possible new boat? smokercraft (osprey)help

[pole bender]

My son is wanting to buy a new boat that he found at the boat show. It is a 16 foot smokercraft osprey. Has anyone heard about these boats if they are good :whazzup: all around boat. Or had one and how they liked it.

[fishchaser]

That all depends. Where does he fish, and what is he fishing for. Does he want comfort or just something to get him in the water. Does he want to use it in small rivers or just the bigger ones, Does he want to fish buoy 10 or just the uppper river and some lakes. Does he fish alone?

These boats are good boats, but remember, boats shrink when you put them in water. By the time you get your gear and your clothes and your buddies gear and clothes, You have to include all the safety gear that you have to have on board and fuel tanks and the battery. you have just taken up 3/4's of your walking space. Just remember, you will probably be the one to go fishing with him so you have to think of your space and comfort.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

PB,
I've had a Smokercraft since 97.I have a ton of time in it and it's been a great boat. No leaks and I use it in the saltwater all the time. It's taken a good beating and keeps coming back for more. Smokercraft's have a lifetime warranty on the rivets,so don't let somebody tell you there no good. On the off chance they leak they'll take care of you. If I had to do it again,I'd buy another in a heartbeat. I'm looking to sell mine,cause our family's getting bigger,and we've almost outgrown it. My next boat won't be a Smokercraft,because they don't have the style I'm looking for.

Good luck.
Rick

[fish_on]

You see a ton of them out there so they must do something right. I fish out of a 15' and wish it was a 20'. 16 should get you anywhere on the columbia except maybe bouy 10, and will be a great bay boat.

[Silver Hilton]

Good economical boats, pretty good resale. The question is, do you know that it will suit the fishing you do. If you do, then, go for it.

My brother had a smokercraft alaskan, Good boat, we put a lot of miles on it. Not luxurious, but did what we needed it to do. Which is to say, float. :wink:

[Dipnet]

We got our 16' Osprey last year at the boat show and love it! We got it with the 40hp Mercury 4 stroke. It is great for 2 people and a 3rd person would work, but not much over that. We have had it on the Columbia, Willamette and to buoy 10. It is very stable in rough water. We have had a 15' Smokercraft Alaskan for at least 12 years and have never had any problem with leaks even being moored for 6 months of the year. All in all we are very pleased with both of our Smokercrafts!
If you have any ??? just email us and we'll try to help!

Dipnet :grin:

[pole bender]

Thank you very much for all your help. My son mainly fishes for Chinook by Sauvie Island and the sellwood bridge and also Nehalem. Once in a while at a few lakes. Crabbing is one of his favorite sports and he usually goes to Tillamook bay and Nehalem bay. There would be at the most of 3 people in the boat at one time. The reason he is looking at the 16 foot is that he will be towing with a 02 mazda b3000 4x4, the truck does good when he has had to tow our boat which is a 18 foot alumaweld sea dory with a 115hp jet and 10 hp kicker and does a good job but I think a 16 would be better on his truck considering he would be towing more often. Again thank you for all the help this is the reason ifish is the best.

[proguide]

I have a 2002 16ft smokercraft lodge seriers which is the same hull. I have a 40 horse 4 stroke on it. I have had 4 adults with ice chests and gear and it works great. good luck

[salmurai]

Hey Polebender, Does the osprey have a center console? If so, one of the banks over here has a repo. Let me know if you want me to check it out. They wanted $3900.00 or "make an offer" for the boat and trailer. There is an older 50 hp Mercury on it. Later.....

[Spoiled Daddy]

I have a friend who bought an Osprey model powered by a Merc 50 at the 2001 sportsman show. He really likes it and to my knowledge, hasn't had any problems. He only wishes he would have gone to max horsepower, which I think (when I start doing that I always get in trouble...) is 75 HP.

I first had a 14' Alaskan and then a 16' Pro-Alaskan for a 12 year period. Both were great boats. In twelve years, I only popped rivets on two occasions. Both got replaced at Smoker Crafts cost and they did not raise a stink about it at all. Both were rivets on the seats and were not crucial. I never had a leak.

The Osprey is a much better built boat than the Alaskan series, with more storage, a much better top, better seating and a smoother ride.

I only let my Pro-Alaskan go because of growing family needs and the desire to fish the ocean more often.

SD