'04 Duckworth Navigator demo

[adfluvial angler]

I demo'd a Navigator 195 yesterday with a Yam 150 4 stroke. Nice boat ... here are my observations:

Power seemed adequate, easily stepped up at 3/4 throttle with 3 adults on board.

Cruised at 34 mph at about 5500 rpm (pretty sure that was rpm) using a stainless prop.

Total height without top is 7', total length including non-swing trailer, offshore bracket and motor is 28'.

Extra width over the Advantage was very nice, I learned that the Navigator 215 uses H116-5086 on the bottom, the 195 is 5052.

The stock seats were air-ride but I didn't like the mechanism. It seemed rickety and is exposed behind the backrest; it seemed like an easy place for a kid to smack themself on in rough water.

The bench seats were on plastic boxes and are the same size as the Advantage, not big enough to hold 2 adults.

3-windows are stock, upgrade to 5 costs about $550.

The mechanical steering was HARD, I would need hydraulic (not standard).

In spite of the above, it is a nice, nice boat. Can't wait to demo the 21'x82" NR Seahawk next week. I could post my thoughts after that if anybody in interested.

[zipper]

Sounds like fun! I upgraded on my Advantage to the 5 window - I strongly encourage that unless you plan to troll from the drivers seat position then you'd want the 3 window configuration. Just my 2cents! Have fun! Enjoy the journey. zip

[onstep]

I would strongly reccommend you drive a bunch of different boats. At 5500 rpm you should be moving a lot faster than 34 MPH. The Northriver with the same setup will more than likely do 45 at the same rpm. Your test drive indicates two possible serious issues. The hull could be a dog and isn't performing and lifting properly hence the slow speed. I'm stabbing in the dark but I would have to guess that planing was slow and the minimum planing speed was to high also. The other issue could be the motor itself. The 4 strokes aren't great performers and being a 4 cylinder maybe the 150 doesn't really have the guts that say a 150 VMAX or HPDI has. The engine could be like a Suzuki 140 4 stroke and just not have very much power for the noted horse power. Honestly I don't believe Yamaha would release a motor that didn't perform. Then again they have a tremedous market to tap into with the larger 4 strokes and being one the first out will have a direct impact on how many they will sell.