willie or Koffler if you had a choice

[liltrout]

Looking at purchasing either a 17' Koffler 6 degree vee sled or a Willie Predator 5 degree sled (if I can still get onew that small). Both boats would have the same power, either a tiller 90 or 115. Both boat makers have great reputations and make good product, just wondering of there is a reason to get one over the other. Service? Fishes better? Features?
Any thoughts good or bad about either product would be great. I live a fair distance away and don't get out to boat shows much.

Thanks in advance

[BIGCSS]

Looking at purchasing either a 17' Koffler 6 degree vee sled or a Willie Predator 5 degree sled (if I can still get onew that small). Both boats would have the same power, either a tiller 90 or 115. Both boat makers have great reputations and make good product, just wondering of there is a reason to get one over the other. Service? Fishes better? Features?
Any thoughts good or bad about either product would be great. I live a fair distance away and don't get out to boat shows much.

Thanks in advance
I would go Koffler since they are in the middle of the state, service is second to none, they can pretty much customize anything the way you want it. Also their structure in the boat is 2nd to none. I have had a 20 ft for 7 years now and always knew it was a well built boat, but when I pulled the plywood floors to replace them with diamond plate, I was really surprised at how much stouter the boat was built than I had realized. This boat has thousands of fishing hours, some shallow water running, and whitewater use and there were no cracked welds or anything. If you go with Koffler you will not be disappointed and they are second to none on quality and customer service! :twocents:

[A-Boss]

Can't speak to the Willie, but I can highly recommend Koffler. Bought an 18' 6 degree tiller sled three years ago and couldn't be happier with the boat and the customer service I received.

Hit a stump just under the surface in a slack water area at speed last year. Impact was enough to knock me to my knees. Got home crawled under the boat to to survey the damage and it took me about 10 min with a flashlight to finally find the rub mark, not so much as a dimple in the bottom. Solid boats.

[Blue Seaduction]

My neighbor has a 20' willie. Nice solid boat.

[weekender]

They are both a top notch custom boat with great service. You'de be hard to go wrong with either one.

Go with the widest bottom they'll give you though. At least 66". I've got a 16' w/ a 60" bottom and it's a bit rocky when people are moving around.

[jtp6089]

I had a 17' willie predator made with a 5 deg bottom in 2006. If you send me a PM, I'll tell you a story about it. Soon after I got it, I sold it and bought a 18' willie predotor.

[liltrout]

going with a 66" bottom vs a 60" bottom, would a guy need to get slightly larger power? I was hoping for a 90/65 for weight issues but if the boat is 66" wide would a 115/80 be a better motor. I do realize that a guy can never have enough power, but 320ish vs 395ish weight wise along with kicker and big fat guy at the back end starts putting a lot of weight at the transom. Want to move 2 guys most of the time but 3 of us "larger" (250+) guys some days.

[jtp6089]

going with a 66" bottom vs a 60" bottom, would a guy need to get slightly larger power? I was hoping for a 90/65 for weight issues but if the boat is 66" wide would a 115/80 be a better motor. I do realize that a guy can never have enough power, but 320ish vs 395ish weight wise along with kicker and big fat guy at the back end starts putting a lot of weight at the transom. Want to move 2 guys most of the time but 3 of us "larger" (250+) guys some days.


You're going to need a bigger boat. The 17' x 66" willie predator with the 90/65 jets, was extremely slow getting out of the hole with 3 (250 lb'ers) in. If you plan to free drift and try to take off in shallow tailouts, you'll be plowing the river bottom.

Go 18' with 115/80, or you'll eventually be buying another boat.

[foxer]

You're going to need a bigger boat. The 17' x 66" willie predator with the 90/65 jets, was extremely slow getting out of the hole with 3 (250 lb'ers) in. If you plan to free drift and try to take off in shallow tailouts, you'll be plowing the river bottom.

Go 18' with 115/80, or you'll eventually be buying another boat.

If you go with a 115/80 I would suggest getting a two stroke. I have a 115/80 4s on my Northriver (17'10"). Top end is fine but it doesnt exactly jump out of the hole.

[Riverteeth]

I don't have any experience will Willie, so that is a blank slate to me.

But I bought (used) a Koffler Drift Boat. I have been VERY happy with the service from Joe Koffler and the rest of the group. Very good people to deal with. I had some after market work done on my DB-- excellent people to deal with.

[Orion]

Both boats are high quality backed by good service. Make the time to go for a test ride in both boats and pick the one that YOU like the best. A day of test riding is well worth the time. As others have suggested, go as wide and long as you can. You won't be disappointed if you upsize. Seldom do you hear someone say that their boat is too big!

Orion

[alanmikkelsen]

Simply on the basis of my dealings with Joe Koffler, I'd go way out of my way to buy a Koffler. I've never met him in person, but one of the nicest, most responsive guys I've ever done business with.

[Flatfish]

The good news is, you have it narrowed down to the correct makers.

Put the names in a hat, and pull out the winner.

[coyote killer]

if they make there sleds like they make there drift boats..... cant go wrong with a koffler.... there invencable...and kofflers service is unbeatable...iv been very happy with my drifter....and go with the 115 trust me.

[FirstH2O]

Koffler all the way Joe is the man he will hook you up.

[mangler]

Koffler, I've fished just about every style boat they make from their prams to a 28 foot custom tiller steer sled to their ocean boats and drift boats. If I could afford it I'd probably have seven or eight of their boats at the house.