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Ok, as you know (or maybe dont and dont care) I am looking to change/upgrade/move on from my current 210WA Fishhawk (identical to Hydrasport) boat. It seems to me that for certain reasons I can do better. Now, my FH has a 8'6" beam and modified vee hull that makes it very good on certain days but not so good on others. I was starting to move down the Grady path (for the hull) and noticed that the beam on the Grady's were smaller until the gulfstream (9' 3").
Question: What boat on the market today offers the widest beam with the best hull.
Opinions please!
__________________ "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
I second the Sailfsih 2360. Love mine, rides like a dream in ruff and choppy seas with a 22-24 deg deadrise, and has a 9 ft beam. Like Cracker said, take a couple of boats for a ride. There are a ton of boat shows coming up and what a perfect time to take a couple for a spin. I think the Saifish would put a big smile on your face as mine did after looking at many different 23-25 boats.
Don't be mislead by the 8 ft beam of the Grady Seafarer. It still has alot more cockpit space than most (if not all) WA boats with same LOA and 8'6" beam. On many of the two piece boats, that extra 6" beam is wasted air space under the gunwales. The three piece Grady uses all of that space under the gunwales. That's how it can have toe rails and still maintain a large cockpit area. Also, the Grady has a lot of room from helm to stern. They don't try to incorporate a big cuddy into a 22 ft fishing boat (though, through clever design, they still manage to fit a fresh water sink and plenty of storage in there. Not to mention a toilet).
I'm just pointing this out because if your going purely by printed specs in order to do your comparison, you will be mislead when it comes to the Seafarer. Had 5 adults fishing out of my Seafarer yesterday and it was not an issue.
Also be aware that beam is a hull characteristic (one of many) that can affect ride. A wider beam can mean a harsher ride. Not necessarily so, but it can.
That Sailfish 234 WAC has an 18 degree deadrise and an 8'6" beam. That sounds like a pounder. I think that's more of a cruise around the bay with the family type boat. On the other hand, that Sailfish 2660, looks like a great boat.
On the subject of Sailfish, one thing I've noticed that makes them stand out in my opinion (and this is going purely by printed specs) is that they incorporate a sharp deadrise into many of their modules (the 234 being an exception) and they don't seem to be down on weight like some other manufactorers (Key West, Scout and Sea Hunt come to mind). For those two reasons, I would want to check them out if I was looking.
But the Grady Seafarer is a great boat. If you haven't already done so, go check one out in person. I think you'll be impressed.
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
I have a sailfish 246 WA.....it's really a sportcraft 232 WA.....18 degree deadrise.....it does pound pretty hard.
It helps to look at paper stats....but you have to stand in the cockpit and see what it feels like. I'm gonna restore
a 74 seacraft sceptre for an offshore boat myself.....
Funny how everytime I ask on this forum, the Seafarer comes up. Makes me think I should be focusing on them. The only issue I see is the price tag. I am not that concerned with that if I am paying for ride and not just the Grady White name.
__________________ "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
Wide beam and best hull don't always work together. You sound like you're looking for a better ride? Well, the wider the beam the more surface for the wave to hit and the harder the ride. For the best ride (generally speaking) the classic 3:1 ratio of length to beam should apply. Just something to keep in mind. You can't beam up a hull of the same length without paying the price in ride.
Loose Crew: Thats why I am a member of this site! I have never heard of the 3:1 ration of length to beam. So, with that, and simply speaking, an 8' beam would be appropriate for a 24' boat? Then add hull specifics like the Grady Seav2 or other hull styles, strakes, etc to get the best riding boat. To answer your question, yes I am looking for a better ride. I am very interested in the softest, driest ride while maintaining a decent speed in the places I spend the most time. Long Island sound and Narragansett Bay.
__________________ "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
Cappy - You're asking questions in the right place. That ratio is sometimes referred to as a carolina ratio. You see it in the big boats too. Look at the classic 45 Hatteras from the 80's. 14'6" beam, 45'8" length. You also want to look at the hull. It should have a good sharp entry which then tapers off to your transom deadrise. There are some "deep V" boat out there that have 18 degrees at the transom and only 25 at the bow. This equates to a very stiff ride. The boat that I think has raised the bar in that size range is the 23 Regulator. Awesome ride. Contender is in there too. Albemarle makes a great 24 in an express and a center console, however she is an inboard with a jackshaft and IO which turns some people off. Feel free to drop me an email with any questions.
Cappy - You're asking questions in the right place. That ratio is sometimes referred to as a carolina ratio. You see it in the big boats too. Look at the classic 45 Hatteras from the 80's. 14'6" beam, 45'8" length. You also want to look at the hull. It should have a good sharp entry which then tapers off to your transom deadrise. There are some "deep V" boat out there that have 18 degrees at the transom and only 25 at the bow. This equates to a very stiff ride. The boat that I think has raised the bar in that size range is the 23 Regulator. Awesome ride. Contender is in there too. Albemarle makes a great 24 in an express and a center console, however she is an inboard with a jackshaft and IO which turns some people off. Feel free to drop me an email with any questions.
While I agree with you in theory about 3 to 1, I have yet to see a production boat by a (common) major manufacturer step much outside 9 foot or so on a 23 footer, so I think your advice is moot on the beam. I also think that Seacraft has to be included in your list as it is a classic and great ride!
__________________ "I'm suing the THT and the guy that made it."
Cracker - You make a good point although a 9 foot beam on a 23 is in my opinion too wide. However, in this small of a boat the entry and deaderise become big issues as well. Seacraft makes a great boat though I haven't been on one in years. Sailfish and Scout are both very popular in the segment as well and I understand both ride pretty well.
My 24' Rampage has a 10' beam. It's a 1987 but most people think it looks about 3-4 years old. It's definitely not the fastest boat out there (or even close!), but it's stable, very dry, comfortable, a great fishing platform, and pretty fuel efficient. It's not for sale, but there are some Rampages from the late '80's out there. Good luck. -Glen
Widest Beam and Best Hull on a 22' - 23' Boat 
