Looking back on the posts, I think it's a little amusing that no-one who is bashing the sportjets appears to have actually owned one. I would be prepared to believe that another motor/jet could be a better package, but haven't heard anyone actually offer any evidence.

So, if you're buying a boat, and don't want a package that is cheap, powerful and effective, by all means, don't buy a sportjet.

Now, that said, in the interest of full disclosure, let me tell you the one nit that Doubletake and I have both noticed. The Sportjets are a bit cold blooded. In particular, if you start them, and run them for about three minutes, and then shut them down for a minute, they get difficult to start, until you let them cool for 10 minutes. If you run them for five minutes, then no problem. It seems like the choke gets a bit twitchy as the engine gets just barely warm.

If I unload the boat, and then run upriver or downriver a mile, I never notice a problem. If I unload and run 500 yards and then idle for a minute, the engine wants to die.

This is only if the tempertature is cold, like 35 degrees. never happens in summer or fall.

That is my only ***** about the motor.

One of the other posters commented about how the North Rivers are more dominant. I can't speak for others, but when I compared the Alumaweld to the North River, the fit and finish on the North River, and the little touches, like side pockets and a warm water sink to wash egg slime off your hands, were just better thought out than the Alumaweld. I think both boats are solid, good fishing boats. I just liked the NR a touch better.

Now, Doubletake's boat (a custom weld?) is also a fine looking boat, but I think mine catches a few more fish... :-) Craig, your comments?