What aluminum hulls have good reputations right now?

[Nate Hoyt]

All,

I haven’t seriously considered an aluminum hull in years, but I catch myself day dreaming of an aluminum mod-vee center console in the 2170-2272 range for running out into the Chesapeake. I love making simple ply-epoxy boats for the marsh, but I want a pro to make any boat I plan to use in open water. This isn't a duck boat specific question, but it might serve as a mothership.

I’m an Xpress fan based on past experience, but that was over 20 years ago. Alweld historically had a good reputation. Grizzlies are easy to check out in person, but Tracker hasn't improved any brand it has absorbed. The War Eagle and SeaArk options look interesting and use .125 aluminum while the previous use .100 in the models I like. I’m not tracking any huge issues with any of them right now, but I don't hang out with a lot of folks who use aluminum hulls any more.

I don't have a custom budget, so please don't tempt me with custom builders.

Nate

 

[D. Hinton]

My good friend has been really happy with his four eagle. I have another friend that purchased the tracker mud boat, and he had to go back and redo every weld on the boat tracker on it and actually pay him for Time if they sent him pictures of before, and after the repair, he is a certified aluminum welder. I was really surprised tracker did that however, the initial weld the factory were pretty shotty.