New Boat Recommendations

[Machias]

Been several years since I owned a boat and I'm about to pull the trigger on one.  Leaning towards a Lund 1675, which is 16 feet 10 inches long with a 90 hp motor or a Lund 1775, which is 17 feet 10 inches and has a 115 hp motor on it.  I want to spend around 40Kish.  Any thoughts good or bad with those two choices?  Mostly be fishing lakes and reservoirs such as Lake Coeur d'Alene or Dworshak Reservoir, chain lakes in Idaho etc...some Eastern WA lakes.  Mostly a warm water fisheries type guy.  Might hit the Snake in good weather once in a while for bass and catfish.  What type of electronics and trolling motor would you recommend.  Thoughts on the Hummingbird Helix 9?  Thanks for any and all thoughts!!

[h2ofowlr]

Longer boat option would be better.  More room to move around especially with 2-3 people involved.  The one thing most end up saying after purchasing a boat, is I wish I went bigger in the smaller sizes.
My buddy has one like the 17'-18' you were looking at.  Nice boat.  The fishing your talking about, you will want to have a bow mounted trolling motor installed with a remote.  He has the spot lock and utilizes it out every outting and he mainly fishes the same locations you mentioned.  He is located in Rathdrum, ID.

[BD1]

Hi Fred
I have had both Lund and Smoker Craft and loved both. I would go as big as you are comfortable with...size usually means comfort and safety...I love both. Have fun!!! Buying a boat is exciting. I'm getting closer to a new duck/fishing boat too. My budget is way south of yours 
Hope all is well...take care,
Mike BD!

[Machias]

Thanks Gents!!!

[Machias]

you will want to have a bow mounted trolling motor installed with a remote.  He has the spot lock and utilizes it out every outting and he mainly fishes the same locations you mentioned.

For sure!!   

[shootem]

Lund makes great boats. Bigger is always better if you can handle the additional cost and have a place to store it.

[2MANY]

18

[MeepDog]

I have a Lowe 16' with an open floor plan and love the way it fishes duo and solo, but it gets real cramped if you add a dog or person. Garmin electronics are the best IMO. Whatever you get, just make sure you get something that has depth contour maps and side scan. If youre going to mount the electronics yourself, Keep in mind that side scan will have interference if you mount it directly next to the motor. I found the best place for the side scan transducer is on the trolling motor, then just run a regular model on the stern.

[Machias]

Thanks for the advice MeepDog!

[Angry Perch]

That 1 foot makes more difference than you'd imagine. I've had a 1700 ProSport since 2003 when I bought it new. Hard to imagine a more versatile lake boat for the price.

[ASHQUACK]

My 2cents worth.
I'd look into the alumaweld boats. I've had 3 and loved all them. 1 16 footer that I sold to buy my 18 footer that I sold to buy my 20 footer. Yes 2 footitis is real. Since I stopped guiding I am going back to either a 16 or 18 as the 20 was just a little to much to handle on days I was by myself. All mine were Supervees. But they make a couple other models. Electronics- I've ran quite a few and have to agree with Garmin being user friendly and full of extras. As far as trolling Motors I'd go back to the minnkota ulterra riptide series again and again. The spot lock and remote steering were game changers.

[HntnFsh]

Theres a dandy North River over on Ifish for a good price. May not be the style of boat your looking for though.
https://www.ifish.net/threads/19-nr-scout.1702322/#post-17038107

[Machias]

My 2cents worth.
I'd look into the alumaweld boats. I've had 3 and loved all them. 1 16 footer that I sold to buy my 18 footer that I sold to buy my 20 footer. Yes 2 footitis is real. Since I stopped guiding I am going back to either a 16 or 18 as the 20 was just a little to much to handle on days I was by myself. All mine were Supervees. But they make a couple other models. Electronics- I've ran quite a few and have to agree with Garmin being user friendly and full of extras. As far as trolling Motors I'd go back to the minnkota ulterra riptide series again and again. The spot lock and remote steering were game changers.

  Thanks!!

[Gentrys]

I've never heard anyone say "I wish my boat was smaller".  Seems like each time we've bought one, it's a bit bigger than the last one we owned.

[storyteller]

the official name is "2 foot itis"

[HntnFsh]

Here's another good deal.
https://www.ifish.net/threads/welded-hull-smokercraft-pro-lodge-16ft-loaded.1702179/#post-17039292

[MADMAX]

Here's another good deal.
https://www.ifish.net/threads/welded-hull-smokercraft-pro-lodge-16ft-loaded.1702179/#post-17039292

I picked a similar 2021 smoker-craft Alaskan 16 with a 25 Yama
Love it

[2MANY]

I sold my 21' tiller sled and bought an 18'.
Bigger isn't always better unless you're going from 16 to 18.

[MADMAX]

I sold my 21' tiller sled and bought an 18'.
Bigger isn't always better unless you're going from 16 to 18.

went from 22 to 18 to 16
Fishing isn't that good anymore to park a big boat 10 months a year IMO 

[MIKEXRAY]

I had the same decision 15 years ago and I went with the smaller option of 16 1/2 ft and 90 hp. It does everything I've ever wanted to do lake wise and has always been safe. I love how easy it is to launch and the places I'm able to take it being smaller. The picture is lake Kachess in Oct when the lake is way out and I'm able to shallow launch. The 9.9 kicker has always been nice on long weekends camping when the batteries for the bowmount died. I went with Crestliner which is much less known in the NW but a great boat. Good luck and enjoy.

[Pnwrider]

I've never heard anyone say "I wish my boat was smaller".  Seems like each time we've bought one, it's a bit bigger than the last one we owned.

I say it all the time when docking in the wind

[Machias]

Pulled the trigger on the 1775 Adventure Sport. 17 feet 10 inches.  Added the side curtains and the back curtain to the Sport Top.  Also added the Humminbird Helix 9 Chirp MSI GPS G4N, the Minn Kota Ulterra 80lbs/60"/24V/MDI/Wireless Remote and a 3 Bank Minn Kota Precision On-Board Battery Charger.  A few other odds and ends and ended up at $52K      Pick it up in a couple of weeks. 

[Angry Perch]

Pulled the trigger on the 1775 Adventure Sport. 17 feet 10 inches.  Added the side curtains and the back curtain to the Sport Top.  Also added the Humminbird Helix 9 Chirp MSI GPS G4N, the Minn Kota Ulterra 80lbs/60"/24V/MDI/Wireless Remote and a 3 Bank Minn Kota Precision On-Board Battery Charger.  A few other odds and ends and ended up at $52K      Pick it up in a couple of weeks. 

That's a perfect setup. You are going to love it! Congratulations!

[cavemann]

Congratulations...  Those that don't fish or own boats think we are crazy.  I remember the day I bought all four of my boats and never regretted any of them. You'll love that first day you drop it in.  And no one will admit it, but even the days you go to the garage and say to yourself "man I got a nice boat" or take a glance over your shoulder at gas station and see it hitched to your truck.

Its a sportsman version of looking in the mirror and feeling good!

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

[Machias]

 

[Duckslayer89]

I’ll meet you at Dworshack! Lol

[Skillet]

Congrats Fred. I had a boat very similar to that (1700 Lund Pro Sport Adventure), probably the best bang for the buck of any recreational boat I've owned.  What main motor did you go for?

[Machias]

Congrats Fred. I had a boat very similar to that (1700 Lund Pro Sport Adventure), probably the best bang for the buck of any recreational boat I've owned.  What main motor did you go for?

The Mercury 115ELPT

[Machias]

I’ll meet you at Dworshack! Lol

 

[Taco280AI]

Should be a great boat 

[boneaddict]

Congratulations!!! That should be the perfect boat

[Ironhead]

You will love the Merc, quiet and uber fuel efficient. Congrats on the new fishing machine.