G3 n alumacraft opinions

[someone not logged in]

Hey ya'll!

Just wanted to hear some opinions about the G3 V167T w/a 50 tiller. I am going to be getting a new boat (or maybe used) and the closest dealer is a G3 dealer.

I'd also like to hear comparisons to the Alumacraft Navigator 165 and the Alumacraft Classic 165.

I know, I know....insert jokes here about G3 being the same, or jokes about cheap etc...but seriously. I'd like to hear from folks who have them, who have had them and who sell them as to what they think about these 3 rigs and what is the big differencce between the Classic and the Navigator lines from Alumacraft.

Thanks!

[alumalunker]

I'd go with the Navigator. They all are pretty good but the navigator is a really great boat. The differences between the navigator and classic are. Navigator: 91" beam vs 82" (classic), 12/24volt trolling motor plug in vs 12(classic), 16'8 vs 16'5, more horse power 75hp vs 50hp. These are all considering that you are talking about the navigator tiller and classic tiller.

If you want an order what i'd buy it would be Navigator, Classic, G3 167T.
The G3 is a much closer comparison with the alumacraft lunker than the classic or Navigator.

hope this helps

[teamlund]

My brother in law is running a 165 clasic with a 70 hp yam 2 stk...Nice rig.. I think the alumacrafts are put together better than the G3s... He beats on it pretty hard for a 16 ft boat and it hasnt skipped a beat.

[Shellback]

I have a 2005 G3 V170T with an F50 Yamaha. My boat is a little different from what they offer today. It's all camo and has all diamond plate aluminum decking in it and no raised casting deck on the bow. No shining or scrubbing for me!:D The only issue I had with my boat was gas barfing out the vent while trailering. They replaced the gas tank which was supposed to be a fix, but it didn't work. G3 asked me to bring it back to the dealer and have a backflow valve installed. Rather than a trip to the dealer to drop it off, and another to pick it up, I just installed it myself. Everything has been fine since. I have had no other issues with the boat. I can't give you any comparisions with an Alumacraft, because I've never seen one similar to the boat I have.

[2Labs]

I'd go with the Navigator. They all are pretty good but the navigator is a really great boat. The differences between the navigator and classic are. Navigator: 91" beam vs 82" (classic), 12/24volt trolling motor plug in vs 12(classic), 16'8 vs 16'5, more horse power 75hp vs 50hp. These are all considering that you are talking about the navigator tiller and classic tiller.

If you want an order what i'd buy it would be Navigator, Classic, G3 167T.
The G3 is a much closer comparison with the alumacraft lunker than the classic or Navigator.

hope this helps


Yup.

The Classic is very close to the 1997 Alumacraft Magnum 165 CS I used to have. The very narrow beam made the boat roll side-to-side in cross-winds ... one of the reasons I now own a boat that is 95 inches wide. I got sick of nearly being tossed overboard by the bow seat rolling side-to-side as I went to the front of the boat!

Plus, I converted the 12-volt trolling motor setup to 24-volts ... took me an entire weekend, but 12 just didn't cut it. 24 not only has more thust, but the charge lasts longer. Even hooking 2 batteries in parallel with the 12 I would empty the batteries in a day.

The Navigator is a MUCH better choice.

[rvrdrifter]

first off, don't listen to any of the jokes about a boat your interested in. We all had to start someplace with our first one, and in our minds have improved from there. Here's my view on the whole boat thing......No matter what you're driving, someone WILL pass you with a bigger, newer, faster boat than you already have......yet no matter what you're driving, some guy on SHORE will be saying... Man I wish I had a boat like that. Be comfortable wth your ride, be safe and let others ridicule all they want, its usually the guy with no ride making the remarks out of envy. good luck

[rebs]

you might want to check out Starcraft boats and their prices................

[someone not logged in]

I am pretty much narrowed down to the Navigator 165T, the G3 Angler V 162T or the Mirro Craft Aggressor 1750T 1750. Motor. I don't care, but within one size of max hp and preferably 4 stroke. Although when I do actually buy, in a year or so, I will check the classifieds here and who knows?

And thanks for all the help, and not to worry. My last boat was a Ranger 620 w/ a Merc 225 Opti. I know about fast, pretty, stable, glass vs Aluminum and etc...and I also know about dudes passing me with their longer, faster higher HP rigs...it runs with the territory.

I am looking for a stable platform for the family fishing to serious fishing once in a while and for now, a 16 -17 foot tiller will do everything I need in a boat. Want is a different story.... :)

[SSH]

I have been doing some research for a possilbe boat purchase, also. The issue I have with the G3 is very limited rod locker storage. When I go to Canada with three of us, we bring 12- 15 rods. The G3 rod storage in the V162T and V172T only has 1 rod locker for storage where the Navigator and Lund Rebel has two.

Otherwise, Navigator has the widest beam and the Rebel the smallest at 85 inches.

[someone not logged in]

Lockable rod storage is a big issue, and a deal breaker for me. As I said, I worked my way up to a 20 footer once and really like some niceties in a boat. I have a lot of time to select and like I also said, I am not ruling out used as an option. As an example, today I saw a few years used (2004 model), 17 foot, glass tiller rig in the same price ballpark as the Alumacraft. Despite the rocky shallow parts of the river, I could really get used to that one!