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This is my first post here and after reading MANy threads a few opinions have changed my mind on the boat I'm trying to get. I had an 18ft angler a few years ago, but ready to go to 23-25ft CC or WA. Here are the boats I am looking at. On a ranking scale which is the best bang for my buck (looking to go used (2003-2006)). Also if there are any other "entry" level boats that may be good please throw them out as well. Thanks for any help. (I am doing mostly king fishing in South Florida). Can't really afford the grady white, boston whaler, contender, etc.
Sea Pro
Proline
Hydrasport
Wellcrafft
Aquasport
Seaswirl
angler
I did have an offer on a Seafox, but after reading this website I have changed my mind.
Last edited by Mikestyger1; 02-07-2010 at 06:30 PM.
Reason: addition
mike, in my opinion the Proline, Hydrasport or Wellcraft are the better choices (in no particular order). If I had to choose between them it would come down to what options and power the boat had. I also like the sea pro but dont I have a lot of experience with them
This is my first post here and after reading MANy threads a few opinions have changed my mind on the boat I'm trying to get. I had an 18ft angler a few years ago, but ready to go to 23-25ft CC or WA. Here are the boats I am looking at. On a ranking scale which is the best bang for my buck (looking to go used (2003-2006)). Also if there are any other "entry" level boats that may be good please throw them out as well. Thanks for any help. (I am doing mostly king fishing in South Florida). Can't really afford the grady white, boston whaler, contender, etc.
Sea Pro
Proline
Hydrasport
Wellcrafft
Aquasport
Seaswirl
angler
I did have an offer on a Seafox, but after reading this website I have changed my mind.
Out of all those hydra sport is top.
Middle:Proline,Wellcraft,Sea Pro,aquasport
Lower:angler,seaswirl,
I myself had an 01 23 wellcraft coastal newer years called 25 coastal with 150 fichts, loved the boat
IMO, stay away from angler.
__________________
07 R/T General Lee Charger
07 RXP Sea-doo
01 Mustang Gt
Boatless for now
Thanks for all of the opinions. I've got my eye on a few of those brands right now on craigslist and ebay. With this economy I am hoping to get a good deal and have a boat in hand by the time the kings hit tampa this year. Thanks again for the help.
So with the mixed opinions most of the boats I listed seem to be pretty "good" from the majority of the replies. Are there any boats that I should STAY away from...not matter how good the price? I still am wondering about that seafox I put an offer on. Its a 2004 257 WA with 225 4 stroke mercury (a little shy on power for this size boat, but well within my price range at $16k. Came with electronics and lost of other small things. Thanks again.
Mike
Can you atleast narrow down the CC or WA option? CC opens up more options. You could enter in your price criteria and see what pops up on Boattrader.com.
Add Trophy to your long list and google for problems with all of the brands that make it to your short list, there is a ton of information available if you look for it. Be objective in your analysis, internet reputation means nothing when your boat has problems or, in my case, has no problems.
Do not rely on just this website for information, it's infected with industry shills that have a vested interest and people giving their "unbiased" opinion without disclosing what kind of boat they own.
If you aren't in a hurry, go to the boat ramps and talk to real owners of the brands on your short list, they will tell you far more one-on-one than most will post on the internet and it will be directly related to the type of water you'll encounter.
Regarding your Seafox question, I would not do it because there are too many problems reported on the brand. If it were all opinion, I'd take a closer look but it's not, people have given objective information about specific faults and some of them are major.
__________________ 2004 Trophy 2902 WA with Merc 225 EFIs
Sucks gas and hauls ass!
One step ahead and you are a genius, two steps ahead and you are a misfit.
Can you atleast narrow down the CC or WA option? CC opens up more options. You could enter in your price criteria and see what pops up on Boattrader.com.
I am torn. The wife wants a WA and I don't care which one I get. I am more looking at price. If the price is right, then I'll be good with it. I spend about 3 hours a day (boss wouldn't be happy if he read this; and my wife hates that I spend this much time on it) on boattrader, ebay, craigslist, iboats, yachtworld, ablboats, boats.com, and google searches. I am VERY picky and am looking for something that is closest to exactly what I want. I look at it as the economy is slow and I have the option to wait until I find the boat I really want. Though I do have family coming in the end of march and think it would be great to take them on a boat. 23-25ft is ideal and has to be trailerable (think I can pull around 8-9k lbs so I should be good on that aspect). Figure there's gotta be a few people out there that have to sell now and may be able to get a pretyy good deal. (forgot to mention...I definitely want an outboard(s), no I/O)
If your wife ever plans on going on the boat, or other passengers not so comfortable with going to the bathroom in a bucket or over the side.....you need a Walkaround. If you statistically overlooked all the Center Consoles in the state of Florida......the percentage of CC users Nationwide is quite small. This boat was originally designed for Florida boaters that have year round warm weather. If you don't narrow down your search to atleast this decision point......You'll get bombarded with info. overload. If you are already spending 3 hours a day online....get Costco size aspirin and Red Bull. It's only going to get worse. Good Luck!
To shorten the list, you need to board them and see the layout.
For an example of what I mean, I fished one of the boats in the list and I wouldn't buy it for the lack of freeboard alone. Everyone has their own dislikes and likes and you can only get so much from internet shopping and boating boards. You have done a great job picking a bunch of boats for comparing apples to apples in the same money ballpark, you you are most of the way there.
Best of the following boats??? 
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