I currently have a 19' guide style sled with a 150 outboard jet. It is a mean fishing machine however, I would like to get something a little more rounded for the family. I have been looking at Northwest Jet and North River boats in a 21-22'. Anyone out there have one of these bigger boats? Do you like the big V-8 inboard? Hard top? Any suggestion would help me out a lot. Thanks

I didn't think I get much of a reply on this one. Thanks for all of your info. This site is great. I had heard rumors about the Duckworth sell out but it is nice to now know it was true and the quality went downhill, and very suprised about the North River service. When I was down there, the former owner was the guy I was dealing with, great guy (forgot his name). I guess in retrospect it shouldn't suprise me. Once the founder of an organization is out of the picture everybody's concern is centered around MONEY not the BOATS. Well sense I have never heard a bad comment on Norhtwest Jet I'm going to head over there tomorrow and check it out. Thanks Trout!!

[This message has been edited by trout (edited 03-27-2000).]

My dad had a 22' willie predator with a Kodiak 502 with a Doinator pump.
The boat was very versital. We used it offshore, In the rivers and bays. I used it for water skiing. It had a removable hard top wich was great for fishing when the weather was a little nasty.
Look at Jet Craft boats, They are one of the best on the market.
If you get an inboard look at the Hamilton 212 pump. If you plan on running lots of heavey white water get the turbo impeller. Also get the biggest engine you can. With that 502 in my dads boat you never had to all the power availble. If there was a lot of weight in the boat there was still plenty of power to get up on step quickly. There is no such thing as too much power...........Better than not having enough.

The North West jet is a sweet boat. 21 foot is going to run you around 40,000 bills for sure. My best freind has a 95 21 foot with 460 ford and hamilton pump, fish deck etc. Took it on a WWA "white water assoc" run on the snake river this weekend and had a blast. The one part that sucked was putting 80 gallons of gas in it at 1.73 a gallon. It was a good time to look at about 40 different boats all in the water at the same time. The North West is by far the best built "and best looking" of the boats. A couple of nice Bentz boats 25 footers but those are huge cash. The guys who make nice sleds seem to make crappy larger boats. Alumaweld makes an O.K drift boat and I own one but when you see what they are asking for a pretty cheap looking 20 footer it makes you wonder why they bother making them. Custom Weld also has a pretty good looking boat in the 21 foot model, but its no North West. Side by side there is no real contest. As far as motors go, the pump is a bigger part of the boats performance. In example, a 21 foot boat with a 350 and a Hamilton 212 will blow away the same boat with a 454 and a American Turbin. So when you get the big block hooked up to the Hamilton.. you get the idea. Keep in mind that the gas running thru the motor is what keeps the motor cool!!!! or so it would seem because these boats eat some gas. A stick is the hot setup also, stick boats can turn on a dime and don't seem to wallow like steering wheel boats do at speed.. Pretty cool to take the family up to the lake in one. Its like having your own dock with you all the time.

Oh yea, one problem with the top. When you are standing up in the front and hook a fish you can't walk around to the back to let some one help you out with the net. They always say, no problem, just hand me the pole and then they don't give it back... ever

We run lots of jets on the Snake River for everthing from fishing to sking with the families. In a early post it was mentioned about the gas that is used.Their right Most jet run anywhere 8 to 10 gallons a hour and thats alot of gas when pulling skiers. What you have to think about is do you want to spend 50 to 60 dollars on gas each outing. just something to think about

I have a year 2000 Boulton 20 footer. I got the full package as far as options. I have a kodiak 350 chev attached to the kodiak pump. I am very pleased with everything about it. I have been from Lewiston up past heller bar several times on the same tank of fuel. Custom blue paint, full top w/ drop, heat, defrost, air-ride seats, wipers, large swim deck, fish box w/ running water and king tandem trailer. $28,000 out the door...I was at the point where it was a Duckworth, Thunderjet or this boat and after two months of due dilligence I believe I got the most bang for the buck. If you would like a test drive or test ride, just let me know. I fish the cowlitz most weekends.

I've got a Duck...People ask me whats a Duckworth........Every penny!

I spent the last several months looking for the same kind of boat you described. Ten days ago ago I ordered a 19' Competitor by Northwest Jet Boats. I couldn't find anything that I thought compared as well for the money. Also, they are great people to work with, very professional, and very helpful. In my research I talked to eight people that either owned one of their boats, or had their boat worked on at N.W., and every single one had only very positive experiences with them.
Also the Competitor with the optional 351 Redline (Ford) has all the thrust/power you could ever want.

SELL YOUR MOTORS!

Buy a drift boat instead.

Just bought brand new today... 21 foot North West signature series. 350 chevy with Hamilton 212 pump. Loaded with just about everything that you can want. White with grey top. Fish deck etc.. I am a happy boy !!!

P.S - The 16 ft Alumaweld drift boat that has served me well for 14 years still has a warm spot in the garage.. and a lot of trips left on the salmon river-

Huntar.. the 19 footer is a sweet boat for the money.. They had on down where I got mine for 22,000 with 302 ford in it.

I went with a 22 ft Duck, a 95 Silverwing. The boat has a 351 in it, more then enough power. Great boat on the Columbia, takes rough water well. Also a great family boat, have towed the kids behind it, but I'd like a smaller boat to fish smaller rivers with no top to get in the way. There are a lot of good boats out there to pick from. Bigger boats are great but it depends on the fishing you plan to do. I end up fishing more by myself and 22ft is getting to be too much.

I have been told that they don't make Duckworths anymore... The shop here in town is closed.. weeds growing in the parking lot type of deal. Not saying they are bad boats by any means, just that I don't think they make them anymore. Ernie was the man and they sorta went to crap after that.

I'm told Duckworth boats got into legal/financial trouble around 1996 and were looking for people to invest to keep the company going. Apparently they couldn't get enough investors to continue and sold the company in '97 or '98. The name has changed to Duckworth Boat Works Inc and I'm told they're not as good as they once were. Glad I bought mine when I did.

Got mine used(a dandy deal)but I hear what your saying about the company. A buddy bought one new in 93 and got crummy service. In fact I went to buy one from Perry ( the old owner) but they tried to Jack me for an extra $500.00 so I told them where to go. Bought my boat along side the road heading out of Clarkston..

Same thing with North River. My buddy bought a 20' and the boat is good, but the service is absolutely horrible. The forward reverse cable kinked on the second trip out. Then they mis-ordered the replacement cable. They also gave him a single axle trailer, he was kind of leery about it but agreed, then at the sportsmans show, it listed the tandem axle trailer as standard equipment. So he asked them what was up, and they offered a spare tire as consolation. Then they reniged on the deal. Needless to say, he isn't getting that warm fuzzy feeling about the company. He's thinking about taking a heat gun and removing North River from the side of the boat.

I guess one thing we are hearing is that it is important to be as happy with your dealer as you are with your boat, eh?