Quick Answer
G3, Excel, and Crestliner are all top tier aluminum fishing boat brands. G3 wins for smooth ride quality, factory Yamaha integration, and general Texas lake use. Excel wins for the toughest all welded construction, shallow water performance, and duck hunting. Crestliner wins for strong resale value, a wider multi species lineup, and buyers who want a slightly deeper V hull for open water. Big D Marine and Powersports is an authorized dealer for all three brands at our Huntsville flagship.
Why Aluminum Wins in Texas
If you fish Texas lakes for anything other than pure tournament bass in open water, aluminum is worth a serious look. Texas lakes are full of stumps, timber, shell, rock structure, and shallow flats. Every one of those is a hazard to a fiberglass hull. Aluminum shrugs off impacts that would crack gel coat, and welded aluminum hulls hold up for decades if you take reasonable care of them.
Beyond durability, aluminum wins on total cost of ownership. Lower purchase price, lower insurance, lower fuel use because of the lighter weight, and much lower repair bills over ten years of ownership. The tradeoff is a slightly rougher ride than a comparable fiberglass hull in open water chop, though modern deep V aluminum designs from all three of the brands below have closed most of that gap.
For lake specific guidance on where each type of boat fits, our companion post Lake Conroe vs Lake Livingston: Best Boat for Each walks through how Texas water types shape the boat choice.
The Three Brands We Carry
G3 Boats
G3 is owned by Yamaha, which is the most important fact about the brand. Every G3 is engineered as a package with a Yamaha outboard, from the wiring to the gauges to the throttle response. That parent company relationship shows up as tighter fit and finish, fewer nagging integration issues over the years, and stronger resale value in the Texas used market. The Sportsman lineup covers 17 to 20 foot mod V and deep V hulls, the Bay lineup covers coastal use, and the Angler and Gator Tough series serve utility and jon boat buyers. See the current lineup on our G3 Boats brand page.
Best fit for Texas anglers who want the smoothest ride in the aluminum class, want a boat that will work out of the box with Yamaha outboards, and care about resale value at the five to seven year mark. The Sportsman 200 is the model we sell most of for Texas reservoir bass fishing.
Excel Boats
Excel builds the toughest all welded aluminum boats in the class. That construction quality is the reason Excel has quietly become one of the strongest sellers among East Texas duck hunters, marsh anglers, and shallow water bass fishermen. The Shallow Water F4 lineup is the flagship, with 1751, 1754, and 1860 lengths covering most needs. The Bay Pro Elite serves coastal buyers. The Viper F4 is the dedicated duck boat. See the lineup on our Excel Boats brand page.
Best fit for buyers who fish or hunt shallow water, run in areas with lots of stumps and oyster, or want the most durable aluminum hull available. Excel gives up a small amount of ride quality compared to G3 in open water but wins on pure toughness.
Crestliner Boats
Crestliner has been building aluminum boats since 1946, which makes it one of the oldest continuously operating aluminum brands. That long history shows up as a broad multi species lineup that covers walleye style deep V hulls, bass boats, bay boats, and utility boats. Crestliner has strong dealer network coverage and holds resale value very well in the used market. See the lineup on our Crestliner Boats page.
Best fit for buyers who want a slightly deeper V hull for open water use, want a proven multi species lineup, or specifically want the Crestliner brand history and used market recognition. Popular with buyers coming from northern states who grew up on Crestliner.
Head to Head: The Categories That Matter
Ride Quality
G3 wins for most Texas use. The Sportsman deep V hulls run softer through mid lake chop than the Excel Shallow Water hulls, which are optimized for skinny water rather than open water ride. Crestliner is close to G3 on ride, sometimes edging it depending on the specific model and hull design.
Durability and Toughness
Excel wins clearly. All welded construction, thicker aluminum in the hull bottom on the F4 series, and hardware designed to handle abuse. If you routinely run in stumpy or oyster heavy water, Excel is the safest pick for long term ownership.
Shallow Water Performance
Excel wins. The Shallow Water F4 hull design and the ability to run mud motors on the F4 lineup put Excel in a class by itself for skinny water performance. G3 makes strong shallow water boats too, but Excel is purpose built for it.
Yamaha Integration
G3 wins because it is owned by Yamaha. Every G3 comes as a factory package with a Yamaha outboard. Excel and Crestliner both work fine with Yamaha outboards, and we rig most of our Excel and Crestliner boats with Yamaha, but the integration is tightest on G3.
Resale Value
Roughly tied. All three brands hold value well in the Texas used market. G3 has a slight edge for buyers who value the Yamaha relationship. Crestliner has a slight edge for buyers who want brand history and multi species versatility. Excel has a slight edge in the specialized shallow water and duck hunter market where its reputation is strongest.
Price
Roughly tied at similar lengths and configurations. On a like for like build the three brands come in within a few thousand dollars of each other. Outboard choice usually has a bigger impact on total price than brand choice. Current Yamaha outboard pricing is on our Yamaha outboard pricing page.
Lineup Breadth
Crestliner wins on breadth. G3 wins on depth in Yamaha packaged bass and bay boats. Excel wins on depth in shallow water and duck boats.
Which One Fits Your Fishing
Pick G3 if any of these describe you:
- You fish Texas reservoirs and want a smooth ride.
- You want a boat that comes as a complete Yamaha package from the factory.
- You want a well known Texas aluminum brand with strong dealer network coverage.
- You care about resale value with Yamaha buyers.
Pick Excel if any of these describe you:
- You fish shallow water, back sloughs, or the Trinity River arm of Lake Livingston.
- You duck hunt in marsh, rice fields, or timber.
- You run in oyster or shell heavy coastal water.
- You want the most durable aluminum hull available at any price.
- You want the option to run a mud motor.
Pick Crestliner if any of these describe you:
- You want a deeper V hull for open water fishing.
- You want a brand with 75 plus years of aluminum boat history.
- You want a multi species lineup that goes beyond bass fishing.
- You are coming from a walleye or northern lake fishing background.
Sizing Guide
Regardless of brand, sizing matters. Here is the guide for Texas aluminum boat use.
- 14 to 16 foot: entry level jon and utility boats. Yamaha F20 to F40. Best for small lakes and calm water.
- 16 to 18 foot: strong first bass boat or shallow water boat. Yamaha F60 to F115. Fits most Texas reservoirs.
- 18 to 20 foot: main lake bass, shallow water, and utility use. Yamaha F115 to F150. The sweet spot for most Texas anglers.
- 20 to 22 foot: full size aluminum bass and bay. Yamaha F150 to F200. Best for larger reservoirs and coastal bay use.
New Versus Pre Owned
Aluminum boats hold value especially well, so pre owned inventory sells fast in Texas. Big D Marine keeps active new and pre owned aluminum stock across all three locations. See new inventory on our new boat page and pre owned aluminum on our pre owned page.
Where to See All Three Brands
The best way to decide between G3, Excel, and Crestliner is to walk all three on the same visit. We stock all three at our Huntsville flagship on State Highway 19, which is the flagship dealership. Our I 45 Huntsville location handles pre owned and consignment aluminum. Our Hitchcock location on the Galveston Bay side stocks selected models. Full stock on the boat inventory page.
Financing, Trade In, and Service
Aluminum boats finance well because they hold value. Pre qualify with a soft credit check on our boat financing page. If you have a boat to trade, get a fair value estimate from our trade in valuation tool. After the sale, our certified service department handles hull work, outboard service, and electronics installation on all three brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best aluminum fishing boat brand: G3, Excel, or Crestliner?
G3, Excel, and Crestliner are all top tier aluminum fishing boats, but they optimize for different things. G3 leans smoothest ride quality and best Yamaha integration since it is owned by Yamaha. Excel leans toughest all welded construction for shallow water and coastal use. Crestliner leans strong resale and a broad multi species lineup. G3 wins for most Texas lake anglers, Excel wins for shallow water and duck hunters, Crestliner wins for buyers who want a proven multi species boat.
Is a G3 or a Crestliner better for Texas fishing?
For Texas lake fishing both work well. G3 tends to run a smoother ride and integrates as a package with Yamaha outboards from the factory. Crestliner runs a slightly deeper V hull that some anglers prefer for open water use. G3 is the more common pick for Texas reservoirs. Crestliner is popular with buyers who want the wider multi species lineup or specific configurations Crestliner offers.
What is the difference between welded and riveted aluminum boats?
Welded aluminum boats have hull seams fused together with heat, creating one continuous piece of metal. Riveted aluminum boats use metal rivets to fasten the hull panels together. Welded hulls are stronger, quieter, and hold up better to shell, oyster, and stump strikes. Riveted hulls are lighter and less expensive. G3 and Excel are welded. Crestliner offers both welded and riveted models depending on the line.
How long do aluminum fishing boats last?
A well maintained aluminum fishing boat commonly lasts 25 to 40 years or more. Aluminum does not rot or absorb water like fiberglass or wood, and welded aluminum hulls are extremely resistant to impact damage. The outboard usually needs replacement or major service well before the hull does.
Where can I buy G3, Excel, and Crestliner boats in Texas?
Big D Marine and Powersports is an authorized dealer for G3 Boats, Excel Boats, and Crestliner Boats. All three brands are stocked at our Huntsville location on State Highway 19. Our I 45 Huntsville location carries pre owned and consignment aluminum boats. Our Hitchcock location on the Galveston Bay side stocks selected models. Contact our team to check current stock across all three brands.
Ready to Walk All Three
The best way to end the G3 versus Excel versus Crestliner debate is to walk all three on the same afternoon. Come by the Huntsville flagship and we will set it up. Browse current stock on the full inventory page or start at the Big D Marine homepage.
