18' Alumaweld Intruder -Sportjet or Outboard?

[StinkyH]

I plan on buying a boat this year for sure. I have some time since I need to sell a vehicle before I purchase to make room in the garage. Given the size of my garage and what my pocketbook is gonna permit - I have been pondering the Alumaweld 18' Intruder sportjet or outboard. Friend of mine advised that you take about a 25% performance hit on running the jet pump. So I am weighing that option. Primary use will be fishing the Columbia and crabbin. Any input on this boat from owners out there? I realize the doghouse will take up some room in the rear - 'specially in an 18' boat - but I am willing to accept that if I am gaining in regards to the handling of the boat and less worries about smackin the prop.

Also - not sure what the diff is between sterndrive and inboard - if someone could be so kind as to shed some light on that that'd be appreciated. :smile:

Thanks in advance! :grin:
StinkyH

[blacktail519]

For what you are going to be using it for primarily, go with the outboard prop. And as far as performance, I have a 20' intruder, with a 150 HP merc saltwater that will perform with the best of em! For what your going to use it for, dont go with a pump!!!! Just my opinion

[slabhunter]

For the larger water you described my suggestion would be the outboard/prop. You can trim the boat in sloppy water and stearing is improved at the slower speeds dictated by the conditions. Sterndrive is usually a larger(350) motor inside and prop outside.

[jetsled1]

StinkyH

I have a 2002 18' Intruder with a 115 merc with a pump give me a shout and I will take you out and you can run it and see if it is what you want.

Bob
jetsled1@easystreet.com

[Thumper]

Stinky --- Our new 20-ft boat is a Sportjet.

http://www.boultonpowerboats.com/ima...rtcenter15.gif

That is about as small as I would go with a SJ as the SJ does take up quite a lot of interior room. We have the swing tongue, which allowed us to go with the 20. Since you are in Vancouver feel free to come on by and you can see how everything fits together. E-mail me if interested.

[ 01-09-2004, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: Thumper ]

D'oh

[ 01-09-2004, 07:49 AM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[goodkarma]

Talk to Ray at Steven's marine, he's got a sweet deal on one right now.

[Silver Hilton]

I've got a 19 ft with a Sportjet, and there is plenty of room. One foot shorter though, and it might start getting tight, if you have side bench seats. If you have pedastal or movable rear seats, it would be fine.

I agree with Thumper about the Sportjet. It is a very usable and tractable power plant. Mine is about 2 1/2 years old, and I have had zip problems with it. Great power, turns on a dime. Reasonably fuel efficient, for a two stroke (6-7 gph at 4000 rpm, which is about 30 mph). The one issue is clogs of the intake grate. If I had known about stomp grates when I bought the boat, I would have bought one. I have only been clogged once, on literally the first fishing trip I took with the boat, when I drove it over a weedbed (Columbia at Hanford). I haven't had any issues boating in tha various rivers around the NW after that.

I've had outboards and inboards. I greatly prefer inboards from a boat driver's standpoint. I prefer outboards from a fishing standpoint (more room), but not so much that I'd buy another one.

[HOGGEMIN]

For the bigger waters I'd go with a prop. If you want a sportjat check out the Motion Marine's outback sportjat boats they move the dog house back and give you a lot more room in your boat. I have a 20'Motion Marine with a outback and really like it but I also want a ocean going boat too.

[corkyking]

If you are going to fish the Columbia and saltwater exclusively then change your thinking all-together.

Deep-V, high bow, trim tabs, good cabin, longer than 20' and probably newer-used to keep the price down.

If you're also going to fish the Lewis, Cowlitz, Chehalis, Wind etc. then you need a driftboat too or an 18' Aluminum with a 175 SJ like I have.

Big enough to be comfortable and a hot rod. :smile:

[ 01-09-2004, 03:12 PM: Message edited by: corkyking ]

[ 01-18-2004, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

[Jennie@ifish]

Woof Woof! :smile:

[ 01-18-2004, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

[StinkyH]

Much thanks to everyone for the feedback! :grin:

Gonna go check out the 18' Intruder at Steve's Marine. That'll fit fine in my garage. :smile: The sportjet might be the way to go to hit the Columbia and head up the tribs a little but the jury is still out on the drive choice(leaning towards the 175 merc sports jet though).

Thanks again for the input and offers to check out some sleds. :smile:

StinkyH

[fun-fishing]

I have an 18' Intruder with 175 SJ and love it. It's like how many times do you use a 4X4 but when you need to you have it. With the jet you may run some shallow water in a bay or be able to run the rivers. As for the dog house it works great as BBQ table or to cut bait on. If you get one with a swim deck it makes agood place for the fish cooler.

[StinkyH]

Originally posted by fun-fishing:
I have an 18' Intruder with 175 SJ and love it. It's like how many times do you use a 4X4 but when you need to you have it. With the jet you may run some shallow water in a bay or be able to run the rivers. As for the dog house it works great as BBQ table or to cut bait on. If you get one with a swim deck it makes agood place for the fish cooler.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Very good info - thanks!

StinkyH

[Mikeymoto]

Just a thought, we looked at Alumawelds and alot of other boats. When we looked at how much it would cost for the boat we wanted with all of the options that we wanted, the Alumaweld was quite abit more than we expected. We ended up with a NR with a SJ, and have been VERY happy.
MM

[TheRogue]

Personally, I believe the SportJet is the best thing going. Little doghouse, although it is definitely noticeable in the 18x66 Intruder. I had one for 2 years, and one of my co-workers has one I've fished out of a lot. I took a couple of test rides in the same boat with a 115/80 jet, felt it was way underpowered after being in the SJ version.

Too bad they won't make the 18 with a 72" bottom!!

As for jet vs prop...personal preference, but I'd rather be bombing down the cluttered ugly Willamette in the winter and bounce OVER a submerged log, than slam into one with a prop hanging down.

And, unless you do an awful lot of playing, your big motor won't get many hours on it, compared to whatever you use for a troller....especially if you spend all day anchored up.

My .02

TR

[onstep]

Rogue,

2004 18' Alumawelds are standard with 72" bottoms. I guess they finally got tired of having their butts handed to them buy other manufacturers.

[TheRogue]

Originally posted by onstep:
Rogue,

2004 18' Alumawelds are standard with 72" bottoms. I guess they finally got tired of having their butts handed to them buy other manufacturers.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Wow, they finally got the hint?

TR

[HOGTIDE]

I would say that the SportJet wins in all categories, except for one........if you anchor fish alot, a shallow vee jet sways with the wind. The skeg on a prop boat does a good job of sheering against the wind. I really miss my prop in the summer winds.

[Pete]

I think you should consider the hull angle, too. When I bought my first Intruder, I compared the 18 and 20 with 10º hulls. I found the 20 planed better and didn't come off plane in sharp cornering. I now have a 14º hull and it rides the chop much better. I'd want to make the same comparison with an 18' outboard before I made a decision.

[Grass Hopper]

Sportjets are the most horsepower for the buck. But I like the 20' boat models. They are wider and run shallower.

[StinkyH]

Originally posted by Grass Hopper:
Sportjets are the most horsepower for the buck. But I like the 20' boat models. They are wider and run shallower.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I'd buy a 20 if it'd fit in my garage. :depressed: The 18 will fit nicely with enough room to squeeze around the back end.

StinkyH

[darth baiter]

Just a thought here. Would a 20'with a breakaway trailer tongue fit in your garage? IMHO you really should try to make the 20' work. Boats always seem bigger in the show room than on the water.

[Pickles]

Why not purchase a 19 ft Thunderjet, Weldcraft, Northriver, Willy etc. They are all good boats, and all have the option of a swing tongue.

[StinkyH]

I took some measurements again and I _might_ be able to squeeze in a 20' SJ but I really need to try it with the boat on the trailer. Thinkin with the measurements I got from Steve's Marine of 19'3" for the 18' SJ - that'd be 21'3" for the 20' SJ. Someone mentioned previously that Steve's Marine trailered a boat out to their home to make sure it'd fit in the garage. That'd be sweet to know for sure. Looking at the pics and the threads on ifish - that extra 2' of boat would be well worth it.

StinkyH

[HOGTIDE]

OK...just ran out into the garage and measured my 20' Intruder. The boat is exactly 20' 1" and the pump plate protector is 17". Total length with removable tongue is 20'18".

[corkyking]

[StinkyH]

Originally posted by corkyking:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Gotta add the length that the engine or jet is gonna add as well.

StinkyH

[StinkyH]

Originally posted by HOGTIDE:
OK...just ran out into the garage and measured my 20' Intruder. The boat is exactly 20' 1" and the pump plate protector is 17". Total length with removable tongue is 20'18".

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I appreciate you pullin the measurements from your boat!

How much clearance is there between the bottom of the pump and the ground? Where I am thinking I can back this into my garage I have a 6" concrete step at the very back that will sit under the rear just a few inches.

Also - is the trailer wider or more narrow than the beam of the boat?

Appreciate your help with this.

StinkyH

[Thumper]

Our new 20-footer with the swing tongue swung is 22 feet even, including the trolling motor. The width clears the garage door by 2 inches on each side. Grass Hopper cut it close when designing the boat, but that's what he does for a living.

It was so cool to have a drink with Fishinmission in the boat yesterday in the garage, warm and cozy, after looking at all those freezy boat pics on Ifish. :grin:

[ 01-11-2004, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: Thumper ]

[glassblower]

My friend has a 24ft NW Jet, his complaint is that he can not drag it home and flush it out with fresh water after the salt, he has to drag it to fresh water back it in and run it to flush out the salt. The really nice thing on his is the wall to wall deck over the engine with a nice raill going all the way around the back and sides. Very thirsty with the big 460 ford engine, but most of the fishing is done with 20hp honda 4-stroke. If it was an outboard engine he could flush it in his driveway. One other problem with a jet is that if you work on it you have to drag it to water to test fire it. I personaly would go with an outboard.

[snit]

I just picked up a 20' Intruder with the 175 sportjet. NICE! For what's it's worth, buy the biggest boat with the biggest motor that you can justify. We all get 2footitis, and it's expensive to cure once contracted! BTW, the sportjet has a freshwater flush fitting on the top of the motor, so one can flush or test it in the driveway (I haven't needed to yet, but the manual describes how to).

[blacktail]

glassblower,

Actually, the Sportjets have a connection where you can attach a garden hose to flush them out or for if you need to start them at home.

Mike

[glassblower]

Originally posted by blacktail:
glassblower,

Actually, the Sportjets have a connection where you can attach a garden hose to flush them out or for if you need to start them at home.

Mike

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">That is a nice option, I was not aware they made them that way. Do you know if one of those can be added to the ford 460 with a hamilton pump?