Thought Id share our new boat!

[wildmanoutdoors]

So me and the wife decided we wanted a new boat for Christmas. (The best Christmas presents are the ones you buy yourselves!)

I wasent looking for a super high end $80,000 boat, but a functional boat with a forward helm and a wide bottom in the 20 foot range.

I already have a 2005 Evinrude DI 175 that is like new with a 20 inch shaft as well a 2005 Yami T8 equipped with a TR1 autopilot, 3 Scotty 1106 electrics, lowrance LCX 18 color plotter/finder, washdown system and a brand new EZ loader trailer I got from my uncle Tom when he passed.

I looked at Hewescraft, Raider, Alumaweld Blackhawk and a couple more.
One thing I did not want for (4) reasons is the extended transom as the troller is too far out there and even with a TR1 on nice days I like to sit out back and hang in the sun or manually operate my kicker sitting in my seat on the 4 legged pedestal base from my previous sled.
The extended transom would also require a 25 inch shaft so with that option it would add about 3g's after the 5" bay kit was installed on the engine and the transom option added to the boat.
Plus I hate when the kicker handle is left down and locks the troller on the transom. (Yamaha's have long tillers)
Also, this boat will be used for tubing at our lake property in the summer too. The extended transom is tough for kids to climb over.

So before I go further I better post a pic!

 

So due to the price, optional wide bottom and the fact I could order right down the road from my good friends at Defiance Marine I chose the Raider!

For options I chose the swim step and ladder, white vinyl and one full length bench.

[huntnphool]

Congrats

[Charlie]

Awesome!! 

[wildmanoutdoors]

I wasent sure were the pic would show as I typed so I will continue here.

I did not order the low top gun top they offer. It goes in to the top shop in 2 weeks for a full Sunbrella material with SS bows and hardware that will have zip up front panels and be tall enough I can stand upright.

Defiance was awsome and even removed the big engine from my sled and installed it on the new hull!

I have done all the rigging myself and as of Saturday its a turn key boat. It still needs all options rigged...But both motors are rigged and ready as well I have the gauges and such installed.

I am upgrading the Lowrance to a new HDS touch with WIFI up front and will run a IPAD in the rear for a big screen and all touch functions of the HDS. I decided I did not want to drill a bunch of new holes in the new boat and then decide to upgrade soon after. And with Ram mounts and Lifeproof cases its as safe as anything in the elements. Plus we wont have to yell at the kids to move when there blocking the view. Everyone else in the boat can look at there phones for the personal fish finder.

Im picking up my Miller Marine rod holder slider system from Mike at the Portland show in 3 weeks and 2 more Folbe rod holders.
I want to fish 5 rods at Bouy 10 and for the Springer season.

For the side with no bench Im using the floor mount igloo cooler setup with a 120 QT and the snap on pad. A seat and a cooler all in one!

Here is a pic of the int.

[JimmyHoffa]

whoop! whoop! 

[Woodchuck]

Very nice

[wildmanoutdoors]

Im going to fabricate a transom wall in back as I did not want the vinyl covered plywood one they offer or the base cheap little vinyl curtain. Im going to make it out of 3/16 polished diamond plate and have 3 doors for access to the rigging.
This will come up higher and raise the splash wall a bit also. I will have a cut down area for kids to step thru as well as for the trolling motor tiller.

There will be a ton more little items I will add as well as time goes.

[MADMAX]

congrats
2 happiest days of being a boatowner

you have now used one of them

[wildmanoutdoors]

We took it out Sunday for its first trial. After initial making sure everything was working perfect we got into it a bit. With me and the wife the performance was outstanding!

This thing jumps on a plane so fast! Handles awesome and reached a top speed of 51.8 mph on my handheld garmin!

My wife was like HOLY SMOKES! This thing is FAST!

I couldent be happier and will have this baby fishing for Springers in March/April!

Its a far cry from trying to fish in my 20 foot flat bottom with a jet. I could never do the long runs in chop like I can now.

This is the boat Ive always wanted. As I have had everything and knew what I wanted for my "perfect" boat.

[wildmanoutdoors]

congrats
2 happiest days of being a boatowner

you have now used one of them

Lol, I have used both many times over!

[MADMAX]

I hear that

[gasman]

AWESOME 

I love my Raider I bout last Feb 

[Encore 280]

I heard that the trailers with rollers weren't good for aluminum boats, dents the aluminum. Is that a wives tale, not sure. Nice ride though and nice motor too! I love my E TEC!

[wildmanoutdoors]

I heard that the trailers with rollers weren't good for aluminum boats, dents the aluminum. Is that a wives tale, not sure. Nice ride though and nice motor too! I love my E TEC!

You just cant have rollers were there is no structure inside the bottom skin. The boat sits too high for my liking with this config also. For 220 thru EZ loader Im getting the 4 low mounts and 6 foot bunks for a conversion. 

[Encore 280]

There ya go. Better to be safe than sorry.