princecraft and forrester boats?

[theflatlander]

Hello everyone! New to this forum.

I tried asking this question on another fishing forum I already use and I haven't had a reply yet. I want to buy a boat soon and right now my price range is up up to 6500. I want a tiller, I like to back troll. So far in this price range I have came up with three boats in my area (detroit lakes,MN)

The first two are forrester's one is a 17ft deep v tiller with a 40hp evinrude(3900.00) the other is a 18ft with a 50hp evinrude(5500.00). The third is a princecraft is a 16.5 with a 40hp Johnson(5300.00). I dont have specific models but if thats important I am sure I can get them.

How are the evinrude motors compared to the johnson? Also why on the 18ft forrester and the 16.5 price craft do they make the sides of the boat slope down towards stern of the boat? Just seems kinda weird to me. So for these prices are these boats OK for the money? I have no experience with either brand. Are they known have leaky rivets or any common problems? Just looking for any information if you own one or have you seen any decent reviews?

Thanks for any info.

 

[JoLin]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Hello everyone! New to this forum.

I tried asking this question on another fishing forum I already use and I haven't had a reply yet. I want to buy a boat soon and right now my price range is up up to 6500. I want a tiller, I like to back troll. So far in this price range I have came up with three boats in my area (detroit lakes,MN)

The first two are forrester's one is a 17ft deep v tiller with a 40hp evinrude(3900.00) the other is a 18ft with a 50hp evinrude(5500.00). The third is a princecraft is a 16.5 with a 40hp Johnson(5300.00). I dont have specific models but if thats important I am sure I can get them.

How are the evinrude motors compared to the johnson? Also why on the 18ft forrester and the 16.5 price craft do they make the sides of the boat slope down towards stern of the boat? Just seems kinda weird to me. So for these prices are these boats OK for the money? I have no experience with either brand. Are they known have leaky rivets or any common problems? Just looking for any information if you own one or have you seen any decent reviews?

Thanks for any info.

How old are they? What shape are they in? Do you prefer the layout of one over the others? Do any of them come with a trailer? Is all the paperwork in order (boat and trailer have transferrable reg/title IN THE SELLER'S NAME?)

As for the Johnson vs. Evinrude question, the motors are the same. Year for year, a 40 hp Johnson and a 40 hp Evinrude are identical under the cowl. The parent company (OMC) built both brands concurrently.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Whenever you have rivets in the hull, they will eventually leak over time from the hull flexing. The bigger manufacturers, (aka Crestliner, Alumacraft etc for fishing anyway) went to welded hulls awhile back......

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Sylvan makes a boat just what you are looking for-- their "Backtroller" model. 90% of my open water fishing is trolling-- less than 1/2 of 1% is backtrolling. That odd wave or wake can give you a serious problem. keep your batteries high and forward and have at least two way oversized pumps-- each connected to a different battery. just my .02

 

[theflatlander]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

How old are they? What shape are they in? Do you prefer the layout of one over the others? Do any of them come with a trailer? Is all the paperwork in order (boat and trailer have transferrable reg/title IN THE SELLER'S NAME?)

As for the Johnson vs. Evinrude question, the motors are the same. Year for year, a 40 hp Johnson and a 40 hp Evinrude are identical under the cowl. The parent company (OMC) built both brands concurrently.

all three boats are early to middle 90's all have trailers and titles from what I can seen in the pics they look to be in good shape. I was just more concerned If anyone could tell me if either brand are known for problems. havent seen them personally yet but from what i can tell im going to like the 16.5 and 18 the best.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Princecrafts are well made aluminum boats. Foresters were lower end fiberglass boats.

 

[roscoe]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Princecrafts are "pretty" boats, and overpriced, IMO.

I'd be looking for a Sylvan Backtroller.
Smokercraft and Starcraft have similar models. All 3 made well.

Here are 2, they even have wavewackers installed.

$5800


1997 Sylvan 16 Backtroller CORNER SPORTS BEMIDJI, MN (218) 444-1010

$2500

1994 Sylvan 16 BACK TROLLER CORNER SPORTS BEMIDJI, MN (218) 444-1010




Happy hunting, be patient. Lots of boats are still in storage and won't be for sale till May..

 

[theflatlander]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Princecrafts are "pretty" boats, and overpriced, IMO.

I'd be looking for a Sylvan Backtroller.
Smokercraft and Starcraft have similar models. All 3 made well.

Here are 2, they even have wavewackers installed.

$5800


1997 Sylvan 16 Backtroller CORNER SPORTS BEMIDJI, MN (218) 444-1010

$2500

1994 Sylvan 16 BACK TROLLER CORNER SPORTS BEMIDJI, MN (218) 444-1010




Happy hunting, be patient. Lots of boats are still in storage and won't be for sale till May..

getting pretty impatient unfortunately.. Really want to have a boat before the lakes open up.. I only seen one princecraft around here for sale and that is gone now. Thanks for the two links on the boats. I will have to remember that website. I actually was looking at buying my buddies smokercraft but he backed out on the deal.

I see you mentioned nothing about the Forrester. I am not sure if the 18ft boat I mentioned is fiberglass or not. I know the 17ft isnt and has a welded hull. I might go take a look tomorrow. The guy dropped his price 3900.00 on the 17ft. is that still to much?

heres the 18ft

1990 Forrester 18' Tiller w/50hp Evinrude 2 stroke

heres the 17ft

1991 17ft Deep V Tiller

I am trying to hold out and look some more but if the snow keeps melting the way it does around here I will be buying a boat with in the next two weeks.

 

[theflatlander]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Princecrafts are well made aluminum boats. Foresters were lower end fiberglass boats.

Do you happen to know anything about the aluminum forester boats?

 

[roscoe]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Those 2 foresters look to be aluminum welded hulls.
I'm not familiar with them.

 

[saumon]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Princecrafts are "pretty" boats, and overpriced, IMO.

Living in Princecraft-land (QC, Canada), I can't agree more. They're priced like the Crestliner and Lund but, others than having fancy graphics, they're far behind them for build quality, but still over Legend.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Do you happen to know anything about the aluminum forester boats?

Nope. I didn't even know there were tin Foresters.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: princecraft and forrester boats?

Nope. I didn't even know there were tin Foresters.

I didn't know they made glass ones. lol

Being they have welded hulls is a big plus....IMO