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Can anyone give me any info on these boats, how well they are built and the ride in chop, head seas, beam seas, how well they drift and is the company that builds them stand behind them? Any info would be great I have added them to my short list of boats to buy. Thanks
you need to specify a specific model for ride and handling.as far as quality the hulls seem to hold up well i have a 218 wac that has spent some time in small craft advisory conditions and there is no stress cracks.
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06 coastal 290 'sydneyrose'
04 21' sailfish wa 'sold'
02 26' seaswirl wa 'sold'
you need to specify a specific model for ride and handling.as far as quality the hulls seem to hold up well i have a 218 wac that has spent some time in small craft advisory conditions and there is no stress cracks.
WOW please let m know about yours, I am lookng for one like yours or a 26ft one. I see you sold yours congrats!
I have an '04 26' Sailfish and love the boat. Before I bought this boat I was doing the same thing you're doing, looking at a lot of boats and trying to figure out what is the best boat for what you want to do with the boat. I had looked at a lot of boats at the time and had not found anything I absolutely loved. Up to this point, anything I could have bought would have been a compromise somewhere. A charter captain friend of mine knew I was looking for a boat and called me one day and told me I needed to go with him and look at this boat he had just been out on. In his opinion, this was what I was looking for. That very day I was shown the boat and within a few minutes I knew this was exactly what I was looking for. For what I wanted to do with a boat, how I planned to fish, how I'd like to have it set up, this was the best boat I had seen. The boat has lived up to my expectations and done what I bought it for admirably. It's an excellent mid-tier boat in my opinion.
The one biggest point that can be put up as a point to debate is whether or not it's a wet boat or dry riding boat. I have been on a lot of CC's up to 33' and any of them in the right conditions will douse you on occasion. In my opinion, this aspect is no better or worse than any other brand I've been on.
If the layout of the boat you're looking at fits your needs and you can picture yourself getting out of the boat what you want it probably won't let you down.
Good luck, it's not always an easy decision.
PS - Cracker, I know I'm the good guy on the Sailfish forum and I know you're not a bad guy, what's left?
I trialed a 218 with a F250. It was very squirmy off plane and did not want to run a straight line. I did not like how the scuppers were above the floor and always saw water laying in the back. They were very inexpensive but I still was not comfortable with the fit and finish. I did not like how the fish boxes were so much longer than the box lid and looked very hard to clean. The boat listed to one side at the dock. They said that was compensation for when the live well was full.... I looked at the resale value of every boat I was considering and was not impressed. They do not transfer warranty which hurts resale badly. It was hard for me to find out if they have basic or level flotation. I could not convince myself that the $$ savings was really a savings.
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2009 Everglades 230cc
Garmin 4208 Chart Plotter / Garmin GMI 10 Instrument Display / Garmin GMR HD 18 High-Definition Radar / Garmin GSD 22 Digital Remote Sonar/ 1KW Airmar Transducer / NMEA 2000 Network / Yamaha F250 on NMEA 2000 / Standard Horizon GX5500 Bluetooth VHF / TACO Outrigger Mounts and 18' riggers / Custom Curtains
2010 Boston Whaler 150 Super Sport
2008 Boston Whaler 150 Sport **SOLD**
2006 Boston Whaler 170 Montauk **SOLD**
2002 Grady White 180 Sportsman **SOLD**
2007 Shelby GT500 with 18 PSI Boost, #69 of 169 Ebony "Red Stripe" **FAST**
WOW please let m know about yours, I am lookng for one like yours or a 26ft one. I see you sold yours congrats!
The 218 WA looks like it has very little deck room in the back, that is what kinda turned me off to the 218 WA. What happens if you get in a hot bite with 3 or 4 guys fishing, it looks like not much room to move around. I would have to get how much room is back there and compare it to other 20ft WA boats like a Grady 208 or 226.
I trialed a 218 with a F250. It was very squirmy off plane and did not want to run a straight line. I did not like how the scuppers were above the floor and always saw water laying in the back. They were very inexpensive but I still was not comfortable with the fit and finish. I did not like how the fish boxes were so much longer than the box lid and looked very hard to clean. The boat listed to one side at the dock. They said that was compensation for when the live well was full.... I looked at the resale value of every boat I was considering and was not impressed. They do not transfer warranty which hurts resale badly. It was hard for me to find out if they have basic or level flotation. I could not convince myself that the $$ savings was really a savings.
I think the OP wants feedback from outside source. They might be a little pro SailFish over there.
On the contrary, I took a surf over there to do some reading, and surprisingly there are some real good threads over there. Some pro (of course), some about stress cracking and lots about ventilation issues and lots of folks adding wedges on the transoms for negative trim to combat the problem. I suppose all boats have their little issue or two. Most people do seem happy with their sailfish. Either way, pro or not, all the threads are on the site there to read.
I love how folks defend a wet boat by saying:"all boats will get you wet in the right kind of conditions".
I think the correct advice on boats is that they all compromise somewhere in design to gain other places.. You cant have dry ride with the hard chines and a smooth non jarring ride. You cant have Carolina Flare without giving up interior room. etc. I could go on forever.. At least this as been experience after 30+ years of boating and fishing..
A Sailfish a nice middle of the road boat, it has its problems like they all do..
__________________ "I'm suing the THT and the guy that made it."
On the contrary, I took a surf over there to do some reading, and surprisingly there are some real good threads over there. Some pro (of course), some about stress cracking and lots about ventilation issues and lots of folks adding wedges on the transoms for negative trim to combat the problem. I suppose all boats have their little issue or two. Most people do seem happy with their sailfish. Either way, pro or not, all the threads are on the site there to read.
All boats are kool.
The ventilation issues you speak of only occur at in between speeds like when your trying to fast troll for wahoo .. It is not a major issue, but I guess it could be if you fast troll between about 9 and 13 MPH all the time..
__________________ "I'm suing the THT and the guy that made it."
Cracker, sounds like an easy fix then. I suppose the wedges are the ticket then that folks are using if it does cure the problem. But I do feel the factory should be putting them on before delivery, if it is needed. People should not have to go back and do this after spending good money on a new boat.
I own a 2006 2660 that I put 500 hours on in the past 2 years. I was primarily in the market for a variable stepped deadrise hull and looke hard for a 23' potter seacraft. At the time, I could not find one that fith the bill. The Sailfish came highly recomended to me by a friend who had sea trialed one and was a fan.
the positive points for me are the soft ride without an extreme compromise of heavy roll on the drift and fishability for a reasonable price. Also very seaworthy. Worst conditions I have been in was on day two of the Snug Harbor shark tourney where we went out after the lightning passed by. Seas were no less than 4' and averaged 5+. at the ledge we were fishing we had some in the 7 to 8' range with an interval about the same in seconds. In those conditions we cruised at 18 knots, which is about the slowest she will run on plane without fully burying the tabs and motors. We did not get the crap beat out of us but reagularly had water coming over the t-top. Always felt safe. this was 3 guys, 1 large and 2 smaller coolers and the sharking gear. In these conditions we saw an average of 1.6+ mpg. Generally she runs 1.8 to 2 in open water. This is with twin F150's.
The negatives are 2 piece hull, which is only a negative for me as to add rod holders I need to add access plates. It has not affected the fishability for me but others may feel different. There is also some minor stress cracking at 2 locations on the rear gunnels but not to the point that concerns me. The wiring is fair. the connections are proper but electrical tape was the marinas best friend to gather excess wiring.
As to cavitation, it is only in a specific speed range and the addition of wedges appears to improve this. i find it a bit of a PITA while rip fishing but not a deal breaker. i do feel that the boat is a little over propped as with a moderate load I am a few hundred RPM short of the 6000RPM max operating range. I feel a 17P prop would be better than the 19P and may also cure the cavitation.
The year before the shark tourney while in rough conditions I broke 2 supports on the t top. This was a 200 fix and has been solid since.
I like the forward seating for the family but also is where I store my bars and most used gear (fighting belts, etc.) the Compromise is you need to fish on top of them in the front, unlike other dedicated tourney type boats.
She has 2 livewells that work well and are pressurized. Alo has large scuppers that are never under water unless there are three guys in the stern or something. Very rare to get any water in. The pre-2006 model did have an issue with this from what I understand.
I have Sailfish 2660 wa that's 3 years old and 300 hours on it. Overall I love the boat. The big attraction is the hull design, it performs very well all around. I do not have ventilation or wedges ( i have twin F150s).
Layout and fit and finish is pretty good (there is some caulking that's sloppy or missing under rod holders and windshield wipers).
Wiring and plumbing is sloppy like all mid teir boats I've owned.
It does wander a bit while driving in no wake zonez. Not a big deal but if it bothers you, put both tabs down all the way and it gets better.
Very well equipped with pop up cleats, command link guages, tab indicators, excellant helm seat, etc.
Customer support is excellant.
Overall an excellant value. If buying new I would get a survey for a few hundred dollars, get everything addressed before signing for the boat and then enjoy it.
The SF is an awesome boat in any condition and are built very well. Check this one as it is a sweet ride. You can find the nay-sayers on any boat in this forum but if you want a great boat at a good price SF is in the park. If you want to spend a lot of $$ for a YF, Invincible, etc then you would not be asking about the SF. Tough boat, good ride and great factory support.
I owned a 2004 236CC w/F225 for 4 yrs and absolutely loved it. Rode very well, fished well, was economical. I put about 600 hrs on her with minimum fuss. Traded up to a Parker 2520, but had nothing to do with Sailfish.
Sailfish boats a few questions 
