Top 5 ocean vessel choices?

Master Baiter · 10-30-2001, 08:55 AM

Rate your top 5 name brands (decreasing preference order) for seaworthy ocean boats in the 24-26' range. Explain why if possible, features, reliability, cost/benefit, etc.

Thanks

MB

FEAR NO FISH! · 10-30-2001, 09:08 AM

26' ACB ALUMINUM CHAMBERED BOAT. That is my dream boat. Has cuddy, and is extremely sea worthy. Jacque Cousteau's son bought a couple. They were the featured boat when they released that big ol orca. Check those out at www.acbboats.com
[ 10-30-2001: Message edited by: FEAR NO FISH! ]
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[ 10-30-2001: Message edited by: FEAR NO FISH! ]

Threemuch · 10-30-2001, 10:23 AM

There's a loaded question!

For ME, I am interested in getting the most bang for my buck! So the boats I list below, are boats I would consider to be seaworthy, yet inexpensive:

Bayliner Trophy, 24' hardtop with alaska bulkhead. The most boat you can get for the money. All the amenities will be cheap, and the gelcoat will crack, but the boat will get you there and back for the least money.

Seaswirl 2600 striper hardtop w/ bulkhead. A little more money, a little better boat.

The boats I list below now, are big bucks, but much better made craft, and if you are planning to get out of your boat in 3-5 years, you would be better off buying a boat like this:

Davis 26' Rock Harbor. What can I say. Cheick it out at Davis boats. Bad a-s-s. The best you can buy in a glass boat. I am 6'3, 250 pounds and you could fit two of me in to EACH fish box. Not Cheap, but two year old ones sell for about 3K less than brand new. Could have something to do with a long waiting list.

Sea Sport 24 XL or Explorer. Wow. Big money, nice boat, good resale.

Boston Whaler 26' Outrage. They call it an outrage because of what happens when you see the price. If you don't like the center console, look at the 26 Conquest. Own the unsinkable legend, if you are a gazillionaire.

All the cheap boats in this class will be worth 50% of what they are new in 5 years. They expensive ones, maybe 90%. The expensive boats are heavier, really pushing what I would be comfortable towing around.

My plan is to buy a cheap boat used. I am looking for a Bayliner 2159 for ~10-12K to fish right into the ground over the next 10 years.

When you get your new boat, let me know if you need crew! The only thing better than owning a nice boat is knowing someone who owns a nice boat! Good luck with your search.

Threemuch · 10-30-2001, 03:15 PM

That Maxweld is awesome. There's a green one in Tillamook that I have seen halibut fishing a few times. Bad kitty!

How much is pretty spendy? That's alot of tin cans!

wiser · 10-30-2001, 04:08 PM

Willies "Pilot House Reaper" shown in his used boat specials, http://www.willieboats.com/usedboats/index.htm would work for me.

[ 10-30-2001: Message edited by: Wiser? ]

Hookset · 10-30-2001, 08:34 PM

This is a real sweet boat.......

Seawolf

I also like the Skagit Orca 27 xl

I like the Maxwelds too. How much does a Maxweld cost? 100k plus ?

sturgn · 10-30-2001, 11:15 PM

Well you asked, heres my top 1 choice that I am getting, long wait, but I beleive well worth it, pretty spendy though, but just look at the website and you will see why! maxweld boats and they are built in Hebo Or!

Master Baiter · 10-31-2001, 06:22 AM

Cool, I was hoping too find some other brands that I had not heard of before! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] This is good stuff. The ACB is too cool but too exotic for me. I looked at the Maxwell before butr it does not strike my fancy.

Three- I know what you are saying about the Trophy, I priced mine needs at $50K from the factory (less retail). But I think I would rather spend the $10k more for more quality brand and get the holding value. After all, if your spending $50K, whats an extra $10K if it is recoverable. I ahve been looking around and many dealers have some really good deals on demo boats. I found an Orca for $46K, but I want a diesel and it was gas! However for a price like that I may settle when the purchase time comes.

So far I have been considering:
http://www.ospreyboats.com/ -Osprey,http://www.davisboats.com/ -Davis,http://www.westernboatshop.com/ -OrcaandOlympic,http://www.seasportboats.com/ -SeaSport,http://www.farallonboats.com/ -Farrallon

But I am not sold on anything yet, I still have plenty of time to do lots of research for the right boat for my needs. I plan on making this a one time purchase to last for a long time so I plan on spending a good amount now rather than try to upgrade later.

Wise?- I have seen that willie before, it is nice but Alaska is a little too far to go for a boat. Plus a used boat in AK has surely been used hard. Fish-Rite has a really nice production model called the Bayhawk but they have been really slow at getting me info, check it out http://www.fish-rite.com/.

Hook- Thanks for the pointer to Seawolf, I have not seen them before. I am still not sure about Aluminum v. Poly yet! I need to see more Aluminum choices to compare with.

Thanks everyone this is very helpful, keep it comming

[ 10-31-2001: Message edited by: Master Baiter ]

Threemuch · 10-31-2001, 07:08 AM

I happen to know a guy selling an 24 osprey in CA. Very nice and well kept boat. Basically trying to get out what he put into it, and probably will succeed. It's at
http://www.calfishnet.com/cgi-bin/Po...ShowPosting+42

Master Baiter · 10-31-2001, 07:40 AM

Thanks for the info Three! That is definitely my dream boat aside from the power option! An Osprey will likely always be out of my ball park. I am trying to stay in the $60K range. The nice thing about used boats though is that they will usually come with all the necessary accessories (electronics).

I will bookmark that site though for future shopping.

MB

SlabQuest · 10-31-2001, 09:10 AM

Some nice seaworthy inboards:
Shamrock Makinaw 27
Albin

As long as I'm dreaming, the new 30' SeaSport would be nice.

These all make my SeaSport 24'XL look cheap. I got it in '98 and looked hard at Seaswirl, Osprey, Orca, and Seawolf. If your choice comes down to these, you might ask me for input.

Since you are in CA, you might consider a Blackman. I have tuna fished out of the 26' - great boat.

used blackman

Master Baiter · 10-31-2001, 09:40 AM

Slab,

Thanks for the info, Blackman does not have a site so I will have to request info by snail mail. Shamrock does not have a pilot house model. The Albin is beyond my size range, I need a trailerable boat so 24' is my ideal size.

Thanks

MB

[ 10-31-2001: Message edited by: Master Baiter ]

plug cut · 10-31-2001, 10:13 AM

I am suprised no one has mentioned the Grady White 22' or 24' both are very nice! They have one of the best resale values and according to Power Boat Reports,have the highest cusomer satisfaction rateing and are generaly the standard other boats are measured against. Check them out at their web site. www.gradywhite.com

Pilar · 10-31-2001, 10:27 AM

Ditto, plug cut. The two I like the best are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Grady White is very good and you won't pay more. Fiberglass boat standard as mentioned above. They put alot of attention to detail during construction. For this reason they last and last. Oh and they cast your name into the fiberglass when they make it. 'Made especially for Rich Boater'.

The other manufacturer is local in Chinook Washington. Ed Wing is his name and I have a phone number somewhere. The oft mentioned 'Puffin' was made by Ed Wing. This is not your typical aluminum boat. For one thing it is usually no more than the hull, seating and windshield when delivered. The owner then finishes the boat. Considerable savings can be had as a result. The 22' 'Ocean' model was designed for the Columbia river bar and is a very seaworthy craft. It has built in 4 flotation chambers in the floor (one is a gas tank) a deep V hull and high enclosed bow. It handles rough water well and slices through the waves easily with no pounding. The 'Puffin' also has a seadrive which gets the outboard out of the boat for a high transom and extra room.

Master Baiter · 10-31-2001, 12:02 PM

Hey Pilar, I was wondering how long it was going to take for you to chime in!

Plug- I love Grady and looked at them extensively. I could afford a used one but they only make OB models and none with a Pilot House.

MB

Chaps · 10-31-2001, 10:54 PM

Pilar, yup, those Edwings are a good way to go. I've got one of his 20 footers made up as a center console. Bought the hull and rigged it myself . . . very rugged and low cost. Staying with the aluminum theme, the Seawolf is much more refined, probably what I would move up to if the dot.bombs would make a comeback.

KrystalFlash · 11-01-2001, 01:49 AM

Well, Here's my .02:

My father and I just bought what I think is the best bang for the buck ocean boat for the NW Ocean waters.
The 24' Bayliner Trophy Hardtop w/Alaskan bulkhead. A great boat that handles exceptionally well in the ocean, and it doesn't put you in the poorhouse.
There are three problems that I see with the Grady White:
1) They don't have a full cabin.
2) They are extremely expensive
3) I haven't seen any with an inboard. Do they make it? The tanks that I have seen are small.
The EdWing is a great boat and not very expensive and you can have it custom built.
The SeaSport is a great boat, but it is extremely expensive. ($60,000)
The Osprey is a great boat, but equally expensive.
The bottom line is:
There are a lot of great boats out there, but there are only a few that are economical.
That is what is most important to me, bang for the buck.

Plug...What Plug?
Team Double Gaynor
Team Pilar
Team Bad Salmon
Fillet and Release Team

Master Baiter · 11-01-2001, 06:00 AM

I priced out that exact trophy at $50K at the factory page. Trophies are nice but they do tend to fall apart sooner than other brands, that why they are less expensive (cheaper components and mass produced) if an equivalent Sea sport is $60K, then an extra $10K could be a worthwhile expenditure for a step up in quality, durability, customability and value holding qualities. The $10K is recoverable in resale value. A 24' Osprey is upwards in the $80K range, big difference!

I have seen an older Grady (used) that had an I/O, but that is the only one I have seen ever. The pilot house is a definite must for me!

Floater · 11-01-2001, 06:16 AM

Just some info to think about when looking for a used boat.
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/boatreviews/GradyWhite24.htm

http://www.docksidereports.com/boatr..._white_272.htm

[ 11-01-2001: Message edited by: Floater ]

StreamSide · 11-01-2001, 05:15 PM

How about a top 3!
Not in any particular order~
Though I keep comming back to the Orca.

1. - 27' Skagit Orca XLC
2. - 27' Sea Sport Navigator
3. - 26' Osprey

John

Hookset · 11-02-2001, 10:13 AM

Ran across this boat in construction, another aluminum.

River Wolf

The manufacturer who built my present boat builds some nice looking ocean boats.

Boulton

Another option,

Fishrite

Can't forget these well made boats,except I'd like a 7 foot bottom,

Koffler

These are all aluminum boats and I can't help but wonder about the advantages vs dis-advantages between aluminum and fiberglass. I've seen a number of aluminum commercial boats, mostly crabbers, so I know there is a preference for metal boats, either steel or aluminum. I'm sure that mostly has to do with size. But some large yatchs are fiberglass. Anyone really know the pros and cons between the two materials?

Gregg

Threemuch · 11-02-2001, 12:54 PM

I think that Gelcoat and Glass become more brittle at extremely low temperatures, and the boat would be more susceptable to cracks. But it must also be a traditional thing, because if you look at Northeastern commercial rigs, at least the inshore fleet, they are primarily glass and wood boats.

I can tell you from my brief experience commercial crabbing, that a metal boat can stand the abuse much better than a glass one. 125 pound pots banging off the side of the boat is a pretty common occurance.

I can also tell you that metal boats are COLD, and conduct the chill of the seawater into the cabin much more than a glass boat.