wingsnhammers
Well-known member
Alright guys. I've been rolling this idea through my mind for a bit and just can't make a decision. Ever since I got my first boat, I knew that I wanted to keep working up until I got something that I would be happy with for a long time. If my calculations are correct, I may be in a position to purchase a new hull in the not to distant future. I am mainly looking at 2 hulls. A 1448 Weldbilt and a 1648 Alumacraft. I would get either without a center seat and with a Mod V hull.
The Alumacraft has an extra 2 ft to work with. It is a riveted boat. It is closer to a true flatbottom than the Weldbilt.
The Weldbilt doesn't have that extra 2 ft, but is all welded and will retain its value better in my area. I can also get the Weldbilt with a split rear bench, which I really like and has the option of a 48" front deck. It is a true Mod V hull. The Weldbilt also has an all aluminum transom and comes with 3 seat pedestal bases installed.
I am not aware of any local Alumacraft dealers. Backwoods landing (Weldbilts largest dealer) is within an easy drive. They are both in the same price range.
After my current boat, I doubt I will ever go back to a sub 15 horsepower outboard. I've been slowly building up a 25 Johnson and this would likely power either hull just fine. I'm just not sure which hull I would choose. I like to fish and duck hunt. For duck hunting, I would like the peace of mind of the welded boat. However, I would love the room of the 16 footer, especially when it came to fishing with multiple people. We do have a pretty large lake here, so the water can get rough. I'm thinking that I may be leaning toward the Weldbilt, but 2 extra feet of floor sure does sound nice!
So, hypothetically, if you were looking at these two boats and you had criteria that were similar to mine, which would you choose and why?
The Alumacraft has an extra 2 ft to work with. It is a riveted boat. It is closer to a true flatbottom than the Weldbilt.
The Weldbilt doesn't have that extra 2 ft, but is all welded and will retain its value better in my area. I can also get the Weldbilt with a split rear bench, which I really like and has the option of a 48" front deck. It is a true Mod V hull. The Weldbilt also has an all aluminum transom and comes with 3 seat pedestal bases installed.
I am not aware of any local Alumacraft dealers. Backwoods landing (Weldbilts largest dealer) is within an easy drive. They are both in the same price range.
After my current boat, I doubt I will ever go back to a sub 15 horsepower outboard. I've been slowly building up a 25 Johnson and this would likely power either hull just fine. I'm just not sure which hull I would choose. I like to fish and duck hunt. For duck hunting, I would like the peace of mind of the welded boat. However, I would love the room of the 16 footer, especially when it came to fishing with multiple people. We do have a pretty large lake here, so the water can get rough. I'm thinking that I may be leaning toward the Weldbilt, but 2 extra feet of floor sure does sound nice!
So, hypothetically, if you were looking at these two boats and you had criteria that were similar to mine, which would you choose and why?