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Random Quote: Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana....
i've had a'96 240 sport for almost 7 yrs and have been very happy with it.
you should sea trial it for yourself and not listen to the naysayers who say that it has a bad ride. every boat will pound if you go faster than the sea conditions dictate.
i use common sense to adjust throttleand set my trim tabs for a smooth ride.
i don't go out in " bad" conditions like 20mph winds with 5-6ft seas.
if you go out in that weather, you need a bigger boat to remain comfortable.
i say that proline offers a good value for the average boater.
mine is a solid boat ,and most important to me, is that i feel safe in it .
I've got an older '92 Proline 230 Sportsman CC that's in great shape and meets all my fishing needs for offshore fishing. It was the largest 23' boat I could find at the time, LOA is 25' 8" with beam 8' 6"....Not to big to trailer, not to small for trips to the Bahamas...Just repowered for the first time, I'm completely satisfied with mine...
Just my opinion, I would rate the Proline boat as an Average Tier Boat. You can buy better tier boats for much higher $$$, and as well as lower tier boats for less $$$.
Good luck with Boat shopping experience, it is certainly a buyers market out there... Take your time and find exactly what you want. Once you see the Boat that meets your "Philosophy and Pocket Book" it's right for you !!!
i have owned two Pro-line's in the past and thought they were good boats for the dollar. Quality wise they are not a Grady or Pursuit but you dont pay for it either.
hooknline - 12/17/2007 1:29 AMdo you have a good dentist?
I can only comment on my friends 2006 3150 WA (or is it 3250?) with 225 Honda 4's. Anyway I was impressed with the boat, it's ride and overall finish. After hearing all the horror stories on here I expected much worse and was pleasantly surprised. The ride required finding the best balance between engine trim and trim tabs, once that was sorted it was very smooth.
A seatrial is a neccesity imho because the stories must have a certain amount of validity on certain models.
i'm on my second. I now have a '08 26 express. I have had good luck with them. They are what you pay for. If you wanted a great ride, buy a grady, if you want a good value, look at the pro-line. Thats my $.02
I agree...this past weekend would have been a PERFECT time to test out any vessel for rough water handling.....I like the boat over all, just not in a hurry to go back in debt after selling my last boat two months ago....
Like others have said - for the money it is a good boat. Can you do better? Sure, break out the checkbook. Can you do worse? Definitely. Since they offer a pretty wide selection of models, though, definitely worth taking the sea trial in the particular hull you are interested in, in the weather you'll be running.
As far as general construction and fit and finish? No complaints on either one I've owned. The 1997 certainly could have passed for a 2002.
I bought 251WA Brand New in 1996. The factory had it for an average of 3 months each year to repair "Stress Cracks". In 2000 they had to replace the boat. (I will acknowledge they stood behind the hull warranty, "Finally") I personally know of 3 other's who had boats replaced.
It was the Hardest hitting, Wettest riding boat I have ever had the displeasure to own (or run in). I thought most other boats rode like the ProLine did. I was Wrong. Get to know your Dentist really well, Maybe you will get a discount.
i've had my 03 for 2 years now, and i have no complaints. i've got a friend who has been on many other boats and owns a 27' triton, and he is impressed with the ride.
seatrial it and then decide...
__________________
What I miss the most about not having a boat...
I fish a friend's 2006 32 Express regularly and find it to be a good riding boat with some minor quality control issues. He's had the boat back to the dealer several times in the year or so that he's owned it and they have corrected all that was wrong. I would agree that it it's a mid tier boat.
I have another friend who had a 23 Center Console (Probably a 2003 to 2005 model year) who almost lost the boat 15 miles offshore. He was fishing a 2 day tournament and didn't know that his livewell was constantly draining into his bilge until the bilge pump failed. Luckily the coast guard was able to get him a pump and thereby prevented the boat from going down with him and his teenage son on board. Extensive repairs (including rewiring the boat) were necessary and the factory's best offer was to split the cost (around 10K). I don't believe he'll own another Proline but that's just 1 story.
The boat that almost sank because of a bilge-pump failure could have been any brand that doesn't have redundant safety features. As far as quality construction, adding a second pump and adding a high-water alarm would raise the construction bar and the cost.
That's the kind of boat that'll get back home more often. What manufacturers go that extra distance?
That said, saving a lot of money on a mid-tier boat allows somebody that's handy to buy those extra things, install them where and how he wants, and save a bunch of money in the process.
__________________ Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)
The boat that almost sank because of a bilge-pump failure could have been any brand that doesn't have redundant safety features. As far as quality construction, adding a second pump and adding a high-water alarm would raise the construction bar and the cost.
That's the kind of boat that'll get back home more often. What manufacturers go that extra distance?
That said, saving a lot of money on a mid-tier boat allows somebody that's handy to buy those extra things, install them where and how he wants, and save a bunch of money in the process.
Really, how many other boats do you know of that have their livewells drain into the bildge???
Opinions on Pro-Line boats...... 
