Nice boat,Cool stuff.It's always fun to get what ya want.17' by 72" is a nice dance floor,but with a 90/65 jet seems like a dog out of the hole to me,but what do I know.I started out with a 90/65 jet merc for my 18' LT which did ok just wasn't gonna beat any one off the line or in the long run.After 2 years I went with a 115/80 yami 4 stroke and glad I did.What it got me was a more level floating boat and not so bow heavy.Max'ed out the HP rating and a little more top end speed,out of the hole was the same over all.I'm gonna do some work on my pump and change a couple things,like make it "HOT" for that hole shot situation.Congrates on the new purchase and see ya out in the monte area getin-R- Dun.Good luck,
SZ

Large Edward:

The double tackle trays are important....I just forgot on the initial order. It's not a accessory that many boat builders really push.

Strakes, another item that doesn't seem to be a "biggie" with many boat builders. Now Duckworth seems to feel that are important, for both "lift and speed control".....Wish I knew more about "strakes".......Any comments??????

Getting on step has alot to do with the hull's footprint or platform on the water. More horsepower is always nice but getting on step has more to do with how the boat is balanced from bow to stern in the water. As an example I owned a 17 foot sled with a 115 2 stroke Merc. It seemed to get on step okay but my 21 foot sled with a 115 4 stroke got up on step just as fast due to the length and balance of the hull despite the sluggish 4 stroke. This is the same reason why smaller hulls with a tiller sink a bit in the rear.

Definitely something to be said about the advantages of a smaller sled however. Was very nice at the boat launch putting in and taking out when other boats were just too long to do either. Ease of handling due to how much lighter a smaller sled can be a definite plus.

My 1 cent.

Yeah, I don't know much about strakes either except for what I read on-line. I do know my Koffler has them.

I agree with the comments about advantages of a smaller sled especially at the launch. I also have oars on my sled, and wouldn't run one without them. Very handy for adjusting the boat position when making "stealthy" anchor drops, correcting boat position when boondogging, manuevering around launches, etc.

Why were you so bow heavy? No kicker? Gas tank in the front? Fishing with a lot of big dudes? Or all of the above?

If I was consistently fishing three plus me I would have a 115 on my Thor 17x66. But that's a lot of dudes for a 17 foot boat. The problem with the bigger motors is when you're fishing just yourself, or you and one other, a lot of times the stern will sit deep in the water, which affects how the boat tracks while side drifting, backtrolling etc. And it also affects what you can drift over.

Decided to keep the economy going as well----one week away till I get to pick up a new 17ft Thor built!!!

Just ordered the Hummingbird 596c HD DI and a gauntlet of Folbe rod holders through KONEZONE.COM's site.

no seat boxes in the boat just an open platform and a couple of pedistal seats-Running a 90HP MERC (though according to this thread they are junk?) as well as a 2stroke 8hp kicker for trolling and a 80lb thrust electric for hover/side drifting

Ill post pictures later next week hopefully with some chrome in it!!!!

me too, new 18ft willie classic with 90/65 e-tec, either tomorrow or monday i bring it home, would have gone thor but the willie boys hooked me up real good.

Right on man! Look foward to seing some pictures of it!

Well? lets see the pictures of the new sleds!!! pick mine up tomorrow

my new willie classic 18' 90/65 etec. I cant thank the guys from willie enough on the deal they made me. special thanks to raptor24 on here for setting me up with them.

Anytime bro, you got a sweet azz sled! I need to get me one now and we will be set. Those classics are sure bad azz.

Deerlick:

Impressive.......Love the paint job........I really want to know how the Etech pushes that boat???? I assume 95/65????

You got your boats built faster than I will......When might is done....I'll post pic's and price........

mine was a almost no hour demo boat so it was ready tight away and the 90/65 etec pushes it great. with three guys in it it jumps up on plane right away and cruises at a nice speed. havent had 4 guys in it yet but it didnt feel underpowered at all with three and a dog. uses way less gas than my old 18' supervee with a 115/80 from 1993. it even was fishy is first trip out.

GREAT LOOKING SLED! CAN WE SEE A PICTURE OF THE INSIDE? ANY COOL OPTIONS THAT YOU GOT THAT AREN"T STANDARD?

Maybe we should have a summer run fish off with our new sleds....I know who I got in mine already!

havent taken any pics of inside yet.

Who?

Keith

pretty sure we might have the Ace in the hole eh 9?