G3 Boats for Sale

Generation III

G3 started in 1992 as Generation III Boats, named because its founder was a third-generation boat builder. The family's roots go back to Appleby Boats, started in Lebanon in 1960. The Coast Guard's manufacturer record lists Generation III Inc. in business from November 1992. In 1997 Yamaha Motor bought the company and it became G3 Boats.

Lebanon, Missouri, calls itself the aluminum boat building capital of the world. Tracker, Lowe and Landau also build there, so parts and experienced repair shops are easy to find in that part of the country.

The lines

• Gator Tough: all-welded jon boats for hunting and fishing, plus jet and tunnel models for shallow rivers.
• Sportsman: all-welded modified-V fishing boats for freshwater.
• Angler V: deep-V boats for bigger, rougher lakes.
• Bay: all-aluminum, all-welded center consoles for coastal and multi-species fishing.
• SunCatcher: pontoons in Elite, Fusion and Select trims.

As an example, G3 lists the Sportsman 1710 at 17'10" long with a 92-inch beam, a 90 hp maximum, a 21-gallon tank, room for four, a 1,080 lb dry weight and a 1,865 lb package weight. That package weight is what you plan your tow vehicle around.

Warranty on a used G3

G3 offers a five-year bow-to-stern limited warranty and a limited lifetime warranty on external seams. The bow-to-stern coverage can transfer to a second owner within five years of the original purchase, so on a late-model boat, ask the seller for the original purchase date and check whether the transfer has been done.

What to check on a used G3

Hull. On welded hulls, look along the seams for cracks, especially at the transom and around the keel. On riveted hulls, look for weeping rivets and chalky white corrosion. Put the boat in the water if you can and check the bilge after a run.

Transom and floor. Push on the floor and the casting decks for soft spots, and look for cracks where the outboard bolts to the transom. Older boats may have wood decking under the carpet.

Engine and trailer. Get compression numbers and service records for the outboard. Check the trailer's bearings, bunks, lights and tires, since aluminum boats are almost always sold as a package.