Okay, since I know nothing about boats I would really appreciate some help determining which boats are good and which boats i should stay away from so I'm just going to list some names of the boats I've been looking at and if anyone could weigh in on whether they are good or bad that would really help me sift through all the boats for sale (keep in mind due to my budget we're probably talking about mid to late 80's or early 90's.

Lund

Tracker

Lowe

Sea Nymph

Fisher

Grumman

Glasstream

Gemini

Mirocraft

Smokercraft

Skeeter

Ebbtide

...there are probably others but those are the ones i can remember off the top of my head. If you know of other kinds good or bad feel free to list them. Thanks!!!

my choice.. I like aluminum boats. so

Alumacraft/Lowe/Lund/Ranger. Tracker makes nice boats but not my first choice

Aluminum.  Used Lund 40hp.  1991 year for boat and Merc motor.  Both going strong.  Garage kept during Michigan winters with antifreeze in motor.  

I've owned a Lund, two Crestliners, a Tracker, a Sea Nymph, and a Blue Fin.

Quality wise, I'd put the Lund and the Crestliners at a tie at the top, followed by the Tracker, the Sea Nymph (it was a 14' with a 9.9 Tiler, so take that for what it is, and the Blue Fin last.

I don't think you can go wrong with an Alumacraft, a Skeeter...friends have them and like them a lot.

No comments on the others as I've no experience.  I did almost buy an Xpress once, I don't think you can go wrong there either.

Are you talking just in terms of bass boats?  And are you talking aluminum or fiberglass?

Aluminum bass boats - Xpress, Ranger, Lowe, G3, Tracker

Fiberglass bass boats - Ranger, Skeeter, Nitro, Triton

Aluminum multi species - Lund, Crestliner, Alumacraft

That's the order I would buy in based on those categories and type of boat.  Just my opinion.  The Tracker Pro Team 175 has been the best selling bass boat in the country for a long time so the sales on those may prove me wrong.

I'm talking bass boats. I think I've been persuaded against fiberglass as there's just too much of a risk of expensive repair on the older fiberglass boats as compared to the aluminum ones that my budget can afford.

My last boat was a Lowe Roughneck. Not exactly a bass boat, but that's primarily what I used it for. It was a very good boat for what I needed it for and got me around just fine. I just had to graduate to something bigger with much more storage than I had in it. If it was in the budget to keep it I would have though. 

When it comes to fiberglass boats it depends on how old they are & how well they were taken care of.

Aluminum you are leaving out Alweld, Alumaweld, Alumacraft, Duracraft, Triton, War Eagle, & Weldcraft.

Fiberglass you left off Bass Cat, Champion, Legend, & Stratos

I've had a '92 Lowe 17' for the last 15 years and it has been very solid.  

What about Grumman's? I've found what appears to be a nice one.

3 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

What about Grumman's? I've found what appears to be a nice one.

I had a friend with a Grumman and it held up to years of abuse. Was a very good boat and the trailer was good also...

How about Mirrocraft, what's the consensus on them?

I have a Tracker 2016 pro guide 16, not really a bass boat but it works great for any kind of fishing and allows you to have more people in the boat than a traditional bass boat and handles big water much better. I don't really see the point of aluminum bass boats just my opinion if you really want aluminum I would go with a v hull tracker or Lund.

That Grumman I referenced above is a v-hull and looks in nice shape and I believe a Mirrocraft I'm looking at tomorrow is v-hull too. I doubt I'll end up with a flat bottom boat unless an unbelievable deal presents itself.