Need advice. Finally buying new aluminum boat 18'

[SeaRun1]

Anyone have any advice for me as I take on the search for a new boat?  I am looking for a 18' aluminum boat.  I fish the Columbia, Puget Sound, and Sekiu/Neah Bay.  I would like the boat to be a good troller and work for freediving as well.  I have a 16' Tiderunner and a 16' Lund that will be sold to pay for the new boat.  Looking for an all purpose boat.

Anyone have a Alumaweld Talon or Stryker that they can review for me?  Much appreciated for your thoughts.

SR

[carlyoungs]

Look at hewescrafts they are foam filled and about the same price as a alumaweld. Also get a nice motor you always want that thing to srart especially when your in the shipping lanes in sekiu.

[Mfowl]

Check out Wooldridge. If you have the coin they can customize a boat to your specifications/needs.

[RB]

I looked at a Raider 185 Pro fisherman about a month ago just for giggles brand new with a 140 Suzuki about $37,000 without upgrades seemed nice. Very wide, very deep, extended transom, tall canvas lots of storage seemed really solid have never taken one out though 

[CAMPMEAT]

Clarks in Colville has the cheapest prices on Hewescraft. I know the shipping boss very well.

[lokidog]

Look at hewescrafts they are foam filled and about the same price as a alumaweld. Also get a nice motor you always want that thing to srart especially when your in the shipping lanes in sekiu.

You haven't priced Hrewescraft lately apparently....   

Alumawelds have as much foam and will float upside down just fine... trust me, I know.   

I have the Alumaweld Stryker 19', I guess they now do 18 and 20.  A 90 Hp is more than enough engine on mine, don't try to overpower them as it just weighs the stern down.  Alumawelds are decent boats, of course if I could have afforded it, I would probably have bought a Hewes. 

Be sure to look at cockpit size when comparing, it varies quite a bit company to company on similar sized boats.  The Hewes ProV is also a nice boat.

[SeaRun1]

I have a Yamaha 90 and T8 to put on the boat already.  Loki does your 19 run well with the 90?

SR

[Ridgeratt]

Hewescraft   

[lokidog]

I have a Yamaha 90 and T8 to put on the boat already.  Loki does your 19 run well with the 90?

SR

Definitely enough power for anything needed, and then some.

[mainer78]

Just bought an 18' Stryker.  Love the boat.  I've had it in the sound, off Westport, buoy 10, and Gray's Harbor... That 90hp will push it fine.  Tows great with my tundra.  Mine Does not have a swim platform but i bought a ladder that goes off the side as I am a SCUBA diver as well.  I looked at the Hewescraft and a bunch of others and i Decided on the Duckworth and the Alumaweld.  Alumaweld dealer gave me the best deal..

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Mainer, i hope you don't mind me asking. But i assume you bought new? And if you did how much did the dealer wiggle on price.

I am looking for a 20 foot aluminum with the 140-175 outboard on an OS bracket.

I can get a TJ luxor OS for 33,000.

Just wondering if they wiggled at all on price.

[lokidog]

Mainer, i hope you don't mind me asking. But i assume you bought new? And if you did how much did the dealer wiggle on price.

I am looking for a 20 foot aluminum with the 140-175 outboard on an OS bracket.

I can get a TJ luxor OS for 33,000.

Just wondering if they wiggled at all on price.

Wdfw, unless that 140 is the same weight as a 115 or 120, it is more engine than needed for a 20' boat unless it has a hardtop, then maybe.  A 150 on my 21'Trophy was more engine than it needed and it weighs a lot more than an aluminum boat.     We weere looking at a hardtop ProV Hewes 20' with extended transom, and I think a 150 Yamaha or Honda with bottom paint and top canvas extension for $43K

[LndShrk]

Mainer, i hope you don't mind me asking. But i assume you bought new? And if you did how much did the dealer wiggle on price.

I am looking for a 20 foot aluminum with the 140-175 outboard on an OS bracket.

I can get a TJ luxor OS for 33,000.

Just wondering if they wiggled at all on price.

If you are looking at the t-j and want a real test run shoot me a line. I have the 20 Luxor with the half hard top and a 140 Suzuki on it.

The 140 pushes the boat well but if I were to do it again I would go with the 175
Reasons being Druze speeds will be in the lower RPM range on the 175.

[kenzmad]

After looking at the North river seahawks and the Alumaweld Intruder, i ended up with a Lightning made by Northwest Jets Boats. Fit and finish were way above the others.

[Cap.Silver]

SIEGLERS had sale on some TJ's about a week or so ago ....don't know if they still do ....the price were about 4k less than what they usually go for . If I would to buy new boat,  I'd stay away from inboard jet and only look at offshore bracket ....gives you that much more room . There is couple grand difference between Suzuki and Honda too .

[The scout]

I've owned north river and hewes in18ft and been in alumawelds many times and woolridge also.north river is by far the nicest riding, best finish work, nicest seets.a 115 is just right wether you get a offshore transom or not.offshore transom's are harder to find in a 18fter but worth the extra money.before you buy a hewes or alumaweld,drive a north river you will be sold.

[Hilltop123]

All great boats! But I am going to throw my nomination, in the hat. Boulton Power Boats, makes some great boats. Check them out.....plus they are great to deal with as far as paperwork, when I went to register my boat in Washington. Boulton saved me a boat load in taxes, there are ways around Washington's, confiscatory tax structure.  Well, the savings bought the kicker, fish finder and a few other extras. I don't know if there is a dealer in Washington, back when I bought, I had to go to Oregon, but the drive was worth it. I'm glad I held out buying until I checked Boulton out!  Any questions? Feel free to PM, me.

[mainer78]

There was some wiggle room.. Not a whole hell of a lot though, i was trading in a 14' boat i bought like 10 months earlier...   They threw in some life Jackets, all the coast guard stuff, gave me a deal on some down riggers, and mounted all the stuff i had on the  other boat..   But i do like the Alumaweld.  Plenty of boat for my needs.  Now if i was planning on hitting up some tuna I would go with a 20+' boat with the off shore bracket..  Thats probably 10 years away!!  Unless any of you wanna donate to the fund!!

[Rick]

Whatever you buy,max the HP out. I'd go minimum 115 on an 18'er and 150 minimum on a 20'

You'll never hear a guy say he wishes he had more power. You will hear plenty that complain about not enough.

Don't skimp on the trailer either. Minimum HP and just enough trailer keep boat prices low.

[lazydrifter]

I just bought a new Hewes.  Went to Clemens in N.E. Portland.  Great to deal with. Absolutely no pressure.   Came down a couple grand on the price.  Threw in a few extra's.  If you go Yamaha outboards, check on their 6 year warranty special.  Be careful mounting accessories.  Aluminum reacts against Stainless.  I used alot of nylon washers and some anti-sieze called Tef-Gel to isolate them from each other.  Good luck

[lokidog]

All great boats! But I am going to throw my nomination, in the hat. Boulton Power Boats, makes some great boats. Check them out.....plus they are great to deal with as far as paperwork, when I went to register my boat in Washington. Boulton saved me a boat load in taxes, there are ways around Washington's, confiscatory tax structure.  Well, the savings bought the kicker, fish finder and a few other extras. I don't know if there is a dealer in Washington, back when I bought, I had to go to Oregon, but the drive was worth it. I'm glad I held out buying until I checked Boulton out!  Any questions? Feel free to PM, me.

Some will split the sale of the engine off of the boat and trailer so no sales tax on engine/mounting/hardware and other accessories.

We were considering the 20' ProV with hardtop and 150 from Clemens, they offered it up at $43 with bottom paint and a hardtop extension.  Unfortunately, we could not quite swing  the finances and repowered our Alumaweld.

Whatever you buy,max the HP out. I'd go minimum 115 on an 18'er and 150 minimum on a 20'

You'll never hear a guy say he wishes he had more power. You will hear plenty that complain about not enough.

Don't skimp on the trailer either. Minimum HP and just enough trailer keep boat prices low.

I'll say it, you can have too much power when the increased weight of the engine adversely effects the dynamics of the boat's design.  I have a 21' Trophy with a 150 on it, way too heavy of an engine, though got the job done with some new scuppers and no heavy kicker on the back.      The salesman at Clemens actually agreed with this as well, and they would benefit from an upsell.

[cohoho]

Are you looking new or used?  Are you stuck on 18 foot?  Take a run up to Wooldridge just north of Tukwila in Seattle off 599 to close to not make stop.....    I would also test run all of the final contenders on a nasty days to see what actually rides to your liken.  Saw a an 18ft Wooldridge in the CL ads the other day, it was a pretty good priced too...   

Remember - Everything rides nice on flat water....   And of course - all of them look really good in the showroom....