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Random Quote: Wisdom is the ability to recognize a mistake when you've made it again
Made out of wood and have water intrusion problems that rot floors. POS! Same with Polar. Thats why theyre cheap, everyone's heard the saying, you get what you pay for.
Ok, I will stop you there . not a stitch of wood on a Polar and never had water intrusion issues.
Go back to sleep Gumby.
probably owns a sail boat
Location: Los Angeles, FL.or Georgia, depends. In Fl now.
Posts: 5,979
From the limited list you show I would pick the Seaswirl. They have never hade a complaint on this forum or others I visit.
Outside the list you could check
Cobia-also never a complaint.
The newer Sea Hunts from 2002 on have good quality. As the years progressed they have become better and better and are now mid-tier (whatever that means). The company owes no money and is well funded. They respond immediately to any direct complaints and take and action to correct any after market problems, Unlike a few highly rated mfgrs. If you can get an Intrepid go for it. I get one second summer. Of course if any boat is over 10 yrs old and in excellent shape forget the brand thing and go for it.
Dang rain!
If you find a center console get the ttop enclosure to pilot house. Great for rainy days or cold days.
Don't mean to hijack, but I gave up on National for the same reason.
I wish they would contact me back. I'm calling him tomorrow to see what's going on. Hopefully I can get a hold of him. If not then I continue to search for that perfect boat. Thanks
Made out of wood and have water intrusion problems that rot floors. POS! Same with Polar. Thats why theyre cheap, everyone's heard the saying, you get what you pay for.
Polars are good boats, there is NO WOOD to rot in a Polar. Be informed by "Owners" not some bias uneducated, missinformed dude!
With the exception of a couple of companies none of the above are 'bad boats'. If they were bad boats lawsuits would have already put them out of business.
You do not have to have the best boat made to have a good & safe boat! Looking at the original list above I will take one company as a 'for instance':
Aquasport.
1) They are no longer in business but neither are many other quality builders.
2) Their center console (Ospreys) and walk-arounds (Explorers) are excellent boats and have retained their value quite well.
Here is one good piece of advice that works for many people: Buy the smallest boat that will do everything comfortably & safely that you want it to do.
well I found another boat with my persistence. A triton. Any opinons on this? it's a very nice walkaround and I think I will be happy with it if it all works out. I'm going to go take a look at it next week. I understand all the persuasion for the CC and yes I may regret it down the road, but if my wife is going to be happy (and not push me to have a kid) then it is worth more than one can imagine.
I have put some offers on some boats already and it's all fallen through, but I have high hopes for this one. For all that have helped me I will keep you posted and if it works out then there will be lots of pics. If not then back onthe market for me.
I still would rather the seaswirls at National, but the broker has not responded to my phone calls or e-mails so we'll have to see.
Thanks for the offer on the coastal, but that is not even close to my price range. I'm looking to stay under $20k.
Triton makes a nice boat and should be somewhere in the top of your list.
I was in the same shoes with the wife wanting a cabin. I ended up with a 1990 23' GW for 8k. It's a great boat for what I paid. I'm not crazy about the cabin, but last summer we got caught in a pretty nasty storm. We were dodging them all day and they finally surrounded us. It was one of those days you would not expect it to get that bad. Winds at 25 lightning crashing everywhere, confused seas. I was glad the cabin was there so my wife and 2y.o. did not have t ride out the storm in a small console sitting on a porta- potti.
I figure they are all "decent" boats. I'm not the hardcore boater that needs (though I wuold like) a 35ft contender or Grady White, or other boats I would consider "high end". I would go out about 10-15 miles and fish a little and come in. I've had a boat before and am familiar enough to run a baot safely so I think I will continue my search for that 23-25ft wa. If/when i get it, if there's anyone around tampa that wants to split fuel I'd be more than happy to make some new freinds here. I can king fish with the best of them, but grouper diggin' will be a new skill I'll have to learn.
actually none of those boats have had many complaints as far as workmanship, although I think the Hydra is a more expensive boat new than most of the others mentioned, not that it makes it better. In a 23 CC don't forget the classic of all time SeaCraft, probably the best 23 ever built, still the same hull as in 1970. They are not as top tier as they were in '70's so may be in the same price range now in your year catagory - just worth a look maybe. I've had 3, 1 new and 2 used and never lost a dime on any of the hulls, so that counts too
Pro-Line.
I own a 2001 25 Sport and people can never guess the year, or even close usually. If you buy a used and its well taken care of it will be a head turner going through town to the ramp. If you get a brand new one, im jelous but thats ok. On the water my boat is outstanding, hands the waves like a pro, and even with a single 225 can hit 32-35 mph.
__________________ 2001 Pro-Line 25 Sport w/ 225XL SaltWater Mercury
Pro-Line.
I own a 2001 25 Sport and people can never guess the year, or even close usually. If you buy a used and its well taken care of it will be a head turner going through town to the ramp. If you get a brand new one, im jelous but thats ok. On the water my boat is outstanding, hands the waves like a pro, and even with a single 225 can hit 32-35 mph.
Every week is different, but right now my eye is on a 2005 25ft Proline Sport with a single honda 225 and a 24ft walkaround. I really like the look and layout of the prolines and was curious as how a single 225 would push that sized boat. I'm not a speed freak by any means so as long as I get there and back I'll be happy. 32-35mph sounds pretty reasonable for me. Thanks for the input.
Any opinions on the seachaser? the 24ft one is that and I really like that as well; also with a 225 honda.
Ok gonna join the party here. Just sold my Vector cc last month to buy a walk around and what a mistake that may have been. She handled nasty seas with no complaints and her only ride flaw was some porpoising that I could have fixed with tabs if i wanted to, it was not that bad. The bow flare on them is fantastic for keeping you dry in all but the worst quartering seas. For a 1989 boat the hull was solid as was the transom and floor. I bought a Grady walk around to replace the Hydrasports and the maiden voyage was in some heavy chop. Wave after wave of water came over the bow and if not for the curtains we would have been soaked. I was very disappointed in that, the Grady is a heavier boat but didnt ride all that much better, if any. Time will tell but I see myself buying another Hydrasports Vector center console in the not too distant future. Another problem is you dont see the Vectors going cheap. Whatever you do buy a solid boat, it doesnt matter that much who makes it if it is a piece of junk. I will also tell you a tip when shopping for a boat. The Hydrasports and the Gradys have nice big hatchs you can remove to get the gas tanks out. This is a must have for any boat over 10 years old or you will find yourself eventually cutting the floor of the boat up to replace your fuel tank. Some others do too but I am not sure which ones. It is not a matter of if but a matter of when you will have to repair or replace the fuel tank and lines. Hunting boats can be fun but it can also score a zero on the fun scale at times.
__________________ Give me a stick and some string!
Well...I think I have narrowed it down. I will first say that all of you that have tried to pursuade me in the Center Console direction....it has worked. After much thought I am looking at the 24ft and 25ft center consoles (for right now). I figure it is a LOT easier for me to load and unload if I go fishing by myself. The wife would like the WA but I think for the few times she would go out I would rather something that I can handle easier myself. I am looking at Proline 25ft cc with a 225 honda 4stroke and a 24ft seachaser with 225 Zuke on it. Tough decisions, but seems like there is a good number of both boats out there for sale that is running these setups. I still dont' know which one I prefer, so the first one that takes a lowball offer is the one I go with. I looked at all the Hydrasports which seems to be the favorite on this thread, but for the year and size I think i can get newer and larger with the other two brands. Thanks
