garyw

i think you just answered one of my questions.  do they hold up. 

would you buy it again?  is a 150 enough hp?

thanks for the answers.

I will  list my pros and cons.

HULlL  This one of mine has been running around in he gravois and lower lake for over ten years and the water does get rough down here. I do not think there is anything safer than a big V bottom in the rough water. 

CON If you buy one PBS will put the batteries in trays. get rid of them and put. all betteries in BOXES. If the boat s used and has trays beware.  I have a 24 volt trolling system and had two batteries in a hold in the front of the boat  . Small spills out of those batteries will go unnoticed. And they will drain out into the hull through a weep hole in the box. when that happens they will eat into the bottom of the hull and all of a sudden you lwilo have a boat that leaks like  like hell. You will not be able to see it doing that either from the outside since it takes pressure of the boat runing to make the small cracks open. This problem can be avoided by sealing the battery box woth aircraft battery box sealer and puttting the batteries in boxes. In my case I had to many cracks cuased by years of this problem developing and they welded sheets 90 ga of alum over the bottom. So now I have a lot of bottom is 100 and 90 ga thick. Cost was over $4,000. 

ACC. I Would rate the wiring instruments etc as average from my prespective. That is with the boat used used a few hours almost daily from March thru October. All the years I have had it. it has been kept in a dock on a lift when not in use. 

Carpets and things are good for maybe 8 to 10 years. Instruments might last half that.

If your looking at the new ones they have moved the console forward since I got mine causing the casting deck to be way to small to suit me. 

Overall it is a pretty rugged boat but you can expect to have problems.

If your going to put a 4 stoke motor on there be prepaired to burn E91 oct fuel in it. E87 can foul up the small fuel jets in a 4 stoke motor. The problem is the ethenol in the fuel lines will seperate and and from a hard residue in the bottom of the fuel line if the boat sets for periods without use. This stuff will in time clog the lines, break off in tiny pieces and foul you fuel system on the motor. It will cost you about a cool $1,000  have that fixed or more.

Overall I really like the boat. It is pretty rugged and safe.  i have no idea what the new ones are like though.

wow, loads of info. thank you.  yes looking at a new one. really want a warranty. 

it's little things like this i am looking for.  never would have thought of battery leakage. 

i appreciate you time and valuable info.