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Anybody has any experience with the new PREDATOR 35, now built by EGG HARBOR? How is the quality of the boat, which is now constructed by EGG HARBOR? How is the ride? Price? Any input will be appreciated. Anybody owns one here in this forum?
I would like to know more about this boat. I do know that GERBER sold it to EGG HARBOR, and that GERBER is now building the LEGEND. Inasmuch as the LEGEND is a spectacular boat, it is on the expensive side and the weight is only 12,000 lbs, even though the space age carbon fiber and kevlar may compensate for the lack of weight . . . What I like about the PREDATOR is the added weight (16,000 lbs). Other than that, I do not know anything about the new boat being built by EHY and the info on their web page is limited. I cannot find any additional info on the net.
Last edited by mjberrocal; 06-26-2009 at 11:33 PM.
I would be interested in finding out how they made out with the demo that they were exposing in the wrong way this winter. The original predator was built for speed to the fishing grounds like the revenge molds that egg horible troki owns? It was designed to be built of light weight material and power? They put new pod drives on the demo but apparently the boat didnt have the lift with all the weight of standard construction practices. They had to retrofit lifting rails from the transom all the way forward? They also had some interfeerince with trim tabs overworking? The plastic surgeon doesnt know how to build a good plastic boat. Well hes got a real hazard advising him anyway! Just goes to show you all that money and what does it get him?
No used boats. I am interested in the new one being built by EGG HARBOR, which is heavier than the previous models. TROCKI is not building them, his technicians are. They must know something, they must be doing something right. I refuse to believe that a boat of this beauty is worthless. On the other hand, the more weight, the better. I do not care for those new VOLVO POD engines with the propellers facing forward. They won't stand a chance in our CENTRAL AMERICA Pacific Ocean, which is full of lugs in the water. This is why ZEUS has been designed with the props facing backwards. I want to know about the boat, the ride, price (new), the QUALITY . . . provided that it has or could have the rights engines to move it adequately. Maybe some CUMMINS between 450HP and 600HP, each? Anybody? Cheers.
No used boats. I am interested in the new one being built by EGG HARBOR, which is heavier than the previous models. TROCKI is not building them, his technicians are. They must know something, they must be doing something right. I refuse to believe that a boat of this beauty is worthless. On the other hand, the more weight, the better. I do not care for those new VOLVO POD engines with the propellers facing forward. They won't stand a chance in our CENTRAL AMERICA Pacific Ocean, which is full of lugs in the water. This is why ZEUS has been designed with the props facing backwards. I want to know about the boat, the ride, price (new), the QUALITY . . . provided that it has or could have the rights engines to move it adequately. Maybe some CUMMINS between 450HP and 600HP, each? Anybody? Cheers.
I had a friend that owned one of the original predators {maybe the first}way back when it first surfaced. I called him a friend even tho when he was still a young teenager I was responsible for his safety fishing for days off shore more than 100 miles from port. I take boats very serious and if you think trockis technician are going to build you a better boat than I tried to enlighten you about then have at it! The original predator has a deep V and a narrow low wetted surface bottom. Build it with out a core, Epoxy resin and quality glass that will use less resin and retain strength. That is the way the original was designed! His so called technicians as you call them are the same ones that can make a beautiful davis boat look funky and not perform properly as in that big davis with pockets that they have been changing the shape of those pockets more than most people change their underwear? I am done trying to tell you how it is> You must be a legend in your own mind and deserve to buy a predtrocator or what ever? I also have been very heavily involved in some of the good SF boats built in South Jersey at their factories
BLY, Thank you for you kind reply. I liked the PREDTROCATOR part. Laughed my head off! Honestly, it was very funny. Seriously, I am not fixed on the new boat. I just love how it looks and love the set up, with the helm in the center. This is why I am asking about it. I have no doubt in mind that what you are telling me is honest and true. However, you have elaborated on the positives aspects of the old boat, built by GERBER, but have not given me the reasons why the new boat is not good . . . besides telling me how bad TROCKI's people have done on the other B&D boats.
The hull of the PREDATOR, I believe, remains the same, except for the fiberglass (HEAVIER) used now viv a vis the more sophisticated materials and construction method mentioned by you (LIGHTER), used by the builders of the old boat. It is a deep V = 20° and indeed, it is narrow: a mere 12' for a 35' express, which is a downside. However, logic tells me, that the heavier the boat, the better the ride. The old boat could have been a better quality, I understand. But I would like to know in what way the new boat is bad. It cannot be bad just for being heavier. I would like to know how is the ride, quality, reliability and overall fit and finish and seaworthiness.
Please enlighten me, if you have the time; and please be patient.
Read this thread about the old one. I am glad mac 53 found that. I was going by memory of the old and a lot of experience. This thread quantifies everything I have been trying to say. The boat is a narrow 12 ft beam. DeepV . If you build the boat heavier which it will be without using the peocess that I and the original builder used. This includes above water and below water line construction. They dont even have a clue what they have there?Its a good hull if properly buillt to the designers specifacations ? Put too much wait in the same foot print it will not perform. You want the best sea boat. Get a whitakar!thats from my personal experience! You want the best boat express wise for your money get a richie howe from manteo, his charter boats fish while everone else in the north east is sitting at the dock!thats why hes still building steady while everone else is trying to figure out what to do to keep the doors open. Spencer is even more sucessful then them all! I wonder why? Because he is doing it right.
For what its worth, the friend with the boat I am speaking of IS an Egg Harbor. It is a used boat but I assume since it was built by Egg Harbor that it is built the same way they are doing it now.
Andy, I have been doing extensive research on the JERSEY CAPE DEVIL 36. It sure is a beautiful boat. That is exactly what I am looking for. Their web page do not show what is the dead rise at the transom though, very important to me. My guess is that it is very flat. Some comments I have read say that the boat pounds and that it is slow. Other than that, fit and finish is second to none, I think. Personally, the only thing I would change is the console. I could use the electronics on top and in front, not on the sides. That console is a bad layout. If I can only get an honest opinion from an owner . . . that would be great. What kind of construction it has, what is the dead rise, etc.
Last edited by mjberrocal; 06-28-2009 at 09:55 PM.
Pretty much all boat manufacturers are not designing boats, they hire naval arch's if they need a new design or mods. EH did change the manufacturing process for that boat to a more conventional one, can't say if that is good or bad, but in a smallish boat even minor changes can have neg effects. Given the down turn of the industry I would not be surprise many are skipping the Naval arch's review...
NEW PREDATOR 35 by EGG HARBOR 
