Thinking about buying my first salt boat and was wondering which manufacturer makes the best hull from a purely fishing perspective. This will most likely turn into a Ford Chevy debate, but I am still interested.....

I love the Pursuit my dad owns. It cuts through chop better than anything I've even been in. It's only 21 ft an it fishes like its 25.
JD

Bayliner...nuff said.

Are you staying in the Sound?

Heading to the coast?

Wanting to fish tuna 40 miles out?

It all depends on what you want to do with it.

Glasply's, Olympics and Tiderunners. I'm a little biases though. Disclosing your budget might be helpful as well.

Arima

17 foot Arima Seachaser. As durable as a hammer, room in back same as a 22 foot cuddyboat, locking stowage in front, launch in a teacup full of water easy to tow, trailer doesn't even need brakes, only needs 90-115 hp, 8 horse kicker, fish all weekend on 12 gallons of gas. Available as a Ranger with a cuddy too if ya need a spot for the wife to hide.

There's a big difference between Aluminium and Fiberglass boats. I've fished boats and much prefer fiberglass, but that seems like a big personal thing. If you like glass boats, I've looked a lot and for sound/straits I'd pick from:

Arima, Grady, Campion, and SeaSport

I've owned 2 Arimas, and they're truly excellent boats, I think they're the best setup boats for fishing of their size. If you go bigger, say 22+ you gotta look at some of the other makes

Appreciate the feedback! Fished out of a Glasply 20 years ago and thought it worked well and recently have made a couple local trips in an Arima. I currently own a 16 ft Willie and a 20 ft North River, so was thinking about plastic for salt. Might fish the coast but probably not for tuna. Budget somewhere less than 20k.

Can't seem to find any Arima's at this price point but maybe they'll show up this winter.

Again, thanks for the info.

Boston Whaler 19 Outrage CC.
Grady White

other peoples

I'm thinking about buying a C-Dory in the 18' range. Anybody have some experience on one?

We came back from Kingston last night in some pretty big water. The two I fished with own an aluminum boat and they were both impressed with how the Seastrike cut through the water even at almost full throttle.
You would probably have to buy one in the south east and have it shipped here.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2007/Seastrike-205-Cc-1667460/Grasonville/MD/United-States

Mines a 96. I bought it in 2000 for $16k. Very strong and heavy boats.
Mine is the 205CC. Only complaints are it's a heavy tow and there is no place to get out of the weather.

Love Grady's too but they cost more.

24ft seasport. Get the volvo D. Not going ot find it for 20K though. My buddy has one and it handles better than any other boat I have been in for the size.

+1 for Arima. I love my 17 Sea Chaser for the reasons cited above. I've never fished on a c-dory but they were high on my list when I was looking.

I love my Arima too. Very stable boats.

I have had the 19ft C-Dory for 4 years now and like it alot. It is a very stable fishing platform. One thing to concider is economy verses speed. The C-Dory has more of a semi-V bottom and does not cut through large waves as other deep-V boats do, but uses much less fuel. I can fish all day on 6 gals of gass. My friend in his 21ft Trophy uses that to get to the fishing spot. In 1-2 ft chop I do about 18-20 nots. In 2-3 ft I'm down to 12-14 nots. Much slower then deep-V boats but I am in no hurry. The hull is concidered one of the best made in the industry, very solid. Hard top, V-birth sleeps 2 and porta potty does all i need. Made local by a company that is really world class.

Wayne on C-Fisher

P is gonna wait until TJCarroll sells me his boat. That's the boat P wants for the Sound and Lake.....

Is North River still in business, I had heard they went under, anyone know?

k9hohriver

They are gone (North River). Those are nice boats too.