Salmon g.

I agree with your posting(not often that I do).

Would be nice to know the person price range also.

Ditto others comments - the best advice I got when beginning the selection process for my sled was to make 2 lists - one of the "Must Haves" for what you'll be using the boat for the majority of the time and a "Nice to Have" list for additional uses.

Mine went something like this. My "Must Haves" included running up to 3 large people up rivers like the Skagit, Sky, and Cowlitz. Another was to have a boat that would handle Neah Bay (in reasonable ocean conditions) out to Swiftsure. I also wanted as small a boat as I could get away with 'cause my garage space is limited.

My "Nice to Have" included a boat I could pull water skiers with, that would be maneuverable with oars, and that was easy to launch, and ideally under $20,000.

After looking at many models, talking to friends with boats who like fishing similar to what I do, I sat down with the Bryan @ Three Rivers and spec'd out a boat to meet my needs as closely as possible.

You can buy used and save a bit of money. I knew what I wanted and was (and still am) certain I'll have this boat for awhile. Since some of my "wants" weren't available on a used boat, I decided it was worth the xtra $3-5000 to get exactly what I wanted.

I'm very happy with the Alumaweld SuperV LS 17' with 90/65 Yammy 4stroke sitting snugly in my garage. There are probably other 17' sleds out there I'd have been very happy with too, but customer service is also a big part of the equation. I've added (or had to replace ) a few parts and 3Rivers has always been well-stocked and helpful.

And remember - you probably won't get all your "like to have"s 'cause some might be mutually exclusive. My boat can be used at Neah Bay, but the weight and beam that make that possible also make it impossible to control with oars. There ~will~ be tradeoffs??

My advice - make your own list. Get some recommendations on good dealers and go talk to a few. Either used or new, you'll be seeing them more often than you think (ever hear the expression that a BOAT stands for Break Out ~Another~ Thousand?)

Thanks for the advice guys, I really appreciate that.
This is a list of my criterias:
1. I'll be fishing the Cow alot but maybe hit the skinny OP rivers on occasions (with some help from some of you).
2. I will have a maximum of 4 people, but will fish alone 95% of the time.
3. I will boondog some but probably tie up or beach most of the time.


DrifterWA, can you provide me more info on Wild River? Sounds like a great deal.

Iron Head:

Web site http://www.riverwildboats.com/

Phone 541 955-1970---- Owners Name "Bob"

Hope this helps........

Hey guys, can you tell me the price ranges for a brand new small sled of your favorite make(16-17ft)with a max hp 4 stroke honda or yamaha.
I just want a simple durable fishing machine; nothing too fancy.

DriftWA,
Is that price including the motor?

Iron Head: What happened to Thorbuilt? I owned one and you are much better off with a bigger brand name that has some recognition and therefore better resale value. Prices? definitely up to you and your ability/desire to shop around. The Seattle Boat Show will hold tons of answers for you.

Fishjeager: Good question but it wasn't me. My height is offset by my width...
I've run just about every brand starting with a plywood sled followed by a Valco (remember them?) in the early 80's. I've now found my brand and it's North River. Please don't just take my word for it, look at all of the sleds that are available to you. By looking at each manufacturer's approach you'll develop you're own ideas about your ideal sled. Remember, you cannot find the perfect boat without identifing it first.
Good luck and good hunting!

Iron Head

Go back and READ my orginal post!!!!!!

Have a good holiday season!!!!!

TJN:

Resale value???? Lot's of "name brand" boats that just can't get sold. Some of the newer boat builders are adding more custom features that sportsmen want: gas tanks under floor, wash down pumps, running lights, fish boxes, batteries moved "upfront" for weight distribution.

I agree.....North River builts a heck of a boat, but still a "stamped out boat"....

Woolridge would have been my choice in 97 BUT they didn't want to built a 15'6" that had a 60" bottom, but then neither did most of the others. Thorbuilt is another boat that I considered but a little on the "spendie side".

Have a good day!!!!!

Step up or step off EDGEMARINE.com compares with no one, each custom monsters all others stamped babies, start at 20ft to 25ft plus anything less is a terrible workbench and fishing platform, anyone wanting pics on the ultimate performance fishing monsters let me know TOP RODS

No they don't. They have .190 bottoms in some models.

A 17' SuperVee LS is a basic welded aluminum fishing boat. I had one until last week when I sold it to buy a North River Seahawk. I wanted a windshield boat to fish the saltwater more comfortably. I loved my SV though,it was hard to see her go.

A 17' SV LS is going to run about $8000,the trailer will be about $1500,and a max HP motor will be a 90/65. A 90hp 4 stroke is going to be about $7-8000.

Thors are dope.

The couple (Thors) I've been in fished killer and navigated some pretty skinny water. The operator was really money running it though. That made a big difference.

Thanks guys, you totally changed my mind.
I finally got a cross hair on a NR 21 Scout. Now I need to go for a test drive. Any dealer recommendations in western washington?
Damn, so much for the small boat.

Thanks

Go see Ray @ Almar/North River in Sumner.

Thats who I just bought my boat from.

F-that go for a boat ride in my $60,000 24ft 250 bottom center conole monster full targa top 400 383 stroker ponies hamilton 212 Edge.com, every option, handles better then a new vette, race hull, stealth exhaust, performance work bench fishing machine, can get loaded and I mean loaded with full custom paint, forced air heat, vhf,cd, gps, fish finders, scotty 1106 electric, 4 client custom capain chairs, hot and cold wash down, 12 rod holders, driving lights , rear deck lights and about 40 other options, one look at edge and alumapuke and the others all pintos, will run tiny water, lakes, bay and open oceans, full auto system and computer trim tabs nothing that floats period like these performance fishing machines stops all traffic, and will custom build to any needs, hard tops and more to see the best you will forget the rest jwtoprod4@comcast.net can save retail mucho

Viking Warrior, thats a very nice boat you're offering; however it is a bit much for me.
Maybe I will upgrade to that boat later, but now it is a bit much.

Thanks

Can build anything from 20 to 25 and blow all away in every regard, boat rides any river, lake or open ocean, wave cutter bows, radius keel, Reverse chine and strakes high flow intakes, can build the most custom 20 to 23 fishing performance machines for high 30s to low 40s, were not talking sportjets were talking 60 mph out handeling show stopping stuff anyone wants pics will fire away, all 250 bottoms, full tricked out paints custom polished diam plate tanduem trailers hamilton 212 turbos and op to supercharged 550 horse models all this other stuff all stamp out metal baylines!! Top rods

Viking, is there a website we can go to look at these customs?

Doubletake

e-mail me direct at jwtoprod4@comcast.net to see the ultimate center console boat in the State and for the regular stuff edgemarine.com now we have a rock hopper and some very nice custom pussy boats on the web, e-mail me I will forward you pics of boats that make you wet, alumapuke, dont hate the wallmart next to us, northriver is fine but would be are entry level boat, I will give anyone who dare a boat ride, fish some, run this product in the bay or Neah bay or 5 inches above Sultan, they are the vette, Viper on all, I can not put gas anywhere in the State without 20 guys going what in the F!!!! Have owned Jetcraft, Boice, Alumapuke and more and 5 drift boats , rowed all and powered my 24ft 400 ponies last week to the high bridge on the Sky we video all and freaked out most again dont spend another dime on a boat until you step up to Edgemarine.com, each boat is built within the customer needs, there is a line of models means nothing, I desighed my boat from the ground up, materials, options, paint forget about it, I said e-mail me you will all freak out, we offer nothing under 20ft NO sport pucks real deals that last a lifetime and are the ultimate performance fishing machines above anything out there!! Dare to compare anything that floats ((CUSTOM))and we run a top of the line Sea sport in the ocean jwtoprod4@comcast.net edgemarine.com story is over total domination not the wallmart numbers of the 3brothers and a marine deal the ultimate boat you can buy for a one more boat deal in life, rivers, lakes anysize, puget sound BRING IT Neah Bay ling opener where there!! JW TOP RODS