Crestliner vs. Princecraft ? One better/worse than the other ?

[Shawn]

Hello :

I'm getting serious about finally buying my first boat !! I've looked at many different makes, everything from fibreglass center consoles to fibreglass bowriders to aluminum boats.

At a recent boatshow, I came across a couple models of aluminum fishing boats made by Princecraft and Crestliner. They best looked favourable, with many fine options.

Just FYI, my main use will be fishing freshwater lakes from 100 to 3000 acres for bass, pike, panfish, walleye ..... but also trolling Lake Champlain and occasionally Lake Ontario for salmon and trout with downriggers. Even more infrequently I might consider a trip to the Maine coast for stripers (can I do that in an aluminum ?). Fishing will be probably 80%-90% of the use.

The rest of the time, I would like to do some skiing and just boating with my wife and friends.

I would prefer a 4-stroke engine, and both makes had models rigged with 115hp 4-stroke Merc that I liked.

Does anyone out there have any adament opinions on why one would be better than the other, in terms of construction etc ? Any problems with floors rotting, hulls breaking, rivets popping ? Any opinion on the motor ?

Thanks everyone. I'm really excited about finally getting my first boat. No more dubbing around in a canoe in high winds !!!

Shawn

[stg113]

I know exactly what you are going through, last year I had the same dilema. I was stuck between a Crestliner Fishhawk 1650 and a Princecraft 169 DLX. I ended up going with the Princecraft and have had no regrets (actually my wife had the final say, she liked the looks of the Princecraft better.) I'm sure I would have been just as happy with the Crestliner, it just boiled down to personal tastes. The Crestliner was probably set up a little better for fishing. We aren't using the boat exclusively for fishing (doing a lot of recreational boating too) and the Princecraft in my mind was better suited for both activities.
Have fun with which ever one you choose.

Shane

[catcha pike]

Shawn,


In my opinion crestliner is the better boat. Crestliner does not have a single rivit in the hull, so no worries about leaky rivits!! It is a welded boat so the exterior looks as good as a fiberglass boat. For the type of fishing and activities you are looking for I think a sportfish would work really well for you.

[Arrowhead]

Shawn, You may receive more valuable input if you list the models you are looking at.
"anyone out there have any adamant opinions" if opinions were airplanes WC would be the airport:D