but geez are new boats getting rediculously expensive ! For quite some time I have tripped on the price of those 200 plus hp glitter-rockets (totally worthless for me anyway) but after looking at much smaller, lighter, less hp, aluminums, I guess those high-per bass boats are not such a bad value after all, at least in comparison !

Anyway, I have searched the Internet high and low, and I really can't find a production boat which would suit me better than this one: http://www.g3boats.com/OutfitterSeries/OutfitterV143T/default.php
I just love this thing. The layout (no rear benches !!!), the Realtree camo finish, welded, high transom, 25 hp Yamaha ! Geez, what a fish catchin' machine ! (and BTW, a small deck could be added very easily, from the front bench forward, giving me a raised fishing platform, storage underneath, and effectively eliminating the one and only bench this boat has :-)
But the price..... $9200 out the door ! (from Diablo Marine anyway.... haven't checked around further yet). Sure, I could get a 14 ft Klamath, Gregor, Valco, etc, for way less.... maybe $6500 brand new, or, since they are so darn common (dime a dozen) I could probably find a very good condition used one, for like $3K.
But I swear I will never again climb over a bench, if I live to be 100 !!!

Anyway, as much as I want a new boat, if I can't get the G3 I posted the link to..... or something 'very' similar that I haven't seen yet, I'll just have to keep fishing out of my little 12ft Seaking.

Any ideas or suggestions ?

Thank you for listening to my rant.
Peace,
Fish

PS, I have even considered getting a Klamath, or Gregor, hacking out the benches, and rebuilding it with a double floor (flotation within) additional side support, etc. If I had a shop, and the right tools, I'd already be there !

I just want a small V-hull aluminum that I can run laps in..... but don't want the hurdles.....

Hows it going buddy ? :-) Well ya' know, its not so much that the Honda wouldn't match the G3..... its just that typically, if you buy a G3 boat, you will get a better deal as a boat / motor / trailer package.... but if you start getting a boat here, and a motor there, you end up losing any savings you might have gained on the individual items....

Heck, as a matter of fact, my buddy and I were just discussing (whether the motor ended up being a Yamaha, or a Honda) the possibility of covering that with Realtree vinyl too..... which would kind of hide the identity of the motor anyway :-)

Peace,
Fish

Oh BTW, I just went and checked out that Crestliner you mentioned..... Really nice, however, depending on how one looks at it (definately how I look at it) they are just a bit "too nice".... Carpeting, which I don't need... a pretty paint scheme, which I would just have to sand blast off, heavier gauge aluminum, which would require a bigger motor (50hp.... pretty darn big for a tiller.... speaking of which, I didn't notice if that Crestliner was even available as a tiller ???
Anyway, I'd bet that Crestliner with a 50hp, would be between 12 and 13K out the door !
Geez, the more I see, the more I'm thinking that $9200 for that G3 might just be what I have to pay, to get what I want....

Bucketmouth I'm selling my old boat if your interested. 16ft Crestliner john boat.

Josh, let me know how much, I may be interested. What model is it. Email me when you get a chance, I've got a few questions.

Hey call me at 209 601-9609

Have you looked into Klammath boats? A guy I worked with had one a V hull like that, but maybe a little longer. He used it for Bass fishing and local inshore slat water. Super stable and handled rough water well. They come with the hard bottom floor and no bench. I know they're pretty inexpensive.

I fished out of a G3 also and they are really nice as well. Definately a good value for what you get.

You said > They come with the hard bottom floor and no bench <

Oh yea ? Please show me one of these. The only 14 ft aluminums I have found (aside from the G3 that I am so stoked on) without benches were one each by Tracker, Fisher, and Lund, which were all much heavier guage aluminum, carpeted, fancy paint / decal schemes, all of which required bigger motors, and are going from 11K to 13K $ each ! These are the upper end of the spectrum, then on the opposite end, are all the useless, bench-filled pieces of garbage..... with hardly any options in between, except the G3 V143T (and maybe the Tracker that Sacto John posted the photo of above.... although it really needs a camo paint job... and a rod locker :-)

But again, I'd sure like somebody to show me some more options....

Peace,
Fish

Hi "Fish"!

Perhaps you would like to check out www.quintrex.com.au

The Quintrex (made in Australia) 395 Explorer Trophy or the 420 Explorer Trophy may be suitable. They have quite a range of other models too - all welded and extruded aluminium, some with flotation.

When I last checked the site (about a year ago), I noticed Quintrex had a dealership in the USA ...

Hope you find what you're looking for...

There's a distinct possiblity the new WRB will find its way into your new boat! :D

Keep well, Buddy!

Best regards from SA,
Jacques

www.BigBass.co.za

Fish while I have been away from work the guy who had the boat quit. So I will try to contact him and find the dealer he got it from. He was getting ready to sell it a little while back for 5k with a 40hp 4 stroke Yamaha and everything else he had. I will let you know as soon as I speak with him.

but it seems that I will probably end up working something out with Yamaha G3 :-) Been talking with them about a sponsorship, and we are pretty much down to the details now :-)

Pretty stoked !
Peace,
Fish

What you need is a nice 22ft. with a 250 Verado, that way you can call attention to yourself on the water JK!! Actually, keep doing what your doing (you dont need a fancy fast boat to nail a TOAD), pretty soon (if not already) your name will be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Murphy......... Hey, Happy New Year i hope all is well with you!! When are you coming down to Orange County, the big girls are starting to stir???? Bass i mean!!!!
Shawn