TenMile
Well-Known Member
This weekend, the Victoria floating boat show is on in the Inner Harbour downtown Victoria. Yesterday, I dropped my $10 and went to browse the new rides. I'm always trying to hunt down the perfect combination of an 80% fishing boat 20% weekender/overnight. Here are some of my highlights:
Commander 26: Really nice layout as a combination cruiser and sportfisher. Boat has a 10' beam. Very nice interior -- super use of space and storage. Outstanding galley area, with a large v-berth and very large dinette that sleeps 2 when down. Dual helm (upper and lower bridge). Powered by a single Volvo 270 diesel or twin Mercruisers. Not the best layout for fishing but it would work. Price with the Volvo Diesel was $146K - 165K depending on options. http://www.virtual-tours.com/commander-26 -- man Commander has to do something about their paint scheme and logo. I honestly thought these boats where '70s/80s vintage until I saw this one new.
Ranger 26 or 29. The Ranger 26 is very similar in size to my 2600 Sport Cabin. 8'6" beam, nice rear deck. Only powered by a 110hp diesel which tops it out at 19kts -- this boat is not designed for speed, but is a combination cruiser/fisher. IMHO not a bad design, but too many compromises -- they are trying to keep it trailerable but for the price ($160K), you give up too much. The Ranger 29 ($260K) on the other hand is beautiful!!! WOW!!! Again, not going to set any landspeed records here 20kts max but does it burning about 6GPH. Interior is outstanding -- sleeps 6, and can easily take 4 out for several weeks very comfortably. Forget fishing on this thing however -- I'd be too afraid to get a mark on it -- no fish boxes and hardly a spot to mount a rigger -- but, one of the nicer boats I've seen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS-ma0PN6PQ&feature=player_embedded
Fountain 33: Again, nice looking boat. Never heard or have seen a Fountain before in these waters (is that telling me something, hmmmm). Cuddy cabin is very large -- has a full standup head, plus a large berth that sleeps 2. Deck space is enormous -- almost too big. Cool helm console design that folds open to allow you to get at all your electronics installations in a neat central spot (great idea). Tons of built in storage. http://www.fountainpowerboats.com/fi...3_features.asp -- brand new 2008 model with a "boat show special" of $179K.
Northwest Aluminium: The guy who took my prize of the day was the owner of the 2002 26' Northwest Custom Aluminium. He was docked in his own boat and had a Yacht Dealer list it for him -- but he was leading the tours himself. He had the boat custom built to his spec, and this guy knew what he was doing. Volvo AD41P 200Hp diesel (1700hrs) that was spotless -- engine access so you could get right in and access everything. Cruises at 22kts using 4Gph of fuel (top speed 30kts). Rubber foam insulation for warmth and sound dampening interior, 2 buss heaters, dickinson oil stove, hot water shower on deck. Big 15" flatscreen monitor hooked to Nobeltec/Garmin systems. The boats are built right in Victoria, but the company doesn't have a website. He'll be sitting at the dock for a while -- asking $149K (for a 2002 with 1700hrs in my mind is too high) This is the boat: http://coastpilot.shawwebspace.ca/pages/view/at_anchor/ -- look at the pics of the engine -- yes, it really looked like that -- an 8 year old boat!!! This boat has been very well cared for and it showed!!! I've love this boat -- if he'd just knock off $100K.
TenMile
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Commander 26: Really nice layout as a combination cruiser and sportfisher. Boat has a 10' beam. Very nice interior -- super use of space and storage. Outstanding galley area, with a large v-berth and very large dinette that sleeps 2 when down. Dual helm (upper and lower bridge). Powered by a single Volvo 270 diesel or twin Mercruisers. Not the best layout for fishing but it would work. Price with the Volvo Diesel was $146K - 165K depending on options. http://www.virtual-tours.com/commander-26 -- man Commander has to do something about their paint scheme and logo. I honestly thought these boats where '70s/80s vintage until I saw this one new.
Ranger 26 or 29. The Ranger 26 is very similar in size to my 2600 Sport Cabin. 8'6" beam, nice rear deck. Only powered by a 110hp diesel which tops it out at 19kts -- this boat is not designed for speed, but is a combination cruiser/fisher. IMHO not a bad design, but too many compromises -- they are trying to keep it trailerable but for the price ($160K), you give up too much. The Ranger 29 ($260K) on the other hand is beautiful!!! WOW!!! Again, not going to set any landspeed records here 20kts max but does it burning about 6GPH. Interior is outstanding -- sleeps 6, and can easily take 4 out for several weeks very comfortably. Forget fishing on this thing however -- I'd be too afraid to get a mark on it -- no fish boxes and hardly a spot to mount a rigger -- but, one of the nicer boats I've seen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS-ma0PN6PQ&feature=player_embedded
Fountain 33: Again, nice looking boat. Never heard or have seen a Fountain before in these waters (is that telling me something, hmmmm). Cuddy cabin is very large -- has a full standup head, plus a large berth that sleeps 2. Deck space is enormous -- almost too big. Cool helm console design that folds open to allow you to get at all your electronics installations in a neat central spot (great idea). Tons of built in storage. http://www.fountainpowerboats.com/fi...3_features.asp -- brand new 2008 model with a "boat show special" of $179K.
Northwest Aluminium: The guy who took my prize of the day was the owner of the 2002 26' Northwest Custom Aluminium. He was docked in his own boat and had a Yacht Dealer list it for him -- but he was leading the tours himself. He had the boat custom built to his spec, and this guy knew what he was doing. Volvo AD41P 200Hp diesel (1700hrs) that was spotless -- engine access so you could get right in and access everything. Cruises at 22kts using 4Gph of fuel (top speed 30kts). Rubber foam insulation for warmth and sound dampening interior, 2 buss heaters, dickinson oil stove, hot water shower on deck. Big 15" flatscreen monitor hooked to Nobeltec/Garmin systems. The boats are built right in Victoria, but the company doesn't have a website. He'll be sitting at the dock for a while -- asking $149K (for a 2002 with 1700hrs in my mind is too high) This is the boat: http://coastpilot.shawwebspace.ca/pages/view/at_anchor/ -- look at the pics of the engine -- yes, it really looked like that -- an 8 year old boat!!! This boat has been very well cared for and it showed!!! I've love this boat -- if he'd just knock off $100K.
TenMile
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