Here we will display boat reviews sent in by our visitors. We will try to provide a picture when possible even if the picture is not of the owners actual boat. These reviews are submitted from the owner and from Staff writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of SportFishingFlorida.net
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1996 15.5' Scout 155 CC 2000 19' Sea Pro CC 1995 19' Key West CC 2000 20.3' Dusky 203 CC 1980 21' Hydra-Sports CC 1995 21' Boston Whaler Outrage CC 1999 23' Regulator CC 1998 23.5' Sea Pro 235 CC 1994 25.5' Seacat Catamaran 2001 25.9' Shamrock Cuddy 1998 26' World Cat Catamaran 1998 26' Grady White F26 Catamaran 1988 27' 2509 Trophy Hardtop 1998 28' Intrepid Open CC 2001 22' Pathfinder CC 1990 24' Sea Ray Laguna 2001 21' HydraSports WAC
This boat is owned by
Andy Cheadle, cheadlea@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
This 21' Hydra-Sports has an eight foot beam and drafts
roughly 18". Andy is running a 225hp Johnson that
pushes the boat 45mph. Fuel capacity is 80 gallons
giving an apprx. range of 150 miles.
| Layout |
Center Console with T-top |
| Range | 80 gallons. 150 miles |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Good ride in anything under 3 footers. After that it gets a little slappy at speed but I would expect any 21 footer to. I can run it at 15 knots in 4 foot seas. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | 3 but you can fish 4. Fish is ok but with a kicker that I have on the back you need to have someone fishing in the front due to weight issues and water coming through the splashwell into the cockpit |
| Storage | Two raised front side lockers that keep items totally dry. One small front compartement that is semi dry. One anchor compartment. One forward fishbox or wet storage. One semidry mid locker. Center consoule with dry storage. Two small rear compartents that are semi dry. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | For a 20 year old boat it does the job. The gel coat is cracking and hinges are starting to fail but that comes with age. All and all its holding up very well. |
| Trailering | I pull it with a 1998 blazer with a vortech V6. It pulls fairly well but does fishtail some and can make the blazer struggle a little |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | contender, hydrasports, yellowfin, rabalo, pursuit |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No |
| What would you change about this boat? | higher gunnals, closed transom, no raised lockers in the front, NO teak, more V in hull |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Sure. Its was a good deal for the money. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | I have done a bunch to my boat and probably would expect at least 6500 for it . |
| Other Comments | None |
1995 21' Boston Whaler Outrage
(not
actual boat, same model)This boat review by Randy
Graham, jrgcpa@nettally.com
, Randy is running a Mercury 225 EFI which will push
this rig roughly 45 mph. The draft with the motor up is
apprx. 15" and has a wide 8.5' beam.
| Layout | center console, two 6' fish boxes in floor, 30 gallon live well in leaning post |
| Fuel and Range | 122 gallons |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | ok for 21 footer. Probably not a smooth as some, but much dryer than most. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | 4 people easily fish from this boat. Strong points are live bait setup, leaning post with bailt well/prep area becomes kinda like an island found in modern kitchens with all around access and grab rails to hold onto if its rough. Not the new "european" transom style so you have a lot of room in the back of the boat. Free flooding fish boxes in the floor are possible because of whaler's positive floatation. Boxes are large enough to hold over 20 groupers (kept alive) or up to 6' whohoo, king, etc. |
| Storage | plenty of dry storage in the bow area step-up. Deceptive amount of room in the center console. see above for fish boxes. Anchor locker holds 300' of rode and is built specically to hold a 13# danforth anchor. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | we fish it hard, but I still get comments about its overall new looks |
| Trailering | not heavy, not light. pull it with a 1998 ford expedition 4x4 |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | 24 outrage, 26 outrage, 28' whitewater |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No |
| What would you change about this boat? | I can't think of anything except making the hull ride a little smoother But I don't think that's possible to also keep the boat as dry and wide as it is. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | yes...without hesitation |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | $25-30,000 depending on year of motor |
| Other Comments | Whaler stopped making this model in 1998. A mistake on their part I think, but apparently the boat buying public likes the new euro-transom look that seems to rob the new 21' outrage of a lot of it's rear fishing room. |
(not
actual boat, same model)This boat
belongs to a good friend of mine, but I get to use it quite
a bit so I have had some time develop some opinions about
this rig! The boat sports a Mariner 225 EFI which pushes it
42 mph when the water is dead calm. The approx. draft
is 15" and has a 8.5' beam.
| Layout | center console, cut-out transom, portable head and sink in console |
| Fuel and Range | 121 gallons |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | The ride is fair for a 23 footer, I notice it pounds severely when landing from a wave. This seems a bit more harsh than some other boats of this length I have been on. That being said the ride over moderate seas...let' say 2-3 feet is very acceptable. This boat is hands down the driest center console I have been on, this may be the trade off for a little pounding! |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | 4 people can fish very comfortably from this rig as long as two of the folks don't mind fishing along side the center console. Trying to fish 4 from the smallish rear cockpit would be a bit uncomfortable. The gunnels are the right height for bottom fishing and there are thigh bolsters for comfort. |
| Storage | the Sea Pro has tons of storage, from the two huge fish boxes in the bow, to the walk in center console (with head and sink) there is a small tool storage area right in front of your knees in the center console, and another large storage box on the transom corner. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | This rig has held up very well structurally with no stress cracks anywhere to be found! I have noticed that the boat seems to rattle and sound a bit hollow on those hard landings but I have seen no indication of poor workmanship anywhere. I think Sea Pro could have done a better job with fit and finish, the boat just seems to have a lot of fixtures coming loose, but again seems very sound structurally |
| Trailering | I can easily pull this rig with my 1995 V8 Grand Cherokee, the tandem axle trailer with brakes is a must though! |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | I would take a close look at the 23' Sea Fox, 22' Proline Sport, and the Pro Sports 23' Blue Water, but the Sea Pro is a tough boat to beat for the money. |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No |
| What would you change about this boat? | I would definitely prefer a closed transom (which Sea Pro offers) and have also fished off the Sea Pro 235 Walk Around Cuddy which is much more roomy for fishing and offers a much better ride, while being the exact same hull. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | I would recommend this boat for it's price, however I think I would take a very close look at a few others, and it would probably boil down to personal preference on layout. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | 20k |
| Other Comments | this boat is extremely tall, the sides are some of the higher I have seen on the market for a boat in this class. This provides a very "big boat" feel and a super dry ride! |
(not
actual boat, same model)This
review was sent in by Kevin Anderson, kanders@ufbi.ufl.edu
, this Scout has a 60hp Yamaha that will push this rig 38mph
on GPS according to Kevin. With a 12" draft you
should be able to fish the flats with relative ease. The
beam is 82".
| Layout | Center console, sliding bench seat, front and aft casting deck, live well in front of console. Modified vee, foam filled, self bailing cockpit. |
| Fuel and Range | 14 gallon tank & I always carry an extra 5 gallons. 4-5 mpg so range is 75- 95 miles. 55-70 miles without extra fuel. |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Does surprisingly well for a small boat in anything less than 3 feet. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | This is a rig built for 1 to 2 people. Most often, I fish by myself. I enjoy this rig because of its versatility & economy. On relatively calm days I can run out 11-15 miles to get to grouper spots- I can also get into some fairly skinny water around creeks for reds. |
| Storage | This is where this boat comes up short. There is a bow storage area that I use for dry stuff & lunches. There is a small area under the console and a farily large area under the bench seat. These are for safety gear, tools, backup equipment & spare props. Under the aft casting deck is where the 5 gallons of gas & paddle go. I have installed spring tie downs on the aft casting deck to hold a 75 qt marine cooler which is the fish/bait box. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | This boat has exceeded all expectations regarding general fit & finish. Gel coat is perfect (except where I've run up on oyster bars). The center console was beginning to come off the deck two years ago, but I put in bigger screws & lots of 5200 and it hasn't been a problem since. Recently, I became concerned about the low capacity bilge pump- this happened after I stuffed the boat in following seas into the side of a 4 footer- the boat did fine- got back up on a plane even though I was shin deep in seawater & it bailed out eventually. I just finished installing a backup Rule bilge pump at a slightly higher point in the bilge for this type of situation- a fix I would recommend to everyone who only has that little 500 gph pump. |
| Trailering | That has not been a problem. I have a F350 powerstroke- clearly too much truck for my little boat. That is why I am always looking for bigger boats in the 26-28 range. When I do get a bigger boat, I will likely hang on to the Scout. |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | I have been very impressed with Scout. If I had enough money at the time of purchase, I would have loved to moved up to a 175 model. |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No |
| What would you change about this boat? | I think it is a well designed boat for its size and class. The modified vee does remarkably well in those 2-3 footers. The only thing I can think of is that they should have put in bigger access hatches to areas like the bilge, gas tank, etc. Some of this I have fixed myself. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Absolutely. A very well-made boat in its class. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | I think they go for about $11k new, seen used ones for $8-9k |
| Other Comments | Very versatile, economical, well built, entry-level boat. Perfect for someone who likes to fish alone or with one partner. I wish scout made 26-28 foot twin I/Os- I would be one one in a heartbeat. |
(not
actual boat, same model)This review
was sent in by Don Hartley, Lhartley@tampabay
, Don has this Intrepid rigged with twin 200 hpdi Yamaha's
and the boat runs 53mph. This rig has an 8.5' beam and
draft roughly 2 feet.
| Layout | center console open fisherman |
| Fuel and Range | 205 gallons, range approx. 400 miles |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | rides pretty good in 3to 4 footers soft landings |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | I`d say 4 comfortable |
| Storage | plenty of storage, large fish boxes and live well |
| How has the rig held up with time? | nice fit and finish some small stress cracks where the arch mounts to the boat. |
| Trailering | 3 axle trailer pulls pretty easy. tow with half ton GMC pickup |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | I think if I had it to do over again I would consider a inboard with twin diesel and cabin for overnight trips to middle grounds elbow |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No but there is a lot of the ska type boats out there. |
| What would you change about this boat? | Maybe a larger fuel tank |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Yes Intrepid is top of the line boat rides nice runs fast. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | 70.000 or 75.000 mol |
| Other Comments | My boat has forward seating which I could live without.It is nice for comfort and storage buttakes up some fishing room.I have thought about removeing them. but then I think about resale so maybe I`ll leave them .Also it has radar arch I think I would prefer a T-top. |
This
review sent in by Ken, jstp21a@prodigy.com
, this boat is rigged with twin Mercury 150 (Carb) which
push the boat 50mph. The beam is 8.5' and the draft is
roughly 3.5'
| Layout | This is your basic walkaround, with higher rails then average, wider walkaround width than normal, and an extended swim platform. |
| Fuel and Range | 150 gallons, at 1.3 mpg, about 140 miles range. |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Rides fine in 2-3 chop, tough to stay on plane in 4' or worse chop. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | There are portable bench seats across the stern - with them stowed, you can fish 4 people comfortably, 6 if you use the bow. |
| Storage | Storage is the strong point in this boat - a berth underneath the helm is 3' deep and 7' wide - lots of storage. A rod rack in the cabin holds 6 rods - I added a second one underneath it, and hold 12 rods up front, and 3 in a smaller rack in the storage area. The port shelf in the cabin was removed to make room - it is useless anyway. The sink has a cabinet under it, with lots of additional storage. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | Fit and finish is holding up very well. Not any sign of the normal Bayliner quality control problems (I had an 1987 2455 Cierra before this boat). |
| Trailering | Boat is 4200 pounds - too heavy for me to trailer. |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | I looked at everthing at boat shows for two years before buying this boat. For $20,000 more I could have got the Grady, $10,000 more the Hydrasport, etc., but I just didn't think it was worth it. |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No one does. |
| What would you change about this boat? | There were quite a few minor things that needed to be changed on this boat. The fish boxes drained to an open box in the bilge, I put in pumps that go overboard. The emergency shut off switches were right where your knee is - I relocated them. The anchor does not sit in the bow pulpit with an additional anchor hold down. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Like most Bayliner owners, I feel you get "more boat for the money" with the Trophy, but you are settling for lower quality than some of the competition. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | Used 2509 Hardtop with twin 1988 150 Mercs goes for about $35,000 in early 2001. New price is lower $50s. |
| Other Comments | The Trophy is one of Bayliner's premier boat lines, a cut above their other boats. Lots of people bash Bayliners, especially the people who have never owned one. I run this boat hard - offshore on a regular basis, 60 trips a year, 150 engine hours a year. I have no sign of any structural defects. I really was not excited about buying another Bayliner, but after several boat shows, I decided this boat had far more features, especially storage space (I wreck fish a lot), than the competition. Every problem I had with the boat was fixed under warranty (like canvas that didn't fit, fish wells that did not drain properly, seat adjusting latches that broke - replaced with a stronger pin). I would definately buy this boat again. I added a third battery, RACOR gas filters, hour meters, Flowscan, and pumps for the fishwells. |
1998 Grady White F26 Catamaran
(picture
not Charles' boat)
Submitted by Charles Simmons, cssimmons@home.com
. This 26 foot cat is rigged with twin Yamaha's (carb) which
push the boat roughly 45kts. The beam is 8'5" and
drafts appx. 18"
| Layout | 26' Walk-Around cabin catamaran with head. |
| Fuel and Range | 200 Gallons. Approximately 300 nautical miles range. |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Fantastic! Totally dry! No pounding at all! Handles great at sea, but, on a slick surface, it steers like a dead hog. Auto-Pilot makes it great. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | Lots. Huge fish box and live well. Smaller ice chest. Obviously, the cabin gives me room to have a lot of tackle, etc., and leave it onboard. |
| Storage | Lots. Huge fish box and live well. Smaller ice chest. Obviously, the cabin gives me room to have a lot of tackle, etc., and leave it onboard. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | Great. I have only had one problem - with the rub rails. But GW and Carrabelle Marina fixed immediately. |
| Trailering | Do not trailer often (whew!). I fish out of Bay City Lodge in Apalachicola, where I keep the boat on the trailer. I like having fresh water for the last few miles coming in after fishing. |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | Pursuit, Whaler, other Grady Whites. |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No. It also appears GW has discontinued their cats, as I don't see them in their online product line anymore. |
| What would you change about this boat? | I would love to have 2 or 3 extra feet in length, and 2 more feet in the beam. I would eliminate, or make one side only, the Walk-Around, in order to give more width to the cabin and helm areas. I would also eliminate the head, as I have yet to allow anyone to use it! |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Recommend! |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | NO idea! |
| Other Comments | I have run this boat a lot! I mostly troll and fish well offshore. Many trips to Middle Grounds, etc. The boat and Yamahas have been virtually trouble-free. I will probably look at new Yamaha 4-strokes after they have been out awhile. Electronics: DGPS Chartplotter: Northstar 951XD. I love it, but would sure like a larger screen. Radar: Furuno 1712 LCD 24 mile. Works great, but wish it had more power and a narrower beam width. Depthfinder: Furuno 582 CRT. Does great. Would do better with a different transducer. Catamarans don't accomodate transducers very well! Depthfinder: Lowrance X65. Does fine with the same transducer limitations as above mentioned. VHF: ICOM M45. Never a problem. Auto-Pilot: Cetrek 715. Works great --BUT, I have to keep 2 control power units, one on unit and one spare, repaired and back on boat, in order to have replacement. They go out every few months. I also just got a Canon electric downrigger (I've had two amnuals for some time) and love it! |
(Robert's
boat not pictured)
Submitted by Robert Hunter. huntersmagic@earth.net This Key West is rigged with a Yamaha 115 and will run roughly 40mph. The beam is 90" and the draft is roughly 18".
| Layout | It's a 19' Center Consol with a Tee top |
| Fuel and Range | It holds 70 gallons, I've never checked the range but the engine does excellent on gas |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | This boat does very well for a shorter boat, it handles a moderate chop with little pounding and will get up on top of 2-3 footers and fly along at 35 with no problem |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | Comfortably Three but can fish Four two in the front & two in the back, We love too fish on our boat, It's not too big that you can't aford to go fishing, And It's not too small that you can't have lot's of fun with it |
| Storage | We'll It's not a cuddy, Dry storage is OK but, Trying too put big fish in a small box don't work Like a big GROUPER., grouper digger!!!!! |
| How has the rig held up with time? | Everthing is still in real good shape |
| Trailering | Trailering is good but the tee top chatches a lot of wind I pull it with a 1991 GMC K2500 350 4x4 Ext.Cab With 191,000 Miles on this truck And It still pulls GOOD! |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | None |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | NO |
| What would you change about this boat? | Side boxes, Pullpit, Bigger fish box, Under floor storage |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Recommend! |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | New was about $19.000 Now should be $13.500 with the tee top added and Elec.Box |
| Other Comments | All around good boat
We Swim, Water ski, Dive, Joy ride, And most of
ALL HAVE FUNNNNNN
|
1999 23' Regulator Center Console
not
actual boat shown... but same model and year
This review was submitted by Capt. Stanman, www.captainstanman.com he runs twin HPDI's which will push the rig roughly 57mph.
| Layout | Center Console with a 50 gallon above deck under the leaning post live well. |
| Fuel and Range | 184 gallons Range at 2.3 MPG is 423 miles. |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | This is my 11th boat. Best ride I ever experienced, will ride better than most 27's. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | 4 max |
| Storage | 3 fish boxes. 1 huge box that is 6 feet long and big enough for me to put a porta potty in. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | Excellent, it would pass for brand new. |
| Trailering | Loadmaster bunk Trailer with 15" tires and 12" disc brakes. Can pull with my OD on. |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | 26' of 32' Regulator. |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | NO |
| What would you change about this boat? | I would remove the live well from the deck and make it above deck. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Highly recommend |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | Estimate about $62,000. New rigs list around $75,000.x |
| Other Comments | Was in and out of 11
boats before I bought this boat. It was the ride
the "Tank line" construction and fit and
finish that sold me. Yes they cost more but you
only get what you pay for. This 23 weighs 3800#,
you have to go to some 32 footers that weigh this
much. Heavy is good in the ocean and it doesnt
hurt this boats speed.
|
not
actual boat shown but same model and year
This review was submitted by Nick Hammond, Nickjenny@worldnet.att.net rigged with twin 135 Merc's this SeaCat will do about 51mph. The draft is reported at apprx. 18"
| Layout | 25.5 foot cathull center console 52 gallon well,leaning post, t-top with crowsnest, 6.5 ft fishbox, 4 front storage compartments, rear battery boxes with seats, dive platform and ladder between motors, furuno LCD FF,Garmin GPS. |
| Fuel and Range | 132 gallons in twin 66 tanks |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Excellent, best I have experienced, 3ft at 45mph, 6ft up to 28 mph or 16 knots into anything. Following seas or side seas the boat eats up just about anything. Dry ride unless 20 + knots. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | Very stable, fishes 4 comfortably, 6 if grouper digging or rotating rods. Handles the weight well. |
| Storage | Tons of storage. I once stowed 15 scuba tanks below with 5 total divers on the 3 dive trip. Went through 4 footers all day. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | Boat consists of bottom hull mated to upper liner. Hull is obviously very strong, no stress fractures at all, liner shows stress in 4 corners plus all the dropped tanks and anchors. I take the boat out in heavy seas and screws become loose often. The side liner horizontal rod holders have really been abused - still there and useful but the screws literally have had their heads bashed off on several. |
| Trailering | Big heavy boat. I estimate 8000# with gear,motors,gas,trailer. Used a Suburban 1500 4X4 - did ok but our trailer brakes died years ago. This rig pushes anything around when braking. Now have a 454 chevy dually crewcab 1987. Pulls good but still feel the weight when stopping. Just don't want to dump money into trailer brakes that never friggin last. |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | Contender 21 or 25, Seacat 21 (economimical, good ride, not expensive, easy trailering), maybe Glacier Bay 22 (beautiful ride, well made). |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | Yes, Sportscraft has the rights to the hull design, now called Sportcat. Make is very similar nearly identical. |
| What would you change about this boat? | Fiberglass the liner to the hull or nylock it, reinforce the liner. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Yes, absolutely, would also recommend the 21ft Seacat/Sportcat. Also, Contenders ride good with good fit and finish but are tippy in comparison to cats, less room and storage also. They trailer easier though. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | My brother and I paid $29,000 4 years ago without trailer - you be the judge. Prices have gone up consistently |
| Other Comments | In a nutshell, I
recommend this hull setup - dry, fast, comfortable
ride. The boat is pretty big, the 21 footer is
also a great performer. Otherwise Contenders I
feel are the best monohull around, especially
slightly older ones 3+ years old. You need to ride
in one to understand.
|
2000 Sea Pro 19' Center Console
not
actual boat shown but same model and year
This review was submitted by Rich T, richt@mfi.net rigged with a 125 Mercury Blue Water the rig will run 45mph on a calm day. Draft is roughly 18"
| Layout | CENTER CONSOLE WITH BIMINI TOP.2 SWIVEL TYPE SEATS 2 JUMP SEATS IN STERN,TWO CAN SIT ON TOP OF THE PADDED COOLER.TWO ON THE PADDED FISH BOX COVER. |
| Fuel and Range | 56 GALS. 200 MILES WOULD BE A STRETCH |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | NOT BAD SOMETIME I GET WET IF I DONT PLANE OUT.IF I PLANE OUT I TAKE A BEATING.(i have bad knees & back) |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | 2 FROM BOW 2 FROM STERN WOULD BE PUSHING IT ALTHOUGH THERE IS ROOM I NORMALLY FISH WITH 1 PARTNER NO FISHING PROBLEMS. WIFE IS MY PARTNER WE HAVE OTHER NON BOAT RELATED PROBLEMS.LIKE MUTINY STUFF. |
| Storage | LOTS OF STORAGE,I ALSO USE ONE OF THE 2 LIVE WELLS FOR DRY STORAGE FISH BOX IS LARGE "V" SHAPED UNDER BOW SEATING LID.6 VERICAL ROD HOLDERS,ALSO 2 ON EACH SIDE FOR TROLLING,6+FOR ROD STORAGE IN SIDES STORAGE UNDER CENTER CONSOLE IS NOT TOTALY DRY. WATER COMES DOWN FROM BEHIND GAUGES AND SWITCHESIF RAINING OR WASHING. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | EVERY THING IS HOLDING UP WELL THE BOAT IS GARAGE KEPT.A FEW WAVY SPOTS CAN BE SEEN IF VIEWED AT AN ANGLE. THESE ARE IN THE MOLD. |
| Trailering | BOAT TRAILERS WELL BEHIND A CHEVY ASTRO VAN. THE TRAILER IS NOT SET UP EXACTLY CORRECT. I HAVE TOO MUCH TOUNGE WEIGHT. |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | I HAD A 96 PROLINE ALSO A GREAT BOAT.I WILL CHECK SEA PRO & PROLINE NEXT YEAR. |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No |
| What would you change about this boat? | ADD TRIM GAUGE AND TEMP GAUGE. I DID! CHANGE COLOR TO PURE WHITE VS TINTED OFF WHITE. WIFES PREFERENCE. (ELIMINATES SOME OF THE ABOVE MUTINY ISSUES) |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Yes |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | NEW WITH MOTOR AND TRAILER $20,000. NOW AFTER ADDING ELECTRONICS ,RADIO,GAUGES MAYBE $14,500 |
| Other Comments | SEA PRO AGREED TO PIVOT THE WIND SCREEN AND HINGE THE SS GRAB RAIL IN ORDER TO FIT THE BOAT IN MY STANDARD 7FT HEIGHT CLEARANCE GARAGE DOOR. IT WORKS GREAT NO TOOLS REQUIRED TO SWING THEM DOWN. I WOUL LIKE TO SEE ADJUSTABLE HIGHT SEATS WITH SHOCK ABSORBING FEATURE FOR ROUGH SEAS. |
This boat review was submitted to us by Choop@bellsouth.net he has outfitted this rig with twin 175 Johnson Fichts which push the big Cat at roughly 45 knots. Draft is estimated at 18"
| Layout | Center console. |
| Fuel and Range | 240 gallons in two tanks. I think I get around 2mpg. So conservatively, 400 miles. |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Great. Going home in 6 foot beam seas at 20 kts is doable. When ever I feel like it's a rough riding boat, I just bring someone out who has a mono hull into a 4 foot steep sea and listen to their exclamations about how good the boat rides. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | Snapper fishing, 4-5. Trolling 4. I've fished 5-6 on this boat plenty of times, and it has nver been a problem. |
| Storage | Big 300Qt rear fishbox. 90qt and 128qt as well, one of which is built in. Two very large in-floor lockable boxes, one for rods. Enormous storage in console, front seat and anchor locker. Very large leaning post baitwell. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | Some minor stress cracks. Other wise, it has held up very well. I had back up bilge pumps installed and the guy gave me the hole saw cut out (which is 2 feet above the bottom) and it is cored 1" thick |
| Trailering | 1/2 ton suburban. I don't do it that often, but when I do it's no real problem. |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | I like the fit and finish on Contender and Regulator, but it would be hard to go to a mono hull. |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No |
| What would you change about this boat? | A few more rod holders, although it has 10. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Yes |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | 48k, $77,000 new. |
| Other Comments | It took a while to learn to trim the boat, but now it rides like a dream. If you don't trim them way up in a flat sea, they can get skitish. |
2001 25'.9 220 Shamrock Cuddy Cabin
This review submitted by Wyatt@stjohnsriver.com this rig is fitted with a PCM SEAMAX 310 HP Inboard which push the rig approximately 40 knts. Draft is estimated at 20"
| Layout | Center console with small foward cuddy cabin 6'6" Bunks and Porta Potty |
| Fuel and Range | 98 Gallons, 5.5 Gallons per hour at criuse speed. 22-25 Knots |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Good. If you are running into rough seas you can trim the bow down and she rides real secure. The only complaint in rough water is that the keel will cause the boat to stick on a wave causing the boat to Pitch. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | 3 is the most comfortable but 4 can be accomodated with ease. |
| Storage | The fish hold and live well are adaqute. However, The cooler for food and drinks does not exist. You need to carry another cooler causing a trip hazard if you had to walk around the t-top while hooked up. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | New boat, so far so good |
| Trailering | I pull it with a Ford F-150 4X4 with a 302. The truck pulls fine at low end but can't develop the required HP at high way speed. I am looking to trade it in on a 2 wheel drive F250 351. |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | None. I looked at several and chose this one due to gas milage and stability |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No. although I believe Mako made something similiar. |
| What would you change about this boat? | I would put latches on the engine covers and I would build in some sort of cooler. Small is better than none. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Yes, and all who have fished it agree. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | 55K rigged with radar, GPS Chartplotter, and Fishfinder |
| Other Comments | The boat wieghts in at about 5000 lbs wet. Don't buy the locking electronics dash. It, in my opinion, is not worth the money because it can be unscrewed with ease. Some of the Screws in the boat were improperly seated from the factory and have had to be re-installed. Some of the gel coat has chipped from minor bumps such as going down a dirt road and rubbing the forward rubber bow spindle. Any questions fell free to write. |
This review submitted by Chris censing@xtalwind.net Chris runs a Johnson Ocean Pro 150 which pushes the boat at roughly 41 mph, draft is estimated at 24"
| Layout | Center console, T-Top w/instrument box & Leaning post, Full transom with the motor mounted on a bracket |
| Fuel and Range | 60 gallons standard (50 can be added under the console seat). The standard fuel storage is a little small. Range is about 135 miles (since I've never runn out I can't be sure) |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Fantastic, I can't say enough about the ride. It rides like a big boat, with the extended bow flair and spray rails and 20 deg deadrise, rarely do you get wet (it is an open boat so if the winds right, your going to catch some). Trim tabs are a must for this boat as it tends to be a little stern heavy. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | 4, we have fished 6 but it is a little crowded |
| Storage | Storage is a strong point. The console is very room inside, there are 2 storage boxes at the stern, storage in the front console seat, large storage at the bow, large storage in the floor in front of the console, a large anchor storage which will hold 2 anchors and plenty of line. There is a floor live well with sea water flow through. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | The deck lids are not holding up as well as I feel they should. One problem is the handles which if pulled over too far will be brocken off when the lid is shut. The fiberglass work is good, although a little more attention to detail is needed. |
| Trailering | I pull with a Ford Z-71 150 8 cyl. It pulls fine. The trailer is tandem axel with surge brakes |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | Privateer, Parker |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No. |
| What would you change about this boat? | The livewell , because it is at the water line tends to let water flow onto the deck, No big deal in summer, but you need boots in the cold weather. Also I think it needs a weight shift farther forward (stern heavy) |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | I absolutely would recommend this boat. It is the best riding small boat I have ever owned. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | $20,995.00 (listed on their web site) - Check out the back cover of Florida Sportsman |
| Other Comments | You order these boats factory direct, so plan on 13 weeks or so. A down side is, that if you have a problem with the boat (not the motor, factory warranties apply) you have to take it back to Dusky which is located in Ft. Lauderdale (Dania). The upside is that the Hull is guaranteed for life (at least it was when I bought mine) and I have talked to someone who had a problem and Dusky took care of it. |
This review submitted by Richard Herman, raherman@earthlink.net Running a 200 Yamaha, Richard's Pathfinder will run 60 mph with one on board and 55mph with four aboard. The boat has a 8.5' beam and drafts only 12" or less.
| Layout | open, center console fisherman, self-bailing cockpit, larger front and rear casting decks, seats six-8, shallow-water performer, has trolling motor for creek fishing, lots of storage, large center console with batteries and on-board charger, many rod holders plus rocket launcher. |
| Fuel and Range | 60 gallons, don't know range, seems to get good fuel economy, compared to my old boat |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Excellent, only time you get wet is when wind is over 30mph and abeam. Trim tabs help with the ride over rough seas, and boat rides great anyway. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | We have fished six, but a little dicey because of closeness. Boat rides fine with six. We primnarily fish for trout and redfish in the Suwannee area, so only run 6-10 miles out to grass flats, etc. |
| Storage | I had an anchor locker installed, and it is a little cumbersome...I believe there's a better way, maybe a factory one. I also had a seat mount installed by the dealer, and that is definitely a factory item. There is one live-well, which suit my needs, two large lockers for rod storage as well as other storage, and two additional storage areas, one of which I use as the trash can, as it has a drain. There are also two ice chests, one doubles as a seat with cushion. The rear, larger, chest is somewhat difficult to access, since it is under the leaning post/seat. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | Holding up beautifully, despite my taking it in very shallow water. Fit and finish is near perfect, one of te reasons I bought it. |
| Trailering | It hangs in my boathouse wonderfully! However, I bought it in Atlanta, and trailered it down to Suwannee, and it seemed to do OK. Pulled it with a Toyota 4-runner, not quite enough truck to pull it, although the boat only weighs 1,300 lbs, without motor |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | I looked at almost all others before I bought mine, and now I realize that I have the very best for my needs, and don't even find myself looking at another one. Amazing! |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No. |
| What would you change about this boat? | Put two seat mounts on the back casting platform, and nothing else I can think of. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Highly recommend. It's a little pricey, but I wanted the best I could buy, and I'd certainly recommend that to others. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | $29,000, not including trailer ($1,600). I've added CD player, VHF, horn, some other stuff, which probably totaled $2,000, making it a total of $31,000 |
| Other Comments |
This review was submitted by Gene Keith, gk122532@aol.com , This 24' Walk Around Cuddy sports counter rotating twin 135 Mercurys. The beam is 8' and the boat will run 43-47mph depending on load. The draft is estimated at 18".
| Layout | Real Deep V with cuddy cabin. 2 insulated fish boxes (in floor). Live well; raw water wash down plus fresh water tank. |
| Fuel and Range | 130 gallons. Approx 1.5 mpg at cruise at 35 mph |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Very good in chop. Very dry. I've owned one 22' Mako' one 22' and one 24' Aquasport; one 20' wellcraft, four Sea Crafts, one Answer, one 25' AnaCapri, and a 1995 23' Sportcraft CC. This Sea Ray is one of the best riding boats I've ever owned. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | More than four gets crowded. It's classed as a "walk around" but the deck is higher than most. Fishing on the deck is for the young at heart. |
| Storage | Dry storage is a big plus. You have the entire cuddy cabin, boxes under the seats, plus a very large storge area in the floor between the front seats. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | Excellent. |
| Trailering | I pull the rig on a 2001 Float-on trailer behind a 1998 Z-71 Chevy. The Float-on makes launching and loading a snap. |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | The only other rig I would consider is a Parker, mainly for more fishing room. I don't believe the Parker could ride any smoother in rough seas. The Parker does have more cabin space. |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No. |
| What would you change about this boat? | More rod holders. This is the only negative. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | Definitely. I could have any kind of boat I wanted and I chose this one. |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | Boat trader online has a few and they are in the $17,000 - $20,000 range. |
| Other Comments | For a used boat the Laguna is a lot of boat for the money. They have quality construction, a very smooth riding deep V, and will run with the best of them. |
2001 Hydra Sports 21 Walk Around Cuddy
This review was submitted by Steve. (no email provided) Steve has this rig running a 150 Ficht which pushes the boat 39mph according to GPS. The draft is estimated at 24" the beam is 8'9"
| Layout | Walk Around Cutty |
| Fuel and Range | 85 gallon tank. Not sure of the range, gets great fuel mileage. Book says around 250 miles |
| How is the ride in moderated chop and rough seas? | Boat handles well in light to moderate chop. Over 3' gets tough to keep up the speed. The curtains keep you dry in any condition. |
| How many can fish from this boat comfortably? | plenty of room for 2, but have had as many as 4. very tight with 4. 2-3 is fine |
| Storage | plenty of dry storage in the cutty. One large live well and one equal size fish box under each of the helm seats Flip up jump seats in the rear carry the dual batteries on one side and oil tank on the other. Not much room left in either box for much else. I am able to keep spare oil and a bail bucket with the oil tank. Don't want to put anything in with the batteries.ats. |
| How has the rig held up with time? | Well haven't owned it much more than a month, but have been using it a lot. have logged many hours and the trip log is in the 700 mile range. other than just a few screws comming loose I haven't found any problem with the hull and gell coat. All the hardwear is holding up great. |
| Trailering | I keep it on the trailer and pull it with a 99' Durango with the 5.9L. The total weight (boat and trailer) in in the 5,000LB range. I pull it about 6-7 miles each way with no problems. Easy boat to load and unload |
| What other boat would you look at if you had it to go over again? | I love the HydraSport and for the money it was the biggest in the 21' class and carried the most reasonable price tag. If I had the extra cash to blow I would have looked to the Grady White. The Hydra Sport was about $20-25,000 less than the 20' Grady. |
| Do you know of another manufacturer that makes this boat under another name? | No. |
| What would you change about this boat? | brass thru holes instead of plastic with seacocks. Storage under the deck. |
| Would you buy this boat again or recommend it to a friend? | I would definately push this boat on anyone for the price and value |
| What would you expect to pay for this boat in it's current condition? | 25K for full canvas, complete cushions, dual batteries, swim platform, bow pulpit, Evinrude 150 Fich Ram. |
| Other Comments | Keep in mind this is my first new boat. I don't have a lot of knowlage to compare with. I do have experience on an older Grady of equal size and this boat is great compared to that older 80's model. |