*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: A superior boater uses his superior judgement to avoid situations requiring his superior skills.
Saw one in Florida this winter and it was a good looking boat. Looked like it had the quality they put in their ski boats. Didn't get to ride in it though. The 351 inboard did sound sweet.
Bonefish is wrong, the fish nautique is a fine boat. The big drawback I see is that the fuel tank is kind of small at about 80 or 90 gallons. The boat has huge deadrise, like 24 degrees, and that inboard would be a piece of cake to work on, and cheap as all get out for parts. If you don't move on it, send me the info cause I am looking for a project boat for next year.
Well Bonefish is correct, partially. We owned three in our fleet, and they were the most wet boats we owned or fished out of. A funny memory is when coming in from a day of fishing myshelf and a mate had to wear masks and snorkels while running for home. They are a tough durable boat and nice looking though. We kept them for two years then replaced them with Makos and Seacraft. My .02
A friend of mine has one with a MPI big block. Runs great in the roughest seas. The hull is very solid. He installed two 35 gal. tanks under the deck for more range. Very fishable room for a 23'. I must say IT IS THE WETEST BOAT I HAVE EVER KNOWN. You don't just get wet from spray, but direct water comes right over the bow at you. My friend always keeps scuba masks on the boat for driving it.
Not sure how they are off shore but have a retro-fitted 23 next door. The guy took the inboard out and installed a larger gas tank. He also installed a bracket and hung twin 150 HPDIs off the back, new t-top and paint. Beautiful boat.
A great ridding boat with above adverage qual. It is wet but a PVC spray rail can fix that and adds speed. (best if the big side is out though they tell you other wise) If you can't find them I know of a person in Fl who may still order them upon request.
Thanks for the replies. It looks like a good sea boat, and I really like the straight inboard and the lines, and deadrise. I think it would make a good project boat, with cheap repowering, as long as theres someone else out there to sell too If/when I get tired of it. The wetness is alarming, but heck weve got to be talking about at 30 mph in a good chop huh? shouldnt be in 2's I hope. I carry a liteweight mask anyway, but thats for rain. I wear contacts and want to keep water out my eyes. BTW I discovered this liteweight mask called a SEAL that is a cross between goggles and mask, is superlite, tinted, and great for watersports or running in the rain.
Hate to say it but you will get wet even in 1-2 foot seas. I can't see a spray rail helping,unless it raises the bow while under power. The boat rides wet because the angle of the inboard shaft pushes the bow down under power. You get direct water, not spray, right over the bow in a 3' chop. Must say they ride great and good quality, but you may need a snorkel. Fisher guy, do you have any pics of the spray rail I could show my friend. I would like to convince him to try them.
Ditto on the wet ride, but curtains from the T-top can easily solve that problem. I fished on one quite often when I had a 23' inboard SeaCraft. The ride was as smooth as the SeaCraft, it was faster with similar power (Ford vrs.Chevy), and raised fish like crazy on the troll.
Mbb, You bolt/screw it on and (reccomend caulking it on) can paint over it. You can either follow your reverse chine or the water line. Anything else? if so E-Mail me @ Mavy_14_Fl@Hotmail.com this is my personal add. What kind/sixe boat do you have?
well, quick web search turned up 4 charter ops in states and 1 in Baja that run the old 23 nautique. One is in my hometown so Ill get his input too. Or a 1/2 day trip would be good to experience.
Thanks for all the input all. gonna start a new thread on spray rails, and boat handling with single inboard.
I have owned one for 10 years, Fish it out of North Carolina. YES it is wet. Cockpit is only 21" deep at the stern. Thought about the spray rails but the boat already has 5" chimes from stem to stern so didn't think anymore would help. It has a small block Chev. that runs 9gph at 26mph with a 73 gal tank. No Oil, No Smoke, Sounds as good as the Harley with straight pipes, Not like a weed wacker going offshore. Can pick up a rebuild kit at Advance Auto and run 2000 hours more. Yes it does have a great dead rise but if you look at the hull there is a flat spot at the apex of the V. I think it needs a shoe to bring this to a point to make it ride better. Talked to an Engineer at Correct Craft. Woody stated they stopped production because the margins on a fish boat are far less that a ski boat and it didn't fit their business. The boat was cheap 12k, could fish the big rock for under 50 gal (no oil)and could replace the engine for 2k plus anyone (even me) could work on it. I noticed the guys that really know what they are doing out there (Charter boats) always run single, straight drives. (No IOs, Big Out Boards, Jets or V-drives) I really like the clean transom on the boat. One feature to consider is how the fuel cell is mounted so if you have a ruputure, the fuel will drain overboard and not into the boat. Something I have never seen on any other boat. It is not a flashy boat, top end 40mph and if you run it hard on ground it will cost you $1500. You had better be good with a single straight drive when moving around the marina or you will be a topic of conversation. This boat is not for everyone! The groups that run a 2000 lb 27' with twin 200 hp will not apperciate this boat for what it is and what it was intended for. It would make a great project boat that could be made to look like a proper yacht with the right touchs of Teak and canvas. Let me know if you want any other info. Good luck!!!
Thanks, thats good info. Can you tell me anything about the construction , coring, stringers, problem areas, etc? Can they take a bigger motor for repower? Pictures of them have a very balanced look to them at rest in water.
Im kinda getting excited about this hull. Already got a name for it, and I havent talked $$ yet.
Any knowledge of what trimtabs might do to improve performance?
They have glass over foam stringers. I know during a design change they moved the console forward and raised the deck, not sure what year. Trim tabs I guess would not hurt, but you really don't need them to push the bow down while under power, the inboard will do that on its own. My friend bought a new 454 MPI big block and it fits in there nice. I would consider the big block if you ever wanted to repower. I must admit the exhaust on his is very loud, but fiberglass mufflers would solve that.
I have a friend with one and it has a huge tower. It's so much fun to ride on and it feels like a 38' Sportfish when you're up there. He also has a bow dodger and between that and the tower, the spray doesn't matter too much.
It's basically a Manny, Moe & Jack boat. So easy to fix everything yourself.
My friend replaced the existing exhaust system with the single f/g design that Correct Craft developed after the Fish Nautique was discontinued. I had liked the roar, but admit it sounded sweet after the modif.
As a current owner, engineer and general tinkerer, he'd be good to talk to. Let me know if you're interested.
I don't think I would ever repower mine with a big block. You can get a Crusader small block that puts out 330 hp and is hot. A big block is too hungry and can't overcome the added weight to the point the boat will have a lower top end. A small block is an engineering classic, the big blocks never worked as well as the designers hopped.
The big block in a fuel injected model is well worth it. It has a lot more torque than a small block. When you say 330hp it is at a high rpm. The big block will give a wide power range. I would not recommend a carbuerated big block because when you try to stay on your cruise speed you need to have all four barrels open, giving you low fuel economy. The MPI motors are very efficent giving a 20% advantage over a carbed model. I would say it would even burn less fuel than a 300+hp carbed small block, because you don't have to spin as many rpms. Now if you are talking about a Multi Port Injected small block with 330hp that would be my choice also.
