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Random Quote: he ain't afraid of hard work, i seen him sit down right in the middle of it.
I'm looking for an express cuddy or W/A between 21 and 24 ft with a self bailing cockpit. I would like a Merc I/O which limits my choices. I've looked at Seaswirl, Baha, and Sportcraft. My dream boat would have a high freeboard, larger deck with a smaller cuddy, and the ability to mount a kicker. I'm not that interested in the deadrise because if its rough I don't go and if it gets rough I go slow. I do NEED a cutty for the wife.
Thanks
Tim
In addition to the brands you mentioned, I believe trophy makes an I/O walkaround. So many of the boats it sounds like your interested in are outboard powered. Some that don't make I/O powered boats anymore, used to. Grady White and Proline come to mind. Just curious, why have you ruled out an outboard? Stiegercraft makes an I/O boat I do believe. Carolina Classic as well.
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
Brad
I gave up on outboards. I lost 10 weekends of fishing in the last 2 years with an outboard that was under warrenty. I tried 3 different dealers with no success. I see that you are from Pittsburgh and have a Yamaha. Who do you use for service?
I've had great success with Merc I/Os and can repair most components. The reason I went to an outboard was winterizing and pulling the outdrive to lube the universal joint was a pia. I also figured I could get a couple more weeks of fishing in before winterizing. Instead of saving time in the fall I lost time in the summer. Thanks for your input, maybe I can see if there is a gentley used Proline around.
Tim
Tim43 - 3/1/2008 9:40 AM Brad I gave up on outboards. I lost 10 weekends of fishing in the last 2 years with an outboard that was under warrenty. I tried 3 different dealers with no success. I see that you are from Pittsburgh and have a Yamaha. Who do you use for service? I've had great success with Merc I/Os and can repair most components. The reason I went to an outboard was winterizing and pulling the outdrive to lube the universal joint was a pia. I also figured I could get a couple more weeks of fishing in before winterizing. Instead of saving time in the fall I lost time in the summer. Thanks for your input, maybe I can see if there is a gentley used Proline around. Tim
Tim43,
I do all of my own maintenance on my Yamaha. If I have a warranty issue, I would take it to the dealership I bought it from, that being Beaver Park marina in Lorain, Ohio. I agree that MerCruiser I/Os are very reliable. Not only that, around here there are many people that service them. BTW, '94 models and up, you no longer need to pull the outdrive to lube the u-joints on the Merc I/Os.. They have a "permalube" u-joint. They also have a grease fitting on the coupler.
Now's a good time to be shopping for a used boat. There are plenty around. You should be able to find a good deal out there somewhere. Good luck.
Brad
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
I own a Grady White Adventure 208 with a 150 Yamaha. Great boat, although if I had it to do over again I think I would get the 200 hp. Ihad a 19' glass Starcraft with a Merc. I/O. I prefer the outboard. The advantages I found are lower maintenance, more deck room, longer season, and last but not least I am able to run in skinnier water. This is a big factor in light ofour Great Lakes water problems. I am able to get out of my harbor where other boats of my size with I/O cannot. My advice to youis to do it right the first time and buy a Grady, Pursuit,Whaler or something in that range. Ihave friendswho are veryhappywith their Trophy, Sportcraft, andProlinebut they are not a Gardy.
__________________ J-cubed - GW 208/150 Yamaha, Au Gres, MI
Equipment=$$$$ Moment=priceless
I have a Boston Whaler conquest 21 with a 200 optimax and it real is a great boat. I agree with J-cubeb its nice to trim up a outboard and make it through low water arias to get out. I love those GW Adventure 208 and would have got one but I fell into a great deal on my BW and could not pass it up. Now that I have the Whaler I would not trad it for any boat in that size range. Too bad they no longer make it its a great boat. The 205 conquest is not the same.
I can appreciate that an outboard has worked for most. It hasn't worked for me. The Steigercraft does seems to have a excellent reputation. I can.t seem to find an I/O on the internet. Bruce I noticed a Denali 2260 while checking out the 24 Are You familiar with this model? It seems that it would be closer to the size boat I'm looking for.
21 starcraft islander has merc i/o,or a rear bracket for outboards. Very economical boat. It has it's limitations like any other boat. Everything is a trade-off. If you want to pay for glitz, it's not what you want. It is a seaworthy boat that is reasonably comfortable at an economical cost. You will find quite a few on the great lakes.
I can appreciate that an outboard has worked for most. It hasn't worked for me. The Steigercraft does seems to have a excellent reputation. I can.t seem to find an I/O on the internet. Bruce I noticed a Denali 2260 while checking out the 24 Are You familiar with this model? It seems that it would be closer to the size boat I'm looking for.
Hello,
I know several very happy fisherman on Lake Ontario with the Starcraft Islander. For me, it is a bit noisy and a little too light when the wind picks up, but not too bad. As mentioned above, every boat has it's tradeoffs.
No-one has mentioned Dusky. They are a good small company that sells direct. Very solid boats from what I have heard.
zebramussel81, I never noticed it as being noisy, but my wife says I need to see the ear doctor, so that may account for it. Light, economical, and does not have many features that I would like, but it has it's moments-as one of the guys I worked with always says-it is what it is. Believe me, if I was a millionaire, I would have a much nicer boat, but I am only a hundredaire.
Thanks for all the replies
I fished on a 19ft Starcraft with my wife. The wife had a hard time keeping the boat on track going into the wind and my friend kept the speed up to plane the boat ( No trim tabs) resulting in a most unpleasant ride. Bottom line, wife is against aluminum boats. I may see if I can get on a friends 21ft . this summer. I'm sure the ride would be different with tabs and a little more weight.
Based on what you said I think you should seriously consider the 26' penn yan pro hunter. Check one out... Very stable boat with a wide beam. Not considered to be easily trailerable but possible. The boat has everything you could need for trolling the great lakes. You will benefit by trolling with a kicker. If you don't have one, you may need bags or a thrust plate to slow your speed. Some can be found selling for @ 15000. Good luck
Damian
I would not rule out aluminum boats from your experience with a starcraft. I would check out the welded aluminum boats like these: http://kingfisherboats.net/ depending on your budget. I don't know if they have an IO though, you would have to settle on an outboard.
I own a Harbercraft (19' 6", made by same company) and it takes big water better than many larger boats. It has a lot to do with the deadrise, which is 18 degrees on these boats. I ride Lake Superior a lot, even have been across to Isle Royal... 40 miles offshore.
By the way, with the price of gas headed the direction it is, one of those light weight Starcraft Islanders might not be such a bad idea. I had an '84 18 foot Islander. Good boat. I actually wish I still had it. Sure, it didn't ride as good as my Grady White does, but it could still handle off shore rough water and you didn't need as big a tow vehicle which is another nice benefit with gas prices the way they are.
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
Lots of great boats for sale rite now with the gas going to make 5 bucks a gallon this summer in the marinas their are some deals to be had
make sure you get some thing thats good on gas or should i say as good as a boat can get
Advise on new boat 
