Quick Answer
G3, Crestliner, and Lowe are three of the top aluminum boat brands sold in the United States. G3 (owned by Yamaha) wins for factory Yamaha integration, shallow water skinny hull performance, and strongest Texas resale value. Crestliner (owned by Brunswick) wins for the deepest V hull ride quality and the broadest multi species lineup. Lowe (owned by Bass Pro Group) wins for entry pricing and simple utility hulls. For most Texas buyers G3 is the safest all around pick because of the Yamaha association. Big D Marine and Powersports is an authorized dealer for G3, Excel, and Crestliner aluminum boats.
Ownership and Corporate Backing
Ownership matters more than most first time aluminum boat buyers expect. It drives outboard integration, dealer network coverage, parts availability, and long term brand direction.
G3 Boats: Owned by Yamaha
G3 Boats is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Corporation. This means every G3 boat is engineered from the outset around a Yamaha outboard, tested as a complete Yamaha package, and delivered with tight factory integration. The Yamaha ownership relationship translates to smoother throttle mapping, cleaner wiring, matched gauges, and the reliability advantage of a boat and engine designed together. Over the years this shows up as fewer nagging issues and stronger resale.
Crestliner: Owned by Brunswick Corporation
Crestliner is owned by Brunswick Corporation, which also owns Mercury Marine, Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, and multiple other marine brands. Brunswick backing means Mercury outboard integration comes naturally, though Crestliner boats can also be rigged with Yamaha in most cases. The Brunswick parent brings substantial engineering resources and a broad national dealer network.
Lowe Boats: Owned by Bass Pro Group
Lowe Boats is owned by Bass Pro Group, the parent of Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Tracker Marine, and Nitro. Lowe and Tracker sit under the same parent umbrella and share manufacturing resources. This ownership drives value pricing and broad Bass Pro dealer network reach, though it can also mean less differentiation between Lowe and Tracker models in some categories.
Construction and Hull Design Comparison
G3 Hull Character
- Hull style: shallow to moderate V with wide beam for stability
- Construction: mix of welded and riveted depending on model; Gator Tough series is all welded
- Aluminum gauge: heavier on Gator Tough and premium fishing models
- Best in: skinny water access, stump and timber navigation, family fishing versatility
- Weakness: rougher ride than deeper V competitors in wind chop
Crestliner Hull Character
- Hull style: deeper V hull with sharper entry
- Construction: all welded aluminum on most current models
- Aluminum gauge: heavy gauge across the lineup
- Best in: open water reservoir use, wind chop handling, multi species fishing versatility
- Weakness: draws more water than shallow V competitors; less skinny water friendly
Lowe Hull Character
- Hull style: flatter V or modified V with focus on stability
- Construction: mix of welded and riveted depending on model
- Aluminum gauge: lighter gauge on utility jon boats; heavier on premium fishing models
- Best in: calm water fishing, family recreation, value oriented buyers
- Weakness: rougher chop handling than deeper V hulls; less premium finish than G3 or Crestliner
Product Lineup Comparison
See the current lineups on our brand pages: G3 Boats, Crestliner Boats, and Excel Boats (Excel is the third aluminum brand we carry alongside G3 and Crestliner).
G3 Lineup
- Bass boats: G3 Sportsman, G3 Angler, G3 Guide series
- Bay boats: G3 Bay 20 DLX, Bay 22 DLX
- Jon boats: G3 utility jon and Gator Tough series
- Pontoons: SunCatcher and Xcursion (same parent factory)
Crestliner Lineup
- Deep V fishing boats: Fish Hawk, Vision, Kodiak series
- Multi species: extensive lineup for walleye, salmon, and Texas species
- Bass boats: PT and Bass Hawk series
- Pontoons: Rally, Sprint, Storm series (separate from aluminum fishing)
Lowe Lineup
- Utility jon boats: L Series and Roughneck series (compete with G3 Gator Tough)
- Aluminum fishing: Stinger and Skorpion bass boats
- Pontoons: SS and Ultra pontoons
- Deck boats: Deck series
Pricing Comparison
Rough pricing bands for comparable size aluminum fishing boats (16 to 18 foot with mid size outboard). Current Yamaha outboard pricing on our Yamaha outboard pricing page.
- Lowe utility jon (16 foot with F25 to F40): eleven to sixteen thousand rigged (typically cheapest)
- G3 utility jon (16 foot with F25 to F40 Yamaha): twelve to seventeen thousand rigged
- Crestliner deep V (16 foot with F40 to F60 Mercury or Yamaha): fifteen to twenty two thousand rigged
- Premium G3 fishing (18 foot with F90 Yamaha): eighteen to twenty six thousand rigged
- Premium Crestliner deep V (18 foot with F90 Mercury or Yamaha): twenty to twenty eight thousand rigged
Head to Head Winners by Category
Best for Duck Hunting
G3 Gator Tough series wins for Texas and Louisiana duck hunters. Heavy gauge aluminum, all welded construction, mud motor ready transoms, and factory Yamaha integration make Gator Tough the top choice. Lowe Roughneck is a solid budget alternative. See our Best Duck Boat for Texas Duck Hunters and G3 Jon Boats guide.
Best for Bass Fishing
- Aluminum bass with fiberglass ride feel: Crestliner Bass Hawk wins with the deeper V hull.
- Skinny water bass and stumpy timber: G3 Sportsman wins with shallow draft.
- Value bass rig: Lowe Stinger delivers strong value for entry level tournament and weekend anglers.
Best for Multi Species Fishing
- Crestliner wins clearly. The Fish Hawk and Kodiak series are engineered for anglers who fish bass one weekend, walleye the next, and hybrid stripers the third.
- G3 offers less multi species depth but the Angler series works for versatile use.
- Lowe focuses more on bass and utility than dedicated multi species boats.
Best for Coastal / Bay Use
- G3 Bay 20 DLX and Bay 22 DLX are dedicated aluminum bay boats built for the Gulf Coast.
- Crestliner has less coastal focus; deeper V hulls work for bay use but not designed for it specifically.
- Lowe has minimal coastal aluminum bay boat presence.
Which Brand Should You Buy
Pick G3 if:
- You want factory Yamaha integration.
- You fish skinny water, stumps, or timber (Lake Livingston, coastal marsh, farm ponds).
- You want the strongest resale value in Texas.
- You duck hunt or want the option to run a mud motor.
Pick Crestliner if:
- You want the smoothest aluminum ride quality in open water and wind chop.
- You fish multiple species and want a versatile deep V hull.
- You want Brunswick backed engineering and Mercury outboard integration.
- You do not need skinny water access.
Pick Lowe if:
- You want the lowest entry price for an aluminum fishing boat.
- You mainly fish calm water and small lakes.
- You value simplicity over premium finish.
- You have easy access to a Bass Pro or Tracker Marine dealer.
For the broader aluminum brand context including Excel see our companion post Best Aluminum Fishing Boats for Texas Lakes.
Where to See G3 and Crestliner in Texas
Big D Marine and Powersports stocks G3 and Crestliner aluminum boats at our Huntsville flagship on State Highway 19. Our Hitchcock location stocks G3 bay boats and coastal aluminum configurations. Our I 45 Huntsville location carries pre owned aluminum inventory when available. We do not sell Lowe boats directly; buyers interested in Lowe should check with their nearest Bass Pro Shops or Tracker Marine dealer for that specific brand.
Financing, Trade In, and Service
Pre qualify for aluminum boat financing on our boat financing page. Trade in valuation on our trade in page. Service via our certified service department covers G3, Excel, and Crestliner aluminum boats plus Yamaha and Suzuki outboard service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best aluminum boat brand: G3, Crestliner, or Lowe?
The best aluminum boat brand depends on how you fish and what you value. G3 wins for buyers who want factory Yamaha integration and strong resale value. Crestliner wins for buyers who want a deeper V hull and broader multi species lineup. Lowe wins for buyers who prioritize entry price and lightweight utility hulls. All three are quality aluminum boat brands with distinct positioning.
Who owns G3, Crestliner, and Lowe?
G3 Boats is owned by Yamaha Motor Corporation, so every G3 comes as a factory Yamaha package. Crestliner is owned by Brunswick Corporation, the same parent company as Mercury Marine. Lowe Boats is owned by Bass Pro Group and is closely associated with Tracker Marine. Ownership matters because it drives outboard integration, dealer network, and long term parts support.
Which aluminum boat brand has the best ride quality?
Crestliner generally wins for ride quality among the three brands because of the deeper V hull design used across most of the Crestliner lineup. G3 hulls have a shallower deadrise that runs better in skinny water but rougher in wind chop. Lowe hulls are typically the flattest, which delivers the smoothest calm water ride but the roughest chop performance.
Which aluminum boat holds resale value best?
G3 typically holds resale value strongest in Texas because of the Yamaha ownership association and the reputation for factory quality. Crestliner also holds value well and has strong national brand recognition. Lowe holds value adequately but generally trails G3 and Crestliner by a small margin on the used market.
Which is cheapest: G3, Crestliner, or Lowe?
Lowe is generally the entry point of the three brands with the lowest starting prices, especially in the smaller utility jon boat and small fishing boat categories. G3 and Crestliner tend to sit at similar mid range price points, with premium models in both lineups reaching the same upper tier as each other. Contact us for a quote comparison.
Ready to Compare in Person
Come by our Huntsville flagship for side by side walkthroughs on G3 and Crestliner aluminum boats. Browse current stock on our inventory page or start at the Big D Marine homepage.
