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Random Quote: A boat is the world's best depreciating asset!
I had a 19' 195 Bayliner Capri, 4.3L Mercruiser, my first boat, didn't want a fishing boat, only fished, sold it.
Bought an '88 Grady-White 228G with a '91 225 Evinrude, fished, loved it, wanted to fish from the front of the boat without feeling I was going to fall out while going forward, sold it.
Just bought a 2002 Pro-Line 25 Sport with a 225 Mercury Saltwater EFI. I've never even been on a CC before, but just knew I had to have it, what do you think? Any opinions on this boat, engine?
unfortunatley I fel there is some quality issues in hte pro line boats as far as materials, ride, and handling. The super sport models are nice as they are modeled almost directly after donzis. But from personal experience i have too say they deliver some bang for the buck boating but not hte best choice. As far as mercury 2 strokes, maintain it! alot. As long as you service it and treat it right it should be reliable
Thanks for the input, I'm partial to Pro-Line, because of looks, layout, resale and it was one of the few that fit my budget. I looked at a 2000 Legacy Sea Era, but I thought that was just throwing money away. I've heard a lot of pros and cons about Mercury, I'm going to have to wait until Spring to find out firsthand how my package works, but I'll accept any and all advice and experiences about the boat and engine in the meantime. Thanks.
i've owned a '96 proline 240 sport (now known as the 25' sport) for 5 yrs and have been very pleased with it overall. i love having the motor on a bracket with a swim platform on both sides.
i found that the transom mounted livewell was a bit small so i mounted a larger one on the port side swim platform. the extra weight is not a problem with just a little trim tab action.
i added a shurflo pump for the new well and plumbed the existing pump into the extra port on the new pump. this way i have 2 wells , each with their own pump in case of failure.
i installed a bronze scoop/strainer over the intake since i was losing the prime occaisionally.
that fixed it.
i upgraded the anchor roller to the next larger size after bending the original one while retreiving a stuck anchor. i love the large size of the console which allows for storage as well as a port-a-pottie.
the only things i would change about the boat would be to add a trolling motor so i could get into some of the no - motor areas for fishing. the boat draws very little water.
i think you'll like your new boat.
Thanks "me". I'm a novice fisherman, so I'll have to see if the livewell is suitable for my needs, for now, I'm sure it will be more than adequate. I sold an '88 GW Seafarer 228G in the fall, and the one thing I truly loved about the boat was the cockpit space afforded by having a closed transom with the engine sitting on a bracket. When I saw this model, the 2002 25 Sport with the same setup, I figured "great". On big boats the Euro tansoms okay. Open transoms make me nervous, maybe just my newness to boating, 7 years, but the engine bracket is sweet. I would prefer the one you have, with a platform on either side of the bracket, but mine, with a single bracket and a swim ladder to starboard is just fine for now. Thanks for the imput. Any experience with Mercury EFI?
Keep them under 4K rpm and they're not too thirsty, open them up and they drink as fast as a Verado. Reliable motors that have more HP than the cowling numbers.
__________________ 2004 Trophy 2902 WA with Merc 225 EFIs
Sucks gas and hauls ass!
One step ahead and you are a genius, two steps ahead and you are a misfit.
Thanks, I'll remember to do that, I'm in no hurry, to spend money. Had a '91 evinrude 225 and kept it between 3k and 3.5k RPM
also played with trim tabs to make it easier to get on plane and stay there at lower RPM.
unfortunatley I fel there is some quality issues in hte pro line boats as far as materials, ride, and handling. The super sport models are nice as they are modeled almost directly after donzis. But from personal experience i have too say they deliver some bang for the buck boating but not hte best choice. As far as mercury 2 strokes, maintain it! alot. As long as you service it and treat it right it should be reliable
2002 Pro-Line 25 Sport 
