Sportfisherman's Center Boat Review
Evinrude
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2003 150
Our 150 Evinrude Ficht is 12 years old now. It has been a remarkable motor. It always fires up right away and runs very smoothly. It is a very efficient operation. No problems. I guess we got one of the last ones that must have had the bugs worked out. After owning this motor for about 12 seasons I don't think it could have been any better.
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- Overall Rating:
- Reliability:
- Performance:
- Comfort:
- Quality:
- Reviewer:
- Anonymous
- From:
- St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
- Date:
- 04/02/2012
- Miles/Hours:
- 90 hours
- Remarkable Motor
Lund
2012 1400 Fury Tiller
This boat handles nice and smooth in rough water and is very stable.
Upgrades/Accessories: I think Lund needs to upgrade its horse power rating to 40 horse instead of 30 max. With two big guys in the boat and loaded with gear has a hard time planeing. That's with a 25 hp. E-tec.
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- Overall Rating:
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- Reviewer:
- Anonymous
- From:
- Dixon, Illinois, United States
- Date:
- 07/13/2012
- Rider Height:
- 5' 9"
- Rider Weight:
- 250
- Miles/Hours:
- 25 miles
- Excellent Boat For The Money
2012 Crossover XS
I bought my Crossover in May. It's awesome, I got it with a 175 Verado stable and it's great to fish out of. It's fast, get the big motor and it will handle it like a champ. I hate to buy things when they are so hyped up but the Crossover and the Verado are what they say they are. I will see on how long it lasts. I bought a new Spectrum 1750 with 120 force in 1993. It was a good boat. The Brunswick was great. This new Lund crossover is awesome, so is the Verado. It was expensive but it should be the last boat I will need to buy. I am 45 and can not afford to drop that kind of money on fun but do love to fish, the kids love to ski and the tube boat is great for both. Both the motor and boat are what they say they are - fast out of the hole, dry, comfortable ride and handles rough water well. I have spent a week vacation on Cass Lake and four weekends on Lake Pepin in Minnesota. The boat and motor have been great.
Upgrades/Accessories: MinKota trolling motor with ipilot, 2 humming bird depth finders with gps and lake maps, SKI pole.
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- Overall Rating:
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- Reviewer:
- Ralph Drees
- From:
- Spring Valley, Minnesota, United States
- Email:
- ralph.dreesr@ecolab.com
- Date:
- 07/13/2012
- Rider Height:
- 5' 11"
- Rider Weight:
- 210
- Miles/Hours:
- 50 hours
- It Is What They Say It Is
2004 SSV-16 Tiller
I bought this boat last spring after doing a lot of research on many different boats out there. The areas that I fish are remote northern lakes that often are rocky and big. This boat is hefty enough to handle the conditions that I needed it too, and it was cheap enough to fit in my budget.
There is a very neat recess under the middle seat that the fuel tank fits into nicely. This helps to keep it out of the bilge area and doesn't take up any extra space.
The rear seat is split in half which allows a person to sit more comfortably than a regular bench would. The seats are hard, and I am looking to install a padded boat seat in the rear.
This boat will carry a lot of stuff. I use it for 4-5 day excursions where I carry all my gear and camp on islands along the way. I am able to take enough gear for four people and still have enough room to fish.
One thing that I would recommend is to put a floor in this boat. It would be very nice to have the floor not sloped towards the center of the boat. While the slope is gentle, it is enough for things to always roll in that direction. Plus, a floor would help to keep your gear dry since any water that comes into the boat collects along the centerline (unless you are moving, where it accumulates at the rear of the boat). Lund does offer a floor for this boat, but it is around $400. I will likely build a floor myself and put a casting deck in the front with storage hatches and a pedestal seat.
All in all, I really like this boat. It suits the conditions that I use it in and I have had no problems with it at all. It is well built and still economical.
Upgrades/Accessories: Yamaha 25 hp Fourstroke outboard.
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- Overall Rating:
- Reliability:
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- Quality:
- Reviewer:
- Anonymous
- From:
- Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
- Date:
- 04/15/2005
- Rider Height:
- 6' 0"
- Rider Weight:
- 190
- Great Boat For Hard Use.
Mercury
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2006 OptiMax 115 20 in
After doing much research and going back and forth I purchased a Mercury Optimax over an E-Tec. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. The power, fuel economy and reliability have exceeded my expectations 10-fold. I used to be on the fence when it came to outboard motors but I will never own anything else but Mercury now.
Upgrades/Accessories:
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- Overall Rating:
- Reliability:
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- Quality:
- Reviewer:
- anonomyous
- From:
- Michigan, United States
- Email:
- Jpaauwe@hotmail.com
- Date:
- 09/28/2007
- Miles/Hours:
- 100 hours
- OptiMax over E-Tec
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2006 OptiMax 115 20 in
I am so impressed with the new Merc 115 Optimax. It starts with ease. My gas mileage is out of this world when compared to my old 50 horse Merc. I can go out on several outings before refueling. We have 18 foot fish and ski. The boat really comes out the hole with a three blade stainless steel prop. It will top out between 46-48 MPH. It's also very quiet.
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- Overall Rating:
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- Reviewer:
- Anonymous
- From:
- Birnamwood, Wisconsin, United States
- Date:
- 12/22/2006
- Rider Height:
- 6' 00"
- Rider Weight:
- 200
- Miles/Hours:
- 50 hours
- Impressive
South Bay
2007 8522CR
This is a GREAT pontoon boat. It is enjoyed by the whole family, including the dog. There are so many pontoon boats out there but South Bay really sets its pontoons ahead of the others. The details and ride are excellent. My neighbor's pontoon made too much noise & rattling, etc. But when we test drove the South Bay it sold itself. This is a great boat!
Upgrades/Accessories: Yamaha 90 4 stroke
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- Overall Rating:
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- Reviewer:
- Kay
- From:
- Ingleside, Illinois, United States
- Email:
- Immskay@yahoo.com
- Date:
- 02/17/2008
- Miles/Hours:
- 24 hours
- Awesome Pontoon
Starcraft
2004 Islander 221
Bought mine brand new last 2003 and fitted it with a Bravo II counter rotating props, fuel injected six and a closed cooling. Love the boat! Nothing compares to it. Built and looked like an aircraft because of the rivets. Nothing compares to marine grade aluminum.
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- Overall Rating:
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- Reviewer:
- Ralph
- From:
- Martinez, California, United States
- Email:
- rmn4@pge.com
- Date:
- 07/28/2005
- Rider Height:
- 5' 11"
- Rider Weight:
- 200
- Miles/Hours:
- 54 miles
2004 Islander 221
I've been boating for over 30 years and bought a new 04 Starcraft 221 last march. I've been on every great lake and have vetured out to 50 miles (weather permittting) in search of salmon, trout, etc.. I absoultely love this boat in every way!
Upgrades/Accessories: V6, 4 cannon Mag 10s, plumbed porta-potty, GPS/Sonar, temp depth sensor.
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- Overall Rating:
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- Reviewer:
- Martin A. McGinnis
- From:
- Novi, Michigan, United States
- Email:
- macclan2@sbcglobal.net
- Date:
- 06/20/2005
- Rider Height:
- 6' 0"
- Rider Weight:
- 190
- Miles/Hours:
- 40 miles
- Great boat!
Yamaha
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2013 F150XA
Yamaha has done well with this motor. It's light weight IL4 configuration is ideal for a wide variety of hull configurations. The torque of the motor is incredible compared to other 4-stroke motors in similar classes. The resultant hole shot is reminiscent of a 2-stroke and power throughout the band is solid. The engine is incredibly smooth and quiet with fuel consumption levels that will extend the range of most boats.
Upgrades/Accessories: None.
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- Overall Rating:
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- Reviewer:
- Steve Schefer
- From:
- Santa Rosa, California, United States
- Email:
- sschefer@scheferonline.net
- Date:
- 01/18/2014
- Rider Height:
- 6' 4"
- Rider Weight:
- 215
- Miles/Hours:
- 20 hours
- Great Motor
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2006 F9.9 hp 4-Stroke Portable
I bought this motor about 2 months ago and I have been nothing but pleased. With it being a 4-stroke it is one of the quietest motors I have ever been beside. The first thing that my friends say when we go fishing is how quiet the motor is. I have it on a 14 foot flat bottom and with just me in it, it goes good. But with two or three people it slows down a little, but who can complain; look at the sizes. It has started every time and it has never stalled. I have low hours on it because I haven't had it very long and I have only taken it on the Ohio River which can be dangerous. But I have never had a bit of trouble and you can't beat it. I'm very pleased!
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- Overall Rating:
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- Reviewer:
- Tyler Sanders
- From:
- Louisville, Kentucky, United States
- Email:
- tylers57chevy07@insightbb.com
- Date:
- 12/17/2007
- Rider Height:
- 6' 0"
- Rider Weight:
- 165
- Miles/Hours:
- 50 hours
- Smooth And Quiet
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2004 70 2-Stroke Midrange
This motor is one of a pair that I have on the back of my boat. The motors have worked flawlessly for two years now. Why the high hours? Because this boat is used on Lake Mead for fishing tours for a big part of the season. Run almost every day, these are perfect motors for trolling because of the midrange size. No issues and starts in the twist of a wrist.
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- Overall Rating:
- Reliability:
- Performance:
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- Quality:
- Reviewer:
- mike ike
- From:
- savage, Minnesota, United States
- Email:
- chadtech01@yahoo.com
- Date:
- 03/27/2005
- Rider Height:
- 6' 0"
- Rider Weight:
- 190
- Miles/Hours:
- 1275 hours
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2004 T25hp High Thrust
I bought this motor with a 2004 Lund SSV-16 (see review under boats...) and I have been quite impressed with it. I was used to Honda 4-stroke outboards which are quite good, and this Yamaha is just as good. It is very good on gas, using only one tank in two days of continuous use. It is quiet and runs very smoothly. It also has the ability to get my Lund up and going to about 25 mph, which is not extremely fast, but it moves good enough for me. A smaller and lighter boat would obviously give a higher top end. The only thing that I don't like about this motor is that it is not electric start. It will always start on the first or second pull, but I would like to have a charging system so that I can run a fish finder off of it. I would definitely buy this motor again, but I would look for an electric start model.
Upgrades/Accessories: None
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- Overall Rating:
- Reliability:
- Performance:
- Comfort:
- Quality:
- Reviewer:
- Mark Harder
- From:
- Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
- Email:
- mark_harder80@yahoo.com
- Date:
- 04/15/2005
- Rider Height:
- 6' 0"
- Rider Weight:
- 190
- Miles/Hours:
- 100 hours
- Great Performance, Great Economy.
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2003 25 2-Stroke Portable
This is my third yamaha outboard, 25 hp long shaft oil inj 2 carbs, I use for fishing trols for hours at idle. The elect start is nice, but pull starts easy. No trouble with the unit. I like the two strokes for low end power and low noise, four stroke has same noise level at wot. 5 stars all the way
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- Overall Rating:
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- Reviewer:
- brendan muir
- From:
- gladstone , Michigan, United States
- Email:
- bucmister@yahoo.com
- Date:
- 07/01/2004
- My Third Yamaha Outboard
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2003 60 2-Stroke Midrange
The 60 Pro Tiller has been a very reliable motor. It has 3 carbs, oil injection, power trim & tilt, idles down to 400-rpm makes, fine walleye troller, no loading up after hours of trolling, 5500 rpm at wide open throttle on a 17ft Smoker-Craft tiller 35mph with 17in pitch prop.
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- Overall Rating:
- Reliability:
- Performance:
- Comfort:
- Quality:
- Reviewer:
- b muir
- From:
- gladstone , Michigan, United States
- Email:
- bucmuir57@yahoo.com
- Date:
- 07/14/2004
- Rider Height:
- 5' 8"
- Rider Weight:
- 205
- Miles/Hours:
- 35 miles
- Specs:
- Unit Specs
- Financing Application:
- Apply Now
- Remarkable Motor
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2003 F115 4-Stroke Midrange
I have run the engine on the Missouri River, Omaha's area lakes and took it down to Table Rock in Missouri last year. The engine performed flawlessly. It is VERY quiet compared to the 2 strokes I grew up with. One can carry on a conversation with others without raising your voice while tootling around the lake. It starts effortlessly EVERY time. - Even the first time this spring! When I started it for the first time this year, it started like I had just shut it off! - The only gripe I have is the oil drain plug. It is difficult to drain the engine oil without getting oil dripping down the lower unit. - Small thing, I know. I have it on a 2003 Polar Kraft 168DC & I HIGHLY recomend it.
Upgrades/Accessories: None
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- Overall Rating:
- Reliability:
- Performance:
- Comfort:
- Quality:
- Reviewer:
- Craig Russell
- From:
- Omaha, Nebraska, United States
- Email:
- craigatcsi@hotmail.com
- Date:
- 06/22/2004
- Rider Height:
- 6' 1"
- Rider Weight:
- 190
- Miles/Hours:
- 100 hours
- Fabulous!