Deck Boat

[Phil Lilley]

Have a friend who is looking to get a deck boat. He was going to get a BR boat and I said he needed to shop around. So I'm trying to help. He can afford something nice so price isn't really an option. Thanks.

[jay bird]

I have a Lowe Deck boat 194 tahiti. It is a good combination of fish and runabout type boat. It is a little over 19ft long and 8ft wide. I have a 150 evinrude on it and can hit about 48-49 MPH. I usally take the Bimini top off during the fishing season to have more casting room. The only thing that I would have changed was to get a 150 Mercury Engine instead of the Evinrude. It has had some problems with the evinrude and some people I have talked to on the lake with the same boat and the merc. get more speed/performance.

[Rusty]

Check out this site

http://www.godfreymarine.com/index_hurricane.cfm

[Dutch]

While he is out looking, if he will take the time to look at Bennington and Prince Craft closely, he will find that they are far superior the most of the other brands offered in this area. Also, I recommend that he put the largest motor that will legally fit on the boat.

[bobber]

jay bird, change your prop!! or push the trim switch >>LOL !!

[Mart]

jay bird,

I just bought a Tahiti 224 with a 150 hp Optimax. I love the boat and could not find many choices in Aluminum hull, deck boats, with an Outboard. I made a big jump in boat ownership. My previous fishing boat was a loweline V with a 25 hp Evinrude tiller.

That top end speed sounds great. I don't think the 224 would get that fast, but what do you do to get that speed. What type of prop do you have and how do you work the trim? Any other tips for high-speed cruising would be appreciated.

The whole power trim thing is a new concept. My last boat I was just happy if the transom didn't fall apart when I took it out.

Thanks!

[Wayne SW/MO]

My son has a new Godfrey Hurricane and he loves it. It is a fine boat, and it does a great job of smoothing the water out. He has a 225 Honda 4 stroke on it and it is fast.

[alletec]

Dutch is correct. Those two makes are far supierer to the other brands as far as fit and finish and quality they can't be beat.

[jay bird]

The prop is a Viper 17 pitch and I trim it up as far as it will go. I could run a 19 pitch and get a little more speed, but with more than two people in the boat it would really lug the motor. I agree the Prince Craft is a really nice boat, but they are also very proud of them. The reason I went with the Loce is the floor plan. It is very open and it is very easy to get from the front of the Boat to the back of the boat with out climbing over seats or go through a small gate. No boat is perfect

[Champ]

Quick note on comparing boat speeds:

Be sure you are checking boat speed using GPS. The factory mechanical speedometers are notoriously incorrect. The same model may read fast on one boat and slow on another boat of the same model.

Also, choose a prop pitch where your wide open throttle (WOT) falls within the recommended maximum RPM for the motor. Mercury and Evinrude are different.

Different prop brands, styles, sizes, material, etc. all perform different.

Fast props generally have poorer hole shot. Good hole shot will limit speed.

Only way to choose a prop is to read what others are using for your same setup and try it yourself with your boat and weight.

Find a good prop shop that will let you try different props before you buy.

It's amazing the difference a prop can make in boat performance.