War Eagle Boats provides hunting and fishing aluminum boats that are versatile and help boat owners avoid obstacles while enjoying hunting and fishing.
They have been trusted by professionals to be a leader in water fowling boats. They are the official boat for Ducks Unlimited. They offer various camouflage layouts and patterns.
If you are shopping for a War Eagle Boat, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will share the most common concerns faced by War Eagle boat owners.
We have searched through all the War Eagle information to find the issues you might face with a War Eagle Boat.
1) Cracking Welds
Many owners across the forums have stated they had welds cracking all over their boats. For many, this is the first time they have experienced this situation.
In one instance, the boat was new, only six months old. The floor began to lift and come up in addition to being cracked. The side console was cracked and came loose.
For this boat owner, the deck on the bow began to break free and was damaged. This same owner has stated that War Eagle has brought the boat back into their factory.
They appreciate how easy they have been to work with, but the overall construction of the boat is poor.
Before sending the boat back to War Eagle, one owner had the local frame welder take a look at the boat, and they stated that the welds were poor.
2) Leaking Hoses
Many owners have reported problems with their War Eagle boats leaking. There are a number of issues that can cause leaking problems. Throughout the forums, boat owners offer suggestions on how to find a leak.
It is not uncommon for bad oil or fuel hoses to cause a leak and let air get into the system. It is critical that these connections are air tight. The first thing you should do is to check all hoses and connections visually. Do not forget the drain hoses and aerator fill hoses.
If any of the connections feel loose or hard, it is best to replace the clamp and hose. If your boat is welded, there could be a leak at one of the welds. You need to check every single weld carefully for a crack. If there is a problem with one of the welds, it needs to be re-welded.
If you cannot find anything that way, you should brace your trailer with a cinder block and fill your boat with water. This can help you find the leak. Then, you should crawl under the boat and look for leaks in the hull.
3) Problems with Mounting Bolts
Owners across multiple forums have discussed problems with the mounting bolts on their War Eagle Boats. In some cases, the bolts can back off during the season.
Therefore, before you take the first trip of the season, you should check the bolts to ensure they are tight.
Other owners talk about having leaks at the mounting bolts. Some mounting bolts are lower on the transom, depending on the War Eagle Boat you have. If there is no silicone applied to the bolts, they may leak.
The good news is that you can apply the silicone caulk yourself, and it may solve all of your problems. However, if you are considering buying a War Eagle Boat, you might want a higher transom, about 20 inches.
When you have a higher transom, you do not have to worry about backsplash or leaking.
4) Steering Cables
Another concern from owners across the forums about their War Eagle Boats is the steering cables. They recommend that you check them to ensure they are working. If your boat is steering easily in both directions, the steering cables are in good shape.
However, if they are hard to steer in one direction or the other, you may need to grease the cables. If the cables are greased and still difficult to turn, you should change the cables.
In some cases, you may find that the rack may get stripped on your steering cables. If you find that it is taking two hands and all your strength to turn the wheel, you should change your steering cables.
You can easily remove and replace them yourself. You could also consider upgrading to hydro steering. It allows you to steer effortlessly and provides a ton of power and control.
5) Lower Unit Inspection
Many owners recommend that you give your lower unit an inspection. When you do this, you want to check your oil for water and make sure your oil is full. You also want to pull the propeller and check if there is any fishing line wrapped around the shaft.
If there is a fishing line tangled in the shaft, it can cut the shaft seal and let water in or let out oil.
While you are doing this, you should grease the shaft splines of the propeller before putting it back in place.
6) Wiring Problems
Many owners of War Eagle Boats recommend that you check the wiring. For example, if you plan to store your boat in a garage, small animals can eat the insulation off the wiring. This can happen even when the boat is covered. If you do not replace the wiring in this case, you will have an electrical failure.
Another common concern among owners is bad wiring and connections.
Owners have run into wiring problems at the main power supply and wires going to the console. In addition, owners have stated they have head and running light issues. Finally, some owners say they have found that if their boats bounce around a lot in the Bay, they have a lot of loose wires as a result.
It is a good practice to check the wiring after you have had a bumpy ride.
General Pros and Cons for the War Eagle Boats
Pros:
War Eagle Boats are among the toughest on the water due to their heavy gauge, all welded aluminum.
They are rarely sold and durable enough to last for generations.
Cons:
- War Eagle Boats often have wiring and connection problems.
- There are often leaks at the mounting bolts.
What Do the Reviews Say?
Many War Eagle boat owners love their boats and hold onto them for a long time. Therefore, it is difficult to find a used War Eagle boat for sale.
“I got a 1754, and a buddy has a 1548.
Great boats, don’t think you can go wrong with a War Eagle.” [Source: duck south.com]
What is the Resale Value on the War Eagle Boats?
War Eagle Boats have a high resale value, especially when compared to similar boats across the industry. Unfortunately, it is rare to find a used War Eagle for sale because many owners do not sell their boats.
War Eagle Boats are durable and last many generations.
When it comes to looking for the value of boats, the best source is the NADA guide. They are the resource for pricing.
When it comes to War Eagle Boats, they do not have values after 2018. Typically, dealers report information to NADA about the boats they have sold. However, there seem to be no reports after 2018. It is not uncommon for dealers to not report when a boat is sold for a really low price.
In addition, private sales, which is when someone sells a boat themselves without a dealer, are not reported to NADA.
To get some idea of how much the resale price of a War Eagle Boat can be, see the chart below that includes some pricing details.
| Model | Suggested List | Low Resale | Average Resale |
| 2016 436F | $2,393 | $1,9901 | $2,260 |
| 2016 2370 Blackhawk | $20,142 | $16,260 | $18,590 |
| 2016 761 Renegade | $13,720 | $11,120 | $12,710 |
Sources:
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