Edgewater 188 vs Grady White Sportsman 180 vs Parker 18 - The Hull Truth

sweetmamajoe · 01-13-2008, 09:01 PM

New poster here- Just back from the Boston Boat Show, where I was looking for a replacement for my 1990 Boston Whaler Outrage 17.

I'm down to 3 - the Grady Sportsman 180, the Edgewater 188CC, and the Parker 18. The Parker would be purely for price- the other two are obviously much better appointed boats.

Any advice - particularly on choosing between the Edgewater and the Grady? I'm a coastal fisher, recreational lobster puller, and cocktail cruiser out of the South Shore of Boston. How does the ride and the build quality compare on those two? I'd go for the 150HP on either.

Thanks much!

bmkshort · 01-13-2008, 09:09 PM

The Grady 180 Sportsman is one of my favorite boats in its class. High gunnels for an 18'. Beautiful layout and the quality really shows. I just can't afford one. Around here they go for right at $30K. I looked for a couple of years for a used one and never found one. The Parker was nice but the gunnels are too low for my taste. I haven't seen the Edgewater up close so I can't comment.

bmkshort · 01-13-2008, 09:16 PM

One more thing. Even though i'm not familiar with the Edgewater, I would think that the Grady would have the best resale value. Also, get a feel for the dealers who carry these brands and see how there service reputations are too. That can make big difference too.

gf · 01-14-2008, 05:36 AM

Nothing wrong with any of those 3, but you could get a bigger McKee Craft 196 for less than those others.

That's what I decided on when I was shopping 4+ years ago.

01-14-2008, 05:46 AM

If you're pulling lobster pots, high gunnels should be high on the list. I'd "try them on for size". I own a Grady 30'- top of the line, thumbs up. I've owned Parker 25 deep-V -great boat, equivalent ride to Grady IMO in same size, just not the polish. Edgewater is buit just a few miles north of me, but I've had no experience with it.

DWS · 01-14-2008, 07:25 AM

Just curious...have you checked the new 19' Montauk? I'm not sure how they price out in comparison to the three you've listed...all great boats...but with the new model, Whaler usually has them priced pretty well to tge them out, then they go up...

Also, Have you thought about used? There are two beautiful whalers listed on the Whaler forum in your price with just about every option you can imagine...

http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/015435.html

http://providence.craigslist.org/boa/536282200.html (same boat as above)

http://www.whalercentral.com/forum/v...thread_id=2944

http://www.whalercentral.com/forum/v...thread_id=2721

I think this one is in California...since I'm not sure where you're stationed at...I thought I'd give you a few options...all these are great boats with a lot (if not all ) the options you could need...

Good luck...

Dave

Afishinado · 01-14-2008, 07:49 AM

"I'm a coastal fisher, recreational lobster puller, and cocktail cruiser out of the South Shore of Boston."

Parker, nothin to talkabout.... You can dress it up with cushions for your cocktail cruises...
The other 2 are so much smaller inside. I know how you Whaler guys are, especially Montauk owners..... If you get the Parker, you will realize there really are boats other than Whalers out there... That said if you could still buy the same 18 outrage DWS has, it would be a very tight race, nicest Whaler ever built. The Grady seems like a very small 18 to me.

Parthery · 01-14-2008, 09:02 AM

At the Atlanta show, the GW 180 with an F150 and decent equipment was $44K. The other 2 were not shown, but I would guess they are pretty close.

If you are moving up because you need more space, not sure the jump from a BW 170 to one of these will justify the outlay. Have you looked at a used (2-3 year old) 20'? Either the GW 209 or the Parker 2101 would have more room, and if you find one that was purchased with YES, may still have some warranty time left on the motor.

Just a thought......

DrJim · 01-14-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Afishinado - 1/14/2008 9:49 AM[i]..The other 2 are so much smaller inside

Ding Ding.

Also I cant see an new GW 18 going for 30K as mentioned above.

sweetmamajoe · 01-14-2008, 10:03 AM

Thanks all for the input. Seems like there are some Parker fans out there - how would the ride on the Parker compare to the others?

As far as trading up a few feet, I am constrained by my slip size, which limits me to <19'.

Prices at the Boston show were:

$39Kfor the GW 180 with Trim tabs and a 150.
~$40K for the edgewater with a free T-top
~24K for the Parker with a 115.

29 NORTH · 01-14-2008, 10:48 AM

I would have to give the Grady 18 a notch for almost being a true small offshore boat if that is what you need. I have always wanted one, but could never find a deal or a used one that was near where I live.

Parthery · 01-14-2008, 11:04 AM

The $44K 180 was equipped with the following:

Tabs
Hydraulic Tilt Steering
Swim Platform
Livewell
Dual Batteries
Bimini
Washdown
Bow Cushions

No electronics and no trailer.

If you can buy a comparably equipped 180 for $39K, that is a strong deal on a new one. Particularly since my experience has been that boats are about 5% less down here, due to lower transportation costs, etc...

Miss Christine · 01-14-2008, 01:56 PM

I've got a 2006 Parker 1801...the grady is 7'5" wide and the parker is 7'6"...the parker is
2 inches longer and the parker weighs 150 more pounds....I really didn't like the low gunnels but with the t-top to lean against and the livewell and flip seat to lean against it doesn't present a problem...the only thing I don't have is the hydraulic steering...
With the custom made t-top, several options when ordering, plus adding lenco tabs, Garmin 498, icom
vhf, shurflor pro blaster washdown, 6 yr warranty on a F115 and an aluminum trailer it
adds up to about 30K total...I plan to add full curtains wth wings very shortly.....
Its not a rough water boat and I'm not a rough water fisherman...I don't like being to cold
in the winter and to wet when running hence the curtains.....
I've never been on an edgewater but have owned a 19ft Grady, nice boat but wet....

I really don't think it matters much which boat you buy, I'm more concerned about the motor
than the boat...if you know when to go out and when to stay home you've got it
pretty much under control.....

nausetlight · 02-05-2008, 01:43 PM

I have owned many Grady's both new and used, just sold my last one and will replace it soon with a Parker. I don't know if anyone else has noticed that the quality of a Grady is nowhere near what is was even 10 years ago. The Parker 18 is a fine inshore to near shore boat, neither the Grady or the Edgewater will anything better than the Parker. The Parker has a 14 degree deadrise which is perfect for an 18' boat, dry and soft enough yet extremely stable. The Marina that I keep my boat at uses an 18' Parker as a work boat, hauling moorings and moving boats and docks around, you would not believe what that little boat is capable of.......Parker all the way.

croixboy · 02-05-2008, 01:54 PM

Parkers are built like a brick sh_t house.

capt_matt · 02-05-2008, 02:15 PM

I'll add another vote for the Parker.

I saw the Grady's at the Boston Boat show too. Given my tastes (boats are for fishing), the small Grady's are busy and absolutely full of stuff that you do not need for fishing. They make a small boat smaller. Plus the gunnel rod holders are not long enough for fly rods. But given you tastes for cruising, a Grady might be nice.

The money for a small Grady is just plain crazy to me!

Look around for used. Definitely a buyer's market right now. I know one person who has his Parker 18 for sale here. That boat is in very nice shape and has a new trailer. There are also others in nice shape that can be had for around $20k.

bmkshort · 02-05-2008, 02:41 PM

The Grady 180 I mentioned before was one I saw at a boat show 2 years ago. It was equipped w/ Yam F115 and trailer. No other options on that package for $30K. I can see how the other options can add up but holy crap!!! Has Grady White boats gone up in price that much in two years? I thought $30K was alot for that boat back then also.

My 20' Sea Hunt is still only $25K w/Yam F150 and trailer. The Grady may have better fit and finish but it won't take you any further out than my Sea Hunt.
For an 18' boat to be over $40K is just crazy in my opinion. But I guess for some, thats just pocket change. More power to them if they can sell them for that.

troutpioneer · 02-05-2008, 02:49 PM

My friends paid almost 42k for a 180 with a yami f150, no ttop, no stereo...they got a swim platform, bow cushion and dual batteries. They like the boat alot, they had some issues with a crack in the deck but grady has taken care of it. I believe the same boat at the charleston boat show was show priced around 36k. I think the edgewater is a nicer boat. I love parkers but have not climbed around a newer one.

bmkshort · 02-05-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

troutpioneer - 2/5/2008 1:49 PM

My friends paid almost 42k for a 180 with a yami f150, no ttop, no stereo...they got a swim platform, bow cushion and dual batteries. They like the boat alot, they had some issues with a crack in the deck but grady has taken care of it. I believe the same boat at the charleston boat show was show priced around 36k. I think the edgewater is a nicer boat. I love parkers but have not climbed around a newer one.

I bet that pionner didn't cost that much and its probably a better boat.

bmkshort · 02-05-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

troutpioneer - 2/5/2008 1:49 PM

My friends paid almost 42k for a 180 with a yami f150, no ttop, no stereo...they got a swim platform, bow cushion and dual batteries. They like the boat alot, they had some issues with a crack in the deck but grady has taken care of it. I believe the same boat at the charleston boat show was show priced around 36k. I think the edgewater is a nicer boat. I love parkers but have not climbed around a newer one.

I bet that pionner didn't cost that much and its probably a better boat.
Was your friend thinking he was "one upping" you?