Boat Shopping

[psdfan]

Feedback would be appreciated...Looking to purchase a boat for both fishing and skiing. I'm leaning towards a Crestliner Superhawk 1800 I/O w/ Motorguide troller on the front and 4.3 Merc cruiser in the rear. What things should I be considering? Any positive or negative experience with this set up?

Thanks!

[blue devil]

The 1800 Super Hawk I/O is a great choice. My family has fished and tubed out of a good friend's this past year and loved it. It's a great boat for fishing all morning and then picking up the family at the dock for tubing, skiing, etc. The versatility (fish and ski) and ride have us sold on buying one ourselves. Good selection with the 4.3L, our friend has a 3.0L and that's the only thing I would change on their boat. Must have options are the bow backrests, stern sunpad and either the ski tow eye or pylon.

[1shooter]

If your looking for fishing and skiing have you considered a 1850 sportfish?

[psdfan]

the sportfish does not have a I/O option and I am leaning towards the 4.3 litre. I would love to hear from people who use this for fishing...

[yarcraft91]

I/O boats have their advantages, but convenience when fishing in early spring or late fall isn't one of them. I got tired of draining water out of the block and manifolds after every cold-weather trip and bought an outboard boat to replace mine.

[srk-low]

I purchased a 2009 Superhawk I/O in February of 2009. It is equiped with the 4.3 mpi (220 hp) and a Motorguide Wireless on the bow. This boat is used equally for fishing and pulling the kids around on their tube. I fished out of this boat for four weeks on Lake of the Woods and loved every minute. The only shortcoming is that this model has only one livewell, but I knew that going in. Feel free to send me you're e-mail in a private message if you have any questions.

[perchjerker]

most I/O's now have a quick drain option available so you can drain the block in a few minutes with a turn of a valve so I would not let that stop you

I had a Sportfish with a 4.3L Volvo Penta and it was a great powerplant. The 4.3 is about as bulletproof as it gets.

[DRAG]

I looked at that boat as well and I thought it was very nice. What steered me away from it was when I stepped onto the front deck. The front deck flaps that have the cushions on them are great, but when you fold them down for fishing duty that is not a sturdy floor.

For reference, I'm 6'4 260lbs...so I might have put more strain that someone smaller, but I think it would have sagged had I weighed 100lbs less.

[grasshopper armory]

why are there so many under powered lunds on the used market?

[beeman]

Ok everyone say's its the motor thats the value. I disagree, id rather have an underpowered boat i like than a bass boat with big 200hp.:bowdown: I could live with 75hp on say Lund Fisherman 1700 easy great boat or say Crestliner superhawk or starcraft fisherman. Infact i have a starcraft with 75hp boat it is so premo i didnt let it stop me from purchasing.:boozer: I also would not purchase an inboard but thats me.

[grasshopper armory]

that is true but at 7000 feet a 70 horse power motor on an 1750 or 1850 is about no more than a trolling motor>

[beeman]

top speed 25-30 still gets off the lake

[Steve of Madison]

that is true but at 7000 feet a 70 horse power motor on an 1750 or 1850 is about no more than a trolling motor>


From your info you are from Kansas, what lakes in Kansas or anywhere are you fishing at 7000' above sea level?

[grasshopper armory]

blue mesa- gunnison colorado----pueblo , pueblo colorado 4200 ft ---trinidad, trinidad colorado 4000-- when you lose 3 percent horse power for every 1000 ft it makes a big difference. and at our level when you have a thunder storms snapping at you and wall clouds coming you never have enough horse power.