NR Seahawk Extended Bottom

cascadecruiser · 01-19-2009, 06:13 PM

Is there anyone out there who has ridden in a 21' Seahawk with extended bottom and one without the extended bottom and can give an opinion of whether or not it makes a noticable difference? The salesman says it will make it ride like it is 2 ft. longer. I have my doubts. I am leaning towards the Thunderjet Offshore which I find more visually appealing and priced better. The deadrise is almost exactly the same on both makes, but since I am looking for the best riding aluminum boat I can find, if the ext. bottom makes a significant difference I would lean towards the NR Seahawk. Appreciate any input. Thanks.

goatram · 01-19-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascadecruiser

Is there anyone out there who has ridden in a 21' Seahawk with extended bottom and one without the extended bottom and can give an opinion of whether or not it makes a noticable difference? The salesman says it will make it ride like it is 2 ft. longer. I have my doubts. I am leaning towards the Thunderjet Offshore which I find more visually appealing and priced better. The deadrise is almost exactly the same on both makes, but since I am looking for the best riding aluminum boat I can find, if the ext. bottom makes a significant difference I would lean towards the NR Seahawk. Appreciate any input. Thanks.

North River made the 04 an 05 with out the extended bottom and a lot of boats went back to be rebuilt because the brackets were cracking. They have since modified the design to extend the bottom and I have not heard of any issues. The ride is good. Test ride both and then decide. I heard a lot of talk at the boat show last year how each one is better then the rest and a lot of it was incorrect. Do the research.

The original owner of my NR sent it back to be modified with the Extended Bottom. do a search in this section boat and motor tech on north river. a bunch of good info with a lot of reading. A big reason that I bought this boat was all the info here. I looked at the Thunderjet at last years boat show in Seattle, They had a good deal but Hewescraft and North River was where I was at, at the end of the show. I settled on the Hewes 20' Searunner with a Honda 135. I changed my mind after found my boat used. More boat with electronics and suspension seats for a lot less. $15,000 less for a 4 year old boat

Highmark · 01-20-2009, 02:18 AM

I have a 22 ft Northriver Seahawk O/S it rides like a 24 ft boat. it stands up on the tail and rides so sweet. I have 2 buds that fish with me now
again. one has a 22 ft Alumaweld deep V nice boat and the other has
a 22 ft hughscraft searunner on both of them they are running Honda's
they have both run my boat in to out from the halibut holes. there replies
are allways the same. I got the wrong boat. I like this boat.

HM

RiverJohn · 01-20-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascadecruiser

Is there anyone out there who has ridden in a 21' Seahawk with extended bottom and one without the extended bottom and can give an opinion of whether or not it makes a noticable difference? The salesman says it will make it ride like it is 2 ft. longer. I have my doubts. I am leaning towards the Thunderjet Offshore which I find more visually appealing and priced better. The deadrise is almost exactly the same on both makes, but since I am looking for the best riding aluminum boat I can find, if the ext. bottom makes a significant difference I would lean towards the NR Seahawk. Appreciate any input. Thanks.

The salesman is correct.

tbone65 · 01-20-2009, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverJohn

The salesman is correct.

I agree....it doesm't "drive like it's 2 feet longer" because of any black magic..it IS 2 feet longer at the running surface.

BAP 62 · 01-20-2009, 08:39 AM

Get the Seahawk. They ride great.

lurking_out_loud · 01-20-2009, 09:35 AM

I have a modified 21 that was done last winter. Night and day difference in ride. Way better ride now than with the original bracket set up. the Salesman is right.

-lol

olybirds · 01-20-2009, 11:48 AM

i believe that a 20' NR has a lot more deadrise at the bow than a 20' Thunderjet.
NR is 29 Degrees, the TJ is 16 degrees.
ANother one to look at is a Hewescraft. Their 20-22 Footers have a 35 degree V up front.

So in a nutshell the NR should ride better than the TJ, with or without the ET.

Similar to comparing the boats Highmark is Comparing to his Seahawk OS. His boat has much more deadrise than the ones he's comparing his to, and weighs much more, and thus it rides better in the rough stuff.

I used to own a 20' TJ and now own a 24' Hewes. The ride isnt even comparable, but its not apples to apples either!

I would make getting the Mariner Suspension seats manditory if I were to purchase either the TJ or 20-21 North Rivers!

RiverJohn · 01-20-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurking_out_loud

I have a modified 21 that was done last winter. Night and day difference in ride. Way better ride now than with the original bracket set up. the Salesman is right.

-lol

You probably know best since you have had it both ways.

imo:

Add 2 ft of hull.

They are more stable and very quick to plane. Maybe not quite as nimble in the corners, but worth it. Just from my test drives before I bought my NR w/Off shore hull.

Jason S · 01-20-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olybirds

I would make getting the Mariner Suspension seats manditory if I were to purchase either the TJ or 20-21 North Rivers!

Yup.

Granted I don't have Mariners but Glyderides.

Do not know how I lived without sispensions seats in this boat or my last. Must have for tin boats with a forawrd windshield. I took Oly's advice on this last year and wow what a night and day difference in felt ride.

OB1 · 01-20-2009, 05:51 PM

I have the 07 20ft seahawk with the off shore bracket and it is quik to get on plane. The best money I have spent, and with the 150hp Honda it is a fuel efficent motor with plenty of power. The only thing I would do different if get the suspension seats. My back was a little hurting during my last 30 mile trip out to the ranch. I averaged just over 4 miles to the gallon on my last trip out there.
Happy shopping!

garyk · 01-20-2009, 09:05 PM

Something more subtle about the NR offshore flotation bracket - in my opinion - is that it really gives the Seahawks a very level attitude on the water. This translates into excellent tracking at trolling speeds.

I think it also enables Seahawks to jump up IMMEDIATELY on plane....one of the performance features of that model I find so interesting...give it some throttle and you're there on plane. Instantly.

OB1 · 01-21-2009, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyk

Something more subtle about the NR offshore flotation bracket - in my opinion - is that it really gives the Seahawks a very level attitude on the water. This translates into excellent tracking at trolling speeds.

I think it also enables Seahawks to jump up IMMEDIATELY on plane....one of the performance features of that model I find so interesting...give it some throttle and you're there on plane. Instantly.

Danno · 01-21-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverJohn

Just from my test drives before I bought my NR w/Off shore hull.

Can you buy a 22' NR Seahawk with a more off-shore friendly hull?

cascadecruiser · 01-21-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurking_out_loud

I have a modified 21 that was done last winter. Night and day difference in ride. Way better ride now than with the original bracket set up. the Salesman is right.

-lol

You are just the guy I was hoping to hear from. You should certainly know. Thanks.