Boats on Used Victoria and Other Areas

Aquaholic said:
Many don’t seem to like the express command cockpit set up in the middle of the boat instead of to one side. I have some friends looking for boats in that size and they do not want the express version.
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Agreed. Fished out of a buddies in Sechelt for a summer. Found it awkward with the middle helm. Never really a comfortable spot for passengers to view forward. I couldn’t imagine a long trip. He sold it, went to a Coastal Craft, way better for his passengers! 😂
 
TheHurtLocker said:
Agreed. Fished out of a buddies in Sechelt for a summer. Found it awkward with the middle helm. Never really a comfortable spot for passengers to view forward. I couldn’t imagine a long trip. He sold it, went to a Coastal Craft, way better for his passengers! 😂
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I want a friend like that!
 
Aquaholic said:
Many don’t seem to like the express command cockpit set up in the middle of the boat instead of to one side. I have some friends looking for boats in that size and they do not want the express version.
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Funny stuff, I'd love to have that option. Tough to find. Best place to drive from is the centerline
 
Aquaholic said:
Clearly they do sell, but they are a bit polarizing it seems.
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Polarizing in the sense of dividing the seating or in the opinion of what is correct helm position? I think the offset helm opinion stems from smaller boats, vessels which lack the beam. It's on the centerline generally
 
BC Coast Pilot said:
Polarizing in the sense of dividing the seating or in the opinion of what is correct helm position? I think the offset helm opinion stems from smaller boats, vessels which lack the beam. It's on the centerline generally
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Dividing the seating. What constitutes the correct helm position will not have a consensus.
 
I had a Grady 330 Express with the centre helm, as well as a Fountain 33SFC with the centre helm, and an Albemarle 315 Express with centre helm. Yes. I am a slow learner and did it three times before swearing off it.

You really don't want a centre helm in an express for salmon fishing. It's sub-optimal for salmon fishing because you have to look over your left shoulder for the left corner rigger, then over your right shoulder for your right corner rigger, then back forward to captain the ship. Each time you have to break you focal depth, swing your head around, and re-focus on the depth. That gets old really quickly. You could stand backwards looking out the back but then you're not really paying enough attention to other boats in tight fishing grounds. There is also the fact that the centre helm creates a traffic jam pinch point. Your guests are always trying to get past you to either get to the cabin, or get back out of the cabin. The jump seat on the port side basically has to be down all the time to create a traffic pathway for them to crowd you as they go by. The jump seat on the starboard is usually up, but nobody really sits there because it's in the way for the captain as he swings around the look out the starboard aft for the right corner rigger.

A center console fishing boat is great. Lots of space to get comfortable looking back and the ability to dart out to either side quickly when a fish strikes. A centre helm express is a PITA for our style of fishing both for sight lines, and for traffic pinch points for guests.
 
TheHurtLocker said:
Agreed. Fished out of a buddies in Sechelt for a summer. Found it awkward with the middle helm. Never really a comfortable spot for passengers to view forward. I couldn’t imagine a long trip. He sold it, went to a Coastal Craft, way better for his passengers! 😂
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Haha...he did indeed! My slip is directly across from his, that CC is sweeeet.
 
BCI said:
I had a Grady 330 Express with the centre helm, as well as a Fountain 33SFC with the centre helm, and an Albemarle 315 Express with centre helm. Yes. I am a slow learner and did it three times before swearing off it.

You really don't want a centre helm in an express for salmon fishing. It's sub-optimal for salmon fishing because you have to look over your left shoulder for the left corner rigger, then over your right shoulder for your right corner rigger, then back forward to captain the ship. Each time you have to break you focal depth, swing your head around, and re-focus on the depth. That gets old really quickly. You could stand backwards looking out the back but then you're not really paying enough attention to other boats in tight fishing grounds. There is also the fact that the centre helm creates a traffic jam pinch point. Your guests are always trying to get past you to either get to the cabin, or get back out of the cabin. The jump seat on the port side basically has to be down all the time to create a traffic pathway for them to crowd you as they go by. The jump seat on the starboard is usually up, but nobody really sits there because it's in the way for the captain as he swings around the look out the starboard aft for the right corner rigger.

A center console fishing boat is great. Lots of space to get comfortable looking back and the ability to dart out to either side quickly when a fish strikes. A centre helm express is a PITA for our style of fishing both for sight lines, and for traffic pinch points for guests.
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I've got to agree that wouldn't work very well, did you ever consider deck controls or a remote? Personally I've never used the main helm for fishing salmon.
 
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BC Coast Pilot said:
I've got to agree that wouldn't work very well, did you ever consider deck controls or a remote? Personally I've never used the main helm for fishing salmon.
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We put a kicker with cockpit controls in the Albe. That worked great for salmon fishing.

We didn't keep the Grady 330 or the Fountain 33SFC long enough to bother. Reasons; The Grady was underpowered (It was bought in 2002 when it first came out... with Yamaha F225s...) and the Fountain with it's stepped hull didn't want to run below about 26mph above which the steps would finally break the hull loose from the sea.

So the Grady was just too slow all the time (underpowered with F225s), and the Fountain was either too slow or too fast. With the Fountain if you couldn't run 26mph+ you were stuck running at hull speed (about 8mph). There's lots of water where you want to run just on step of a regular V hull, say 14-16 mph... anything faster and you fall into the large trough on the backside of the wave in a head sea. The all-or-nothing of that 33SFC was great on clear calm or choppy days... but again PITA in large swells where you'd be airborne when you really didn't want to be.

Hope this helps anyone looking at these particular boats.
 
Hi team, I am preparing to sell our long-loved family boat, as we have up-sized to accommodate our growing family. Here at the details, and apologies in advance for the length of post - I have been continuously upgrading her over the years, so there's a fair bit to list. Please send me a DM if you'd like any more info and/or have any questions. Will be sad to see her go, as dad has now passed and she's been my gal ever since, but excited for the next owners to enjoy her for many years to come. Boat is current inside heated garage in Squamish.

1993 Proline 190 Sportsman Center Console

Single owner boat – dad bought her new from Tideline Marine in Sechelt in 1994 (anyone remember Dorn?). Ultimate fishing, prawning and day-tripping machine with loads of upgrades, fully turn-key, and she's very economical to run. Everything works. Solid, fiberglass, deep-V hull with wide bow flare – handles rough seas incredibly well, with self-bailing deck (corner scuppers). Comes with EZ Loader boat trailer with two fresh tires and a spare wheel bolted to frame. Boat easily towed with a mid-sized pick-up / cross-over / SUV, and launches in/out solo with ease. March 2023 survey performed by F.I. Hopkinson Marine Surveyors – available upon request.

Estimated market value in 2023 survey: $20,000 CAD (boat only)
Listing price: $20,000 CAD (boat + EZ Loader trailer)

Main Power:
  • Re-powered in December 2018 with a new Mercury 115ELPT Command Thrust with 160 hours
  • Command Thrust 115HPs have the factory gearcase of a 150HP Mercury (supporting longer props, and larger gear ratios) for more lift, better acceleration, improved handling and added durability
  • Manufacturer break-in procedure and service schedule since new (Don Green and Buccaneer Marina)
  • Engine has been flushed with fresh water after every use
Auxiliary Power:
  • Re-powered in July 2017 with a new Mercury 6HP kicker (tiller steer), extremely reliable, never failed
  • All factory-recommended and annual maintenances completed by certified marine mechanics (Don Green and Buccaneer Marina)
  • Direct fuel line plumbed into boat’s main internal 190L / 50G fuel tank
Main Steering:
  • Up-graded to SeaStar Hydraulic (some pics below pre-date this upgrade), pinky-finger light
  • Installed new in 2018
Sounder / Fishfinder / Chart Plotter:
  • Upgraded to a new RayMarine Multifunction Display in 2019
  • Loaded with Navionics USA & Canada Charts
  • The visuals and resolution are fantastic for fishing and prawning - details below
Transducers:
  • Two different transducers targeting different fisheries/bathymetries, setup on an automatic splitter
  • RV-100 (RayMarine) transducer: 4-channel, Wide Spectrum CHIRP transducer with DownVision™, SideVision™, high-frequency CHIRP fish targeting, and RealVision 3D™ - best used for shallow water (<100 ft), amazing for jigging salmon and bottom fish
  • P66 (AIRMAR) transducer for deeper water and trolling fisheries (usually when I am trolling with riggers for chinook), and holds bottom at planning speeds at depths up to 1,200 ft
Additional Features:
  • 190L (50G) internal fuel tank
  • Mercury digital SmartCraft guage (SC1000) for all vitals
  • Live baitwell, 49L (13G) capacity
  • Large casting deck (great for fly fishing and spin casting)
  • Built-in fish (kill) storage box with scupper drain that drains through-hull
  • Four flush-mounted rod holders (2 aft and 2 mid-ship), great for trolling, cut-plugging, and mooching
  • Two pairs of rod holders for storage on either side of cut-out transom
  • Self-bailing decks (corner scuppers)
  • Swim-grid to port with step-up ladder
  • Wired in for electric Scotty downriggers
  • Danforth anchor with 20’ chain and 200’ rode
  • Raw water washdown, coiled hose included
  • Sunbrella center console cover
  • Two-battery setup with switch
  • Ritchie navigational compass (dash-mounted)
  • Blige with bilge pump and automatic float switch, with transom drainplug
  • Horn (electric)
Additional Info:
  • Minor (rare) cosmetic scuffs, and tired decals/stickers - easy to "freshen up" if desired
  • SmartCraft gauge works perfectly, but has a small LCD defect in one corner (never bothered me!)

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