Raider Boats Yeah or nay!

[kidkodger]

I am all but sold on a 18ft pro-sportsman with a 90 honda and an 8 honda. I like the everything about the boat and the price is outstanding when compared to like models even some used boats. I fish the columbia big lakes and some saltwater. I just don't see a lot of raiders around. I haven't seen a used one anywhere. I thought maybe you guys might have some good or bad experience or rumors to share.

Also is a 90 enough for an 18ft windshield boat. specs say about 1300 pounds. Salesman said the boat would do 35mph with a 75, but nobody regrets more hp.

Thanks

[StickFish]

Raider is made by some guys who split off from Hewescraft if I recall - might check comparable sized Hewescraft as a price comparison. Of the boats I've seen of their's they look pretty nice

[SeaAngell]

You are right, they are made in Coulee Washingtonn about 100 miles out of Spokanne. They look just like the Hewes.

I say Yeah.:clap:


Raider uses Suzuki Motors where Hewes uses Honda.
I went out to Seiglers in Troutdale.
(My husband sat in the truck while I went in.)
They are running a 495.00 9.9 4 stroke kicker with any new boat.

The 2008 22' hard top is 41,995.00
At Clements the 2007 Hewes was 48,000.00.
I honnesty couldn't tell the difference in the 2 boats.
Other than the name and price of course.

I think they are like the Hewes in the sence you don't see them used for sale, not often.

Theres a 20' raider in the boat trader for 21,500.




Raider is made by some guys who split off from Hewescraft if I recall - might check comparable sized Hewescraft as a price comparison. Of the boats I've seen of their's they look pretty nice

[RiverMan]

I bought a new 19' Raider with a 140HP Suzuki in 2004 and am very happy with it. As I understand it the guy that builds the boats used to work for Hewes and you can really see it in the boat....they look almost indentical.

The ONLY thing I can really say I had problems with was not the boat at all, the trailer! Look under the Raider and you will notice that it has 4 strakes (I think that's the correct term) that run along the bottom. Because there are four (instread of the typical two) it makes it more difficult to get the boat lined up properly on the trailer bunks. You literally have to be within an inch left to right or it won't go on correctly! This is not a good thing if you have 20 boats waiting for you to load. If you buy the boat, make sure it has trailer guide-ons or you won't be happy I will guarantee it!!! Also, look underneath to see if the where they put the bunks makes sense.

The Raider is a fairly steep V to it which makes for an incredibly nice ride in rough water. My boat will handle huge waves without any problem at all. The downside is that you have to keep passengers and gear balanced or the boat will lean more than say a more flat bottomed boat. Of course a more flat-bottomed boat will beat you up in rough water so it's a trade-off.

As far as the 90 HP is concerned I am sure that would work for you so long as you aren't loading it up with 4 our 5 anglers and gear. With my 140 I don't even noticed changes in weight because there is so much power there. Also, I haven't had a single issue of any kind with the Suzuki, they are wonderful motors.

One other thing I just remembered, the paint on my boat started turning yellow last spring and when I contacted the manufacturer he told he had got into a bad batch of clear coat. Apparently HR had the same problem with a bunch of their boats. The owner very kindly met me half way to his plant, repainted the boat, and then I had to go up and get it.....long drive to Colville. The paint was all redone to look like new again and I have had no further issues.

Feel free to send me a PM if you have any further questions.

RM

[ICHTHYDEMON]

My brother has the same boat your looking at. He decided to get the Suzuki 115 as opposed to the 90 that comes with the package. IMO he made a good choice.The 115 works great on his boat. I'm sure the 90 would have sufficed,but the 115 is a great match. IIRC he said the difference was about $700 more for the 115.

[RiverMan]

If you could afford the additional money the 115 would be an improvement as Demon has said. If you ever want to trade the boat in or sell it you will find the additional HP helps resale also.

RM

[Bob5292]

I owned a 2007, 26ft Raider cuddy and I have to say NAY if it is going to be used in the ocean. They are a lot of boat for the money and they are nicely laid out, but I cant recommend them. I cant speak for the smaller boats but the 26 footer uses a .25" bottom of 5086. To cut costs and make them easier to build, they use .125 sides made of 5052.
My boat had hoses connected to below the water line fittings, that were only single clamped. All of the hinges and components on the boat were very low quality. Many of the welds looked awful, the windows were held into place with a rubber gasket instead of being bolted in like higher end boats. The boat was delivered to me with no zinc's and there was no manual available for the boat. The dealer told me that Raider claimed "you did not need zincs and that they hadn't experience any problems yet". You could tell everything was rushed and the boat was just slapped together. I have more pictures, but will post a few that show the boats craftsmanship. If anyone wants more details you can contact me.

Bob


http://members.aol.com/kndg616/raidershred.jpg
http://members.aol.com/kndg616/raiderwelds.jpghttp://members.aol.com/kndg616/wow.jpg
http://members.aol.com/kndg616/after.jpghttp://members.aol.com/kndg616/cuts.jpg

[hot wire]

I have toured the vactory with Dave Hewes, along with his engineer that developed the 22 Ocean Pro. I can tell you the advanced engineering that allows for almost no twist in the boats longitudal keel makes it one VERY strong hull in the ocean. I was told it was more than 40% stronger than the non-Ocean Pro Sea Runner's hull design.

I asked Dave about the slight bulges seen in the exterior aluminum sides opposite their interior welds. He told me that Hewes uses a VERY hot welding design that thouroughly heats both piesces of welded material. That the visible signs of an extremely strong weld is visible bulges. Hewes makes no attemp to hide a good weld. With that being said, I don't remember a Raider exibiting signs of such strong welds. Rather, I have looked at a Raider boats and was not as impressed.

I am on my second Hewes Craft. I guess they are popular for good reason.

Tom

[RiverMan]

I would disagree.......if you toured the Raider Factory, Alumaweld or any other big boat company they would have given you the same story....."our boat is better than theirs is", this is what boat companies do.

I compared a Hewes to the Raider before I bought my Raider. I walked around both boats, looked at construction, compared floor size, compartments, etc., and the boats were nearly identical. There were aspects of the Hewes I liked better and some on the Raider I preferred. The biggest difference? About 5k more for an equivelent Hewes at that time. If not mistaken, the Raider has a lifetime hull warranty for the orginal owner, I don't think you can beat that.

Now if you start comparing a Raider or a Hewes to a North River or other considerably higher priced boats then yes I would say there is a difference. But the difference between a Hewes, Alumaweld, Raider, etc., is minor.

By the way, my Raider has those same visible welding bulges that you are describing on the Hewes.

RM