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I have struck up prices on Scout Sportfish 210 and Sailfish 236. Both are brand new 2004 models
Scout has 200 4stroke Yamaha, Sailfish 225 Yamaha 4 stroke.
Scout will be easier for me to trailer/haul with my 2WD truck and easier for my 10 yr old son and I to handle. 200 Yamaha doesnt qualify for extended free 2 yr warranty, 225 does.
Scout is at a dealer near where I'll fish it, Sailfish is 3.5 hours away and an area I'll never visit.
Scout is a awesomely finished boat to me. I can get the Sailfish for less than $1000 more.
Decisions, decisions.....
I know here in the Southeast Sailfish is more visible and might help resell value? ....
Well, I really think it depends on what you plan to do with the boat and how rough of water you plan to be in.
I suppose that if you are fishing inshore and nearshore then the Scout may the nod, but if you plan on going out on snotty days then I would be leaning toward the Sailfish which will handle the higher seas a bit better I would expect.
The Scout with the 200 will probably be slightly faster than the Sailfish.
Here is another question.....do you have someone closer that can service the Yammie on the Sailfish without fear of getting poor service? With a boat I dont think it is so much the hull you have to worry about servicing...it is more the motor and if you can get good service on your motor locally (like maybe a non boat dealer mechanic) then I would go Sailfish in this case.
Reasons:
More boat for the money
Bigger motor with longer warranty
I think the Scout would be a better value if it had the F150 or the 200HPDI
You can still outfit the Sailfish for family cruising
I doubt that the Sailfish will be markedly more difficult to handle with you and your son
Sailfish is made in Georgia (for god sakes dont send your money to South Carolina LOL )
Of course I dont know what kind of tow vehicle you have and if it is smallish this may be an issue but I have not compared weights on these boats.
Sailfish factory is 23 miles from me, yet they will not do warranty work. MUST got through a dealer they told me.
The Scout has a Yamaha 200 4 stroke.
We will use the boat primarily out of St. Joe(Mexico Beach) FL and I doubt we'll ever go more than 20-30 miles out with either.The Scout will be fast w/ the 200, as Yamaha rated it w/ a 150 4 stroke and got good numbers.
Yes, there are pretty close Yamaha dealers that could service the boat.
The Scout dealer is in Panama City and I have a house there as well, so no problems for service.
Ive read some hull warranty issues form a few, but overall both are well respected hulls.
Tough decision there. I can not comment on the 236 Sailfish but a friend of mine has the 218 it's a nice boat but a bit cramped for actual fishing space. He boasts about the 22-24 degree deadrise in his Saifish but IMO I think the Scout rides just as good if not better.
All that being said I think if I had the choice I would go for the larger 236, just do to the fact it is a larger fishing boat nearly by 3' and is a good solid mid-tier boat.
If it were my decision I would go with the Sailfish. My reasons are I would use the boat more offshore and would like the extra room to fish 3-4 poeple comfortably. I also like the layout of the Sailfish better for MY type of fishing.
606zpx - 1/15/2005 8:16 AM
Here is another question.....do you have someone closer that can service the Yammie on the Sailfish without fear of getting poor service? With a boat I dont think it is so much the hull you have to worry about servicing...it is more the motor and if you can get good service on your motor locally (like maybe a non boat dealer mechanic) then I would go Sailfish in this case.
dealers get paid for warranty work and non-warranty standard maintenance whether they sold you the motor or not...
in my experience bringing my motor in for service to both a yammie dealer when i had one and suzi dealer now, neither of whom sold me the motor, has been quick & efficient without ever a question
i would not base my boat buying decision based on that
The Sailfish hull is a direct decendent of the deep V Potter Seacraft. When the wind kicks up and it's suddenly 4-6', you'll not notice the "fit and finish issues" nearly as much as the 24 degree hull.
now Ive gotten a price on a 2005 Sailfish 218CC w/ 225 Yamaha 4 stroke LOADED to the max from a dealer 1 hour away(Moultrie, GA). $1900 less than the 2004 236 or 2004 Scout 210......
The 2005 would be in color hull Id prefer, etc. Ordered boat.....
Now what?!!!!!
I hate shopping for ANYTHING, and usually jump quick. Im trying to avoid such this time.
I'll buck the trend a little... Bigger is better only to a point. It would not be fair for me to tell you which one to get. I've seen folks that loved a little 13' whaler as much as any man loved a boat 3 times that size. Measure the pro's and con's and by all means do not buy above your comfort level, both money & size wise. Good luck in your search. The boats you're considering are all well made.
cgrand, its great that you have good experience with your engine service. I still say that he needs to consider service issues regarding the boat. I would think that just because they get paid for warranty work does not mean you are going to get the same timeliness or level of service as one of their own boat sales customers. Hey, by the way, your boat looks great! I wish I could have been able to look at one closely when I was up North.
What does everybody think about what Sailfish told Rgironman about getting service. At first, I felt like saying "to heck with them" and get the Scout, but the 218 numbers are compelling. Also looking at their factory, they really dont look geared to offer service. That said, I have heard that Sailfish is pretty good about taking care of issues. Have you toured the factory yet, rgironman?
I have struck up prices on Scout Sportfish 210 and Sailfish 236.
Help
THE FACTS. The Sailfish rides hard & is very wet slow as a turtle, hard on fuel as well as your body.
No way these guys spouting off have rode in both. The Scout is fast, dry great on fuel & overall a much better design. Quality is about the same but the Scout has a pretty finish gelcoated interior in all areas.
The motor you should get is the 150F Yamaha not the 200 the 200 is to heavy & speed is close along with fuel burn better for the 150. I took a 19ft Scout offshore to the Florida middle grounds 218 miles round trip the Scout hulls are well designed. The Sailfish is a nice boat but I would get the Scout. The Scout is a small boat that ridesa well or better than many boats much larger. My 235 was drier & rode as well as a 27 Capehorn.
Whoever said the sailfish rides hard has obviously not ridden on one. I own one and rarley have my knees buckled when i have hit any waves or boat wake. I take mine offshore out to the big rock, 42 miles roughly, and burn about 45 to 55 gallons depending on conditions. I have crossed the cape lookout shoals and stood this boat on end and still gotten through. It is the best single engine 23 foot boat, outside of the regulators, contenders and kencrafts, that i have ridden on. It isnt that slow, I can squeeze out 40 mph with a full tank of gas, 4 people and a full livewell powered by a 225 four stroke. If i had it to do over again, i would probably go with a 250 hpdi, it has more of the torque you're going to need, and fuel mileage isnt that much worse. I cant comment on the scout, but I know that the sailfish 236cc is unmatched when it comes to gettint the most boat for your money.
Also, you dont even need curtains for a sailfish, the ride is, contrary to the scout guy, extremely dry. You have to be hitting some pretty heavy head wind and sea to get a spray on my boat.
I have struck up prices on Scout Sportfish 210 and Sailfish 236.
Help
THE FACTS. The Sailfish rides hard & is very wet slow as a turtle, hard on fuel as well as your body.
No way these guys spouting off have rode in both. The Scout is fast, dry great on fuel & overall a much better design. Quality is about the same but the Scout has a pretty finish gelcoated interior in all areas.
The motor you should get is the 150F Yamaha not the 200 the 200 is to heavy & speed is close along with fuel burn better for the 150. I took a 19ft Scout offshore to the Florida middle grounds 218 miles round trip the Scout hulls are well designed. The Sailfish is a nice boat but I would get the Scout. The Scout is a small boat that ridesa well or better than many boats much larger. My 235 was drier & rode as well as a 27 Capehorn.
.......boy....you must be on drugs if you think a sailfish rides hard....
Sailfish 236 or Scout 210 
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