your best to imagine how you will be using the boat 5 years from now, and not just next week.

[bexm1tanker]

nofearrngineer

Thank you for the advice...Research is what has me in a pickle right now...Just when I think I am settled I find another boat to go look at...I guess that's all part of the fun

Thank you for time

Bill

[Tall]

Let me know Nofearengineer how the up grade goes on the gauges. I talked to a shop last week a little and the mechanic basically either wants all of my business or may have shot me straight. He said I may see water tempt etc. but I still will haft to bring it to him and put it on the computer to see what reads out on my 2000 200 hp optimax. He said save the money. Let me know what your experience is with the up grade smart gauges (is it worth it) and how much it cost round abouts please.
Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

The best advice I can give you (and you are doing it right now, so that's good) is to research, research, and when you think you've made your decision, research some more.

You're still going to make some mistakes in your selection. You just hopefully will limit them to small, fixable mistakes. You really don't want to drop a pile of cash, only to figure out 6 months later, you made the totally wrong choice.

As far as asking for extra items from your boat dealer. Make sure you know exactly what those items will be, or else you are going to get the cheapest, most crappy quality items you will have to replace anyway. I mean this mostly for the life jackets, safety gear and boat cover. I think electronics is something you can really make good decisions on, as you can easily look that stuff up on the web.

Take my case as a learning experience. I have a Mercury Optimax, which is a pretty expensive motor. It has what is called Smartcraft technology, which lets it sommunicate electronically with controls and gauges. Well, the original owener of my boat must have decided to save a few bucks by going with all analog gauges instead of digital, which I am sort of in the process of upgrading these days. They will cost me far, far more to replace than they would have cost on Day 1 from the factory. It's those kind of things you need to look out for. Do your best to imagine how you will be using the boat 5 years from now, and not just next week.

[nofearengineer]

Sure thing Tall.

I've heard some of the early (pre-2002) Opti's are not all good with the Smartcraft gauges. Luckily, mine is a 2005, and should work fine. I did find out that I can not do trim through the MercMonitor...no Opti 115 will do that particular one....oh well....I'll just have to settle for all the other fun data. Good thing I have all the analog gauges to fill the holes in my dash still.