Comparing Boats

[Grits]

I am trying to compare a few different boats so that I can target in on what I want to buy. I have run into a problem in that some boats specs give a degree (like 14) and some just give you depth measurments (like 38")

Does anybody have a good way to compare the two? I am looking for something that will be pretty stable in rough water and I have been told the degree of your V in relation to your beam width is important so I don't quite know how to judge a boat that doesn't give a degree.

Any help?

[Pete]

There's nothing that beats a test drive. The stated angle, even for comparison purposes can be deceiving since it may not be measured at the same place. Bow angle and the distance from the bow angle to the planing surface angle is also important for ride comfort. It is also really important to carefully examine the quality of construction. Many manufacturers bend sheet aluminum to create structure for the boat. Bending creates weak spots that can fracture, particularly around the engine where vibration levels are high. Open up the floor and look at construction methods, look at weld quality, look at lots of boats, not just the ones you think you're interested in. It's worth spending lots of time talking to people, riding in boats and doing some critical analysis of the information you discover. It's really easy to make an emotional decision about a boat based on the word of someone you respect.

[Nanook]

No comparison. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

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