Jet Sled brands...which is best and why?

[Fishing Maniac]

I'm considering buying a new 20ft. Sled(either 6% or 10% degree vee)with 200hp outboard. I know there are many members with different brands of sleds and motors. Looking for feedback on why you purchased they brands you did. Thanks very much!

[Anadramous Junkie]

You might consider checking out Bloodsworth Boats. Karl Bloodsworth is a super guy and learned from the best! He spent a good portion of his career working for Darrel Bentz of Bentz boats in Lewiston ID. Karl builds his boats one at a time for each individual customer and does all the metal fab himself. His welds and finish work are beautiful and the boats he builds hold up far better than your common production boats. Check out his website or call him, I think you will be pleased with his pricing as well!

(if you want to get ahold of him you better call, he isn't real good about doing the computer thing!)

AJ

[Flatfish]

Any of them work. Some of them do certain things batter than others( backtrolling, high speed handling, rough water, shallow water, etc).

If you have a using the boat as it was intended( 6 degree boats are great boondogging boats. 18 degree boats are not so great in super shallow water. etc) any of them will do just fine.

I would not reccomend that you buy new unless you are a guide or got a lotta money to spend. Unless you want a custon layout, it really does not matter what the sticker on the side says.

Good fisherman can catch fish out of any boat. The best rig in the world will not make a fish bite though.

Mark and the dog.

[Pete]

There is indeed not much difference between boats if you have it set up to your standards and preferences. In considering a new boat, however, I think it's very important to consider the intangibles: warrantee and service. Will the dealer stand behind their boat if you have a problem? Will you be able to get quality service conveniently? Those issues influenced my decision - I really appreciate having the shop just 20 minutes from home and they'll tell you I've had my share of both warrentee and maintenance work done there.

[Pirate]

I would not reccomend that you buy new unless you are a guide or got a lotta money to spend.



I have to disagree somewhat. 2 years ago when I bought my NR it cost me about the same as used boats were selling for. This was because the used will generally have "extras" that I didn't want or need. The new one was set up based on exactly what I wanted.
Also I could probably get close to what I originally paid for it, so no matter which way you go new or used they are a pretty good investment. I always think the Boat or Sportsman Shows are a great way to see them all together and narrow the field. Good Luck searching, that's half the fun. :dance:

[K-Mac]

Find out how the transom is welded to the sides. Some manufactures run the sides about a 1/2 inch past the transom in order to get a double weld. That simple detail makes for a much stronger transom. Single welds (on the inside only) would be fine for light duty use.

Also, ask to see the boats before they are painted. Some guys like to hide the metal work with bondo and paint.

[SlipKnot]

Dealer, dealer, dealer. Pick a good dealer and boat manufacturer that has been in business a long time if you are going to buy new. All you have to do is browse past forums to hear that some dealers stand by their product and some don't. Warranties are all find a dandy, but if the dealer doesn't go to bat with the manufacturer on your behalf, you will get nowhere.

Personally, I'm on my second new boat from Clemen's Marine and they are awesome. They are the masters of under promising and over delivering. I like the fact that they only work on what they sell and they have been around for a long, long time.

Dealers that change brands and locations often should be avoided in my opinion.

As far as the brand is concerned, it kind of depends on whether you are talking about an open boat or windshield boat, prop or pump, and your price range.

[Fishing Maniac]

Slipknot,

I currently have a 18 foot alumaweld with a 105 jet tiller all open. Have worked with Stevens Marine and have had good and bad experiences. Time heals wounds so I'm back with them getting some work done on this boat and looking at the supervee pros and LTs open sleds with tiller but was wondering what others opinions were.

[Orion]

Fishing Maniac,
Last year I purchased a 19.5ft Willie Predator, center console, 200hp optimax sportjet. As you probably know, they sell direct as opposed to a dealer network. I am very happy with the boat and the buying experience. The people at Willie know their stuff but are willing to do just about anything you want in the way of custom work. They will offer suggestions based on experience but I never found them "up selling" in any way. I have called with a couple questions over the last year and they are always helpful and responsive. I dealt with Mike during the sale, but have spoken with the GM, a welder, a painter, the test driver, and the young lady that is in charge of taking your cash before the boat leaves the lot!
I seldom make recommendations to anyone when a purchase of this magnitude is the issue. I have no hesitation when I say that I would buy another boat from Willie.

One More Cast

[rv10pilot]

There are so many good brands. The reason I picked my boat over others was price vs what it had. Some manufacturers don't have a true hard top, this is something I wanted and wouldn't settle for. Some manufacturers put their boats on better trailers, some came with a spare, some didn't. Some had raised platforms, etc....

Depending on what you really want you will automatically narrow your field down to about 3 manufacturers that offer the features you want. Then you have to figure out who will take care of you the best and that will be the boat you want.

:cheers:
rv

[SlipKnot]

Fishing Maniac- Obviously Steven's is one of the biggest around. They certainly have more boats on the water than anyone else. I've heard good and bad. Most of my friends have had pretty good experiences with them.

I've taken a hard look at a lot of their boats and almost bought a super vee awhile back. I have to admit, I like Alumaweld open boats. I don't care for their windshield boats. Too narrow and too expensive for what you get.

For some reason, I just don't like their attitude. They just seemed to me to have an attitude like we're the biggest and if you don't like it, beat it. Maybe it's just the individuals that I have dealt with. Maybe they just don't like me! Nah, that couldn't be it, could it?

[SlipKnot]

rv10pilot- So what did you buy?

[rv10pilot]

I bought a Thunderjet Alexis Classic. I looked at Custom Weld, Weld Craft, and the Thunderjets. I was going to take a look at North River, but I had enough problems getting my wife to spend ~$39000.

My biggest thing was a hard top. Custom Weld didn't really have them, they are still canvas on top. Weld Craft had nice boats, but they were just a little more money than the Thunderjet and didn't have a lot of the other options. Their trailer wasn't as nice either. North Rivers don't/didn't have a hard top and they are even more expensive.

In the end I am very happy with my choice in hulls. If I were to go buy another boat for some reason I would still go with a Thunderjet, just get one with something other than a Marine Power engine (KEM, Kodiak). Mine was in the shop for 2 months getting fixed. They finally had to replace all the wiring on the engine and now everything is fine.

rv

[SlipKnot]

Nice boat. Glad to hear it's fixed now. Nothing more aggravating than boat problems. I don't know about you, but my boat problems always seem to happen whent he fishing gets really good. Middle of April, middle of August, etc.

[Redbull]

After a glass (or three) of fine wine I feel like writing less instead of more, but I will share one thing - the longer I own my Motion Marine - the more I love it.

Ask any Motion Owner. Locally built, owned and operated! You can debate until you turn blue and miss yet another season. Just be clear what you want to do with the boat and what you want it to do for you. Drive everything you can get your hands on and finally, don't try and save a nickel cuz you'll spend a buck later trying to fix it.

Enjoy what ever you buy. It's your hobby. Give yourself a Nordstrom quality experience enjoying your hobby even if you have a Walmart budget. Don't drowned yourself financially but enjoy your boat. Do enough home work to know clearly what you want. Quality never goes out of favor.

Peace

[Pickles]

I have a friend with a northriver sled, and I have another friend with a supervee pro. Between the two boats, I am partial to the Alumaweld. The reason I say this is because to me the Alumaweld seems to have a bit more freeboard, and handles the chop better. Either boat is nice, and Northriver pushes the Yami's. In my opinion the perfect boat would be a 21 foot superveepro with a 200-250 hp Yami pump. This is if I wanted an open boat. I personally like the windshield and top that my Thunderjet affords me. :cheers:

[willametteriveroutlaw]

What are you going use your boat for mostly? I have ridden in alot of different boats (ask mark, there have been alot :grin:) Personally willies seem to have a softer ride than either the NR or Alumawelds I have been in. Also if you ever get to go to the kenai (Proably the most guides on a river of that size any where in the world) 9 out of 10 boats you see will be predators. Also I don't know many unhappy willie owners (soon I hope to be one to).