Crestliner VT17

[nomad60]

I've been sort of leaning towards buying a Bass Tracker 175 TXW but I came across some reviews for the Crestliner VT17 which I'd never heard of before today.

http://www.crestliner.com/VT-17

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02Ph2AjQmPM

Have any of you ever fished in one, owned one, or know someone who does and if so, what are your thoughts?

A couple of things I like about this boat vs. the Tracker; total package length (on trailer) is about 17' 6" vs. the 19' 7" for the Tracker (My garage has storage rooms at one end so I'm limited to 20' 4" which would make the Tracker a really tight fit). The Crestliner is wider and also has the recessed trolling motor foot control. The Crestliner is all aluminum to include the deck and I believe (not 100% sure) the Tracker has a wooden deck.
It's cheaper than the Tracker but that's with the 60HP motor. If I go up to the 75HP motor, the dealer told me I'd no longer fall under the current Crestliner promotion and the price would then be almost $1,000 more than the Tracker with a 75HP Optimax.
The Crestliner does weigh a bit more than the Tracker which I also have to think about; I have a Ford Escape which is only rated to tow 3,500 pounds and the less strain on the transmission and engine, the better, IMO.
I have looked at the Xpress, Lowe, Lund and Alumacraft boats as well but I think every one of them ended up being too long on the trailer to fit in my garage (it's a homeowner's association rule - no boats parked outside where they're visible :mad:) or they were more expensive than what I'm willing to pay for a new boat.
Anyway, anyone have any experience or thoughts on the Crestliner boats?

Thanks!

[Jim]

Nice looking boat. I am sure it work great around here. I wish I had one :)

It may be a typo, but the overall length will be 19+ ft for either set up. 17 ft for boat plus 2ft for motor. the swing away is usually a little bit forward of the nose of the boat.

I have the same issue as you for storage. My garage is 19 ft 8 inches. When I replace my current 16 ft basstracker, it will be with a 17 ft boat like this.

I have never been in this model, but it looks fine to me.

Jim

[nomad60]

Nice looking boat. I am sure it work great around here. I wish I had one :)

It may be a typo, but the overall length will be 19+ ft for either set up. 17 ft for boat plus 2ft for motor. the swing away is usually a little bit forward of the nose of the boat.

I have the same issue as you for storage. My garage is 19 ft 8 inches. When I replace my current 16 ft basstracker, it will be with a 17 ft boat like this.

I have never been in this model, but it looks fine to me.

Jim

I'll have to call the dealer back and get clarification; the total package length on trailer of 17' 6" is what they told me but what you stated makes sense to me.

[Travis C.]

Crestliner is owned by the same company that owns: Lund, Lowe, Bayliner, SeaRay and Mercury to name a few. The company is called Brunswick, yes the billards and bowling people.

I think you will run into the same with all trailer that aren't break away tongues.

Have you looked at the Polar Kraft 175 Pro? The come with Yamaha motors on them mostly. No experice with them other than my really old 14fter but they look pretty sharp and it wasn't on your list.

[Buccaneer]

Although I could not find the gauge of the aluminum in the hull I am impressed with what you get for the money in that package. I know it another $1000 unless you can hammer them down, but you should always get the max rated horsepower for the subsequent resale value.
The Crestliner is really a good boat. I have a buddy with the Walleye/Multi-Species style and we fish out of it in Minnesota every spring for walleye and they really make a solid boat. Coming from a former G3/Skeeter aluminum 18' owner, I wish the Crestliner VT had been an option when I bought my aluminum boat.

[nomad60]

Thanks for the inputs guys...Travis, the Polar Kraft website is acting weird from my work computer so I can't get to any of the pages which list the standard features...so I'll have to try from home later and see if they list the total package length and or pricing as well as standard features and options.

[Travis C.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4kM1bIe8jnI#at=69

This is a product walk thru for the TX175 PRO.

You should check several kinds out to find one that fits your style or likes. Remember you will be the one using it and/or paying-paid for it.

[nomad60]

Thanks Travis.

I've more or less been shopping for a boat for the last few months and I was only waiting for fall so I could see exactly how much money my daughter's college tuition was going to drain from the bank. I'm almost ready to pull the plug now and had pretty much settled on the Bass Tracker 175 TXW until I just happened to come across the ad for the Crestliner VT 17 yesterday morning and it got me curious as to what they offer and what the quality of the boats are like.

I don't need a huge boat that goes 60mph because all I ever plan on doing is fishing here locally in the Cumberland and it's tributaries/creeks (like Lick Creek, Bumpus Mills, Dyers Creek etc).
I'm severely limited in garage space so every inch counts (that's what she said ha ha ha, sorry, couldn't help it).
I also have a set limit on how much I'm willing to spend so that's another consideration...so for the money I'm willing to spend, I do want the most bang for the buck and up till yesterday, the Tracker 175 TXW with a 75HP 4-stroke was it...and may still be, depending on what I see when I go look at the Crestliner today or tomorrow.
I know absolutely nothing about boats; well, I knew nothing about them but have learned a little since I started my research so I'd like to buy by fall so I can break it in, learn how to drive with and back up a trailer and get to know the boat so that I'll be all ready to go come next spring. That's the plan, anyway LOL

[Travis C.]

My 16.5 ft Sprint 272 will only fit in my two car garage if its diagonal but it fits. We park our cars outside.

The bad thing for people in the boat market these days is so many options to choose all are good and the price is way higher. My boat we picked up new in 1994 fully loaded, depth finders, foot control trolling motor the whole deal at $7,000 with a 90hp Force outboard.

[nomad60]

Well, it's a done deal. I had my buddy who has owned a couple of boats go down with me and we checked out the Crestliner. He couldn't find anything he didn't like about the boat except that he thought the cooler could be a bit bigger but that was about it.
And I got a good deal; The Crestliner VT17 with a 75HP motor, 3 batteries, 75lb thrust trolling motor, the hot foot installed and a boat cover for $100 more than the Tracker would have cost me and the Tracker didn’t have the hot foot; the Tracker had only 2 batteries and the 46lb thrust trolling motor. I should be able to pick it up next Saturday after they put the bigger motor on it and install the hot foot and check everything out.
These pics are kinda crappy but there she is :)

[MNfisher]

Congrats on your purchase!!!

[SAMBOLIE]

Nomad, that is a beautiful boat. I like that it has 24 volt TM. I have a Tracker TX190 and have considered swapping out the 12 volt TM.
Where did you buy it?
Enjoy.

[nomad60]

Thanks, MNfisher and Sambolie.

I bought the boat here in Clarksville at Thunder Road Marine - which is another plus; if I need service, the dealer and service center are less than 15 minutes from my house.

I'm sure a thousand bloopers are to follow so I'll make sure to have a camera ready to capture the moments for posterity ;)