I'm thinking about buying a 20' Wooldridge Sport Off Shore with the offshore bracket. I was wondering if anyone would mind either giving praise or ripping the Wooldridge line.

i think they are good boats but you pay a lot for the name. just my opinion

Every boat is a compromise.

What are your intentions?
I own a 22ft Alumaweld, basicly the same overall lenght. I am comfortable taking my family and friends fishing the Sound, Strait, and CR estuary.
I've talked to a guy fising out of Cathlamet in the Spring and he really likes his'.

His boat is lighter than mine, but we share a common problem. The deck is not self bailing. So, in certain conditions our bilge pumps get a workout.

I believe the extended transom design is good. But, it all depends on where you intend to fish.

Hans Mak

I own the 20' Wooldridge Off Shore Super Sport, off shore bracket, with a 150 Yamaha and 8 horse Yamaha kicker. In my opinion, your paying for more then the name, your paying for a quality hand built boat. I took great pleasure in going down to the factory and watching them build it. I also had custom work done to mine, for example, I had the bottoms of the bench seat boxes made longer so I could lock my downriggers up when I leave the boat in the water. The boats hold their value and are built strong. I am very happy with mine. I have had it in the Columbia, Banks, Roosevelt, Puget Sound, and off the West Coast of Vancouver Island. It is a wide boat with plenty of room and very stable. I can fish four easy, without people bumping into each other. The new version that came out a year after mine has a 40 degree entry and 18 degree V. Mine has a 30 degree entry and 16 degree V. You have to slow down a bit in the chop, but that off shore platform really works well to keep the motors in the water when you are out in ocean swell.

Bushbear has the same model I have and maybe he will speak up. I got buddies with Alumawelds who are very happy with their boats. Lots to choose from for sure, but you will not be unhappy with a Wooldridge. Take a trip down to the factory in South Seattle. Call Vence or email him off of the Wooldridge site and take a tour. You can watch boats being built.

Don't let me forget to mention that there customer service is second to none.

Good luck on your search for a new boat.

Iv'e put thousands of hours on my used Wooldridge since 1995 and still have it. The customer service and support are excellent.

What Mike said.

I have a 115 Yamaha and the Yamaha 8 hi thrust kicker. I opted to move up one thickness for the hull bottom, up sized the fuel tank to 50 gallons, swapped out the port side seat and bench for a recliner seat.
A very stable fishing platform.

Vence and the rest of the folks were very easy to work with. I couldn't be there regularly to watch the progress on the manufacturing, so I left a diposable camera and they took pictures as the hull was built. I wish now that I had opted for the Zolatone paint on the inside to make clean-up a little easier.

We've fished MA 6, Sekiu, LaPush, and WCVI with the vessel with no problems.

The Super Sport Off Shore came out the year after we bought ours. If I had to do it over again, I think I'd opt for the 40/18 entry/deadrise plus the hull is a little wider, I think. It would ride smoother in the chop. I'd go up to the 150 for that hull. That said, our fuel economy is good. Get the stainless steel prop on the big motor. It helps a lot.

The bracket is nice to work fish on as they are outside the gunwale and the cool metal seems to help calm them down.

Had a radar arch built in Port Townsend and put radar on this year. A really nice set-up for us. Makes fishing in Fogust a little more palatable.

I have a 25' alumaweld offshore. This has been a great boat for me, I use it as a charter boat. I have had Good & Plenty, for 4 years and has held up great with the heavy comercial use. My friend Nick just had a 26' wooldridge ss offshore built. He has it powered with a E tech 200hp, his boat is fast and light. I run twin yamaha 150s, and his boat is every bit as fast. I would consider gas tank placement in the new boat, the boats tend to be lite in the front end and vulnerable to windage problems.

Matt

I have an X-plus and I beat it to death when I take it out and still lives up to it's reputation as being one tuff mofo! Had it 5 years now and haven't sank it yet!

Here is a picture of my Company's work boat.



We use it for beach seines, sediment grab sampling, towed video, and many other reserach items.

It also gets to recreate at times. We have a pair of electric Scotty's for "hook and line" sampling.

It is a 20 foot Offshore Sport, originally powered with a Yamaha 115 and an 8 hp 4-stroke. We replaced the 115 with a brand new 150 last fall and it really pumped up the power curve. The 150 pushes this thing along as fast as I want to go in Puget Sound. We put close to 700 hours on the original power plant in just under 3 years. The Yamahas are strong and sure footed.

We got the 54 gallon fuel tank. We also specified that we didn't want the side rails, since we would be dragging a net over side and people routinely getting in and out over the water. We don't miss the side rails.

We stuck abouot $4,000 worth of Raymarine electronics on the dash for navigation, depth, and fish finding. Great package.

Bottom line -- we love the Wooldridge. This thing works hard every week.

Happy hunting.

fool

Isn't that the Tacoma police boat that takes everybodys Crab Pots?

My buddy has one and it's uber nice!

I posted the North River I purchased in July...I love it...They have great deals going on...If you are interested call Dennis at North River in Sumner...