[Ian Harrison]

The Hewescraft is a fine boat. I had a 200 pro V with a Honda 115 and it was plenty. 150 should be plenty on the ET model. Doesn’t have some of the comforts of the higher end models, but solid construction.

 

[Knotty Tuna]

I owned a 2014 Hewes 200 pro V ET/HT with the Honda 150. The pro V is a river or lake boat and is somewhat wide with somewhat of a flatter bottom in the back of the boat with 30" sides. Very stable to have a couple people on one side with no problem ( myself 220# and my brother at 550# ). I never had issues with the foam on my boat and it was outside all the time with a tarp over it in the winter months. Checked it myself the 4 year I owned it. It's a great boat to take out in the ocean with the right conditions for salmon fishing or bottom fishing. I had mine 50 plus miles offshore doing tuna and halibut fishing many times and never had any problems. I had 4 people on board at about 900# with a half tote full of ice and tuna at about 400# and was still very sea worthy but maybe a little slow for all that weight but still able to go 24 ish mph. The only reason I got rid of it 2 years ago was to get a bigger boat for going out in the ocean for tuna and halibut fishing. Also I couldn't pass up the deal I was offered on the boat I now own, a Hewescraft 26ft Alaskan. If I was you get the ET as it will give you that little extra deck space for fishing and for get on and off the boat if you ever need to. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

 

[Jengrg3]

Not trying to hijack your thread....I have a couple questions about Hewes as well. I have poured over all the major manufacturers and if I ever upgrade from my riveted Starcraft (that I love) I would get a Pro V Hewes. My question is if you look at nameplate ratings of all the major manufacturers the Hewes are rated for significantly more weight (or people) for their size. Is that because they are not as heavy gauge of aluminum? I also realize nameplate ratings aren't the end all be all of information but I was told if there was ever an accident insurance companies won't pay out if you have more people on board than the boat is rated for.

The other thing I notice about Hewes is it seems that their extended transom boat trailers have less overhang from behind the axles as other manufacturers. Does anyone ever run into trouble with extended transoms bottoming out on transitions to hills on the roads? With my driveway I always figured I'd get a standard transom Pro V 20, though I would like the ET.

Good luck on your search and thanks to anyone for answers to my inquiry.

I believe the people and weight rating is based on the amount of flotation (foam)

 

[RB Drifter]

I gave two buddies with Pro V’s. One has the 18’ with bracket and a 115, boat rides great. Another buddy has the 20’ and no offshore bracket and only a 90hp. Rides rougher and you will not get anywhere fast in this boat. Been out of Garibaldi, Newport and at B10 in this. definitely have to know the tides and watch your days for the salt.

 

[ccw]

They’re nice boats. I like the extra high bow rails on some of them. Several are moored in our local marina and the owners are happy.

 

[farmersfishing]

Bought my Hewescraft last year and I have zero regrets. 20' with a 115hp, I fish 4-5 comfortably in the ocean, columbia, lakes you name it. Great boats!

 

[CKthumper]

19' SeaRunner. Bought it new in '96. Replaced the floor five years ago and didn't find any water in the foam. No complaints.

 

[uhmw]

My wife always wants to go to Hawaii or Europe 😕 consider yourself lucky.

 

[fishnhunt13]

I believe the people and weight rating is based on the amount of flotation (foam)

The foam is placed as a safety device to help 'float' the boat in case of an emergency such as capsizing or water inside of the hull. 'Floating' is a loose term as the sides of the boat will be at or near the waterline should an accident happen. Foam is required on all boats 20' and under which is why you see a lot of boats titled as 20' 1". Some manufacturers voluntarily place foam in boats over 20'. When I removed the foam in my 20' 1" boat I replaced it with foam sheeting which provides room for air circulation and it doesn't allow salt/water to be held next to the AL.

Floatation is created by the displacement of water by the boat. Different items such as width, length, depth, and design all play into how much flotation, stability, speed, etc are achieved in a given hull design.

The capacity rating is only required on boats under 20' and is set in the CFRs (Code Of Federal Regulations) (33 CFR 183) as promulgated by the USCG. 33 CFR 183.35 states:
"The maximum weight capacity marked on a boat that is designed or intended to use one or more outboard motors for propulsion must be a number that does not exceed one-fifth of the difference between its maximum displacement and boat weight."

 

[MattiG]

If it’s ever been fished in the rain or had water on the deck it’s an issue that will need to be addressed. When you trap water down there it doesn’t just dry up in the shop .

Incorrect. If your trailer jack is high enough, or if any other physical orientation causes the bow to be a few degrees higher than the stern, the water will drain out of the foam. Additionally, the foam is also a small structural benefit in certain boats.

It is tremendously popular on ifish to demonize "waterlogged foam! Get it out of there!" But I'm not sure it's entirely deserved.

For what it's worth, I began to remove the foam in my old boat, but when I saw how the water was pooling up after opening up a small section, I cranked my bow up another several inches and few days later, it was bone dry. After that, it never accumulated much water on any individual trip. I suspect the worst cases of waterlogged foam are among those whose floors aren't sloped toward an open drain plug on the trailer.

 

[IrishTriplets]

Hewe's is easily the best bang for your buck. I find that Hewe's boats far outnumber any other manufacturer on the water from Newport to Alaska. There must be some reason you see so many of them....
After looking long and hard at North Rivers and Duckworth, I bought a 2021 Sea Runner 210 last year with Honda 225. Zero regrets.

 

[dkopisch]

I looked at both north river and hewes craft. For my money I was able to get a bigger boat if I went the hewes craft route. You get more bang for you buck so the fit and finish might not be as nice a ls a north river or other brands like duckworth. I got a searunner 210 hard top with a 200hp, I’ve owned mine since 2019, and done everything from Kokanee fishing to running 50 miles off shore for tuna.

yes I want a bigger boat with some fancy features, but this one gets the job done for now and is easy to tow, maintain and run etc

so all and all I am happy

 

[Blderman]

My wife always wants to go to Hawaii or Europe 😕 consider yourself lucky.

I have to do that too. It's why I work 60- 80hrs most week.....

 

[Wicked_Stix]

I own a 2017 Hewescraft Sportsman 180 with a 2022 Yamaha 90hp and T9.9 kicker. Would love to go longer (20' or 22' with offshore bracket) but restrained garage depth only allows me to fit an 18 footer. Budget was a huge factor and boats from other manufacturers with thicker aluminum were outside of my budget. Length is good as it's usually just my wife and I fishing. Plus the light weight makes it easy to tow.

Gotta give credit where credit is due: Hewescraft has excellent customer service. Carie Ann Stephenson works in the Hewescraft Customer Service department. She has been so pleasant to deal with as she assisted me with ordering additional parts for my Hewes Sportsman.

I have ZERO regrets and absolutely LOVE my Hewes. I highly recommend Hewescraft!

 

[Threeweight]

I have a 22' Hewescraft Ocean Pro (bought new in 2016). I wanted a boat that could be used both for fishing Multnomah Channel and the Willamette for springers/shad and the ocean for halibut and tuna, and everything in between. I cross shopped w/ North River, Duckworth, Weldcraft, Boulton, Wooldridge, etc...

At the time, I found the Hewescraft was better thought out (more storage, toe rails, grab handles everywhere, better access to critical hardware/bilge pumps, etc...) and better priced (my boat rigged w/ a v6 Honda 225 was nearly $10k cheaper than a North River with a 4 cylinder Yamaha 200). Six years and hundreds of hours later I am still very happy with it, and would not trade it for any of the competing models I looked at.

I fish the ocean, and the foam is a bonus to me. I'd rather hang out on a turtled, but floating, hull and wait for the Coast Guard than take my chances in a pfd, or holding onto a cooler lid. It also ads rigidity to the boat (foam inside the big C channel girders that are the backbone of the hull).

My only issues w/ my boat were some 1) some quirks related to it being the first year w/ the new pressurized gas tank, and 2) paint bubbling where the factory and dealer installed things but did not Tefgel the hole. Hewescraft and the dealer I purchased from (NW Marine and Sport in Pasco) have generally been excellent.

The only way I'd part with my Hewescraft is to replace it with a bigger glass boat I could leave moored on the coast.

 

[Blderman]

Well pulled the trigger, bringing it home tomorrow night.

 

[Grizz86]

View attachment 990761
Well pulled the trigger, bringing it home tomorrow night.

Beauty!!!!

 

[Blderman]

Beauty!!!!

My wife loved it so I am even more excited now. It's been really well taken care of for a 2018, no water in the foam. A few scratches here and there but less than I am going to put on it the next 10yrs. Can't wait to get it setup and on the water. Now I have to get the Pontoon sold!

 

[Rseas]

View attachment 990761
Well pulled the trigger, bringing it home tomorrow night.

guy..., beautiful boat. If you decide to install forced air diesel heat/defrost (a game changer) I know a guy...

 

[flyman47]

You'll live it. I have the 18' model. Do yourself a favor and put suspension pedestals in it. Install your wife's first. With the forward helm in these boats it gets bumpy.