Hewes craft????'s

[Bankbound]

My father and I are beginning to look into boats!!!!! :smile: We are not interested in sleds or drifters. That is why I call on you salty dogs for some input.

My questions are about the 18' sea runner. Is a boat like this capable of the B-10 and the tillamook bubble fishery? Or is it too small? We are'nt looking for a true ocean boat but something we can take outside if we want to as well as do Paulina and wikiup.

With a 34 degree vee at the bow i would think it would rock and roll a bit too much, but handle rough water really well?? Thoughts? Opinions? Also is the availiable 34 gallon fuel tank enough for heading out to the rock pile?? We really like the looks and the price, but are open for suggestions. And for a boat of this size what do you guys recommend for motor size is a 90 horse o/b enough??

I know a few of you have sea runners (id. painter should have something to say!). Tell me some stories about your sea runners and how they run and how you like them (c'mon I'm tryin to convince dad and I need some ammo!!!)

Any words are welcome and thank you

Mike H. ( who hopes to have to change his moniker by fall!)

[ 02-04-2003, 11:41 AM: Message edited by: Bankbound ]

[id. painter]

O.K.. Ill bite first. I had a 17ft Alumaweld Stryker. Good little boat, but ,bottom too flat, sides not very high,not a deep V in front. I have only been able to use my new Hewes five days, so far(173 miles worth). I was nothing but happy with how it felt in the ocean. I took it from Ilwaco up to the bridge at Astoria, the wind came up a little while we were fishing near the bridge , we had a good chop ,and it was a little rough getting back. I was glad i had the Extra beam and freeboard,these changes,(from my Stryker) were very welcome at that time. There have been several posts asking this same question in different form, and from what ive seen as responses, i would think about the 20ft. Every post i read from he who had an 18ft. mentioned that they would probably get the 20 if they were to do it again. You will miss the extra size more than you will regret getting the bigger boat. My .02 cents. I very much liked how it took the water.I will be fishing the big river for springers, so ill have an example of how it bobs and shakes in a current, anchored.But , i dont have that insite right yet.... id. p.

[Spoiled Daddy]

Bankbound,

Our family has the 17'9" (18') Searunner. We have the 2000 model and at times, I too wish we would have gone the 20' model instead. We drag ours around to eastern Oregon and Washington several times a year for Odell, Wickiup, Eastlake, Snake river, etc... It tows very well behind a 1/2 ton Ford with the baby V8. My boat only has a 21 gallon tank and has gone to the Rock Pile from Newport on many occasions. I have mine powered with a 90 HP Honda and the most fuel I have ever used on these trips is 16 gallons, but I always carry a spare 3 gallons up front when I know I am headed out those types of distances. The new models are now standard with 34 gallon tanks. I have been in some rough water and my boat has done very well, as long as I keep some weight forward. Between having extra gas on board, a cooler up front and the anchor/rope, it helps keep the bow from rolling around when it is rough. I pick and choose my days going out on the ocean, so I have never been in really rough ocean conditions. Living here makes those choices a little easier.

I can easily fish 3 persons out of the boat, but putting a 4th in it and trying to troll can get a little tricky, in particular during the packed house show at B10.

I have mine set up with Scotty manual downriggers and they fish really well from this boat. I have only used them on salmon, but am going to try them for kokanee this spring at Odell.

Since May 2000, I have put almost 300 hours on the big motor alone. I have had absolutely no problems with it. I have no idea how many hours I have put on the kicker, but it is a bunch.

If you want more info, send me an email.

Spoiled Daddy

[HawgJaw]

Bankbound, If you plan on going to the rockpile, you will want the 20' searunner. I've been out to halibut hill (26 miles out of Gariabldi) several times and it is great. Every time out I used 19 of the 34 gallon tank w/ the Yamaha 115 (great motor by the way, except it's so quiet that I forget it is on when I start trolling). With this being an aluminum boat, I don't think you would notice much of a difference between the 18' and 20' on the lakes or highway. One other nice feature of the Hewes is that you can tow it with the top up. That way you don't need to secure the stuff inside. Call David over at Clemens in Gladstone and he will take you for a test drive(the Stevens guys will take you for a test ride after you fill out their credit app [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] ). Good luck. HJ

[ 02-04-2003, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: HawgJaw ]

[No Wishin Just Fishin]

I guide with a 20' Sea Runner and have 2 friends that have the 17'9". The 20 will fish 4 trolling comfortably and the 17 will not unless you put the top down. There is not enough room to net a fish with 4 people in the back of the 17'9" The extra wde Beam and the extra 2' 5" in length make it amuch better ride and fishing experience. You might even consider the 24 with the hard top. It is going to be my next boat in a year or 2. The diff between the 90 and the 115 on the 20 is about 4 miles an hour on plane but with 4 stroke the fuel isn't too much diff

[Birdnest]

Bankbound,

I am in the final process of ordering a 20' Searunner. I got some great advice about the 20' vs the 18' in a recent post.

Last year the 179, which people refer to as the 18' is quite a bit different than the 2003 18'. The 2003 18' specs are almost exactly the same as the 20' with regards to beam and side height. Obviously there are advantages to the 20' and the price difference is only about $1000. (other people's money :grin: )

So if you are determined to go with the 18' make sure it is 2003. Also the upgrade to the 42 or 52 gal tank is $102 or $206, so if you are worried about fuel storage now is the time to fix it. To put a larger tank in requires replumbing, removing a welded cross brace, ect, ect.

Another consideration on the 20 vs the 18 is the size of the motor. The 20 I am getting will be pushed around by a 115 Honda 4 stroke, where you could get away with a 90 on a 18'.

Also, hurry up and get you order in as that most of the dealers are filling up their "build slots".

Good luck and enjoy your new boat.

Birdnest