Would you buy a smokercraft?

[sanderson]

I've got my eye on a 17 ft deep V smokercraft. I think it's called a phantom. It's a beautiful boat and has a 90 hp evinrude on it.

I am strongly thinking about buying it but know nothing about the brand name.

For those who own one or have had experience with one, I would really appreciate you thoughts.

thankyou

[wa_walleye]

Only if I do not do four foot waves alot. Seen a few buckle at tournament here in Washington

[ETT]

My suggestion would be to check out the value of simular rigs 3 or 4 years old. Then decide.

[Wildgerman]

I owned a Smokercraft Ultma 175 and loved many things about this boat.I had it MAXED out for motor (150 evinrude &9.9 four stroke)and it would run around 45mph with all fishing gear, full livewells. and fuel, It wasn't as smooth as my fiberglass boat I have now, but it did'nt cost as much either. I don't know what the max rated motor is for this boat but I would't go less than 85% Of its max rated HP. Wildgerman

[mvb]

I had a 89 smokercraft fazer 170 for 10 years with a 115
Never gave me any problems, and I ran it hard. The floor was
getting spongy when I got rid of it though.

[Troutbeck]

Sand--

I just sold a Sylvan 14' deep-v (identical to Smoker). It was a good little boat but it was a very basic model. When I was looking for a new rig, I checked out the Sylvans/Smokers. I was not really impressed. The models I was looking at did not seem nearly as well made as Lunds, Alumacrafts and Crestliners. Plus, by the time I factored in the motor, trailer and accessories, I would not have saved very much.

I'm glad I got the Lund. It's really built well. And, I believe resale will be better. Hope this helps.

Trout

[Blazer]

Before I bought my first boat- Crestliner 1650 Fishhawk, I looked at the SmokerCraft Pro Mag and the SmokerCraft Millentia. I thought that they were nice boats, but I was quite surprised that when I maxed out the motors on the Millentia and the Fishhawk (90HP 4-stroke), I was surprised that there wasn't that much of a price difference between the two, and just looking at the two and discussing with other "experts" out there, I strongly felt that the Crestliner was a better boat. Either I got a really good price on my Crestliner or the Smoker dealer was really high.

Just my two cents.

Blazer

[downriverbob]

I have a 1997 18' 10 " with 1997 115 Mercury, bought at the end of the season in 1997, got for a steal. Have used it for walleye, Lake Erie & Detroit River, salmon, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and muskie Detroit River & Lake of the Woods. Heard bad things about it after I bought it but could not be more happy with it. Have been in "big" water with and never had a problem !!!!!!

[LeeMn]

I've got a 98 Phantom 170 DC with 115 Merc. Love the boat. I had a horrible experience with the dealer here in MN but if you are buying a Phantom then you must be buying used since they stopped making them in either 98 or 99. My moves about 42 gps with 2 and gear and I've had no problems with it. I know this is a big RCL website but I got mine loaded with alot more options for less than a same size Lund.

[RVRRAT]

I bought a new 16' Pro Tiller and busted some rivets in the front of the hull in rough water.It also porpused like crazy even after the dealer installed trim tabs.I sold it after a few seasons.

[bigfish1965]

I had a 17.5 ft Legend which has a hull made by Smokercraft and specially outfitted for Canadian market. Absolutely never a problem with the hull. Took all the waves great ( was on Erie all last year). I bought it new in 98 for 17k and sold it last fall for 15k. Never took water and the gull wing hull is very stable and keeps the nose riding just right. Had it with a 75 Mariner which hauled some serious a$$. If I get another boat, it will absolutely be another Legend.

[Sportdog]

I am the PROUD owner of a 1997 Smokercraft Resorter. This boat is rated for a 50HP motor but I have a Merc 40 4cyl. 2stroke hanging on the rear. This boat is 16 1/2 foot long with a max speed of 32MPH. I fish lakes from pond size to Lake Michigan and everthing in between for walleye, bluegill, bass, trout, and salmon and love this rig. I'm not saying that there are not better boats but this baby is very nice. A guy that I work with has a similar Lund and he thinks my boat is great also. Just my two cents.

[Dustywaterwolff]

My very first boat was a SmokerCraft Model 161 Magnum single console. It was a great little boat. It was layed out nicely and had lots of room. I baught it with a Classic 50 Merc Which moved it along at just under 30 mph.She took everything Mille Lacs could throw at her. I did have some hull and rivet related problems but even after it was out of warranty SmokerCraft stood behind it 100% and the repairs never cost me a penny. When I baught my second boat, the one I own now, I wanted to buy a Smoker again but the lay out I wanted they just did not offer that particular year so I baught a Starcraft which I REALLY like. Would I be affraid to buy another Smokercraft, No I would not. They been in the boat making biz for a long time, I think over 50 years. They are just more down southern part of states and that is why you have not heard much or seen much of those boats until just last 10 years or so.

[fishhunter]

Made by the same company as sylvan.

[luredaddy]

If you use a boat 20 times a year, yes buy it, if you use a boat at least 100 times a year, NO , donot buy it! I use my boat at LEAST 100 times a year, I bought quality, and it has held up! Name brand is not important, it would just start a war!

[Shellback]

I had a 14 foot Sylvan (same builder as Smokercraft). It was a great boat for me, never had any problems. That is, until it got hit broadside while towing home from the river. It got launched sideways off the trailer, over the guardrail, down an embankment and finally broadsided a tree. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Smokercraft or Sylvan.

[dustywaterwolff]

No disrespect meant to any one ,BUT, I feel that Smokercraft IS a quality product. AGAIN the Smokercraft lines are from the south and eastern part of U.S. and where not real popular up here in walleye country until just recently, the last 10 years or so, just like Lund is not a common name down there. There is more, in my opinion to offering a quality product than just selling something. How well you stand behind the product you sell DOES mean something. I know of a lot of walleye fishermen that own overpriced "big name" rigs and have one ##### of a time with the dealers they baught the boats through when it comes to any kind of service or warranty work. When I had my problem, Smokercraft stood behind it well after the warranty was expired, and never charged me a penny for the work that they did to the boat, nor did they charge me for the shipping to or from the factory in Indiana where they are built. I will never say a bad thing about Smokercraft.

[Northman]

I have a 175 Ultima also and love the boat. Have owned it about 5 years now with no problems. I have a 115 Merc and can do about 42 mph fully loaded with my partner and all the tournament gear. I bought my boat when it was 2 years old and the engine had an extended warranty on it. Nice to let someone else pay the first 2 years depreciation.
Northman

[zipper]

A dealer recently told me that Smokercraft is the biggest selling boat (aluminum) in the Pacific Northwest. A buddy of mine has a 15' Alaskan - nice wide boat - he absolutely loves it. Mostly uses it in Western Washington chasing trout and walleye. The boat will last you a lifetime... pay more attention to the outboard. Good luck. zip

[walleye1230]

I've owned a 161 Pro Mag for the last 6 years. Great boat, have yet to have a problem with the boat or the motor (60 Merc). Personally, the quality is just about as good as a Lund or Alumacraft but at a much lower price. I would recommend Smokercraft to anyone.

[MarkG]

Well Im a Lund guy,but know several guys with Sylvan and Smokers and they are nice boats,all seem put together nicly and they never have had problems.They all have a lot of whistles and bells,and big livewells etc. I would have had to buy a tournment style Lund in order to get the "stuff" they have in their boats. Personally thats the trade-off I have consented to. I also met a guy at a Minnesota resort a few years ago with a Smoker that had been picked up and blown away in a tornado . There were plenty things that got broken up but the hull structurally survived ,needed a gunwale straigtend out, new paint and decals. I thought that said something good.

[FJH1]

I had a Sylvan Pro Select and had fair results with it. I popped several rivots and caved in a section of the hull on 1' waves on Winnebago. The factory repaired the hull and I sold the boat the next season. I did like the boat, but I don't think their stringer system is up to that of Lund.

Best Regards,

FJH

[scooter]

I would in a heart beat, even though I like glass better.Yet I run tin.My buddy had the 16'pro angler 20 years ago with a 60hp rude on the back.That boat was great it took a beating.It lasted at least 10 years and then the only reason it went was his own doing.He hit some thing backing up and cracked the transom.Fixable but he chose to buy a new Lund.I have a freind that runs a fazer and it is a great boat.
I think that if you have the money if you love to fish you should buy what you can afford and to the rest that want to bash your boat feed um beans.
scooter

[Ohio fisherman]

Hi Sanderson: Yes, go ahead with the Smoker. I have a Smokercraft Big Fisherman 16.5 that I bought new in 1985. It is a little underpowered with a Merc 18XD tiller, but has been all over including Maine and Canada. The boat is absolutely wonderful - no complaints except that it can be small for 3 people and too much gear. I have had it is wicked conditions and it always performs admirably. I recently bought a new Crestliner 18 Sportsman with a Merc 50 for duckhunting and fishing. The original plan was to sell the Smoker, but my wife says to keep it because "she likes it and it is just too nice to sell".

Have fun shopping. OF

[walleyewillie]

I"ve had mine since 95 and have been in some pretty wild water and fished in Washington tourneys with no problems.Sure I get wet sometimes,but so do those folks in other makes of boats.Mines a 17 and one half foot elite, not bad for what I paid.If I bought another I"d get a 19 foot.

[Jim/UT]

I have a '97 Phantom 17 ft with 115 Merc. I get 37MPH max with all of the high elevation mods, 17 pitch prop. It does porpoise from time to time and I have put a lot of work into addressing that. Other than that, the boat has performed solid. If you like the layout, go for it.

Jim/UT

[Guest]

Perhaps the pop rivets holdng the floor stringers and bracing together got stretched.