I have the 17'10" Scout that they discontinued, and it's the perfect size for me. Mine came off the showroom floor so I didn't really have alot of choice. If I had I would definitely added gunnel rod lockers, and put the hot water sink on the opposite side of the kicker. That way everyone could use it without climbing over me to get at it.

Steve/RR

 

I love my 24' Scout. My only dislike is the poor interior paint. North River has stepped up and is going to repaint. Other than that it has put my 2 other Alumaweld Super Vee's to shame.

 

I have a 2003 19' Scout and love it. I bought it used, so I am slowly adding options. It seems to like to porpose abit but a little throttle tending seems to cure that. I am very pleased with the quality of the paint, bothe inside and out, as well as the welds.

 

Love my 2001 19ft scout. Best boat I have ever owned. I will make you a great deal if you want a used one.

BCF

 

My Scout has been a great fishing platform over the last 4 or 5 years. No complaints.

If your not locked into a 20' conciser going 21' to 24'.
A couple of things you get with the longer boat is a .250 aluminum bottom vs .190 on the 20ft and under. You have the option of a 60 gallon tank which is handy and the larger boats come with tandem axle trailer vs. single. Big difference when tour towing to Tillamook Bay or over to Idaho. The longer boat also allows you to add 6" to 12" of bottom width. Doesn't sound like much but once you have experience it you will never go back. And finally the ride on the water greatly improves with the longer boats.

 

Please do expand on the ' Nice looking North River trailer'.

 

Flatfish...it's probably one of them really shiny ones. Made out of alunamin:applause:

Mark

 

I've got a 20' Scout and it's been a great boat. I fish a few rivers that are a little smaller up here in WA and the 20' is an easy length/width to handle in them. It fishes 3 perfectly and 4 pretty easily too if everyone knows what they are doing. Whatever you do, put the max allowable power on it- you'll never be sorry. Upgrade to a tandem axle trailer if you can, for the reasons Pearl stated above.

 

reelfine what are you running for power? pearl, do you have a pump as well?

 

I have a Yamaha 200 HPDI- I think it's the perfect motor for this boat. It gets up fast even with 3 or 4 big guys in the boat, sips gas, cruises nicely at half throttle (leaving plenty to spare) and is a rock solid, proven engine. I will mention that I have a 6 deg. hull, which makes a difference in how fast she planes (faster than a 12 deg.)... I've fished it in the Columbia plenty of times- it does fine for the most part, although if I spent more time there, I would definitely have a 12 deg to reduce the pounding.

 

I have a 19' scout. Make sure you put enough power on it, or you will kick youself later.

 

2004 scout 19' The stow cabinet in the back faces foward so if I forget to latch it it flys up at about 30mph. Makes a great cell phone launcher. I would prefer the cabinet facing sideways. It does porpoise but I put about 35lbs weight in bow and most of that went away. I went with forty over coast guard rating on hp. Dont know if That will cause me a insurance issue some day. I know your not suppose to have more hp than your IQ but what can I say.

 

I have no complaints, I had my boat built, and made several changes early on in the builting of it.

I agree witrh pearl, if you can step up a size or two, you will not regret it, more room, and more fuel. I can run around along time on my 60 gallon tank before needing to hit the gas station.

Also, go with plenty of horse power, if you have a load in your boat and are under powered, it's no fun. Also consider upgrading your seats, this is where you send most of your time on the boat.

I would also get the options list and go over it real close, don't forget anything

 

Nice Boat.

I have a 22 X 84, Get a tandam axle trailer like every one has stated. If I was going to do it over I would add the anchor guard up front. Like Rod Action said get the best seats you can get. Get them on the Slides so you can take them out easy for side drifting. If you are going to pump it get a 2-stroke. I have a 4-stroke 225 that I run pump and prop. One of the things that I am glad I had them do is put in the rubber gunnel guard I can put the rod holders any place I want with this.

Good luck.

 

2002 19' scout. I really like the length and it has been a great boat for me. But.... Pay close attention to what hp you will be running on it especially if you are going to put a 4-stroke pump on it. I have a 115 and it is not enough hp. The top end speed is just fine, but the hole shot sucks. 4-strokes are great on fuel but are slugs out of the hole. This is not a good feature if you are going to be fishing areas with white water. The 8 hp Yamaha kicker is perfect for this size boat.

One more thing. Make sure that it comes with a washdown pump and a warm water sink to run off of the kicker. Craig

 

I have had my 22' x84" Scout since November.I have hardly fished it so far, just mostly having fun running it, adding accessories and figuring things out for the upcoming springer season. What I found so far is......

A) It is built like a tank. Pulling up the floorboards and being in every crook and cranny of the craft adding accessories etc. I cannot believe how over-built this boat is. 'Four' massive full length stringers and huge engineered cross members, along with .250 welded bracing make the main hull incredibly solid.
B) The welds and puddles that are hidden are as consistent and as as flawless as those showing on the exterior.
c) It planes with hardly a twist of the throttle *The 200hp prop probably helps with this.
D) For an open sled with 12 degree, it runs exceptionally dry. I have intentionally run it into chop at 90 degrees and quartered and the results were great. No breaching or bow-slapping. I believe the 20 degree entry and the flared 33" sides really contribute to this.
E) Many of the things the other boat builders would like to add as extras are just part of the Scout package..... huge split fish box,extra deep step-deck, full length transom with doors, closed electronics cabinet, sliding seat brackets with arm rest seats, extra wide gunnels, custom trailer with ss brakes on both axles, uhmv slides, LED lights, etc.

F) I think it is one of the most handsome hull designs on the water. I have always admired the lines of glas-craft such as Mako & Fountain, but for a tin boat........North River builds a thing of beauty!

.......and yes,the trailer IS so cool I could cry

Now....I need to put a springer in the box.

HOGTIDE

 

I have a 2006 20' scout. Cannot think of one thing I do not like. Have the 150VMAX Pump and T8 kicker. I fish with 3-4 no problem. I prefer running rivers with just 2 and myself just because it's easier to get on plane but there is no problem getting out of the hole with 4 if you have enough water depth. If I had to do it over again there are a few things I would add but nothing I would change. Not sure where you are at but I would be happy to take ya out if that interests you. I'am in Tigard...

Mark

 

I've got a 2004 21' Scout and its a great boat as others have said. The only two things I would have done differently was go with the higher 30" transom option and diamond plate floors. Oh, and if you are getting a Yamaha jet, do not give them the lower unit for the $500.00 credit. I did this, and now that I want to add a lower unit prop, it will cost me $3,000.00. If you think there is a chance you will want to convert to a prop, keep the lower unit!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for the post. It's interesting to hear what owners like or dislike in their boats. I'm still searching for an 20-21 foot open or center console. If someone is thinking about selling, let me know.... Thanks!

 

I have a 20' 2006 Scout and love it. I've fished the skinny and big rivers with the same ability it offers. I had the very same discussion about powering the boat prior to buying it. I tried out a couple of different motors, looked at costs and ended up buying a 115 Merc. Optimax pump. This has ended up being a very good choice for me personally. I would have preferred a 150, but the price difference was a huge jump from the 115 to the 150. I put 4 big guys in it, loaded with fuel and took it out on a spin and I didn't have any issues. I'm not going to be the fastest boat on the water, but I don't have a problem cruising at 30 mph with those loads. I also don't fish rivers where my holeshot has to be on plane in 15' either. So do what works for you and the rivers you fish.

Secondly, I looked at every single boat make and model in that size and came down to two boats. Willie Predator or the Scout. The predator was about 4k more for the same boat so I got the Scout. Plus I got a smoking deal at 22.5k for the setup with a trailer. All together, great boat and have nothing bad to say yet.

tc

 

Just saw that Stevens jacked up some prices...This will make my decision easier. Thinking of just going with a prop now.

 

Yep, you better...and you'll be able to sneak up on me easier

Buy a boat already !!!!! assout:

Louis

 

I like mine on the calm days but when the waves whip up it is jarring. Gonna sell it for something with a deeper V and the wife wants a windshield.

PM'd Foxer and Chukar on the boat. Anyone else looking let me know

06 21' Scout

 

I had a Scout and sold it to buy a Commander. I regret doing it.The Scout was a much better boat to fish out of.

 

I'm totaly happy with my 2004. I got the 200 V-Max...with both the pump and the lower unit..but since the price of gas has gone through the roof...if I were to do it over again I would probably go 4-stroke and prop only. That 200 V-Max sounds like a V-8 from inside the boat, but not quite as loud as one....

One thing I didn't see mentioned here is if you get the aluminum trailer..get the fenderwell guides. There's about an inch of play on the insides of each of the fenderwells....so you need to be dead on if you drive onto the trailer..and if you miss and land on top of the fenderwell (I can't speak for less than a 22 footer) a Scout larger than 22 feet cannot be moved too easily if you come up on it too far. The 22's+ are way heavier than a smaller Scout.

Not sure if NR has added vent's on the top side of their aluminum trailers either now after 2o04, but mine has a tendency to float for a bit if the boat's not on the trailer when you dunk it. I think a vent or two on the topside rear of the trailer would take care of that problem.

Hogtide..is yours vented on the topside??

Mark

 

One thing I didn't see mentioned here is if you get the aluminum trailer..get the fenderwell guides. There's about an inch of play on the insides of each of the fenderwells....so you need to be dead on if you drive onto the trailer..and if you miss and land on top of the fenderwell (I can't speak for less than a 22 footer) a Scout larger than 22 feet cannot be moved too easily if you come up on it too far. The 22's+ are way heavier than a smaller Scout.

An 18' isn't real easy to move either. The guides on my trailer are awesome. As long as the bow of my boat is between them, I go on the trailer straight. You'll swear by them also if you ever try and get back on the trailer in the afternoon at boat ramp at Nehalem Bay State Park.

Steve/RR

 

If you can, get the 21-22'er. Much nicer platform to work from.

 

Yes, the trailer is vented. I did not know there had been issue until Jay (FightClub) mentioned it when we were out fishing yesterday. When I backed in to load, we specifically checked it out and saw the frame did a lot of venting to get the air out. It doesn't seem to float up at all. My boat has the fender guide ons, which I think may just be standard with the most recent models. No matter how bad I screw up it seems to save me and center the boat perfectly. I am still a bit paranoid about running a prop up on the trailer. I put more focus on tilting the skeg up as I approach then I do hitting the mark on the trailer. I DO NOT want to hear that thing hit the bottom of the ramp! Are there any tricks you use to ensure 'skeg safety'?

....and hey, first time I put fishin' rods in the boat was yesterday and we came home with a limit of gators!...I think I am proud of that?

 

Look at your motor when the boat is on the tailor out of the water. You can see that there is several inches of clearance between the ground and your skag. When you tilt it up a little more this clearance increases even more. I put a mark on mine where it should be to ensure safe loading. Loaded hundreds of times and never had an issue.