Hey all. Im new to the forum and the reason i found it was because i did a google search for " naden boats for sale".
So i saw your post on the Nadens and I have lots of experience with them.
One poster on this thread said he used them at a fishing camp. yes, they are used at fishing camps all across the country. (I'm sure there are other brands used at fishing camps too).
My family bought an old fishing camp in North Western ontario in 1980. It was a dive when we bought it and, we just meet there as a family in the summers (as in we don't run it commercially). Anyway, there is another camp right beside us that has been operating since the 20's, and they only use Naden Boats. We asked in '80 my dad asked why and he said because they are low price and tough as nails and my renters beat the heck out of them. While our use was not commercial, we figured we'd go ahead and find one used. so we did, and Im proud to say that 18 years later, this boat (that was a few years old when we got it) is still in operation, with no leaks. the boats are riveted, not welded.
Our lake is located in the Canadian Shield (not far from where the boats are made, which is Vermillion Bay, Ontario) and we now own 3 of them. They are all 16 foot, and red. many of the 'camp' boats are blue or green. I can tell you from personal experience, these boats are indestructable, and they can be dragged up on the rock outcrops, run up on beaches, and they withstand everything.
I am now 32 and Im looking to add another 16 footer to our families 'fleet' (we have about 14 boats total, 4 of them are tiller fishing boats, and all 3 of 4 are 16 foot nadens.). I thought I'd do a little research into the boats to see if there was something better (seeing as it's me and my wifes money now not my dads money...you know I'm going to research it right?). What I found was that Nadens are actually thicker aluminum, and they use harder alumnum than the same boat in the lund.
www.nadenboats.ca Check out the thickness, and the hardness vs a lund. (not sure about lunds bigger boats, they probably use thicker and harder grades for the bigger boats). Also I looked at Alumarines, they are also canadian boats, very bombproof, heavy as hell, and I have been told they are welded. I didn't want a welded boat because if the weld ever cracks it has to be taken to a welder to fix it, whereas if a rivet goes or starts to leak i can just turn the boat over and my brother and tap it from both sides and close the gap. we have done this with our 1975 12 foot starcraft.
Anyway, I know this is waaaaaay more info that you wanted, but thought I'd give you an experience based opinion. I'm looking to buy a used 16 foot naden if you know anybody with one for sale. i already have a motor. cheers.
Ryan.