*Have you explored Craig List, try west coast & our surrounding area. I watch it for a while before finding what I wanted. Got mine under $30G with dual axle trailer, drove to Everette Washington on a 4day turnaround. *
I ran a 16 ft Tracker Targa for 11 years with no issues. Freds Marine in Layton is about 30 minutes from you and has several available right now and set up in their new showroom. You could also do as Bduck suggested and shop for some used Hewes, ThunderJet, North River, Duckworth boats well within your budget. I friend just found an 18 ft Hewes in pristine condition for about $40,000 out of Kalifornia.
Vexus is all the people that left ranger when they got bought out. I was seriously considering getting one but the closest dealer was in Vegas the new dealership is again old ranger dealer from salt lake and has great customer service. There also is a couple of skeeters on KSL right now that have everything your looking for. I ended up getting the same model and have no regrets.i can fish tournament s and still take the family out for tubing and skiing and be just as comfortable. For what it’s Worth
Forgot to mention the skeeters are the WX series
I have owned Crestliner, Lunds, a G3 and who knows what else…
In ‘16 I ordered a 1850 Reata from Robertsons and I maxed it out with a 175 hp.
By far the best boat I have ever owned.
Never been in the shop.
I call it my floating dance floor, 85” inside to inside of cockpit.
I forgot to add the Reata comes with a ‘Family package’. It includes a vertical tow bar that inserts in a socket in front of outboard, a walk under bimini, and front bow cushions in the seating area ( mine are not installed).
My wife and grandkids love to sit in front.
Pop up rear deck seats behind the 2nd row of pedestal seats (I have never installed the 2nd row of pedestals because the pop up deck seats are so easy to use then convert back to rear deck).
Pro tip: MAX out your hp, no matter what boat you buy.
Enjoy the hunt for a new boat, it is an awesome adventure!
I bought a used Crestliner, my first boat, back in the mid-to-late 80s. I’m sure they’re better now but it was a pretty crappy boat. Bought a new Alumacraft 165 Magnum tiller steer in ~1995, and really liked it. I fished up to 20 miles off shore out of La Push, Washington, and caught more fish it in than the boat weighed. Still miss it some days.
I’d look seriously at them if I was in the market. Marine Products, the local dealer, has a couple of Alumacraft 185 FXSs in stock, $40K for boat, motor and trailer. The Mercury 150HP engine is awesome. Add maybe $10K for electronics, etc, and you could be out the door in the mid 50’s. If it was me and I wasn’t in a hurry I might order one with a 115HP, so you could troll with it and not have a kicker.
Most boats are undertrailered. The 185 FXS is on a single axle trailer with 15" wheels. I run Goodyear Endurance tires now after a few catastrophic failures of Chinese tires (Carlise, etc). Not good when it happens anywhere, but especially in the Columbia River Gorge.
Being two gals who are ardent anglers we’ve owned 3 Lund’s. Our current boat is 2019 Tyee. With the IPS 2 hull it’s a very smooth riding boat in waves and handles great. For quality one can’t top a Lund. 98” beam 4” gunnels 200 hp V6 Merc and 15 hp kicker, sport track system we’re set. Got this boat from Rogers and they are a top notch Lund dealer and their service department is awesome especially head technician Phil. I believe Rogers also sells Thunder Jets. Lund’s are made by Brunswick not Bass Pro. Also Tandem trailers by rule of thumb come with boats that are 18’ plus. Smaller boats are usually single axle. We prefer aluminum boats and stay away from fiberglass. So you know Brunswick not only make Lund’s but Crestliner and Lowe boats also. So for us you can’t go wrong with a Lund. Good Luck on whatever you decide.
And be sure to get a real kicker, not just a little outboard hanging off the back.
It not only keeps hours off your big expensive main, a second means of propulsion for emergencies, but a real kicker also is an emergency generator because it charges your house battery as you troll.
Whatever you get, budget for an autopilot. It’s very difficult to explain to others how helpful they are and how much they increase your fishing efficiency. I’d go for a less powerful engine, so that your idle speed is 3MPH or less, which will allow you to troll without a kicker. My setup is simple, a single main with the autopilot. I can clear the harbor and set the autopilot to a waypoint 50 miles offshore. My AP and chartplotter beep when I arrive, then I throttle down to trolling speed and set lines. Having a kicker would mandate a tiebar, both of which increase complexity. I can and have run fives lines trolling for tuna solo, nearly 60 miles offshore. I’m virtually always on AP after leaving the marina.
Whenever these threads come up, one or more posters always recommends maxing out your hull’s HP rating. Happy to see somebody did above, the thread wouldn’t be complete without them. But being able to run and troll with a single engine has distinct advatages.
Shane said a kicker keeps hours off your main, which is true. But I don’t think that matters at all. I put about 100 hours per year on mine, and my trade-in value wasn’t affected at all when I repowered in 2015.
Think I’ll don my flameproof suit now. 
Thanks for the replies. Which ever boat I get I will max out the hp. I’m adding a 9.9hp kicker which I think is a “real” kicker for an 18-19 foot rig. I can’t go much bigger than the boats listed because the boat needs to fit in my shed and the $$’s grow with the size of the boat. I have been checking Boat Trader to look at prices around the country. Our local dealers are as good or better than most, plus I like supporting the locals when possible. The Vexus is an all welded hull. I can fit a Vexus ADX 190 and it’ll take a 175hp main. The next size up Lund is too long. If I can afford the 190 I think I’ll go that route. If not I will order the Lund which is 18’11’’. Both terrific boats. Thanks for the suggestions!
Boats are a funny thing. They all are pretty dang good nowadays. Having ran a Lund Impact 1875 and Alumacraft trophy. I personally feel the fit and finish on a Alumacraft is touch better and they handle tighter on the water. Both are fantastic boats though. Marine Products in SLC is great and Verne is awesome to work with. Before you pull the trigger on one, take a hard look at the Alumacraft…
Have had 3 Alumacrafts from Marine Product in SL. Great sales/service. Quality went up when Bombadier purchased the company. Hull construction is the best. Your budget would land you a decked out Alumacraft!!
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I’m with Shane. I bought my Ranger Reata in 2013. It’s an awesome boat, and can handle everything I’ve ever encountered on Powell.
pros and cons both ways of fiberglass vs. aluminum. One thing i’ll say for fiberglass is that I’ll bet my Reata 1850 can handle rougher chop than any aluminum boat mentioned above…
Family package is great – but my front pads have been sitting on a shelf in the garage since 2013. Never use them.
We use the tow bar all the time pulling wakeboards and knee boards. If we pull the big tube, I rig up the harness to get the attach point lower on the boat.
The front deck is an awesome fly-casting platform.
The rear deck is nice too – as long as you aren’t using the kicker seats.
Lots of storage. Solid boat.
I’ve also only got a single (150hp 4stroke). No kicker. Yet.
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Extended stay camp trips – extra fuel. (for when 34 gallons isn’t enough!)
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outside opinion here, but I have a 22’ tritoon that is the perfect fishing vessel for me, has tons of space and storage and is really comfortable for the wife to lounge on. I have a 80# trolling motor on the bow and it pulls me right along. Just wish the big motor was a little faster on w.o.t. but it still hits 30 and gets me everywhere I need to go quickly.