This is the path I have decided to take. A lot to choose from posted on Central WI, FBMP. It seems buying a stripped boat is likely more expensive in the end once outfitting it with the fundamentals. My thought is "it's hard to get f#cked too bad when buying a $1,500 AL boat that at least floats". When trying something new, I figure there is always tuition to pay.
Thoughts? A bit older but they all are for my plans: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/801938588636853/?ref=saved&referral_code=null https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/609893781353236/?ref=saved&referral_code=null
I agree pontoons are nice. But that’s more if you live on a lake. You do not want to be trailering around a pontoon long distance and trying to get it in the water. Many people think Minnesota has the most lakes, that’s not true. Wisconsin has the most lakes in the country. But we also have a lot of congestion (boat traffic) getting in the water. A lot of people don’t understand if your getting ready to launch you have to let the person that is getting ready to pull go first. We have sylvan 24” that was intended to water hop to Winnebago and the bay for walleye. But I’ve never towed a pontoon that trailered well. Also I have had 2 other tin boats. I had a tracker 12ft jon boat that I could throw in the back of the truck just to get into the narrows and really small lakes. That was short lived. I didn’t like how jon boats cut through water even if all that was pushing it was a transom mounted trolling motor. I blew around. I can’t remember the other tin boat that was as well a 12ft. The brand I would not recommend. I couldn’t take a step in the boat with out it binging back at me. Lund, Alumacraft, sea nymph, sylvan, are a little thicker. I’m not a heavy guy and that Apache was the name was just way too thin
The StarCraft your going to be much more comfortable and be able to handle better chop. for the price on this boat I would expect the motor to have good compression, idol good, and open up all the way. The Lowe is not bad as well. You’re going to get a little wet though when the wind picks up. both are priced about what I would expect for the style of boat.
And no water in the lower unit. In the old stuff it happens but just make sure you change it before frost. Always fill from the bottom plug till it pukes out the top.
Alaska has the most lakes by far (over 3 million) Minnesota is second for real lakes, not counting puddles. That said, both have plenty of boating opportunities. But it turns out that the Minnesota state agency only counts a body of water as a lake if it is more than 10 acres in surface area. Wisconsin counts everything, from half-acre farm ponds to 137,708-acre Lake Winnebago. Sixty percent of the lakes in the state don’t even have official names. Applying the 10-acre standard to Wisconsin changes things dramatically. In that case, the dairy state has only 5,898 lakes, a little more than half of Minnesota's total. area.
First one is a fish and ski. If you have kids and like to pull them around in a tube, they are good and it has enough muscle to pull them. Second has a Force engine. Originally Chrysler made outboards. I had one for 20 years. Very simple engines (I replaced the power head after I blew it up). Anyways, Chrysler was bought out by Force and they quit making engines. So parts may be a problem with that one. Second is small and easier to fish from but pretty much just for fishing but easier to load.
Personally, I would avoid the Force engine. I had a 1984, 85 HP Force on the back of a 16ft AMF aluminum bow rider. Too much engine for that boat but the motor kept blowing coil packs and had head issues. The Starcraft looks like a decent boat and should be simple to tow and launch.
Stay away from the “force” the whale tail is a sure sign it has problems getting up on plane. “may the force be without you”
Make sure transom doesn't have wood sandwiched in below waterline on the Starcraft. Looks to be a decent old, hopefully well kept boat. Have seller take you out for a spin....
Manitoba has over 100,000 lakes, although most of them aren't very accessible. Used to own a 16' Alumarine fishing boat with a 25 HP short shaft Merc. My brother had a 16' Lund with a 65 HP Johnson tiller steer at the same time. He regularly tried swapping with me as mine was far more stable in choppy water. I believe Alumarine was a local manufacturer and not well known outside my area. It also had a slightly thicker aluminum hull. Both seated 3 people comfortably, 4 was a stretch, but doable in smooth water. Had lots of fun fishing mainly smaller bodies of water or sheltered areas on Lake of the Woods. Found out the hard way it's best to unplug the trailer lights before backing into water. Always plugged them in after loading up as part of my safety check prior to towing. I installed a set of bearing buddies on the trailer which made lubricating much easier. Only sold mine when my father suffered a stroke and I was paying his bills before he passed away.
I stand corrected! You are right. I forgot about Alaska. But you are still wrong about Wisconsin lakes to Minnesota lakes. Don’t forget about our white tails too!
Now we have had 2 boats with force motors and they both performed as they should with 0 issues.....but I will say parts for them along with several other engines are getting very very hard to get. Engine like evinrude, Johnson, and mercury are much easy to still get parts for the older models
They also don’t maneuver well as far as docking, you have a little propeller trying to pivot/swing two long pontoons.
@Stagedcoach71 the best tip I have is get the widest boat you can. It makes a huge difference in how tippy they are, especially when anchored. I’m on my third 14’ boat, each one has been a little better than the previous. 6” wider doesn’t sound like much but it made a big difference.
Wow, a lot of bad experiences with boats out there apparently. I will speak for myself, I have owned a boats (2) since I was 18 and have never had to poor any more money into it than anything else mechanical that I own. Don't maintain or take care of your Buick or anything else and you will end up dumping money into it. I have more family memories with my boat than my GS.
My old fishing boat didn't break my bank account either. Had to replace the outboard's pump impeller shortly after buying it. Also redid all the flooring and carpet over a weekend. Measure twice and cut once. Probably spent more on fishing tackle than the boat. Photo of my boat.
