*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: Good work ain't cheap and cheap work ain't good.
Hi folks- I'm new to this forum but need some opinions/advice. Used to boat around Alex Bay NY in the 1000 Island area - have moved to Maryland eastern shore. Considering a H/S 212with a Johnson 150 for bay fishing/trolling and some limited cruising. Need the cuddy for my better half. Has dual axle trailer, bimini and Lowrance X65 ff, older Garmin GPS w/Chesapeake chip.
Questions:
At 21ft - is it big enough for a full day on the bay with 2 0r 3 other guys? Is it big enough to drag over to Ocean City a couple of times a year, to go out far enough - probably for tuna?
It's a heavy boat - is a 150 enough to push it around ?
Had considered a '99 Seaswirl 2301 w Johnson 200, but it's gone.
Clean boat but will invest in tabs - probably Lenco electrics. Also - what type of bottom paint should be applied, as I'm going to slip it 90% of the time. Maybe a custom hardtop is in our future.
philv - 2/7/2006 11:05 AM
At 21ft - is it big enough for a full day on the bay with 2 0r 3 other guys? Is it big enough to drag over to Ocean City a couple of times a year, to go out far enough - probably for tuna?
You'll really need to pick your days (as with any 21'). The fartherst I was out in mine was about 15mi., and I felt comfortable.
Quote:
It's a heavy boat - is a 150 enough to push it around ?
Max speed on mine - trimmed out was about 43 MPH. She cruised at 4100 RPM around 32 MPH. I was happy with the engine and would not have spent the extra money for a bigger engine on that boat.
Quote:
Clean boat but will invest in tabs - probably Lenco electrics. Also - what type of bottom paint should be applied, as I'm going to slip it 90% of the time. Maybe a custom hardtop is in our future.
You must buy tabs for the boat. I had the Lenco's that came from the factory. Mine was not bottom painted, but I would use a multi-season ablative with any boat like Micron CSC. Hardtop will add a considerable amout of weight.... at that point you might want more ponies in an engine. I had a bimini with a radar arch.
Quote:
Any thoughts appreciated.
I would make sure that the better half really looks at the cuddy on that boat. It is small. It was one of the main reasons why I sold it. It just became a place to store stuff and was nothing but a hinderance when I went fishing with others.
Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.
The 2-stroke carb engines do love gas. Just a rough guess would be about 17-18 gal/hr. WOT. I didn't have a fuel flow on this boat. The tank size is 85 gal.
The boat is big enough for the bay most of the time but if you like to fish/troll then you want to be out there when things are not perfect. If you can move up to a 23' boat then I think you will be happier in the long run.
I have the '99 edition of that hull with the 150 Johnson. It has a big cockpit but will still be crowded with 4 guys fishing. Problem is that cockpit is as big as it gets until you move up to something much bigger. The 23' models all put the added 2' into the cabin not the cockpit. So you'll probably need to look at 25' for more space in a wac. You need to lose one buddy or convince the wife to like a center console. Some have facilities in the console.
That hull is wide and stable at rest or trolling, but it does not like steep, short chops. Tabs help. Likes to wander or wollow in quartering seas or crossing wakes. You will get spray over the bow. Plan to spend some to upgrade the plastic thru hulls and cheap plumbing and pumps especially if leaving it in a slip.
The 150 is enough motor for me. Usually two people/medium load. Not often conditions will let me run faster. Check the prop for correct size. Factory supplied mine was 19" which is too much. If it was used with a 19", the motor is stressed. At an easy cruise of about 3700 rpm - about 26mph, I get max of 2 mpg.
If you can get it at a good price - you'll be satisfied. But look at anything similar in the same price range.
I had a 2001 with the same engine. Buy a raincoat, this is a VERY wet boat. I kept mine for 40 days and sold it! Bay boat, fine, you will be happy. I boat in the Boston harbor area, anything more that 10-15 mph wind, you will be wet. I adjusted the trim, moved the motor up and down on its plate, bought a four bladed prop for bow lift, all to no avail.
This boat is a big seller up here and when I drive by one, all I see it the bow spray directed next to vs. behind the boat. Any cross wind, splash!!
Just my opinion -after owning, 2 grady's, Whalers, Seacrafts and Rampages. This was a mistake for my application. It was March and I was weak!
__________________ Chris
'98 Pursuit 2870 Offshore
'99 Grady White 247 Advance
'01 Hydra Sports 212
'87 Sea Ray 340 Express
'88 Boston Whaler 18 Outrage
'86 Rampage 24 Express I/B
'86 Grady White 204
'8? Cobia 18?
Joined the Captains Club today, as I got a lot of good thoughts/opinions in a really short time. Well worth the small $ invested. The site is addictive !!!!
dowop & beachblitz = I'd be particularly imterested in your take on comments provided by captainvfr, as you also had the same basic boat. Thanks to all.
In my experiences I would NOT call this a wet 21' boat. It has a respectable bow entry and sheds the water about as well as any 21 that I've been on (major exception would be my friends 21 Contender - and you are not comparing apples to apples here). Having said this, I do not know anything about the Boston Harbor area, however here in NJ we certainly get a taste for rough water. There are others on this board that currently have this boat and maybe they can help as well. Hydra-Sports 212CC is the EXACT same hull and I do not hear people suggesting that it is WET either.
The boat is a great compromise for me. Roomy, stable and shallow draft. On the windy/choppy days the ride will be slowed down and the cross wind will throw spray over the bow. Without the enclosure, you'll get a wet head. That's likely to happen to most wide, rounder bottom boats like this one. It's not a Grady, Seacraft, or Rampage but not as costly and the cockpit is bigger, more stable and the draft is less. I don't know the area your boating, but I can guess it is similar to Barnegat and Delaware Bays. On the wide open waters when the summer afternoon south winds blow on the weekend, I am not happy about a long run home. Barnegat bay runs north and south and fills with a steep, close 2'+ confused chop and it is impossible to find a consistently comfortable trim and course for the 15 miles home. Most of my problems are the boat wakes confusing the seas. Weekdays where the seas are consistent, I can usually find a good angle to run. Also, I can sneak across some thin water and save alot of bumpy running. I like to fish the bay and the shallows and this boat rocks less in the nearly constant weekend boat wakes of Barnegat. I have less trouble running in the ocean and have gone over 15 miles on the nice days. Also, been 15 miles north when the southerlys blow in unexpected and had to trudge home in close 4'-5' swells. Okay, maybe the wind was expected, but the fish were biting. A slow, tiresome ride but I didn't see any other 21' boats pass me.
IMO the compromise in this boat is toward more space, stability at rest/trolling and less draft. If you need a boat more for running long distance in choopy conditions, get one with less beam and more deadrise.
I also have a 2001 212wa and really like it. I have fished out as far as 40 miles in in off hatteras on a nice day. I generally keep within about 25 miles and am very weather conscious. I have a 150 FICHT on mine and it is really good on gas and has plenty of power with 85 gallons of gas and 3 guys. Sure there are some down sides to the boat but over all I have been very happy with it. As for it being a wet boat I have to say it really isn't. By the way it does have full canvas on it and if it is trimmed properly it really is quite dry. I have run mine in the Upper Bay, Hatteras, and out of Barnegate Bay for the last 4 years and it has been really good overall.
Thanks everyone !! Getting a survey done next Tuesday, plan on participating. BTW, PeteF, what is the "full canvas" you mentioned ? This one only has a bimini (so far!!)
It's official - I'm now the owner of this 2001 H/S 212 wa !!!!!!!!!!!! The survey was completed today - report card was all A's - only discrepancy found was a little leakage around the bottom of the forward cuddy hatch. Most likely from the snow that was on the boat from our weekend storm. No evidence of fabric discoloration or odor from below. Dealer will re-seat and seal hatch.
Thanks to all in providing insight and knowledge - it really helped to make this a fairly stress free transaction. Will post a picture or two when I figure out how --------
'01 HydraSport 212 Walkaround 
