new boat, want your opinions....

[timinthegorge]

I've got a new 19' Alumaweld Stryker SE on order. It has the 90 hp Merc Saltwater 2-stroke oil injected (no jet), plus a 9.9 4-stroke kicker. It has full canvas, an X-71 Lowrance FF, new Rogue trailer, bench seats with storage in the back and swivel seats w/ storage up front. Give it to me straight. I'm sittin' down......

I respect all you salty dogs..... so tell me whether you think I'm making a good choice. My friends are no help. Being self-serving sobs, they're just cheering me on! And also let me know if you think I'll have to upgrade my '68 VW bus towing vehicle??? Thanks to all for your anticipated opinions..... ;>) T

[Deleted User]

Sounds like a nice outfit! Congrats, you will get much enjoyment out of it.
I dont know the weight of the boat....The only thing I can see you might be happier with a little more power? I wouldnt want to be without a jet also, hate to be limited in a boat like that. Anyway, have fun with the new boat!

P.S.: The VW has to go :rolleyes:

Fool

[ 06-21-2002, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: Jett'in Fool ]

[Small Fry]

I looked at the new alumwelds and was not overly impressed. :depressed: But for the money it appeared that’s what I could afford in the new boat market. :rolleyes:
North river has nice boats but out of my prices range. Same thing with several other top line brands. graemlins/1zhelp.gif

I started looking for used boats on the web from Eugene to Seattle. I spent at least 100 hours looking at every make and model. :sleep: I ended up buying a 1990 alumaweld 18 foot formula Vee 200 horse merc with the prop mounted and the pump ready to swap. graemlins/hearton.gif The former owner had taken great care of the boat; He had just painted the boat inside and out. The sidewall on this boat are as thick as the bottom on what you have on order.
The moral to my story is my older boat is twice what I could have got in a new boat at half the price.
Don’t over look used boats. I missed several real nice boats before I got lucky to get this one.

As far as your tow rig: I always say You can pull anything: But can you make it stop?????

Just my 2 cents. Good luck on you hunt. Hope to see ya on the water.

Small Fry :smile:

[ 06-21-2002, 11:02 PM: Message edited by: Small Fry ]

[Captn]

timinthegorge, sounds like a nice package for the Columbia and some Bouy 10 type fishing. My only heart-burn with the Alumaweld, is the bench seats are not dry boxes, ie they leak!!! If there is anyway to avoid that type of bench seat, I would. Perhaps the current models have better bench seats, but here in Oregon having a leaky bench seat is not all that great. I think you got a very good basic boat that you will never wear out. Go get'em!!

[spinnermaker]

Sounds like a good outfit I would of got a pump but I don't now where like to fish.

[Ed C]

I have been fishing in Oregon for 30 years and am on my 6th boat. They all have had good things and bad things. None near perfect. I recently bought a l9ft Alumaweld Super Vee LS, which has same hull as yours. I have a 60HP EFI Merc with tiller and prop. It has plenty of power and size for my fishing-Willamette, Columbia (especially Buoy l0), Tillamook, an occassional ocean trip if it is very calm, and trout lakes. I have concerns about aluminum in salt. I have had 2 pieces of zinc put on and I plan on covering hull with car wax from time to time.

I think you have a good boat for the money. There are better ones on the market but they cost more money. You should be fine. just accept that you will find some things about the boat you don't like but that is life. Take care of the boat and let the dealer service it. happy fishing!

Ed C.

[Ed C]

As to towing with your VW, it will be Ok on flat but tough on hills and stopping won't be so good. For awhile I did not have a good towing vehicle and I tried to fish with people who had one. Or i would actually keep my boat in water a lot. Once I put in at oregon City and ran all the way to Ilwaco (in a l9ft fiberglass inboard) and left it moored in Ilwaco for August and then back to oregon city where a friend got me home.You can make that trip with your boat. a great experience. you will need charts and pay attention to buoys-Red, Right, Return. If you are starting out in boating, take that Coast Guard course. it helped me so much.

Once, when I didn't have a towing vehicle and could find no one who did, i rented a pickup from U-Haul for a weekend. It was cheaper than buying a new rig.

Being nervous about a new boat is normal. sounds like your OK.

[timinthegorge]

Thanks All!! I really appreciate all your comments. I've been sufferin' pre-post-buyer's remorse and I feel better now! ;>D

Jettin' Fool..... I was only kiddin' about the VW. Sorry if I jerked your chain. I have a toyota 4X4 pickup with V6 and towing package rated at #3500. Should be fine, underpowered, but fine. Again, sorry.... ;>)

Small Fry..... you're right that a NR would have been nice, but I'm just a workin' man/public servant (is that an oxymoron?). I can just barely afford this one, let alone a North River. And this search for a larger more seaworthy boat began with looking at used. I just couldn't find what I wanted. I came to the conclusion that since this will likely be my last boat, I may as well buy it new, and have it rigged exactly how I want it. In fact, the same day I decided to buy new was while looking at the same Stryker, but a year older. The price was better, but from lookin' at the trailer, it was clear he hadn't run it through a car wash after using it in the salt. And I would have had to drop at least $2500 to get to the level of gadgets of this new boat (no FF, no trollin' motor, etc)..... so, I decided to buy new. Time will tell whether I was a knucklehead in making that decision....

Captn..... No doubt that leaky storage boxes are NOT good, but they (dealership) "assure" me these boxes will not leak. I'll post if I find a drop of water in 'em....

Ed C..... I expect this boat will spend 90% of its time in fresh water, and I too am real aware that salt and aluminum, frankly, salt and ANY metal is destructive. I wouldn't dream of not thoroughly rinsing boat, trailer, and motors immediately after leaving the salt. And the waxing idea is a great one! Thanks!!

I want to thank you ALL again for your input. I've thought long and hard about this over the last several months, and having your experienced opinions leads me to believe I've not gone far off the path to having a fishing/boating package that'll work well for the kind of fishin' I usually do, and last a good long time..... Haven't decided on a name yet, and don't know that I will. But I can tell you my Stryker will have a blue stripe, blue and white seats, and a blue canvas. Guess what color my truck is? It'll also be sportin' an Ifish.net sticker..... ;>D

Thanks again.... Tim

[Keta]

Get a four stroke. :smile:

[Lipripper]

http:www.ifish.net/uploads/274208140gif.

[timinthegorge]

Keta..... I did get a 4 stroke 9.9 kicker, but the 2 stroke with oil injection 90 Merc Saltwater is more efficient, giving me a longer range.

But I'd be really interested in why I should have gotten a 4 stroke big motor.... appreciate you comments......Tim

[Keta]

No residual oil in the exhaust.

[D/F]

We have that exact boat. All the same stuff minus the salt water merc. We decided to go with the plane 90 horse 2 stroke. Trust me, Its plenty of power for that boat. Ours moves right along loaded with 4 people. Also the 2 stroke runs real well. The reason for the 2 stroke was wieght. If you went with a 90 horse 4 stroke it would slow the boat down in my opinion.
Did you go with the paint and clear coat package?

[timinthegorge]

Hmmm..... nope. It never came up as an option. Tell me more.....