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Random Quote: DONT STEAL, the government hates competition
Here are some shots of the new Scout 170 Costa flats boat. Introductory price will be around $22K, nicely equipped. Note the retractible bow casting platform, retractible trim tabs, and stepped hull! She's a real beaut! Great price for such a high-quality boat, too!
In testing with a s/s 4 blade prop and a 90 Yamaha 2-stroke, the boat ran 46mph, and jumped out of the hole. Drafed 7" @ rest and tracked very well in tight turns.
Specs:
Length 16'9"
Beam 88"
Draft 7"
Weight (approx) 780lbs
Max Weight Cap. TBA
Recommended HP 90
Max HP 115
Fuel Cap. 30Gal
That is a nice looking boat. I will have to test drive one of those. I like the way the front platform moves up and down.
Before you purchase check out the Sterling 17 flats boat, made by Gambler bass boats. It is a very dry riding boat and also very shallow.
Nice pics Ed. Thanks for taking the time to host and post them. She sure is a beauty! You don't see too many stepped hulls on flats boats. I wonder to what degree that helps with handling? Guess I will have to wait until Shafer's gets one in to find out.
If it makes you go look at one, and then maybe buy one, then yes, this post is a commercial. If not, then it's information-only.
Seriously... it's a brand-new boat from my favorite builder, and there are precious-few pics of it out there yet, so I wanted to share the joy. Anytime I get my hands on pics of a new model (from a builder I respect) I'll post pics, if I've received permission from the source.
Note to other builders I respect (Cape Horn, Bone Boats, Edgewater, Pursuit, Key West, Sea Hunt, Intrepid, Contender, Bluewater, Boston Whaler, Parker, Dusky, Grady White, Hydra-Sports, Pathfinder, Sea Craft, Stamas...): send me your pics of your new models, and I'll gladly host them on my server, and post pics here.
So, you guys think you could fit a trolling motor up on that bow? I often fish by myself, so if i got a boat like that i would want to be able to push myself around with a little remote.
It's over $20k? That's suprising. My 172 was $15k.
pdice -- flats boats, across the board, are more money per foot than your average small CC or bay boat, like our 172s are. Dunno why, they just are. The 170 Costa is priced very competitively (moreso than some other Scouts, actually).
FWIW, I think it (and others like it) should be around $12K, maybe $14K... but the market sets the prices...
pdice, yeah -- the front casting platform retracts flat. Great idea. Appears as though (I've not seen this boat in person) there is additional storage underneath, too.
I think it's a nice boat, but it's "too dedicated" for me. The Scout I want doesn't exist (yet? )... a 20 or 21 ft. version of the 172! It should have a walk-in console (like on the 240), and a transom design like the 235, or a short euro (to keep the water out, and provide an area for a livewell, like with the Sea Hunt 232). The hull would be like the 172 (similar to the 240) -- "in between" their 195 design and their 202/235 designs. It would have a place to sit in the bow, with a "U" shaped forward area (a tad shallower than the 202/235, but not raised and flat, like the 195/220). The whole rig, with 150 HPDI would be in the mid 20K's.
rubinjames, let me clarify... I was talking about ALL boats in that class/size, NOT just the Scout! The Scout 170 Costa is actually priced quite well, compared to its competition.
I'm just saying that IMO, ALL boats are overpriced.
New Scout 170 Costa! 
