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Alumacraft Classic 165 CS - Alumacraft Classic 165 CS
by Go Boating Test Team
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Alumacraft’s Classic 165 CS is a multispecies freshwater fishboat that is a durable, lightweight and easy-to-tow fish-catching machine with a price that won’t involve a second mortgage on your house.
Alumacraft’s Classic 165 CS rides on a deep-V hull, allowing it to travel into rougher waters where some smaller fishboats won’t dare venture. The one-piece hull is used to create a strong seamless design, and Alumacraft uses large aircraft-grade rivets instead of smaller ones for durability and to reduce the number it uses.
The Classic 165 CS comes as a package, including a Minn Kota 55PD trolling motor, a Lowrance X50 fish finder, three deluxe fishing seats, a 50 hp Yamaha outboard and a custom trailer.
The 16-foot, 5-inch boat offers anglers a large 34-gallon livewell on the bow platform with a separate compartment for the baitwell. The aerated livewell comes with a bait bag, a timer and a light. The bow platform also features a seat base for a fishing seat, and there are three storage compartments in the deck for stashing gear or the trolling motor battery. There are two interior lights at the bow, and the bow is prewired for installing a depth or fish finder.
The Classic 165 CS provides lockable rod storage on both the port and starboard sides of the boat, accommodating rods up to 7 feet long. At the helm is a Lowrance X50 fish finder, as well as gauges for boat speed, engine speed and a gauge for the fuel level of the 22-gallon tank. The cockpit features four mounts for the chairs to customize the seating configuration, and there’s one more on the stern casting platform.
During our performance run on the Classic 165 CS, we produced a 30.1 mph peak speed with our 50 hp Yamaha outboard power. The boat gets decent fuel mileage, covering 105 miles at peak speed, which improves to 150 miles at a cruising speed of 20.5 mph.
In terms of handling, it hugs the corners nicely and rips through the chop with ease. It is pretty easy to crank the wheel over, and it really surprised us just how much fun the Classic 165 CS is to drive.
The Alumacraft it is a great fishing boat that’s loaded with useful fishing features. At $11,995, the Classic 165 CS is a steal for the angler looking for an entry-level aluminum fishboat.
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This article first appeared in the September 2007 issue of GoBoating Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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