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 .