Looking for Opinions/suggestions on an aluminum boat

[BA1125]

I am looking for opinions/suggestions on a new aluminum boat and preferably 40hp motor.

Do any of you guys run custom made aluminum boats in the river and/or marsh? If so, who'd you go with and what things do I need to look for and add or stay away from?

Which motor do you guys recommend? I've been looking hard at the new 40hp Mercury 4-stroke.

Do y'all recommend getting a boat with a tunnel hull and jack plate or just a tunnel. Which ever motor I choose, I'll be getting it with tilt n trim.

I'm considering a custom made boat simply bc I can spec it out the way I want. I want a live well, tank made in the front deck, maybe a rod box, and etc.

Thanks

[I make oil]

The difference in price between a custom and a factory boat is more than double sometimes triple. A custom boat is usually a better built boat but will also usually be much heavier. I've owned both and the last aluminium boat I bought was a factory Alumaweld. I bought it for my son who is 14 now last summer. The boat is 15' long with a nice front deck to fish from with a swivel seat mount. It has a 12volt bow mount trolling motor and storage in the rear seat. It’s light weight and a 25HP Yamaha pushes it around 30 while sipping gas. He can run it all week on 4 to 6 gallons. I put a sheet of plywood for the flooring and painted it all Duralux aluminium boat green. Total money in the just the hull is $1400.00 including the trolling motor mount and seat storage. I bought it from Hanko's in Berwick. To have a similar hull built I would easily have $4000 just in the hull and would need a 40hp to power it. This hull will last us 20 years easily. In fact it will likely be sold one day for what I paid for it. He fishes out of it 4 or 5 days a week during the summer and all of his friends are jealous as heck that he has his own boat. He is becoming really good running it too. One of the best purchases I have made. I have never been able to sell a custom built boat for what I had in it. I guess it's all in what you want. I will not buy another custom alum hull.

[LaAngler]

i'm looking for one too for a 40 tldi

[SULPHITE]

B I would consider a southfork they are just made well from what i've seen...as far as motor get the motor that top dawg has on here nice rig...I'd spend the extra money you 'd save from not getting a custom boat and put it into an electric tilt and trim

could remedy not getting a tunnel hull...

but it depends on what you see yourself doing river fishing, marsh fishing, lake???

[swamp snorkler]

The Tahotsu 40 TLDI seem to be whats hot in the Marsh right now.

[PaulMyers]

Go by Lake Area Marine and check out the aluminum boats they carry. They have several different models that sound similar to what you are looking for.

[cmcnabb]

Stay away from weld bilt. The floor comes apart

[1fastmerc]

Weedeater just bought a 40hp Nissan which the same as the tohotsu. I was very impressed with it. Now it's nothing like a three cylinder Merc 40 two stroke. But a very nice motor.


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[BA1125]

Thanks guys I'll check out Lake Area.

What motor is Top Dawg running?

[Top Dawg]

Check out the edge. Fast hull with the tohatsu on it

[PaulMyers]

Originally Posted by BA1125

Thanks guys I'll check out Lake Area.

What motor is Top Dawg running?

Tohatsu 40 tldi

[SULPHITE]

here ya go:

http://www.saltycajun.com/forum/show...ht=EDGE&page=2

[Top Dawg]

I'm running a weldbuilt but I wouldn't buy another weldbuilt. The tohatsus come with powere trim and electric start. I'm not sure about marsh running but I know the 40/15' edge set up is a quick rig.

[BA1125]

Thanks I'll check them out.

[CajunChristian]

Originally Posted by Top Dawg

I'm running a weldbuilt but I wouldn't buy another weldbuilt. The tohatsus come with powere trim and electric start. I'm not sure about marsh running but I know the 40/15' edge set up is a quick rig.

That's an understatement

[Benwahh]

Originally Posted by BA1125

I am looking for opinions/suggestions on a new aluminum boat and preferably 40hp motor.

Do any of you guys run custom made aluminum boats in the river and/or marsh? If so, who'd you go with and what things do I need to look for and add or stay away from?

Which motor do you guys recommend? I've been looking hard at the new 40hp Mercury 4-stroke.

Do y'all recommend getting a boat with a tunnel hull and jack plate or just a tunnel. Which ever motor I choose, I'll be getting it with tilt n trim.

I'm considering a custom made boat simply bc I can spec it out the way I want. I want a live well, tank made in the front deck, maybe a rod box, and etc.

Thanks

16' south fork tunnel hull with an e tech or a 40 merc 4 stroke. jack plate, its nice gettin in tunnel mode every time.

[70hptiller]

Originally Posted by Top Dawg

I'm running a weldbuilt but I wouldn't buy another weldbuilt.

Top Dawg, what kinda problems are you having with your Weldbilt?

[Top Dawg]

When my boat was brand new every weld on it broke and the hull split down the middle about 3' long. Almost sunk. Sent it back andthey rewelded it took about 6 months. And ever since I been re welding ribs throughout every year.

[Big Tee]

Best boat I ever own was a Express 16/48 tunnel with a 40HP Yamaha . Fished every thing fromthe basin to the marsh to weeks bay even ran a couple of time to south west pass on the slick days. Would run in 6" of water easy had enough power for 3 big ole boy and all our gear

[FF_T_Warren]

Always gotta support my boys at gatortrax. They build a tank. Lil pricey but worth the money. They have a gator flats model that sounds right up your alley