I sold my Wellcraft CC two weeks ago. When I get back from vacation, I'll start looking for another one. Two must haves are a 4 stroke and auto deploy trolling motor. Right now I'm leaning towards the deep V hull aluminum boats like the Bass Tracker Targa or Crestliner. No bass boats. Too tough on this old man to get up and down from the seats. I heard Freedom in Guntersville is a Lund dealer. I may drive over there some weekend and check them out. I mainly fish for crappie and catfish. I leave the ditch pickles for the glitter boat fairies. Sea Arks are way out of my price range. 18ft is minimum length.

Duck!!!

I have had my Lund for 3 years so far with zero problems. Pricey but worth it.

“The glitter boat fairies,” says he.

1) Have you ever fished from a boat with stick steering? They are the ULTIMATE "old guy" boat. When I get to the point that I think I'm buying my last boat (I saw that you posted that in a different thread, or at least I think it was you) mine will be a stick steering boat. Once you get in the boat, you literally never have to get up until you load it back on the trailer to leave.

2) It's gonna be hard to find a boat with an auto deploy TM. They are very, very nice though. Learn how to manually stow it when you're on dry ground because you will eventually have to manually stow it. I have to do that with my Ulterra twice.

3) I know a guy in Gadsden that bought new Lowe in 2018. After having it for maybe 6 weeks, a large crack showed up at the front of the boat, where the top plate is welded to the two gunwales. The boat had to be sent back to the factory for repair. I could have fixed it in 5 minutes. He was without a boat, IIRC, for almost 3 months. I'm going from memory and I know that sounds like an absurd amount of time, but I'm pretty certain I'm right.

4) Don't get carpet. Period.

War Eagle stick-steer...

A Lund is a fine boat and if I wanted a used one I would head straight to MN to buy one, then do some fishing while I was there. If you want to see a hundred for sale go to Craigslist, then MN and then Minneapolis.

I've had two stick steer boats and sold them both, for me a steering wheel is 100 times better. I did not like steering either of those boats.

My first boat was a stick steer. It is why I've never have another one. Got tired of being wet all the time. Most newer used boats now come with the auto deploy and I-Link. If not. I'll add it. I'm eye balling a Excel Cat Pro, but I don't know if that is the boat I want. The 6 degree deadrise has me worried how it will handle rough water. I'm looking at Kentucky and points north for a gently used Lund. Hoping someone puts theirs up for sale instead of winterizing it. If I lived closer to the Northwest. I would sell everything I owned to buy a Compass 206. I've always had a soft spot for those halibut boats. And no carpet is also on my list. I'm not power washing catfish slime and shad scales out of it every time I use it. I'm hoping more boats will show up as deer season and colder weather gets closer.

They got some good lookin boats at freedom..the vexus aluminum boat claim to ride as good or better than their glass equivalent. They got some nice stuff including hobie yaks😀

I agree with Fur on the stick steering, and I wouldn't have anything else at this point in life. Not only does it allow me to sit in the front seat and never have to move, but the lack of high decks keeps it much more stable in fishing. I also agree with vinyl instead of carpet.

If I were gonna buy a new boat, I'd consider these guys in Bonifay, FL:

https://www.xtremeboats.com/

They can build exactly what you want for about the same price as one of the brand names. All I know is what I have read about them, but all the reviews from customers are generally very positive. If you are like me and have ideas about the way a boat should be made, it would be really nice to have one made to specs.

Edit: oops, I missed the part about you having owned a SS boat before and not liking it. It certainly depends on where you fish as to whether it's practical or not. The boat I have now is my 3rd SS boat, and it definitely is better on keeping me dry and providing a comfortable ride than the other 2. I think a lot depends on the setup. My seat is 7' from the bow, and only about 4' further forward than the driver seat would be if it had a side console. But if you fish big water that 4' can make a difference. Good luck deciding

Excel bay pro and the new Vexus center consoles look very nice

Ive looked at some of extremes boats up close..they are a quality craft..no doubt.

I'm trying to figure out how you got wet in a SS boat???

With adequate motor size and hydraulic trim you rarely if ever get wet. I could see it in really, really, rough water where running on plane would be impossible but nothing short of that.

There's a guy that I've seen fishing up close to Scottsboro that has boat with SS and the way he runs the trim the bow of the boat where he's sitting, is probably 2 feet of the water. Mine doesn't have trim but I never got wet using it.

I don't know either,but that's what he needs...

Every one I've drivin has wet me, usually while turning. They spray out in front of you and that is when it happens to me.

I like ss boats, had a Lowes and it was great sold it and when to a side console. I tried to find a ss before i bought my current boat but they are hard to find. I have been told that the new hydraulic steering has really improved ss boats,

I’ve had this boat about 3 months now and, for the most part, I really like it. It’s a no frills fishing boat. It’s the best riding aluminum boat I’ve personally been in. It handles water well and it’s a dry ride.

It’s a mod V but has more V than most mod V boats, but about 2/3 down the hull, it forms a flat wedge that acts as a pad. Makes for very little drag. It’s a 17 1/2 long and 86” wide, but the 50hp I have on it pushes it faster (34 by gps) than the 16’ flat bottom it used to be on.

Also, I’ll NEVER have carpet in a fishing boat ever again.

2018 Polar Kraft Sportsman 1760

That's a nice looking boat! And it's wider and longer than my boat, but still runs faster with the same motor. Enjoy it!

Probably because I owned my first and only SS boat before you were born, you young whippersnapper. That was over 40 years ago and vowed to never own one again.

I found you one to buy, you just have to drive to Texas to get it. Nice looking rig.

SS Boat

Some of us ain’t young no more.But they have changed along the way...
You can find the Royal ss boats pretty regularly in SE Bama/NW Fl for sale.IIRC they were/are manufactured down in that area.Have a look at a WilliamsCraft too.