The Boating Forum - 31 Yellowfin

I am looking for a new boat and I really like the yellowfin.The only thing is I have not ridden in one yet. I know there are few guys on this forum that own one or have ridden in one and would appreciate your opinions.

The other boats that I have looked into are the 28 Bluewater, 31 Contender, 27 Conch, or the new 31 Sea Vee. Not sure which one I like the best.

It has a very fast and efficient ride. Defintely, one of the top rides out there. Big bonus is the company is very customer friendly.

The Yellowfin is a great and should great
consideration. I have owned several Contenders
and have happy with them as well.

I considered the Yellowfin last year but chose
the 27' Contender because of its availability
and price. The Yellowfin had a four month
delivery and cost 20,000 more.

I have ridden on several Yellowfins and their
ride is unmatched in most conditions. In
calm and choppy conditions it will blow by
everyone. The unique hull design also keeps
the boats attitude flat with little bow porpoising.
Most competing brands porpoise at top end and the
Yellowfin will not.

Good luck with your selection process!

IT HAS A GREAT DRY RIDE, YOU DON'T GET THE POUNDING LIKE FROM OTHER CC. LOOKS LIKE A GOOD SHORT LIST TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT GO TO YELLOWFIN TO RIDE ONE, WYLIE HAS A 31 W/MER 4 STROKES. IT HAS SPEED, GREAT BAITWELL, ETC
CAN BE CUSTOMIZED ANYWAY YOU WANT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO EMAIL. IT WILL BE WORTH THE WAIT.(THAT SHOULD ALSO TELL YOU SOMETHING)

I am not one to normally tout the more expensive rigs. Yellowfins might be the exception where the expensive price is well justified

YF makes a great boat. Driest CC I have ever ridden in, you have to see how dry to believe it. Very fast and efficient hull. I agree that the customer service at YF is hard to beat. From a price comparision, compare the 31 YF to the 27 Contender as they are the same size (LOA, the YF does have a little more beam). The 31 Contender is almost 3' longer than the 31 YF. In seas less than 4 ft the YF is hard to beat. When it get rougher I think the Contender has a better ride. I don't have any experience with the Conch or SeaVee.

Kirk

www.geocities.com/reel_time_fishing_team/ (http://www.geocities.com/reel_time_fishing_team/)

The Miami Boat Show is coming up, great opportunity to see the 31 up close and get some side by side comparisons. Also, the Contender 31 is 32'6" LOA and the YF 31 is 30'11", not a real big difference. The Contender 27 is 30'0" LOA so that probably is a better comparison.
Good Luck

Thanks for the info guys...Has anyone heard of or have any problems or dislikes about the the boat.
I haven't heard many negative opinions about the YF.

I can point out some problems with the 31 Yellowfin. They have broken a number of t-tops, the front fishbox usually doesn't drain- i've bailed it with a bucket a number of times, and the floor livewell is useless, and did you see the pictures that were sent around a year or so ago with the transom all torn up. It looked like someone took a chainsaw to it!! Wiley makes a great boat but, don't think it is perfect. If I were to buy a boat besides the 31 Contender, I would like at the 31 Yellowfin even though it will beat you in a decent head sea.

What exactly caused the transom to get messed up? Inquiring minds are wondering.

Ouch!

this is probably my favorite thing about the boat business so many guys who think they know the whole story and know very little, like a bunch of women in a hair salon. secondly know your product.
just like the donzi thread where they blamed the motor for falling off.
yes ttops were broken due to a welding problem, they were all replaced. not rewelding like alot of manufactureres would do. in fact there was a thread about it, here a few months ago.
livewell was changed almost a year ago to a circular above well leaning post its huge and gravity drain. no pumping water in and out.
head sea, yeah it will bump you in one of 4ft other boats just worse, difference is in the landing instead of slamming
on the boat with the broken transom what most people fail to tell you is that the reason the boat had to be fixed is because a car slammed into the back of it on a trailer and the insurance company made them fix it at a local place in miami not at the factory

like i have said 100 times no boat is perfect pick the one that is perfect fit for you. go ride it b/c 90% of the people who comment haven't ridden them just "seen" them
go to a tournament and when the weigh in starts look at the people faces and there actions when they come in from a rough day.
fish one. people have different ways of doing things

also go ask anybody who has fished pro tournaments where all the boats are and who gets there first? speed and ride combination.
why do you think a prominent manufacturer changed some of there motors from yam to merc (speed) to keep up then they are still slower, now they are changing hulls, but there sales pitch was "speed doesn't matter its the ride", obviously they lacked both.
two sides to every story
jmho

WWW.BLUESTRAVELER.ORG (http://WWW.BLUESTRAVELER.ORG)

Sorry to offend you bluestraveller. I was just giving my honest opinion of the boat to gottahavit. He also asked if anyone had ever heard of any problems so I tried to help answer his question not bash a brand of boats. Quote "Wiley makes a great boat" - I am saying he makes a top notch boat but there have been a few problems. It has good things about it.For example- it is incredibly dry, stays pretty level running, the above deck well is a good setup in my opinion, and Wiley is very accessible for customer service.

I'm not sure what you meant by saying look at at the faces of the people who fish a rough day or a pro tourney. Last year at the Ft. Pierce Pro- which was incredibly rough I fished the 31. So yes i have fished pro and and some nonpro tourneys as well.

Why do grown men act like kids when it comes to brands of boats and motors. LOL

Whew!

Thumbs up to Bluestraveler. A little hash but the message was there. Being in the industry you have to put up with the stories of I heard from a.......... who heard from a ............. all the time.


But I also understand what Contender was meant.

Please remember it's the "spats" that keep this place fun!!! http://thehulltruth.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Remember now curiosity killed the Cobia................

in the story just make sure you tell the whole one. i know a prominent boat manufacturer whos customer says he had a gas leak and was raising all kind of cane with manufacturer. ends up when he was getting some after factory items installed someone drilled a hole in his gas tank. customer still blamed manufacturer though it was clearly not his fault.
people act on emotion and that is alot of what is posted

what i meant by "look" at there faces at the end of the day. do they look beat to death, wearing rain gear, how do the move. that way you can tell somewhat about the ride. go to a boat ramp at them end of a tournament(say pro as an example) are the loading up to drive all night and do the look fresh or are they saying i am going to sleep and get up at 4. did they have a bad day fishing and still enjoying themselves (which is ultimately what it is all about)
hell i would probably be in a 31 contender and was about to buy one, but decided to take a ride and changed my mind

WWW.BLUESTRAVELER.ORG (http://WWW.BLUESTRAVELER.ORG)

I had to use the 31 while awaiting delivery of the 36 last year during the pro leg @ Ft. Peirce. My impression of the boat was VERY favorable. We used Wylie's old boat w/ the twin 300s http://thehulltruth.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif. Incredible, Other than the oblvious speed. We were able to RUN offshore in the seas both days. Even after moving up to the 36, I think that the 31YF is the perfect tournament boat. Easier to trailer, more ecomincal and certainly will run or out run everything out there.
On part of the other thread area, I usually steer away from ansering rumor "he said" things. YF service is 2nd to none. What blues said about the transom is correct. what he didnt say was that there was also a fuel leak where Wylie replaced the BOAT. He is knowledgable and is honest about his product's abilities and needs. He spent hrs on our boat to trouble shoot a fuel problem that ended up being a clogged floscan. My kudos to Wylie as there aren't many manufactures that would take the time and effort to assure ALL thier boats are perfect. Though I guess once in a while one gets by with a problem, he will be there to correct/remedy it. http://thehulltruth.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif