Smoker Craft Pro Mag 182 Review

Story by Craig Ritchie Oct. 26, 2017

The Smoker Craft Pro Mag 182 is a versatile fishing boat that is built to last and with features that will save you money and headaches down the road.

With more than 50 years of experience building aluminum fishing boats for the most demanding customers anywhere, Smoker Craft has developed a hard-core following of customers who appreciate its durable, adaptable designs. The company’s current fleet is led by the flagship Pro Mag series, consisting of 16-, 17- and 18-foot models. Top-of-the-line is the Smoker Craft Pro Mag 182, a versatile multi-species fishing rig that happens to be built like a battleship.

The Smoker Craft Pro Mag 182 features a high performance, Hydra-Lift hull that forms a solid foundation for a boat that’s built to divide its time between probing weedy shallows and trolling big open waters. The battleship-like build starts with .125 gauge aluminum plate for the bottom and the internal rib structures, and .080 gauge aluminum used on the side walls. That solid framework gives the hull a strong, rigid construction that allows it to eat big water and deliver crisp, precise handling. Foam flotation is directly injected to fill every space between the hull and deck, contributing to the boat’s quiet ride while eliminating any air pockets that could invite mold. No less than five bottom keels provide enhanced directional stability when underway, along with a little extra protection against bottom contact, while the urethane paint finish is baked on – twice – for additional durability.

The Pro Mag 182’s huge front deck offers plenty of integral storage space, plus an 18-gallon live well.

That tremendous attention to detail continues inside the boat, where you’ll find comfortable seating for up to eight people and plenty of space to store all of their gear. The raised bow casting deck is enormous, with vast amounts of in-floor storage, an 18-gallon aerated live well, and a large, lockable rod storage compartment in the center that keeps up to six rods rigged and ready to go, yet safely protected from harm. The front deck is high enough that the tall windshield that protects occupants so well and makes early-or late-season fishing more comfortable never gets in the way of your casting. Yet, the deck is still low enough that it’s not uncomfortable to reach over the side to land fish. In other words, perfect.

The cockpit is left open, with multiple bases in the floor allowing the seats to be positioned wherever they’re needed for tremendous fishing versatility. A massive 28-gallon aerated live well in the stern accommodates a tournament-load of fish with ease.

The new helm console is neatly laid out with gauges and toggle switches all within easy view, while still leaving space for a flush-mount touch screen display.

The Smoker Craft Pro Mag 182 features wide gunnels that are equipped with the company’s Integrated Track System (IGTS), which lets anglers position rod holders and other accessories anywhere, and without drilling a single hole in the boat. There’s additional top-loading rod storage in the gunnels as well. Anglers will want to pony up for the optional Yarblow storage locker ventilation system, a fan-driven arrangement that dries rods and gear that gets put away wet. This is a superb feature and one which every angler will appreciate, since in a fishing boat gear always gets put away wet. By protecting against mildew and rust damage to tackle, this is one option that will pay for itself.

The optional Yarblow storage compartment ventilation system is a worthwhile upgrade, as it helps dry gear that gets put away wet – an every day occurrence in a serious fishing boat.

Underfoot, the Pro Mag 182 comes with Smoker Craft’s Sea Weave flooring as standard equipment – offering the durability of vinyl, but with better non-slip qualities when it gets wet with fish slime.

The Pro Mag rides on Smoker Craft’s Hydra-Lift hull design, allowing it to explore shallow, stumpy bays for bass or troll big water for walleye, salmon and lake trout with equal effectiveness.

The new Smoker Craft Pro Mag 182 spoils the driver with an all-new console, which offers its speedometer, tach, fuel gauge and volt meter in a stylish dash that still leaves room for a flush-mount, multi-function display. There’s also a standard AM/FM stereo with an auxiliary port for an MP3 player.

With its versatile layout, wave-eating hull design, the ability to accept outboards of up to 175 horsepower and an extensive option list, the Pro Mag 182 is a fitting flagship for Smoker Craft’s 2018 lineup.