Question:
I am currently researching everything I can concerning aluminum bass boats
with the hope of deciding on one to purchase in 1999.
Through my study I have determined that I want an all-welded, all-aluminum
boat in the 16-17 foot range.
The two best candidates have been the 106 Cherokee by Ranger and the
16'model manufactured by SeaArk.
The Ranger is a much nicer boat but is probably quite a bit more expensive.
The SeaArk is more of a "base", entry-level model but otherwise appears
quite well suited for my needs.
I'm contemplating powering either boat with a 40 hp, four-stroke Honda if
the package can be completed in this fashion. If I can't get the
Honda--or if any of you can give me a valid reason _not_ to go with this
outboard--I will most likely get a 40 hp Johnson.
Anyway, do any of you have any information regarding these two boats? Are
there any "horror" stories out there regarding either? What about my
choice of a four-stroke outboard...anything that I should consider that I
might not have thought about? What about "fishability"...have you fished
from either and know/have an opinion on how well they perform compared to
models from BassPro or Lowes or even Fisher?
Speaking of Fisher...this is another boat manufacturer with excellent
reputation--any thoughts on their 16 foot aluminum?
Answer:
- I own an all welded aluminum bass boat made by a company in Denham Springs,
LA. The name of the company is Aqua Marine and the bass boat model is called
the Cajun Special. Check out their site: http://www.cajunspecial.com . The
boat is a 1990 model and is still in great condition. The only maintenance I
had to do is re-glue the carpet after 8 years. It's great for Bass fishing in
lakes and reservoirs in LA and TX. The price on these boats is comparatively
low.
- I purchased a Bass Tracker 17 ft 2 1/2 yrs ago new, 40HP Mercury I fish
about 160 outings per yr, I have 372 hrs on my boat, leave it in the water
at my dock more of the time, I have not detected any leaks, nor have I
had any problems at all, I am well satified with the boat, service,etc, I
average near 1 hr running, per outing, I fish about 3 hrs per outing, average
about 1 bass per hour, I do not know if this is good or bad, but I do have
a great time, and enjoy the boat, if this one was stollen and needed to be
replaced, would replace it with the same thing.
- you're right about Ranger being a lot more expensive than most other
boats. I currently own a small aluminum Lowe, which I love, but we are
looking to get something bigger. We have checked out most brands, including
Ranger. All others, though, seem to be competively priced & fitted, so for
me it will come down to personal preference.
As far as going with a 4 stroke, that sounds like a geat idea because they
are very efficient & quiet, though I think they tend to lack a little power.
I could be wrong, because I read a review between a 90HP Honda & a 90HP
Ficht, and they were almost identical across the board. One drawback of a 4
stroke is the weight.
I don't know what kind of waters you fish, but you might want to consider a
little bigger motor, depending on how fast you want to go & the types of the
waters you fish. I fish the Connecticut River, which can involve driving 20
or 30 miles to fish, and taking an hour or more to drive those 20 miles can
become tedious. That's why we want to upgrade, but the biggest factor will
be what our checkbook can afford.
