2008 G3 guide V170 T

[rapp]

I am looking to purchase a 2008 G3 guide V170 T with a 50 4 stroke. Looking for feed back from G3 owners. Reason for & against the purchase. New boat & engine for $12500.00

[Btfrk]

Is that a tiller? I would like to hear about these also.

[rapp]

Yes it is a tiller

[Shellback]

I have a 2005 G3 V170T outfitter with an F50. I'm sure my hull is the same as the newer ones, but the interior layout is different. My boat has the livewell that goes across the boat, but not the raised deck in front, so you need to step over the livewell to get to the bow. It also didn't have a pedestal seat in the bow, so I added one. The pedestal seat on the floor level better suits my wife who has MS, don't have to worry about her going over the side! My boat also has aluminum diamond plate decks, and is camo painted. Easy clean up and low maint.
The F50 has the varible trolling speed on the tiller handle which is very nice and the motor has performed flawlessly. Top speed with a full tank of gas, gear and about 375#s of people is 30 MPH on the GPS. I never experimented with different props, but I doubt you'll get much more out of it. I'm quite satified with 30 MPH, but if you are looking for more, think about a bigger motor. The only issue I had with my boat is it barfed gas out the vent while trailering with a full tank. The tank is in the stern, but for some reason the vent was up by the livewell. They replaced the fuel tank and that didn't help. I then had the dealer put a shut off valve in the vent line as a quick fix. Eventually I put an antisurge valve in the line myself and that cured it. No other issues with the boat and it's a nice stable platform to fish from. I have a 55# MinnKota auto pilot on the bow and with no wind it will push it 2 MPH, but it does struggle some with some wind, especially the AP function. I'd suggest going to maybe a 70# motor.
Lately I've been looking for protection from the weather, so I recently bought a Starcraft Superfisherman 190 project boat which I will power with a Merc 90HP fourstroke. Come late spring I should have it ready for the water and at that time I'll make a decision whether the added weather protection of a walkthru windshield offsets the fish ability of my tiller boat. One of them will have to go. At the present, I think my G3 is going to be hard to beat, but we'll see.

[rapp]

Thanks for the info. This boat as the same floor layout. I was worried with a 50 hp about the top speed but 30 mph is ok. Extra speed is always nice in long runs or to beat bad weather but mostly I travel 3 to 8 miles from my dock. I also have a pleasure boat 200 four winn horizon with a 5.1L MPI it top out at 54mph. I mostly drive it at 5 mph or 34 mph rarely at top speed.

[Shellback]

You will love the fuel economy of the F50. I also had a 22' Chris Craft walkaround with a 250HP 2 stroke Yamaha. Sold it last month, just cost way too much to run. The F50 has me spoiled, I hope the Merc 90 fourstroke is economical.

[Dave C]

I looked very carefully at that boat before I bought my Lund 1725 ProGuide. I thought the G3 was an excellent value for the money, but I did not think the fit and finish were as good as on the Lunds. The inside layout was similar to Lund, but there were large gaps at the inside corners, rod box could handle only 6 foot rods, and the electronics compartment was too far off to see anything, as well as too small to hold anything. It was made of cheesy thin plastic too. I think they have made the electronics locker bigger, but not changed its location. A big turnoff for me was the trailer. Very tight clearance between the trailer cross mambers and the boat's keel. Of course, one could always get a different trailer. I don't think the G3 has the Sporttrak mounting system like Lund, which I really love. Not sure how boat geometry compares, but I really like Lund's IPS2 hull. All these things are not meant to bash G3, just differences between the Lund that I saw which were important to me. Like I said, I think G3 is a good boat and a good value. Plus, you get a Yamaha (which I got on my Lund),I would recommend that you take one out and try fishing in it (or as least sit in it and spend time thinking in through) to see if it fits your needs. Thats what I and it helped me decide on the Lund.

[rapp]

You’re correct on all your point Lund is better refine boat. This will be my second boat to take into remote location. Also the similar size Lund boat in Ontario is an extra 7000.00. What I like about theG3 is the no frill rugged look, no carpets just a vinyl floor and painted covers. Similar to why some like jeeps instead of Toyota Fj. I have own a 16 ft Lund with a 40 tiller with all the extra, used it for 10 year sold it with my fish camp. I found the carpet and real wood finish did not last. What I would like to know its handling comfort, practicality for fishing. Comfort is very important you’re correct I need to sit in the seat. Thanks

[Bigfishhunter]

I don't think comparing a G3 Guide to a Lund Proguide is Fair. We are talking two very different price point boats here. The G3 Guide is an economy Boat and a Proguide is not. Now if you were to compare a Lund Outfitter or Alaskan to a G3 Outfitter, now you can make an accurate comparison.
I have an uncle with an upper model G3 and he loves it. It is a windshield boat, and I get frustrated in shield boats. I would take a leaking beat down 14 ft tiller boat over a ProV with a "windshield"! Well, maybe I am being a little melodramatic. But I am a tiller guy.

[Dave C]

Sorry for my post comparing the G3 and Lund. I got the G3 model being talked about mixed up with one that has similar letters. I should have checked the G3 models on their website.

[Bigfishhunter]

I did not mean to bash anyone, just wanted to make a point, I guess.

Now, in saying what I said earlier, I do think that if you were to compare apples to apples here, (lund Outfitter model and G3 Guide) you are going to go with the Lund. I am sure though that the lund is anywhere from 1500-2500$ more, depending on motor.

The strange thing to me though is that the Lund is only rated for 60hp, but somehow, G3 is getting away with putting a 70-90 hp rating on an incredibly similar hull? But it does have an asterisk beside it and it says something to the effect that it is dependent upon conversion kits. Now, in my recollection that is not the way the Coast Guard rating works. They do not care about conversion kits to hydraulic etc, they rate them for the hull period.???

Anyway, happy shopping. I love my lund outfitter and I think it is the best boat for the way i fish. It sounds like shellbeck is the same way about his G3, so happy shopping and buy what you want and are happy with.

[crosbystick]

Sent u a PM

[Shellback]

I think the asterick is regarding the tiller steer being an option, ( extra cost on the motor). As far as the higher HP rating that probably is due to the 7 inch wider beam on the G3. They probably have some formula they use for determining max HP for the hull and then take steering into consideration next. PS I often get comments on the wide beam of my boat, it really is noticeable and makes a big stability issue.