Tell me what you guys think about this boat

[Lager]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

Arnt Force engines and Mariners both made by Mercury ? If so, I would imagine engine parts would be readily available for many years.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

My 19 "sport" was originally set up for Salmon on the great Lakes, so the high sides are very appealing, and it sips gas when trolling. I topped it off nice with a bow mounted 24 volt trolling system and it performs awesome. It can handle the rough stuff that we get around here, not that ya want to be out there when it happens, but it's nice to know you can make it back in w/o getting soaked or worse.
We pound the walleyes in the spring in the Detroit river so it's a great all purpose boat. Easy to trailer, really no complaints other than it's just not a Lund. Enjoy your new toy!!

 

[adk_vfr]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

ya I have a new 90lb thrust 24v troller i bought for my bass boat last year which i bought long specifically for the type of boat i really wanted so that will definitely be going on the new boat should work good has wireless remote as well which I really liked. im ordering downriggers in the next week to start getting ready. do you have riggers on your 19 greenbush and if so how'd ya mount them?

 

[YoungMind]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

Arnt Force engines and Mariners both made by Mercury ? If so, I would imagine engine parts would be readily available for many years.

Mariner was always Mercury. Force was originally U.S. Marine/Chrysler and bought by Mercury/Brunswick in 1985. Being that the boat the OP os looking at is mid-90's, his force will be Merc and have fairly good availability of parts for it. If it was a pre-Merc Force then it would be much harder to find parts.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

Spectrum is kind of known for being on the low end when it comes to aluminum boats.

Lund is known for being kind of on the top end.

I would look for something different, either a Starcraft Sylvan or Bluefin if you want somewhere in the middle.

Well said !

Force engines are also considered "economy" and typically use a bit more fuel than the other name brands.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

Mariner was always Mercury. Force was originally U.S. Marine/Chrysler and bought by Mercury/Brunswick in 1985. Being that the boat the OP os looking at is mid-90's, his force will be Merc and have fairly good availability of parts for it.

I know, over time, Mercury swapped in their own ignition and lower leg assembly, but I don't think they changed anything else.

Most parts for even Chrysler branded engines are still available.

 

[64osby]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

Bought the spectrum the guy threw in a bunch of stuff and came down to 3500.00 motor ran good and compression test was in the high 130's on all cylinder's. The hull is in excellent shape and I am not worried at all about it handling any lakes I'll be on

Congrats on the purchase.

We need pics.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

ya I have a new 90lb thrust 24v troller i bought for my bass boat last year which i bought long specifically for the type of boat i really wanted so that will definitely be going on the new boat should work good has wireless remote as well which I really liked. im ordering downriggers in the next week to start getting ready. do you have riggers on your 19 greenbush and if so how'd ya mount them?

Yes I have down riggers, I have alum plates mounted to the top of the gunnels with 4 spin nuts that allow me to add/delete the down-riggers. The plates are nice way to do it because when not being used, they are not sticking up, and your equipment is not always permanently on the boat, and easily stolen. I use manual Big Jon's, 2 on each side, the stern corner riggers face straight back, forward riggers go to the sides giving you a wide footprint when trolling. Lots of guys just mount a big wood board across the back and spread the riggers out across that, then remove the entire board when not being used. either way works really well. Most of the time my down-riggers are not on the boat, I only use them 4-5 times a year if that. We chase lots of walleyes up here, and the boat does great for that too. Post up your finished rig so we can see it, nothing beats that first fish after you rig the boat out!!! Have fun!!

One more thing, make sure that trolling motor shaft is long, as mentioned, Spectrums have a tall profile in the water, I think my shaft is 52-54 inches and less just wouldn't cut it. Maybe your boat sits lower in the water than mine.

 

[airshot]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

Hey if it works for you and is in your price range then enjoy. All boats have a lousy resale value anyway. If the force runs well then keep it and run the prop off her, if it doesn't run good the use your motor, that 90 hp will do fine, I had an 18 ft starcraft with a 70 hp jonnyrude and she would do 32/33 mph, plenty to get you to the fishing hole. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[adk_vfr]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

Hey Greenbush I do have the long shaft trolling motor. I have a question for you though as I am about to install my trolling motor in the bow of my boat. On the bow where it mounts it only seems to be a thin piece of aluminum with a small piece of ply underneath. Was this sufficient to hold your trolling motor?

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

Hey Greenbush I do have the long shaft trolling motor. I have a question for you though as I am about to install my trolling motor in the bow of my boat. On the bow where it mounts it only seems to be a thin piece of aluminum with a small piece of ply underneath. Was this sufficient to hold your trolling motor?

I purchased the alum plate that my MotorGuide TM quick connect's to, and anchored the plate to my small but workable bow area. On my boat this small tri angled area has carpet over aluminum backed by about 1/2 inch plywood. Your bow area might be different, if you don't have all that backing to mount to, you can build backer plates for each of the four "bolt down" areas the plate will be mounted too. You can use wood too, but I would seal the wood up well before ya button it all up. Maybe snap a picture or two and post it up here. My bow area was tight, it almost didn't fit. If all ya have is real thin ply, I would beef the 4 mounting areas well, with your choice of material under the cap. I wouldn't mount the trolling motor permanently, the plate is the way to go, do you have one of them? They aren't cheap, but it the kit will include some stout anchor bolts, you just need to build your bow area up to accept the system. Play around with which side the motor will deploy, consider weight, and how the TM will sit as you drive the boat in the stored position. I have to strap the TM down, when trailering, too much bounce on the long shaft. Take your time when selecting the location, considering all of the above. Look at other boats too if you get stumped on anything, or post it up here. We will get ya trolling in no time.

 

[adk_vfr]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

I believe my bow is the same as yours and I also have a motor guide with the quick detach plate. I was able to get the trolling motor and both of my big jon pro tournament electric downriggers mounted yesterday. I got the electrical run for the trolling motor but not the riggers. I am using these really nice minn kota plugs for all they work good but we're 30 bucks a piece. I would post some pics but it's pouring out today and the boat is covered up. Maybe tomorrow but she's coming together. Hey Greenbush does your spectrum have the livewell up front with a push in over flow tube? Mine is missing the tube and I'm trying to figure out which size to order. Thanks

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

I believe my bow is the same as yours and I also have a motor guide with the quick detach plate. I was able to get the trolling motor and both of my big jon pro tournament electric downriggers mounted yesterday. I got the electrical run for the trolling motor but not the riggers. I am using these really nice minn kota plugs for all they work good but we're 30 bucks a piece. I would post some pics but it's pouring out today and the boat is covered up. Maybe tomorrow but she's coming together. Hey Greenbush does your spectrum have the livewell up front with a push in over flow tube? Mine is missing the tube and I'm trying to figure out which size to order. Thanks

Good job on the fishing gear rigging and getting her set up. Regarding the live well, yes I do have the same tube system, works fine, ya might hunt around for "any tube" that will fit, it's a basic hunk of plastic tube I think. As long as it slides into the hole you're good. Cut it to length, and use. I would be curious what the dealer wants for this "tube". Check the hoses that fill the live well. Mine developed pin holes. I opened the rod locker and found a really fine pin holes, spraying all my rods, probably just age and a bit brittle.

 

[adk_vfr]

Re: Tell me what you guys think about this boat

Ya I found alot of places the sell the overflow tubes they seem to run from 8 to 12 bucks but come in standard 1 1/8 or 1 1/2 typically. I measured the hole and it's a hair over 1 inch so I'm guessing 1 1/8 is what I need