Hey all,

I'm shopping for a boat and being very picky in my price range. My question is this, should I shy away from riveted boats? Lowes, Lund etc. I have been but man there are some nice boats in my price range out there. I will say we will not be using it hard. Lot of electric only and idle speed lakes for us chasing gills.

Riveted boats are not bad. Rivers can be reseated if they leak. If I was gonna buy one to use for an all around boat ( duck hunting, bow fishing, fishing). I would look for a welded boat. They won't leak and are a much heavier gauge aluminum. They can usually handle a bigger motor.

Thanks! I have a DU friend with a like new tracker targa 17. I may try to pull off buying it. I think for what we will do with it, it will last a long time for me!

Sea Ark, and G3 both make good all around boats for about any purpose. I have a couple buddy's that guide out of Sea Arks. I see a lot of G3 boats with tunnel hulls and jets. They can get really skinny, and must be tough enough to take it.....never heard any complaints about them. The tracker boats are a good fishing boat. They can take chop well on bigger open water. They ride well on rough water also. But, they are not known for their toughness though, as far as beating them around on the bottom. They also don't draft very well. If you are wanting to go shallow, may look a different direction. All depends on what you want to do with it. I have found over the years.....there is not one boat that can do it all well.....so buy TWO!!!