Someone on the other forum also looking at an Arima, here's what I posted there....
Bought an older 17' sea chaser a few months ago. Fantastic fishing boat, with an 8 ft beam, there is so much room to move around and fish. The bow is a bit light, the entire boat/motor/trailer supposed to be only around 2500 lb. Easy to tow with smaller vehicle. I store the kicker gas tank and an extra tank of gas for the main in the cuddy along with other gear for weight. My older model only has a 18 us gal tank, not big enough. Newer models do come with a 27 gal with an optional additional 20 tank. My 17 is max rated for 120 HP, I run a 115 Johnson, and top out a 38 mph. Even in rough seas i can cruise easily at 20. Gets up and planes very easy, even with 3 guys + gear, around 10 mph. The hull design includes rear extended pods which make the boat stable:
"These devices, which could be called pods or after planes, are very critical to the design of the ARIMA boat. They are what makes the boat plane out at such a low speed and so quickly. The after planes add additional displacement to the hull which makes the boat more stable and makes the boat handle and feel like a bigger boat. In addition to these qualities the shape of the after plane makes the boat track straight. They are also used when launching the boat. Suffice it to say the after planes make the ARIMA Boat distinctive in the way it runs and the way it looks. "
I highly recommend Arimas, I have contacted the company with a few questions about mine, and they were very helpful and willing to provide any info I needed from my hull ser #.
RSC, what year is the hull you are looking at? Mine is 1982 and shows some cracking in the gelcoat floor etc.
