Which boat?

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Model70Man

Model70Man

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Sep 30, 2005
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Knoxville, TN
I'm torn between 2 boats. They are the same price. The first one in a G3 1860 CCT with a 90hp Yamaha and the second is a Lowe Stinger 195 Camo with a 115hp Mercury ProXS. I will be using the boat for fishing the Clinch River, Bass fishing lakes, and hunting. I've read some reviews on the web and they are basically the same. Do any of you own one of these boats? Can you give me some Pro's and Con's for the boat you have. I'm trying to get as much info as I can before I buy.

Here are links to the boats:
http://www.g3boats.com/gator_tough_prop ... _jon_boats

http://www.loweboats.com/2013/stinger-b ... t195-camo/
 
I have a 1999 G3 it's the 17 foot one I really like it has Yamaha motor I have never had any problems with mine the only thing I would change that I should have got at least a 20 foot one.
 
If I had unlimited funds I would buy a brand new Yamaha motor for my boat.
 
I have a 2007 lowe with 4 stroke merc.. its the 16.5 fishing machine. really like it.. no issues, nice quality built boat..
 
I am around a variety of boats and outboard motors each week. Just talking to the owners of the boats I get the following impressions.

G3 Boats.......Their owners love them.

Lowe Boats.....Their owners like them but don't like them as much as the g3 owners love theirs.

Outboard motors.

Evinrude/Johnson......These motors are cursed daily.

Mercury...............Their owners love them but they do have issues occasionally.

Yamaha................never heard a bad word uttered about them.
 
Kirk said:
I am around a variety of boats and outboard motors each week. Just talking to the owners of the boats I get the following impressions.

G3 Boats.......Their owners love them.

Lowe Boats.....Their owners like them but don't like them as much as the g3 owners love theirs.

Outboard motors.

Evinrude/Johnson......These motors are cursed daily.

Mercury...............Their owners love them but they do have issues occasionally.

Yamaha................never heard a bad word uttered about them.
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my thoughts exactly!
 
Is the G3 going to have the 4 stroke on it? That would definitely be a pro for me even though the Optimax is a nice motor and gets super gas mileage for a 2 stroke motor. I have a 200 Optimax on my boat.

I don't see that you can go wrong either way, however, I think that I like the layout of the Lowe better. It appears to have a bigger front deck and more storage.

If the Yamaha, is a two stroke, I would pick the Lowe, if it is a four stroke, I would be split down the middle.
 
Its hard to say which is best....cause the boats are not comparable as they have completely different hull designs. Each will perform quite differently. Between these 2 boats it would come to one question. How much time will be spent in shallow water?? The g3 will perform much better in shallow water. I like the tunnel and pods.
 
Kirk said:
Yamaha................never heard a bad word uttered about them.
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I have owned 2 yamahas. Never a problem. BUT, I know 2 guys that have blown up SHO 250's still under warranty in the last two months. Yes, they are cursing yamaha.
 
I would go with the G3. Then I would sell the lower unit on the Yamaha and slap a jet pump on it.
 
I have owned a G3. I loved the boat and when I had a problem (broken welds that were common with the 1999 models) they gave me a new boat. OUTSTANDING customer service!
 
I just sold a Lowe 195 Stinger with a 90 hp Optimax a year ago. It was a great fishing boat with lots of room and well laid out, biggest downfall as with many aluminum boats was the rough ride and getting blown around in the wind!
 
AllOutdoors said:
the boats are not comparable as they have completely different hull designs. Each will perform quite differently. Between these 2 boats it would come to one question. How much time will be spent in shallow water?? The g3 will perform much better in shallow water.
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Right on. For me the Lowe would be perfect and the Pro XS is a screamer, but I don't fish shallow rivers.
 
I have a 2072 G3 CC w/115 2 stroke Yamaha. I pretty much only use this boat for bowfishing. It has been used and abused. No telling how many stumps, rocks and fence posts I have hit with it. Its been a helluva boat for me. It can handle some pretty big/rough water. I originally bought it for duck hunting on the Pamlico Sound/Outer Banks of NC. If mine was to sink tomorrow, I would'nt hesitate to go out and buy another G3!!!!

My only complaint is minimal at best and basically could be applied to all boat manufacturers.. I wish tandem axle trailers were standard on 2072 size boats. No biggie, I put a tandem under it last year.
 
SES said:
I would go with the G3. Then I would sell the lower unit on the Yamaha and slap a jet pump on it.
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I like how you think! However a jet pump on that boat wouldn't perform good, if at all. The CCT is a deep tunnel for prop boats. The CCJ has a much shallower tunnel designed for a jet.
 
I currently have a Yamaha on my small jon boat and it is freaking awesome. I would most likely opt for the Yamaha on the Lowe if it wasn't too much more. I was more interested in the boat design and how it functions for a combo river, lake, and hunting outfit. I usually fish the clinch when they generate and the water rarely is less than 2 ft deep. I see both types of boats on the clinch all the time and on the lakes as well. I was hoping to get feedback about boat design and layout and how user friendly the ergonomics of each boat campared.
 
Model70Man said:
I currently have a Yamaha on my small jon boat and it is freaking awesome. I would most likely opt for the Yamaha on the Lowe if it wasn't too much more. I was more interested in the boat design and how it functions for a combo river, lake, and hunting outfit. I usually fish the clinch when they generate and the water rarely is less than 2 ft deep. I see both types of boats on the clinch all the time and on the lakes as well. I was hoping to get feedback about boat design and layout and how user friendly the ergonomics of each boat campared.
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I think your the only one who can answer that question. I have a Grizzly and the layout is perfect for me, it's wide open down the middle wich is what I wanted. I can assure you though, the G3 is a much better built boat.
 
I had a Lowe aluminum with an optimax. It was the HP style boat. I liked it and miss it with every rock or tree I see in my fiberglass boat now. I had the 90 HP opti and it got really good gas mileage on the 17 foot boat. I could draft pretty shallow... Around a foot I guess. The trolling motor would hit and the boat was still floating freely.

I have nothing bad to say about the build quality of the boat or the motor. Both performed flawless for me. The optimax got around 5-6 MPG at 80%. Its a different build platform than what youre looking at I know... But Lowe builds a fine boat in my opinion. I looked at the G3 boats but they were out my price range.
 
I can say that if Bunch Marine has the Lowe you're looking at they are a good group of guys. I bought 2 boats from them and would buy another in a heartbeat. If you're in a toss up on boats, the dealership would be the deciding factor for me. I don't thunk you can beat Bunch.
 
I've always had good luck on the Mercs.. Can't speak for Yammahammer

Do yourself a favor and check out the Xpress line
 
We currently have a 2006 1652 SC G3 with a 40 horse yamaha on it. Its been a outstanding boat and the Yamaha has performed flawlessly. Never hesitates even in the winter. You can expect the same thing out of both being so light is that the wind can be frustrating at times. We (old man and I) have been looking for a used 18ft for 2yrs now and no such luck. I am not a fan of the small platform on ours but the 18ft platform would be just right. My bestfriend has the exact G3 boat your asking of and ive always loved the size but I find that the CC is wasted floor space where our SC is not in the way or have to walk around it. I would also suggest either that u decide, at applying the rhino lining to all the interior.
 
Spurhunter said:
Kirk said:
Yamaha................never heard a bad word uttered about them.
Click to expand...

I have owned 2 yamahas. Never a problem. BUT, I know 2 guys that have blown up SHO 250's still under warranty in the last two months. Yes, they are cursing yamaha.
Click to expand...

did they run ethanol in them? it cost me the only good merc i ever owned.
 

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