Hewescraft 20' vs 18'- need help!

Birdnest · 01-21-2003, 03:35 PM

Okay, I have a kitchen pass for a new boat. :grin:

Went to the boat show and confirmed my affinity towards the Hewescraft. Here is my dilemma...20' vs 18'. We live in Bellingham and will be trailering the boat. We will be using it both in fresh and salt (picking our days).

The difference between the two boats is $5000. Here is how they line up.

20'
96" beam
inside depth 28"
52 gal tank
full soft top
115 Honda 4 stroke
deadrise forward 35 degrees--aft 14 degrees
1575 lbs(no motor)
weight capacity-1800-8 people
galvanized trailer

17'9"
90" beam
inside depth 24"
42 gal tank
full soft top
90 Honda 4 stroke
deadrise forward 32--aft 10 degrees
1260 lbs(no motor)
weight capacity--1500--6 people
galvanized trailer

I climbed around on the 17'9" and it seemed like it would behave a little bigger than your normal 18' boat. The beam and inside depth on the 20' sound appealing though.

I guess somethings come to mind. Will the 20 be a much bigger pain in the behind to trailer/load? Will I really wish I had that extra 2 feet, inside depth, and 96" beam on a snotty day? Those are a few, I am sure there are many more. Thanks ahead of time.

Fish Me,

Birdnest

Tagster · 01-21-2003, 03:37 PM

I have found from experience that it always better to buy bigger than you think you need.

I just wish that I listened to my own advice.

I wouldn't be on my fourth boat, now...

Tag

Myles · 01-21-2003, 03:49 PM

Get the 20'. You'll still wish it was bigger.
Deeper Vee. more width, more length, more weight = better ride, more confidence, more stability yada-yada
When you bring you new buddies they'll each have an ice chest, tackle box, rain gear etc. you WILL want a bigger boat.
300 lbs more capacity equals 10 more TUNA
(I bought an 18 last boat show, wish I'd got the 20)

myles

nerta · 01-21-2003, 03:53 PM

Go BIGGER you'll use the room and wish you had more. The 14 degree aft V will ride better also. (white water no included) New boat way cool!!!! :grin:

Birdnest · 01-21-2003, 04:05 PM

I always hear that story...wish I would have got just a little bigger. I just talked with a guy at another dealer and he has a better price on the 20', but it has a Yami 115 vs the Honda 115.

I will check back later, I am building my "baby on the way" a little driftboat cradle and need to get back to work.

No Wishin Just Fishin · 01-21-2003, 04:16 PM

Have had the 20 for 2 years and have two friends with the 17'9". The extra beam and length on the 20 is almost unimaginable. The 17 only fishes 2 comfortably and with the top up is a pain in the arse. You really need the extra room of the 20 if you are going to fish with the top up. It is no harder to trailer of load/unload

HawgJaw · 01-21-2003, 04:26 PM

Birdsnest, I have had the 20' w/ the Yami 115 since Aug 01 and so far I love it. I've had it out 60 + times (mostly in the ocean) and it handles better than some of the heaver fiberglass boats I been out on. I have had it out 26 miles for halibut fishing several times and have had a blast every time (even on some not so nice days). I wouldn't think about doing that in the 18'. Until recently, I was towing it with my two wheel drive Jeep Cherokee and only had problems taking out at the bottom of minus tides. Other than that, the Jeep pulled it fine (and you can haul it with the top up). I also really like the Yamaha 115. Make sure you check out the Yami trollers with the shifter on to tiller arm. Those are very cool. good luck. HJ

Cutter · 01-21-2003, 05:06 PM

Hey Birdsnest, When you get it, post some pics, I looked at these this year and really like them.

Lepper · 01-21-2003, 05:23 PM

as was said above, Go for bigger... I am soooooooooo glad my wife insisted I get the bigger boat when I got one.. and even though I have a 19' I still want bigger.. :smile:
dave

Birdnest · 01-21-2003, 07:27 PM

Thanks for the insight. I do believe the 20' is the way we are leaning.

Lepper, I made my wife read your post.

Re:Play · 01-21-2003, 07:28 PM

Birdnest- I have a 19' Arima with 8' beam, and had a 17' Arima with an 8' beam before. The 19 seems much larger and handles the water much better than the 17 did. I run a 150 Yamaha, as the Arima is a heavier boat, but it is a sweet motor. Good luck with your new 20 footer!

kenai · 01-21-2003, 07:37 PM

Definately, go with the 20, it will delay the 2 foot itis syndrome by a factor of 2 (feet)

Miss B Haven · 01-21-2003, 07:53 PM

T-bay CG often cuts the bar off at 21 feet and under. There's a reason for this (Columbia CG uses 30 feet). Get the 20! Besides the safety factor the added space will be most welcome. The extra beam and depth will mean as much in that respect as the extra length. Figure out the cubic feet of the inside of each boat. You'll be surprised at the difference. It's probably 30% more boat.

Fishplay · 01-21-2003, 09:18 PM

Unless your budget absolutely prohibits it, go with the 20'.

Lepper · 01-21-2003, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Birdnest:
Thanks for the insight. I do believe the 20' is the way we are leaning.

Lepper, I made my wife read your post.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Good I just hope it helped.. but all kidding aside I was just stocked she agreed to a boat I was going to settle for the 17ft.. and then she goes.. Get the bigger one. you won't be happy until you have it. I remember looking at it. thinking.. man that is a lot of room.. now i'm like... um.. I just need 2 more feet.. :smile:

Spoiled Daddy · 01-22-2003, 05:56 AM

Birdnest,

We have had the 17'9" SeaRunner with the 90 Honda / 8 Honda kicker set up for 2+ years. We live at the coast and I now wish (I sure hope my wife doesn't see this...

) that I would have spent the xtra $ and gone with the 20 foot model. I have a friend who has one with the Honda 130 on it. It performs much better in the ocean and has a great deal more room than mine. I know he tows his with one of the new Toyota SUV's with the small V8 and has no problems, but I don't think he tows this particular boat long distances.

We live at the coast and I fish the ocean a lot, but have to pick my days because of the smaller boat. The trade off is that I tow my boat several times a year to both Central Oregon and Eastern Washington. The smaller load behind the truck makes it much easier to tow those kind of distances for me, as I only have a 1/2 ton truck.

I usually have 2, if not 3 adults on board, along with gear when we are fishing. I fished 4 at Astoria this past August and it got a pit cramped at times.

In my mind, loading either of these boats should not be a deciding factor. Both go on/off a trailer with ease and can be accomplished easily by yourself with practice.

Hope this helps. Spoiled Daddy

id. painter · 01-22-2003, 06:23 AM

Last july i up graded to the 20ft sea runner, from a 17ft. stryker, I had it out 5 days in the ocean and loved it, I would not go back.I did not notice any difference getting it in or out of the water. Get the 20, you wont regret it. id. p.

Scaup · 01-22-2003, 08:25 AM

My father has the 17'9" and wishes he had the 20. He got the shorter boat because he fishes alone a lot and was concerned about his ability to load and unload the larger boat (he's 77, but very fit), but has found it a very easy boat to load/unload.

Anyway, he fishes in the ocean a lot and although the 17'9" handles well, its very pitchy in rough water at trolling speeds. The 20' will pitch much less.

Birdnest · 01-22-2003, 08:41 AM

so I am starting to detect a slight pattern, so you are saying...20', huh?

I am so happy, nervous, giddy, goofy, smiling, that I feel like I am going to hurl. I have been looking around more and the difference in price is less than I originally was told.

Some day, after I outfit her and learn to make her sing, I would love to join up with a hunter/destroyer pack and spill some tuna blood.

I might have to change my name to the "cracker carker"

Thanks again for the replys, I have to go and hurl now.

Birdnest