outboard powered bowriders

[stubbsboogie]

Hello everyone, we are looking at upgrading to a newer boat in the fairly near future. I am very partial to outboards as I am familiar with them. And have more knowledge about them. But as you know there are not many builders that make them anymore. Glastron, Tahoe, I think bayliner still makes one.

Are there any others that you guys might know. I have checked into some dual console boats but most of them seem to be set up for fishing and since I dont fish I do not really need those features.

Any sugestions or thoughts would be helpful in my research. Thanks Iboats

 

[Les Robb]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

I just googled best bowrider boats and came up with quite a few additional choices, among them the Allmand. Don't have a clue on quality, but hope all boats in production today are seaworthy, (that may be wishfull thinking) but anyway the name is familiar. I liked the 16' side console cause I love to fish but the 18 bowrider is a traditional looking attractive boat in my opinion. So many of the boats today remind me of nothing but a go fast boat with few options for a family. These at least remind me of a down to earth boat but I'm, an old fogey anyway.

Luck in your quest ya'll

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: outboard powered bowriders

check out Sea Hunt, Grady White. Also, a dual console is functionally just the same as a bow rider, but typically not as closed in. To me, you want to have more space, rather than the closed-in "sofa boat" set up. Ignore the seats in the rear; people seldom sit back there.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

also look into deck boats, they perform like bow riders. the reason there are so many I/O's is the Brunswick (merc/mercruiser) owns 27 boats lines. the do not have a marketable outboard for the bow riders, that is reasonably priced to put on them. they are forced to use, there i/o's inorder to bring the price of the boats down.

this came directly from a higher up person at Brunswick.

 

[highN'dry]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Widen your search to what is called a dual console or side consoles boat. Many serious brands do not refer to their bow riders as "bow riders" because that terminology is kinda considered a lower rung boat much for the same reason we cannot call a station wagon a "station" wagon anymore but instead call it a cross over or a sport utility.

No serious offshore fisherman would consider his dual console a bow rider even though it is. Boston Whaler, Grady White and tons of others make such boats.

 

[dorelse]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Glasstron (after many years without one) is now making a sweet 17 1/2' bow rider (SSV 170) equiped with an E-Tec 90 HP bow rider for about $14K. (Dealers are offering better deals.) You can move up to a 115 HP if desired for an additional $2K. The 90 HP will push it to 35 - 40 MPH and the 115 will do 45 - 47 MPH.

Boat, motor and trailer comes in at about 2,600 pounds which means you can tow it behind just about anything.

There is also the Tahoe if you want to go more "upscale" (18 1/2') but it comes in at about $20K equiped with a Mecr. 90 HP.


For the money, I don't think you can beat the Glasstron SSC 170 and I have never met an E-Tec engine owner that didn't sing its praises. Great fuel economy, QUIET operation, easily maintained.

Yep, I would agree the Glastron SSV 170 is a nice package:

http://glastron.com/us/ssv170.html

 

[StoutMann]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Key West Boats is another nice dual console manufacturer. They have a couple sizes. I love my 2020DC made by them.

 

[samagy16]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Hurricane.

Look at the Sun Deck models.

Outboard powered.

You will be happy!!!

hurricanedeckboats.com

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Dunno if anyone mentioned, but Doral makes a nice little 17' outboard powered bowrider. It's identical to the larger models, but actually has nicer color options. Not sure if they are available in your area though, I think they are made up here in the great white north. I looked at them before buying mine...seemed a little too much form over function for me though. Very nice looking boats...but a lot of glitz.

Ian

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

also look into deck boats, they perform like bow riders. the reason there are so many I/O's is the Brunswick (merc/mercruiser) owns 27 boats lines. the do not have a marketable outboard for the bow riders, that is reasonably priced to put on them. they are forced to use, there i/o's inorder to bring the price of the boats down.

this came directly from a higher up person at Brunswick.

Also to be fair, the I/O design is decades old. No muss no fuss, hardly any change at all, just minor mods. The outboards however have just undergone (well recently) a complete technological changeover. I still say outboards cost about 10x as much as they are actually worth, heck they sometimes or most times cost more then the bloody boat and trailer. However someone has got to pay for all that R&D!


ian

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Starcraft Marine makes a nice looking one also.

 

[mike343]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Check the current issue of Boating. Two glastrons(one o/b, one I/o) are covered. It may atill be on their web site.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

It used to be that most major manufacturers offered at least one OB powered boat in their lineup. Currently it is a rarity.

I have been looking for a Four Winns open bow with an outboard all summer. They made some really nice boats with outboards up until 2004.

Currently the only new non fish & ski, traditional, open bow, outboard boats you can buy new from a major manufacturer seem to be:

Glastron SSV 170
Glastron GT 180
Tahoe Q4 Sport OB
Starcraft 1700 Sport OB

It seems like there must be others. I can't seem to find them at the moment though.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

I hope you don't consider this a steal but this lil fishy hit the nail on the head with "GLITSY" description. I was trying to explain old style versus new in a post yesterday and couldn't come up with an adequate description.

Thanks and excuse the bust in without adding any usefull info

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Wow thanks for all the quick responses guys!

I am currently looking at/negotiating for a leftover 07 Glastron GT180. It will replace my 98 GS180. Kind of a bummer it is not as big inside as mine. Really what i want is mine in perfect condition and a new motor. But alas GF says no more money into this one.

I will keep searching. Thanks again for the great advice.

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Take a test drive or at least consider deck boats with high hp outboards.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Bass Pro had some OB bow and duals.

I ahve the Key West 17 DC 20 years old; it replaced a 16' starcraft bowrider. I like the DC a whole lot better. Roomier.

 

[towdog]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

Glastron, Starcraft, Stratos, Lund. I know there are more. Trying to think. The Fish N Ski models often have outboards. Your options increase tenfold when you go to the aluminum runabouts that are more geared toward fishing (lund, crestliner, alumacraft, smokercraft, G3, etc)

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

It appears that Larson will be joing the fray.

They are going to have 17' OB boat for the 2010 model year.

http://www.boattest.com/boats/boat_video.aspx?ID=2066

Read the article. They make some really good points. The thing I noticed right away was the huge motor well. What a waste of space. Apparantly Larson wanted to be able to offer the Mercury Verado engine and they had to make an obscenely large motor well to do it. With a little E-Tec mounted on the boat the motor well looks to be about twice as big as it needs to be. Thats too bad b/c one clear advantage that you can have with an outboard is more open cockpit space. With this design it looks pretty cramped.

What I think is absolutely insane is that they made a huge design compromise to accomodate a Mercury. Mercury is owned by Brunswick. Brusnswick also owns many boat manufacturers. Larson is owned by Genmar. Genmar and Brunswick are direct competitors.

I think it is nice to give the customer options. However, I say they should design the boat to work with the more mainstream motors. If it doesn't work with the top of the line motor from a given manufacturer that may be ok. What is the price premium for a Verado compared to an Optimax. For this entry level boat I think they will find that the majority of the boats sold will have Yamaha and E-tec power. For those few with Mercurys they will likely be traditional 4-strokes or Optimaxes....not Verados.

 

[sikz3]

Re: outboard powered bowriders

I would definately check out the new 2010 Larson 1700 LX. I just got an email about it and it looks real nice! http://www.boattest.com/boats/boat_video.aspx?ID=2066