Anyone own a Hewescraft Sportsman 160?

[FlyFish360]

Just curious what you think of it. Thinking about one myself.

[blackpowderhunter]

What’s your intended use case?

[lazydrifter]

Sorry I didn't see this earlier.  I have one.  I've had it for 12 years.  I love it.  Fish out of port Angeles and Freshwater Bay.  Running Yamahas.  70hp and an 8hp.  Very economical and problem free.

[Encore 280]

If you get the 16' then you may have to deal with the "two footitis" issue! 

[lazydrifter]

I never have got that feeling.   I don't have the rear jump seats.  Tons of room.   

[Stein]

If you get the 16' then you may have to deal with the "two footitis" issue! 

Getting an 18' didn't seem to resolve the issue for me.

16' isn't a bad option, I had one of a different flavor for about 5 years and killed a bunch of fish but will say if you can bump up to 18' you have quite a bit more capability or at least fewer white knuckle days.

[FlyFish360]

Sorry I didn't see this earlier.  I have one.  I've had it for 12 years.  I love it.  Fish out of port Angeles and Freshwater Bay.  Running Yamahas.  70hp and an 8hp.  Very economical and problem free.

Would you recommend upgrading to the 90hp and 9.9hp? I think both will be a little overkill, but figured I would ask.

[Ridgeratt]

Sorry I didn't see this earlier.  I have one.  I've had it for 12 years.  I love it.  Fish out of port Angeles and Freshwater Bay.  Running Yamahas.  70hp and an 8hp.  Very economical and problem free.

Would you recommend upgrading to the 90hp and 9.9hp? I think both will be a little overkill, but figured I would ask.

Don't think I would hang anything largr then what the name plate says

[FlyFish360]

Don't think I would hang anything larger then what the name plate says

It's rated for 90hp

[Ridgeratt]

2 stroke or 4 stroke

[lazydrifter]

Rated 90 hp 4 stroke.  No I wouldn't go 90 on one.  The 70 is perfect.  I wish when I bought mine I would have went with the 9.9 High Thrust electric start power tilt.  I wound up putting electric start and charging system on mine.  I have 2 batteries and use Scotty electric downriggers.  Top speed per GPS I've had mine up to is 37 mph.   I went with the 160 sportsman and a roller trailer because I do a lot of beach launching at Freshwater Bay.   I've been in some rough water and never felt like I was in danger.  The only thing I dislike about my boat is it rides rough in choppy water.  I cut a stall mat to fit the front open bow area.  I bolted a small aluminum box to that stall mat and I keep 3 extra 15 lb downrigger balls and a 23 lb pyramid anchor up front and that really helps smooth out the ride.

[FlyFish360]

Rated 90 hp 4 stroke.  No I wouldn't go 90 on one.  The 70 is perfect.  I wish when I bought mine I would have went with the 9.9 High Thrust electric start power tilt.  I wound up putting electric start and charging system on mine.  I have 2 batteries and use Scotty electric downriggers.  Top speed per GPS I've had mine up to is 37 mph.   I went with the 160 sportsman and a roller trailer because I do a lot of beach launching at Freshwater Bay.   I've been in some rough water and never felt like I was in danger.  The only thing I dislike about my boat is it rides rough in choppy water.  I cut a stall mat to fit the front open bow area.  I bolted a small aluminum box to that stall mat and I keep 3 extra 15 lb downrigger balls and a 23 lb pyramid anchor up front and that really helps smooth out the ride.

Why the high thrust 9.9? I can see getting the electric start and power tilt. I was also planning on a bow mount trolling motor.

[lazydrifter]

I keep my top on all the time.  It acts as a sail.  Once the wind starts turning the boat it is slow to react.   I'm retired and have a busted up body.  I run my boat at the steering wheel.  I troll with my 70hp about 75% of the time.  If you ever want to get in one before you buy you're welcome to come fish with me.

[Tinmaniac]

Surprised no one has mentioned the three people that didn't come home in one at Neah Bay last summer,the boat did show up a day later.

[FlyFish360]

Surprised no one has mentioned the three people that didn't come home in one at Neah Bay last summer, the boat did show up a day later.

I only plan on fishing protected waters, so I am not as worried about that. I'll just buy a 22-24' boat if I want to go out in the open ocean.

[lazydrifter]

Surprised no one has mentioned the three people that didn't come home in one at Neah Bay last summer,the boat did show up a day later.

I have a feeling that probably wasn't the fault of the boat.   

[Crunchy]

I had 2005 or 2006 Sportsman 180.  I fished PA in it, but it doesn't like rough water.  The hull is a little flat and thin.  I sold it in 2022 for what I paid for it in 2010.  I would look for something with a little deeper V and thicker hull.  I went with a NR Seahawk 21ft.