Welded Hull Draft Specs

[pickardjw]

Do the aluminum boat manufacturers that are popular around here not list draft in their specs?

My search for a new boat has evolved a bit. I've firmly decided to go with a windshield boat with a bimini, preferably in the 17'-21' range with an outboard and prop/pump lower units.

Want to be able to run the Snake and Missouri for hunting access but also get out in the sound, buoy 10, etc. So there's going to be a bit of compromise in one of those scenarios. Safe bet seems to be to go with a shallower drafting, river focused but ocean/sound capable boat. But I'm curious what the draft difference is in a more sea worthy hull type.

I'm having trouble finding that info on the more ocean focused models like the NR Seahawk, Hewescraft Sea Runner, Alumaweld Intruder, etc. compared to what I assume are more river focused models like the NR Commander, Hewescraft Sportsman, and Alumaweld Stryker.

Coming from the fiberglass boat world in the Gulf it's commonly listed. Just looking at Contender and Grady White draft is listed with all the other typical specs...

Is there any way to figure out draft on these models so I can make a more informed decision while I'm surfing the used market?

[MADMAX]

Call these guys

https://nwmarineandsport.com/

I bought mine years back and sat under it with the owner explaining all of that to me at the Puyallup sportsman show

[Stein]

As a certified HW boat consultant, I advise you to get two boats.   

I don't recall it being listed on any of the boats I have owned, mostly I would guess because it doesn't matter for prop boats with medium to deep deadrise.

Honestly, I would actually have two boats, a more comfortable salt boat and then pick up a used duck/river tiller boat for the rest.  In my opinion, low deadrise, low draft and ocean capable are kind of two mutually exclusive features.

[pickardjw]

As a certified HW boat consultant, I advise you to get two boats.   

I don't recall it being listed on any of the boats I have owned, mostly I would guess because it doesn't matter for prop boats with medium to deep deadrise.

Honestly, I would actually have two boats, a more comfortable salt boat and then pick up a used duck/river tiller boat for the rest.  In my opinion, low deadrise, low draft and ocean capable are kind of two mutually exclusive features.

Any chance you know the winning numbers to the next powerball lotto? Haha

Not sure if ocean and Puget Sound should  be considered two different things, but most of my salt fishing would be in the Sound. Buoy 10 is something I’d maybe do once or twice, maybe never.

It’ll probably get more river/lake use than salt. After spending a few days in the San Juans running a trip up there once a year would be fun. Otherwise more south Sound use.

There are some nicer NR Seahawks with offshore brackets and outboards for sale now. I just don’t know if they draft significantly more than a Stryker or similar. I’m not looking to push the limit in the rivers either in terms of shallow water.

[HntnFsh]

Theres a new 20' Stryker showing up at Stevens any day now with my name on it for first chance at it. Will have a 150 outboard jet. Hoping to use it on the Cowlitz and columbia. Hood canal etc. If it works out will be replacing a 20' Willie Predator with a sport jet. I'm cautiously optimistic. My main concern is how deep it sits in the water.

[Stein]

With an aluminum boat in the 20' range with a deep v like the NR, it may be a chore to push it with a pump on a single motor.  It maxes at 300 hp, if you put the jet on, you'll loose almost 100 hp.

I was thinking you wanted to run really skinny water, hence the smaller flat bottom with tiller jet idea.  If you don't run shallower than 4' your options would open up quite a bit.

You can get somewhat of an idea just by going to look at them and taking a tape measure.  Look at the photos online to see roughly where the waterline is and you would be within a foot or better of the actual measurement.

[pickardjw]

I should do some research on the Snake and Missouri sections I’m thinking about running. See what’s realistic and safe. I know on the Snake they run some huge jet boats that have to draft more than a 20’ seahawk.

[Sundance]

Have you called any of those listed manufacturers to ask? I had a great experience when building our last boat at North River in 2020. The guys there were happy to answer all our questions and work with us through the change orders. If you’re looking for a more custom route there are some amazing builders in PA/Skagit County.

[pickardjw]

Have you called any of those listed manufacturers to ask? I had a great experience when building our last boat at North River in 2020. The guys there were happy to answer all our questions and work with us through the change orders. If you’re looking for a more custom route there are some amazing builders in PA/Skagit County.

I’m looking for used and just starting to wrap my head around all the various models from all the manufacturers. I’ll certainly reach out once I have a good list of manufacturers/models to ask about. Assume minor design variations over 20 years of models may impact draft numbers a bit but not too much. I just find it strange it isn’t a commonly listed spec like it is in the fiberglass boat world.

[Angry Perch]

I should do some research on the Snake and Missouri sections I’m thinking about running. See what’s realistic and safe. I know on the Snake they run some huge jet boats that have to draft more than a 20’ seahawk.

Not at full throttle.

[pickardjw]

I should do some research on the Snake and Missouri sections I’m thinking about running. See what’s realistic and safe. I know on the Snake they run some huge jet boats that have to draft more than a 20’ seahawk.

Not at full throttle.

Maybe, but by how much?

[pickardjw]

I requested draft specs from:

- North River (Seahawk, Commander, Revenge models)
- Hewescraft (Sportsman, ProV, and SeaRunner models)
- Alumaweld (Talon, Stryker and Intruder models)
- Duckworth (Advantage models)
- RH (SH-Sport and Coastal models).
- Thunder Jet (Rush and Luxor models)

Any others I should request the specs on?

[Mfowl]

You should look at the Wooldridge Alaskan/xl and super sport drifter models. Also Alumaweld Columbia and super vee.
If you want to run the upper Snake and Missouri you need a true jet boat. Many of the models you listed are great fishing boats but not exactly shallow running jet boats.
Other manufacturers to consider would be Willies, Rogue Jet and CustomWeld.
There is no one boats does all, true jet sleds are going to bang/pound in open water chop and vee hulls are going to limit shallow water capability.

[pickardjw]

You should look at the Wooldridge Alaskan/xl and super sport drifter models. Also Alumaweld Columbia and super vee.
If you want to run the upper Snake and Missouri you need a true jet boat. Many of the models you listed are great fishing boats but not exactly shallow running jet boats.
Other manufacturers to consider would be Willies, Rogue Jet and CustomWeld.
There is no one boats does all, true jet sleds are going to bang/pound in open water chop and vee hulls are going to limit shallow water capability.

Agreed, I'm just hesitant to run a inboard jet. Always been an outboard guy, and with the ability to swap prop/pump lower units they seem more versatile, even with the HP loss on the pump.

I've read they can perform fine in the salt with a stomp grate to clear the intake if you suck up kelp/seaweed. Beyond having zero experience with them, don't really like the idea of deck space being taken up by the cowling. Though being able to throw a cooler on the steering nozzle/swim deck platform would be nice.

[GWP]

I have a 19' Stryker inboard 2.5 Merc jet. As has been said the flat bottom pounds in waves. I like the tall gunnels, and the dog house is actually handy to lean against or sit on when I am fishing. Lots of storage.
Draft would be about 12" off plane, 4" on plane. I have been high centered a couple times (sand/soft mud) but have 'walked it off' pretty easily. "When in doubt, throttle out." Plenty of power. Tops out mid 40's in MPH.
It will plug with seaweed/seagrass when going slow at the dock if there is a lot of seagrass out. I will use the oar to move it away if there is a lot around the boat. I have not had to clear it by hand, but have shut it off to let the grass purge itself/float out, which usually works.
I like the boat overall but the weird way steering works on an inboard jet (steers swiveling around the center of the boat, reverse steering is backwards) can make dock handling in heavy currents and wind frustrating.

[pickardjw]

I have a 19' Stryker inboard 2.5 Merc jet. As has been said the flat bottom pounds in waves. I like the tall gunnels, and the dog house is actually handy to lean against or sit on when I am fishing. Lots of storage.
Draft would be about 12" off plane, 4" on plane. I have been high centered a couple times (sand/soft mud) but have 'walked it off' pretty easily. "When in doubt, throttle out." Plenty of power. Tops out mid 40's in MPH.
It will plug with seaweed/seagrass when going slow at the dock if there is a lot of seagrass out. I will use the oar to move it away if there is a lot around the boat. I have not had to clear it by hand, but have shut it off to let the grass purge itself/float out, which usually works.
I like the boat overall but the weird way steering works on an inboard jet (steers swiveling around the center of the boat, reverse steering is backwards) can make dock handling in heavy currents and wind frustrating.

Thanks, that's a good reference point. Wonder if that'd be any different with an outboard pump setup...imagine a little more depth required to get up on plane but not much difference in running draft on plane.

[cavemann]

I had a 19" stryker with windshield years ago as well..  I fished Tacoma area, south sound, buoy 10 and up cowlitz, lewis, nisqually several times..  it drafted about 4-6" on plane with 4 in the boat..  I will say as has already been said, you can fish buoy 10 and sound no problem but it's a bumpy ride making runs in and out.

I don't know that I'd try to run a "sportsman" style boat up the rivers you mentioned without significant experience and knowledge of the rivers.  Guys running bigger boats with high power jets is not nearby type of operating.

You'll be able to find something that does both but if you want a river boat for skinny water I'd make sure it's the right boat for that and just deal with the downside of getting beat up a bit in bigger water.  If going windshield, get some air rides seats

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[pickardjw]

I had a 19" stryker with windshield years ago as well..  I fished Tacoma area, south sound, buoy 10 and up cowlitz, lewis, nisqually several times..  it drafted about 4-6" on plane with 4 in the boat..  I will say as has already been said, you can fish buoy 10 and sound no problem but it's a bumpy ride making runs in and out.

I don't know that I'd try to run a "sportsman" style boat up the rivers you mentioned without significant experience and knowledge of the rivers.  Guys running bigger boats with high power jets is not nearby type of operating.

You'll be able to find something that does both but if you want a river boat for skinny water I'd make sure it's the right boat for that and just deal with the downside of getting beat up a bit in bigger water.  If going windshield, get some air rides seats

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The 19' Stryker is popular! haha, agree on the air ride seats. First thing I thought of with such a bow forward helm in these boats.

[GWP]

I would think the draft would be the same with an outboard jet. Not sure about the low speed and docking handling in tides and wind with an outboard jet.
I have had a few regular deep V boats with prop outboards. For sure I would have torn up the out drive in some of the stuff I have been in with the inboard jet.
Different boats for different purposes for sure. All are a compromise one way or another.
The other thing is 2 stroke vs 4 stroke. The Mercury 2.5 is a 2 stroke with roller bearings on the crank and rods. Ethanol fuel can be a death sentence for them for a few reasons.
The oil injection system on the early ones could have some issues, so many were deleted, which means they now require premix. Just another step to go through but oil system failure is not a concern after the delete.

[metlhead]

I may be mistaken but I see you mentioned that this boat may have either a prop or jet? I imagine draft is irrelevant if you be running a prop. Jet, you'll need less than 6° at the transom which will eliminate some wessels. Hull shape may be a better spec to search

[pickardjw]

I may be mistaken but I see you mentioned that this boat may have either a prop or jet? I imagine draft is irrelevant if you be running a prop. Jet, you'll need less than 6° at the transom which will eliminate some wessels. Hull shape may be a better spec to search

Correct, the idea is to have both a jet/pump lower unit and prop lower unit for the outboard. There was a really clean 2004 North River Mariner for sale recently that included both...sold very fast.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1MX1PpsKn2/

Not worried about draft when using the prop. From what I've read, it helps to have the outboard on a jack plate as you may need to adjust motor height to allow the jet to run properly. Or buy a "bay kit". I'll have to look into transom angle. I presume that's angle of the center of the hull at the transom? (i.e. must be 6° or "flatter")?

Maybe the answer is to just learn more about inboard jets and consider that option.

Starting to learn more about hull angles. I see on Hewescraft the Sportsman is a 31x11x10 while the ProV is a 30x15x14. Alumaweld doesn't seem to provide the same type of measurements (Forward x Midship x Aft) to compare to the Stryker info above...Just lists the Sport at 14* and X at 18*, which may correlate to the Aft measurement.

[HntnFsh]

Some manufacturers do a delta pad bottom to run a jet. The boat we are waiting to look at has 14 degree V with a delta pad. I'm guessing it will draft 12- 14 inches just sitting.

[pickardjw]

Some manufacturers do a delta pad bottom to run a jet. The boat we are waiting to look at has 14 degree V with a delta pad. I'm guessing it will draft 12- 14 inches just sitting.

I saw mention of that hull feature on a Stryker. Seems like they update designs fairly frequently, so it's something I'll add to my checklist to look for when I'm looking at used models.

12"-14" static draft sounds about right. Hewescraft is the only manufacturer that has gotten back to me with any decent info. They had data of a 2018 ProV 200 drafting 12"-14" at the keel.

[James]

Wooldridge sells some boats to do what you are looking for, like the Sport. 

https://www.wooldridgeboats.com/models/sport/

Probably have to ask them about draft when fully loaded.

[pickardjw]

Wooldridge sells some boats to do what you are looking for, like the Sport. 

https://www.wooldridgeboats.com/models/sport/

Probably have to ask them about draft when fully loaded.

Yeah, few and far between in the used market unfortunately.

[Stein]

Hard to get a new Wooldridge too, at least it was back when I was shopping.  I couldn't even get a price quote from them much less an actual boat.

[HntnFsh]

And they are a great boat, but whooeee are they expensive. New or used!

[spin05]

https://www.wooldridgeboats.com/preowned/2004-wooldridge-20-sport/

[pickardjw]

https://www.wooldridgeboats.com/preowned/2004-wooldridge-20-sport/

Interesting, no walk through windshield. But it's got the right kinda power on the back! They should be listing those on Craigslist, FB Marketplace or Boat Trader...though my filter is set for $35k max so wouldn't have seen it anyway haha

[James]

Hard to get a new Wooldridge too, at least it was back when I was shopping.  I couldn't even get a price quote from them much less an actual boat.

Last I talked to them the timeline for getting a jet boat built was pretty quick and the salt water boats timelines have come down too.  The pilot houses has something like a 3 year wait during COVID...

[HntnFsh]

I've seen that 1. You won't get it to run shallow though.