LOOKING FOR SOME BOAT INFO

[kkc66]

 I’m looking for some input, l’m getting ready to buy a new boat this year probley at the sportsmen show or the boat show in the spring. One thing is for sure I’m going with an outboard for the first time and an aluminum boat. I have always owned a fiberglass boat (22’shamrock& 32’bayliner)Now that the wife has given the ok  to start shopping  I’m looking hard at the RiverHawk,NortRiver,Hewescraft, Thunder JET  and the Warhawk by Allied Boats built  in Bremerton WA (Defiance boats) all around 20’ to 22 . With the canvas top. The price jumps up at 22’ by  aprox $10,000 with that being said there all  pretty close  at the same  price point 40 to 55,000. l’ll be  using  it mostly in the straits and maybe 3 or 4 times  year at La push that’s why I’m thinking 22’.so if you own one of these or have any input please let me know what you think and what you would change or do.

[buddy01]

I have 21 north river got It new in 98  400 hr on it now great boat

[cohoho]

Ensure you test ride them all...  Not on flat water either.  You'll be surprised by the ride of a couple that you mentioned...  And tighten your kidney belt if you get a Thunderjet...  lol

[wildmanoutdoors]

Get the deepest Vee you can! Most aluminums ride like crap compared to glass boats. 

[C-Money]

I bought an Alumaweld last spring. Best boat I have ever owned, my family loves it. Great boat. Cohoho has great advise suggesting test drives. I test drove mine with a maintenance guy at the dealership and sure made signing the papers a little easier knowing how the boat preformed. Good times ahead for you, good luck, don't rush it, look at all the brands and find your dream boat!!

[fishngamereaper]

I bought a 22' Hewescraft this spring. Its a full hard top/bulkhead door though. Love the boat, rides great,tows good, good on fuel, plenty of room. So many things to compare with the boats you mentioned. I could go on all day. I would start by making a list of the options you want and getting a quote for each boat. You will be suprised how much price difference there is between builders. I found generally NR and TJ where 10-15% more, and you where not always getting what you payed for.

[wildmanoutdoors]

If I was in your shoes Id check out the Alumaweld Formula Vee series!

[Rick]

Buy more engine than you think will be sufficient, same for the trailer.

Boat dealers love to skimp on HP and put just enough trailer to get you down the road. It keeps the price attractive for guys that don't know any better.

I had an F150 on my 20' North River. It was a good match. The dealer tried to sell me a 115.

My 26' Duckworth has an F300. The dealer wanted to rig it with a 250.

[MADMAX]

I have had 4 aluminum boats starting with a 16 ft Bayrunner and ending with an 18ft Duckworth
I can't say enough good things about my old Hewes 22ft with the extended transom hardtop and Alaska bulkhead package, 150 Honda was plenty.
The only reason I sold it was I fish alone mostly and it was too much boat for one guy to launch and recover easily in crappy weather,,,, and I made 4 grand when I sold it from when I bought it.
Look at NW Marine and Sport in Pasco I bought 2 boats from them and was pleased.

[lokidog]

OK, I'll chime in too.  Heer's my  For full disclosure, I have an Alumaweld Stryker 19' that came with a soft top and a 90 hp engine.  I also put about 3,500 miles a year on it and boat in all but the worst weather.  I don't go out to the coast much but I would if I had time.

I'm not a stickler on preferred brand, though I was looking at replacing our Alumweld 19 with a Hewescraft 20, not another Alumaweld.

You won't be disappointed with either the 20 or 22' extended transom outboard models.  A 150hp engine will be plenty of engine for either boat, even with a hardtop (I have a 21' Trophy with a 150, it is a heavier boat than the aluminums and have never had any need for more Hp).

Consider a hard top model, canvas sucks, often   always leaks water at the walk through windshield zippers, leaves nowhere to attach rod holders, nav lights, etc., and will cost $2000 to replace.  Unless you fish the eastside, you will likely rarely put your top down (and even then I have always left the top on to stay in the shade).  We priced a Hewes Pro-V 20' extended transom, hard top, fish curtain, canvas cabin extension (so 3' jump seats would fit), bottom paint, trim tabs, and a 150hp for $43000 from Oregon (the 22' was only a couple thousand more). This boat would have replaced both our 19 Alumaweld and 21' Trophy for coastal operations. 

Aluminum boats ride rough!  There is no getting around that unless you get a really big one.  Most boating conditions on the sound or coast will limit your top speed to 25 mph or so unless you only go out on the nicest days, even deeper V boats are rough riders.  I like the slightly flatter hulled boat because it gets better fuel economy, maybe not a big deal for the once or twice a month fisherman but at 3500 milea a year, a 10% increase in economy adds up.  They also tend to be more stable for fishermen moving from side to side.

Capacity.  Aluminum boats have a much lower passenger capacity rating than a comparably sized fiberglass boat.  Be sure the boat you get has the capacity for how many people you think you might have.  From experience, this load rating is substantially lower than what the boat can actually handle but that's what the Coast Guard looks at.

Be sure to get trim tabs.  I also like the boats that have the windshield farther forward as this seems to give better front to back weight distribution since most companies insist on putting the gas tank toward the stern.

If buying new, consider OR as most dealers will sell you the engine and rigging costs seperately from the boat/trailer which will save $1000 or so in sales tax.

Hope this helps.  Feel free to contact me with any additional questions

[NRA4LIFE]

Go with the bigger boat, hardtop, Bulkhead and as much engine as you can afford and big gas tanks.  I never had an enclosed cabin with the bulkhead before until I bought my Sea Sport.  I absolutely love it as much as anything on the boat.  Makes crappy days not so crappy.

[Blacklab]

All I can add through the experience of a friend. Stay away from suzukie their cs stank as did their 115. Upgraded to a Yamaha 150 this thing flat out boot scoots a 22ft thunder jet and quite.  GL 

[CAMPMEAT]

Clarks All Sports in Colville has the best price in the state for Hewescraft. My buddy works there. I've been in the plant and watched them build them. I'd buy one in a minute if I liked to fish and puke.......

[gasman]

I bout a 18' Raider this year (cousin to the Hewes) and love it 

For a boat the size you are looking at, hard top, stay away from canvas. 150 HP and you will have more then enough power.

After all my research and look at all the different brands, Raider and Hewes were on top. and Alumaweld and River Hawk were on the bottom. To me the Alumaweld was not up to the standard as the Hewes and Raider and the River Hawk had crappy craftsmanship, the welds were crap. I could have done a better job welding them, and lots of the welds looked as thou they had a grinder taken to the, to clean them up 

Off Shore bracket would give you plenty of fishing space on the deck 

Good luck and have fun shopping 

Dont bother with the Sportsmens show, Just go to Tom and Jerrrys and look at what you want there.

 

[kenzmad]

Another one to consider is Northwest Jet. I have the 218 lightning. We fish lings at neah bay, halibut at neah and sekiu. Never had a concern of the boat being seaworthy. Suspension seats are a must. The ride smooths out considerably for the captain. Have an arch built for the rod storage. Wouldnt ever go back to glass.

[C-Money]

Nice boat Kenzmad!

[cohoho]

Again, take a test ride...  Drive it like you stole it!!!!   If a sales guy is stating this or that boat is the best, make sure they'll let you drive it hard- in crappy conditions as any boats rides nice in clam flat water....  .  If you want a great alum boat ride, come and ride in my Wooldridge Offshore, not many alum are going to ride even close as smooth.   Except Buckhorn's sweet ride!!!!!  Or a 28 Duckworth with 350 - drool......   

Granted mine isn't a plastic boat ride, but for an Aluminum, I have not been in a smoother riding 23 ft metal boat with 225 Honda...  No manufacture installed suspension seats for a reason....  lol...   I like Aluminum as my motto is - "Docks Fear Me"....  Besides for the same size boat, alum is lighter to trailer, easier on fuel, less HP for performance and easy to take care of...  But you do sacrifice ride difference.  It all depends upon what is best for you...  Get the biggest motor you think you need then add 50hp...  As there was a need this year in my boat for those extra HP - Buoy 10 when the weather got bad and we cross the bar slightly later than we should have- extra power was calming coming out of the bottom of waves!!!!    Under powered would have sucked really bad!

Can't drive fast in most salt, but sooner or later it flattens out and you want to put the hammer down and run in.......

I agree with Gasman, those River Hawks looks like the welds were done by me, and I do not weld!!