Alumacraft Classic 16 1989 - Opinions?

[montanacurt]

I am looking at trading up in size from my 1993 Lund DLX (15 hp) to a 1989 alumacraft "classic 16". This other boat looks to be in OK shape, floorboards seem good. It has a 45 hp mariner motor and a single console (no windscreen).

Anyone ever own one of these? Any opinions (good/bad)? What might I get for a top speed? Any issues getting on a plane with two adults and two kids (kids are 6 and 8 years old).

Curtis

[montanacurt]

Turns out the boat is a 1987 not a 1989. Motor is a 1986...

[Burr]

I had an Alumacraft Backtroller 17, same vintage, I think it was an 86, a friend at work had one of the Classic 16's. They were a popular boat around here, lots of them on the water. Mine was a good boat, I liked it, and did a lot of fishing in it. Co-worker purchased a newer, bigger motor for his, and started to have problems with the rivits. The new, stronger motor didn't match up that well with the older boat. He fixed rivits a couple of times, and sold out from under it for a new boat.

We're both still fishing, so I guess the boats served their purpose at the time.

[ruger428]

I have a 2007 17' G3 with a 60 four stroke yamaha for sale
If you are interested give me a call and I can send you some
photos
937 603 1541 Jim

[MontanaCurtis]

Had issues and required a tune up-- still not running quite right.

I was able to get 25 mph with just me in the boat-- I think the prop pitch is a little too much as it wont get up on a plane with the live well filled. The live well is massive and filled up is a lot of weight for this boat and motor.

Thanks for your replies.

[MarkG]

Had a 1988 Classic 16 side console with an Evinrude 40HP 2 stroke. By myself Got top speed of 33mph with 2 full 6 gal tanks,full port side livewell,and 2 batteries.

Pros
Built like a tank,Extremely fishable and manuverable, one of the best laid out fishing boats,I have owned. Banged it around pretty hard for several years with no issues. Really enjoyed it.

Cons. With almost any kind of choppy or wavy conditions a VERY rough ride. Quite the teeth jarring,kidney buster,( even compared to a 14ft Lund I had ) if tried to get up any speed,mostly because of the nearly flat bottom and somewhat light weight. Sold it for a bigger heavier boat to smooth out my ride. ( However,with that flat bottom and shallow draft,I was able to navigate some areas of the Wisconsin river with that Alumacraft, that many others could not. So everything has trade offs.)

Enjoy.

[Runaway]

Had an "86" Classic 16 w/60hp Johnson on it. 38 mph (GPS) with me and two 6 gallon tanks. Bought new in 86 and traded for bigger Alumacraft in 02. Liked the layout of the Classic 16 better than I did the Tournament Pro. Had the Classic on very small lakes to the Bay of Green Bay and at the time never felt unsafe in it. Now that I have the Ranger, I would like to find a Classic and set it up for tiller fishing for some of the smaller lakes I like to frequent. My dad when I bought the Classic took one ride in it and bought one for himself. He still fishes with it today at 82 years young.