Models · Smoker Craft
Smoker Craft 172 Pro Angler
DemoJon / Aluminum Utility · 17–17.5 ft · 60–90 hp · beginner skipper · trailerable
Affordable aluminum fishing.
Like the lines on this one? Shortlist it with Find your boat. Costs and value are there when you want numbers. Find them online opens real yards & surveyors on their sites (≠ founding partners). We won't invent a dealer lot for this model.
Where the joy lives
Affordable aluminum fishing. Dawn patrols and camp-cruise simplicity; joy dies when trailers and titles are ignored.
- fishing
- first boat
Common watch-outs
- Rivet weeping and transom flex on older riveted hulls
- Paint peeling and aluminum oxidation
- Trailer bunk and winch-stand neglect
- Outboard mounting height and cavitation issues
- Simple electrical systems still suffer switch corrosion
- Floor plywood rot on carpeted models
Safety notes
- Cold water + aluminum = deadly without life jackets; dress for immersion.
- Don't overload; weight forward in a chop sinks freeboard fast.
Crew (approx)
Day 3
Draft (approx ft)
0.9–2.2
Used band (demo)
$5,750–$20,125
Costs — yearly care snapshot
Demo estimateEducational snapshot so surprise spend doesn't steal boat days — not a quote, not the reason you're here.
Educational demo estimate from aluminum-utility · ~17 ft · outboard. Assumes 50 engine-hours/yr, trailer, sunbelt, 5-year hold. Boat day proxy = engine-hours ÷ 4. Not a quote, appraisal, or underwriting offer. Lowest cost class; watch trailer and outboard. Cheap to buy, easy to neglect titles and safety gear. Paint and floor replacements are the mid-life expenses. Affordable aluminum fis
Annual mid
$4,571
5-yr total mid
$26,478
$/good day hint
$424
Assumes 50 h/yr · trailer · sunbelt · 5-year hold. Range $3,244 – $6,232/yr.
Maintenance rhythm (clear the deck)
Outboard oil/filter and gear lube
~100h / ~12 mo · Match OEM calendar if low-hour.
Hull rivet / weld and transom check
~12 mo · Look for weeping rivets and transom flex.
Trailer bearings, lights, bunks
~6 mo · Utility boats live on trailers.
Paint / coating touch-up (oxidation)
~12 mo · Bare aluminum oxidizes; keep abrasion sealed.
Electrical corrosion at battery and switches
~6 mo · Dielectric grease on terminals.
Flush after brackish/salt
· After every salt exposure; rinse trailer too.
Boat Day survey intel
Educational overlayAdditive survey priors from the Boat Day failure corpus — not a marine survey. Prefer a credentialed surveyor before purchase.
- corrosion
- trailer
- fuel
Extra common issues
- Transom plate corrosion under outboard
- Trailer bunk scoring aluminum skin
Survey focus
- Transom thickness / doubler
- Fuel tank condition
- Rivets and weld weeps
Campaign / bulletin diligence
- Educational: Aluminum fishing basics.
- Educational: check OEM service bulletins for tiller/steering updates on your year — no fabricated recall numbers.
Top findings for aluminum-utility
- Transom corrosion / rivet weep at motor mounthigh · high
- Trailer bunk misalignment scoring hullhigh · medium
- Fuel tank / sending unit corrosionmedium · high
- Tiller / remote steering playmedium · medium
- Missing or expired flares / PFDsmedium · medium
Corpus: /api/v1/datasets/survey-failures · Pre-purchase checklist · Find them online · surveyors
Cost & survey cues
Lowest cost class; watch trailer and outboard. Cheap to buy, easy to neglect titles and safety gear. Paint and floor replacements are the mid-life expenses. Affordable aluminum fishing.
Survey focus
- Hull rivets/welds and transom integrity
- Floor structure (plywood vs aluminum)
- Outboard mounts and controls
- Trailer frame, lights, bunks, VIN match
- Simple electrical and bilge
- Title/HIN clarity (common on older utility boats)
Waterways: lake-michiganchesapeake
Clear next steps
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Specs, years, and HP ranges are approximate educational demo data — not OEM specifications. Verify with manufacturer literature, a qualified marine surveyor, and current listings before purchase or service decisions.