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OK, well, I have asked a few opinions on here from Contender to Yellowfin, but the price on them is out of the league for us (my dad and I). So, we were at the boat show and went on the Dusky 33 just to check it out... By no means is it finished like a YF or SV, and it lacks a bit of storage, but other than that it was awesome. It is so big and roomy, and built solid, plus the price is amazing... But my question is; how do these ride? Are they wet? Do they pound? I know it is not a speed demon, but that is ok. We are thinking twin 300 Suzukis if we go this route. I have never heard anything negative about Dusky hulls other than they are just pure fishing boats with 0 frills.. So, opinions and experience are definitely welcome....
I have a buddy with the 23cc fishermans cuddy and twin e-tecs. I do not like the cuddy--seems a waste of space. But, boat rides like a dream and does not pound in 2 foot chop. Kinda like riding in a mid 80's cadillac--smooth and you can feel the weight.
Have been on Ches. Bay in it and he takes it offshore out of Hatteras regularly. In a crosswind, water curls off the bow flair and blows over the gunnel. A wind curtain would solve that.
The boat is a bit slow to respond at low speed, you need to master the throttles on the twins. Trim tabs a must to keep the bow down.
I love the boat and if fishing is your thing, you can't beat it.
Largest gripe is the sheer size and weight when trailering. Boat is 25 ft with the Dusky Drive--you need a big truck!
I have a 33 dusky. Totally thrilled with it. As long as you want a ROOMY / SOLID / COMFORTABLE / NO LUXURY fishing machine, you will be thrilled too. Read some of the stuff on this site and you will hear people talking about how they like to go 500 mph in 55 foot seas(exageration). I'll take more realistic numbers like 25 mph in 3 foot seas and be perfectly happy. My point is that the Dusky 33 doesn't cut through waves like a narrower boat (contender, sea vee etc.) but it DOES NOT slam in conditions where most other boats wouldn't also slam. It is also much more stable than some of the other narrower boats when anchored over the reef. Not a wet boat at all. In any open fisherman, with certain crosswind conditions, you get wet. If you don't buy things just because of the "brand name" and you want the best value in a 33 openfisherman for the money, you will love the Dusky.
IIRC, Dusky picked up the mold for the 33 from some other company, and it was not designed initially as a fishing boat. I think it may have been a go-fast, but it's been so long since I heard the story on it that it has become fuzzy. Somebody else will probably know. It has a rather ungainly appearance with a top heavy looking cap imho. The thing about Dusky is not so much that they aren't fancy, it's that a lot of stuff is just not well executed. Compartment hatches leak. Water runs into the console. Decks don't drain completely dry. But the construction is solid for the most part, and if you just want to fish they will fish. For my dollar, I would much rather put my money in a Cape Horn 31, which can be had for a similar price.
itwonder - 2/17/2008 3:48 PM IIRC, Dusky picked up the mold for the 33 from some other company, and it was not designed initially as a fishing boat. I think it may have been a go-fast, but it's been so long since I heard the story on it that it has become fuzzy...........................
I thought it was one of the Rybo Runners copiers..
itwonder - 2/17/2008 3:48 PM IIRC, Dusky picked up the mold for the 33 from some other company, and it was not designed initially as a fishing boat. I think it may have been a go-fast, but it's been so long since I heard the story on it that it has become fuzzy...........................
I thought it was one of the Rybo Runners copiers..
Pretty sure it is..
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I rode the one with the single diesel/twin outdrives at the Miami show a couple years ago. Very nice. I'd like to hear if anyone is having any problems with that set-up. A bit on the weird-looking side. Not weird enough for me not to buy one, however.
I have always admired the Dusky as a brand. The 33 rides very well. I fished on one with Bouncer Smith, and it was solid, dry and raised fish.
I think it had more to do with Bouncer than the boat raising the fish.
Why not a late model used 31 Contender w/ F250's? They are all over and you can wait it out for the options/color/price that you want. There may even be some more hitting the market as guys look to trade up to the 33T.
I'd even check out the Competition 31 as well.
Those rec's aren't to disparage the Dusky, but rather give you some other options. Personally, I would be looking used at a boat w/ warranteed engines.
I know the guys at Dusky pretty well. They know I most likely won't buy one because its not my style of boat but non the less I love talking boat stuff with them. They are telling me that the 33 is getting 50+ MPH with twin 300 Zukes depending on how its loaded. Thats pretty fast for a boat of that size with twins.
Yes I know all the options and possibilities on what are good alternatives, I have researched extensively. But since I have 4 years of grad school left, I am in no position to have the final say on where the money gets sent.. My dad is big on having a hull warranty and new engines.. He is hesitant to buy used even tho most boat used are in great condition if you look for the right ones.. Plus, buying new we get to have everything customized how we want it... So we shall see what happens, he has been talking in a tense that has dusky in our future, and I will not argue. The sailfish has been one big headache after another for us, esp. this most recent surprise.
Troutman561 - 2/18/2008 10:59 AM
.. My dad is big on having a hull warranty and new engines.. He is hesitant to buy used even tho most boat used are in great condition if you look for the right ones.. Plus, buying new we get to have everything customized how we want it... .
The Dusky hull warranty is good if you are convenient to their Dania, FL location. But Dania is their ONLY warranty repair location. Dusky will not authorize or reimburse for local warranty repairs. So the value of the Dusky warranty is highly dependent on how far you are from their factory.
Just curious - Were you made aware of the warranty before you ordered the boat? We were told explicity that the boat has a lifetime hull warranty but needs to be returned to Dania for repair. Since Dusky has a great rep for construction and longevity, we thought this was a non issue and it has proven to be. I also had ample time to inspect the boat before trailering back to NJ. It looks the same today, 5 years later, as it looked when I took delivery. I would recommend to anyone taking delivery to inspect the boat and have them change anything before you leave. I didn't have anything fixed but it seems to make good sense to inspect carefully.
I had a pump fail and I needed some gelcoat and in both cases it was sent to me overnight N/C and no questions asked.
On the subject of this thread, I have only been on the Yanmar 440HP 33 mentioned above. It is a beast of a boat. Wide beam and big overall. The outboard is not a speed demon but 50+ is respectable. There are a lot of used late model boats in this class out there, but if a new boat is your thing and you want it built your way, the 33 represents a good value and is worth a look.
Troutman561 - 2/18/2008 10:59 AM
.. My dad is big on having a hull warranty and new engines.. He is hesitant to buy used even tho most boat used are in great condition if you look for the right ones.. Plus, buying new we get to have everything customized how we want it... .
The Dusky hull warranty is good if you are convenient to their Dania, FL location. But Dania is their ONLY warranty repair location. Dusky will not authorize or reimburse for local warranty repairs. So the value of the Dusky warranty is highly dependent on how far you are from their factory.
We live an hour away from Dania so no worries on getting it there is we have too...
I've been on some older Dusky's - and not the 33 - it is a tank of a boat - went over the 33 at a boat show (Miami or Ft Lauderdale - a couple of years ago - the boat is huge!!!) My impression of it - price wise - that you are buying a-la carte and the price would start to go high as you added all the options on - still a good bargain but not quite as the base price makes it seem. I can tell you that I would rather be out in the bad stuff in that tank than some of the "faster cousins" - but in all fairness I have not spent any time on a Yellowfin or Contender. Id have some time on a Reg 26 - the Dusky seems a lot bigger.
I may be wrong, but I thought the hull has its roots in the Rybo Runner.
My friend has a new 233 open and we do allot of fishing together. Really like the boat. It is a no frills boat but has much more room than most boats of the same size.
Would have to think the same would hold true with the 33'.
Dusky 33 
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