I have used the steelheaders for about 8 years. Have held up excellent. Construction is good quality, and they're Steelheader/Guide models are made in the USA as well. He's been building them along time, and they are the perfect boats for the Duc/OP rivers. They are some of the main rivers I fish. Beat using my outcasts on them anyday. You won't be unhappy getting the Steelheader. They are by far the best production boat on the market. They blow the rest listed out of the water.

If you email me, I can get you in touch with Osprey if you want to go the custom route. I'd suggest Sotar/Wing. You won't find much experience from most unless they are whitewater guys. Those two are some of the best on the water. I've used Ospreys frames for a couple years now. Held up great and top notch construction.

Now, weight. If you're lake fishing mostly, go with the smaller/lighter boats (the 10' Osprey by Skookum only weighs about 40#'s). But your weight comes from the heavier material in the tubes and on the frame. Aluminum is great, but most whitewater companies won't use them. One good hit, and you crippled that crossmember. Same hit on steel, will bend but not ruin much of it's carrying capacity, if any. I know a few guys who have enough money to get any frame they want, but when they go custom they go EMT. They would rather sacrifice the weight for durability after a hit. Most use EMT/galvanized steel. So very little rust except near seams. Those are easy touchups.

So, in long run, if you want custom (which can give you exact boat you want down to custom beverage holders build in lol) go with Osprey (riverdawg cataraft frames I think) and then a set of whitewater tubes. But if you want to go with premade boats, Skookum all the way. I'm a customer, so judge by testing most boats out there and from whitewater experience, not because a family member produces them.