aluminum boat Questions

[cass]

first off hi everybody! im looking at a few boats now both are 14' one is a starcraft and the other is a lund. i would love to put a deck in like MANTIS270 but dont know what boat is more stable and or wich one is a all around better boat for that application.

p.s. application will be walleye on colorado lakes

thanks for the replies from you all

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: aluminum boat Questions

Get the Starcraft

(I am a little biased)

They would both be good boats as long as the rivets/seams are good.

If they aren't you can rebuck the rivets and seal with gluvit.

Are they bench-style layouts or open?

Welcome to iboats

 

[cass]

Re: aluminum boat Questions

bench style with no steering wheel

 

[ezmobee]

Re: aluminum boat Questions

Come on HA, I obviously share your bias towards Starcraft but over a LUND??? I don't know about that one. Both are fine boats.

Cass, the benches in those boats are often structural and can't be removed without compromising the structural integrity of the hull. Putting a deck on top of the benches would be ridiculously tippy I would think.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: aluminum boat Questions

Both have been around for years and have stood the test of time.....quality products. Lund isn't very popular down here. Never saw one physically, but via sporting magazines their name has been in view regularly.

Mark

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: aluminum boat Questions

Does the Lund have that little splashwell like mantis'?

If so I'd get that one, great to have in case you get into some waves/wake...if not I'd go with whichever one has higher sides, more HP capacity, weight capacity, or is heavier gauge aluminum.

I have a 12' Aerocraft(link to resto below) and love little tin cans since you can drop them in wherever you want...and they have such a shallow draft I can get into little rivers and shallow lakeshores

Good luck with whichever one ya get

 

[cass]

Re: aluminum boat Questions

no it dosent have a splash well and you think that it would be a bad idea to put a deck in like mantis270 has. he just more or less added a deck ontop of his benches

 

[ezmobee]

Re: aluminum boat Questions

I have to revise my answer. If it's a nice wide 14' you can probably get away with it. Mantis did an awesome job on his for sure. I would think the best idea would be to slap some plywood in the boat, take it out in the water and stand up in it and decide for yourself if it's too tippy.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: aluminum boat Questions

You mention a deck, what kind of deck? I had a Mirror craft 14' semi V once that I made a bass boat out of. I put a fold down seat on the front seat and with some 1/4" alum, made a floor in front of the seat that was flat....as the semiV bow is obviously hard to stand on. This worked great and was light in weight....welded it to the alum framing and (couldn't believe it) got her done without discoloring the paint as viewed from outside the hull.

Welded a little alum bracket on the gunwale for the TM and I was good to go.

On a splashwell, on a 15" transom I'd say they are just about a necessity. If your boat has a 20" transom, that extra 5" makes one heck of a difference and can eliminate most of the problems requiring a splashwell on shorter transoms. Course if you have a 20 with a well then whoopee, all the better.

Mark

 

[DonHof]

A couple of questions

A couple of questions

I have my boat all winterized, should I leave the transom straps loose?
The boat is in a garage so it out of the wind and snow.
and As I was cleaning the trailer and waxing it I notice a sticker for the tires.
It said tire pressure should be 80 lbs. But when I checked it only came with 50 lbs in the tries. The trailer is for bigger boats, so I'm assuming the 80 is for heavier boats. My boat weighs less then 1,000 lbs.

Thanks
Don

 

[Bondo]

Re: A couple of questions

Re: A couple of questions

Ayuh,... Trailer tires should be aired up to the pressure listed on the side of the tire...

 

[lprizman]

Re: A couple of questions

Re: A couple of questions

yup proper tire infalation or put the trailer on jacks,,,save the tires from dry rot,,,if leaving them on cement, I put plywood between the tire and cement,,,and pull the straps,,,don't need 'em

 

[jmarty10]

Re: A couple of questions

Re: A couple of questions

I loosen up all straps including the winch strap.