Some west coast boats that you never see out east

[WavetoWave]

I saw a 28 Howard Bullet at TNT in Miami last year and realized how many amazing west coast built boats you never see out east.

https://www.wavetowave.com/home/2017/8/16/california-dreaming-west-coast-on-the-east-coast

 

[Ziggy]

I saw a 28 Howard Bullet at TNT in Miami last year and realized how many amazing west coast built boats you never see out east.

https://www.wavetowave.com/home/2017/8/16/california-dreaming-west-coast-on-the-east-coast

We don't see many east coast boats out here on the lake either. Center console boats almost non-existent unless you're fishing on the Pacific.

 

[WavetoWave]

We don't see many east coast boats out here on the lake either. Center console boats almost non-existent unless you're fishing on the Pacific.

Ya, that's true. And center consoler are really practical in some cases.

 

[Bpracing1127]

Ya, that's true. And center consoler are really practical in some cases.

I find center consol very impractical for havasu

 

[RiverDave]

Nice article! Let me know if you want to write for rdp! We have been looking for paid content contributors!

 

[Backlash]

^^ Not sure I agree with that statement my friend. Just got back from the Bahamas where we spent some time on a 38' Scarab center console and I couldn't think of a better all around boat for Havasu or Mead. Plenty of room, a cuddy, and no carpet to worry about getting sand out of. Walk off swim platform where the outboard bracket is...... Seemed like a win-win to me.

Oh yeah, it ate up the 3-4' swells in the Sea of Abaco, so I can only imagine how smooth it would be in Havazoo.

 

[RiverDave]

I find center consol very impractical for havasu

I disagree

 

[LuckyStrike]

I disagree

XXXX3 I had one of the first center consoles to Grace Mead Mohave Havasu Parker and ALL the way to Davis Dam in 2000 that was a 32 Scarab L.S Second was one of 3 custom builds 36 Concepts CC...Was on some of the very first OP6C and C.C. Famous Dam to Dam Runs...Running With Me....So if everyone of Havasu Peeps Disagree..??
Your Way Fucking Off...

 

[RiverDave]

Not sure I'd take that post (bprscing) personal AJ.. lol. He's got an opinion just like all of us.

I see the functionality of one. Granted traditional beach access is kind of a bitch but there's ways around that.

 

[WavetoWave]

^^ Not sure I agree with that statement my friend. Just got back from the Bahamas where we spent some time on a 38' Scarab center console and I couldn't think of a better all around boat for Havasu or Mead. Plenty of room, a cuddy, and no carpet to worry about getting sand out of. Walk off swim platform where the outboard bracket is...... Seemed like a win-win to me.

Oh yeah, it ate up the 3-4' swells in the Sea of Abaco, so I can only imagine how smooth it would be in Havazoo.

Ya, I used to not like them but spent more time in Miami and same thing, they have the space and ability to haul lots of people. Some look pretty cool too.

 

[Uncle Dave]

Thanks... from Lavey Craft!

UD

 

[Enen]

I find center consol very impractical for havasu

Desert Storm on Jeff Murray's Midnight Express center console was arguably one of the best days I've had boating on Havasu, ever.

 

[lake p.a.l.]

Last summer we launched our 25 Daytona on the Mississippi River then went the entire 1000 miles up to Pittsburgh, PA on the Ohio River and didn't see one cat. Not one. We left on a Saturday morning and got to PA on Wednesday afternoon and the weather was good. We even had people asking what kind of boat it was.

 

[Bleakish Times]

The article really hammers "Open Bow" boats... must be a youngster with no kids, no grand-kids, no family.

Personally I would not own a lake boat that was not "Open Bow".

And yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

[Bpracing1127]

The way I see it, cc boats are not practical for havasu for many reasons. Again my opinion.

They are tall on the trailer especially with a fixed roof/shade whatchamacallit (storage is of concern here)
They are heavy on gas consumption (3 engines on a lot of them )
They are long and beach access off the bow is very difficult (is with any large bee bottom )
They are expensive
They offer limited seating/standing only in most cases

Pro
Great for rough water
Reliable
Lots of storage and room for people
Great for fishing

 

[GRADS]

We have been looking for paid content contributors!

Now you tell me this?....I've been posting for free this whole time?:smackhead

 

[TBI]

Now you tell me this?....I've been posting for free this whole time?:smackhead

Pull your pants up Greg....

 

[Melloyellovector]

Nice article, the blue and white 210 on trailer is one of my halletts :thumbsup

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

The way I see it, cc boats are not practical for havasu for many reasons. Again my opinion.

They are tall on the trailer especially with a fixed roof/shade whatchamacallit (storage is of concern here)
They are heavy on gas consumption (3 engines on a lot of them )
They are long and beach access off the bow is very difficult (is with any large bee bottom )
They are expensive
They offer limited seating/standing only in most cases

Pro
Great for rough water
Reliable
Lots of storage and room for people
Great for fishing

Pretty spot on except for a few things.

These are OB's and they are not the gas hogs you would think they are unless you in the WOT all day.

As a passenger in a big deep V, I actually prefer standing over sitting and you will feel the same way if you rode in one.

Also a nice door out the side of the hull from the front cabin would make loading and unloading a lot easier and cleaner.

 

[KAP]

I saw a 28 Howard Bullet at TNT in Miami last year and realized how many amazing west coast built boats you never see out east.

https://www.wavetowave.com/home/2017/8/16/california-dreaming-west-coast-on-the-east-coast

Hello Jared:

Couple of points. The article does need some clarification. The Howard 28 Bullet did run a speed of 131MPH and it was not powered by a Teague engine. That boat was powered by a Taylor Performance engine and the owner driver who is a convicted felon of ill repute.

On a positive note...that makes the 28 Howard Bullet the fastest single engine monohull at 131MPH. I have a photo of the GPS amongst thousands of photos some where. Howard also holds the record for fastest single engine 28 Sportdeck... deckboat at 118MPH at an idle in gear start at LOTO Shootout [versus current running start stats.]

Nice article and topic. I really enjoyed your outboard steering article more.

Note: The Wave to Wave site needs to allow comments without being a member.

Thanks,

 

[ToMorrow44]

Pretty spot on except for a few things.

These are OB's and they are not the gas hogs you would think they are unless you in the WOT all day.

I'll disagree here. A friend of a friend is an engineer for Mercury who specializes in setting up triple and quad outboard CCs, he was on my boat and I mentioned that I get a dismal 1.5mpg. He said thats pretty good and most of the triple and quad outboard boats aren't getting that.

 

[mbrown2]

The way I see it, cc boats are not practical for havasu for many reasons. Again my opinion.

They are tall on the trailer especially with a fixed roof/shade whatchamacallit (storage is of concern here)
They are heavy on gas consumption (3 engines on a lot of them )
They are long and beach access off the bow is very difficult (is with any large bee bottom )
They are expensive
They offer limited seating/standing only in most cases

I would disagree with all of that except for the height comment.
- They are no longer than a V or Cat of similar proportion - I had a single engine center console that was just as easy to get out as any other 24' boat
- My boat being a single engine 300hp Yamaha with a 95gal capacity had a range of 270 miles running at an average of 40-45mph... Show me an I/O boat of similar size and range that can do that....When I did the dam run in my center console heck the gas gauge barely moved past 3/4 of a tank... When I did it in my twin OB DCB F26 I spent about 500 in gas after two fill ups...yes, I was doing 85-90mph but after doing it in the center console it was easy to see what was the more practical boat.
- My boat was under 70K brand new fully loaded with latest electronics/sonar, sick sound system, misters, LED lights...just loaded..You can't compare a 38' Nortech to a 28' Nordic Cat...they are different boats...Compare a M35 to a Nortech 34 Center Console and you will see the CC is priced competitively and likely cheaper out the door...Go price Concept Center Consoles in the same range with West Coast V's and you will see they are not high priced...
- Limited seating...again...my experience was much different... See pics:...My Malibu can sit 14 but the center console is not far from that....back bench, facing bench, console seats, front console seats and open bow seats...

I love CC's and will likely get another but want to go a little bigger with twins. The 24' handled anything Mohave or Havasu could throw at it but the Pacific could use a little bigger boat...

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Until they have these things setup with more shade... I'm out

These are nice boats, serve a purpose, and offer more functionality that our "lake boats" but I cant understand the obsession with them for the Havasu only. Under 30 feet these make 0 sense to me. If anyone on your crew has mobility issues, they are a no go for beaching, have limited shade, seats a similar number of people as an equivalent deck boat, harder to store, and if you think they are easier to clean you are crazy, it is probably about equal. Under 30 feet there is definitely more space and open area in a deckboat.

If you boat in the lakes and the ocean, I completely get the tradeoff.

 

[Bleakish Times]

Now you tell me this?....I've been posting for free this whole time?:smackhead

RDP is like Facebook... all these "contributors" for FREE! (I do wonder how much info RDP collects, packages, and sells. )

And remember with Facebook YOU ARE THE PRODUCT.

 

[Uncle Dave]

In that all boats are cool boats I always have fun on a boat with good people regardless.

Spent many days on them in Florida- many.
Running around the outside with a fishing rod chasing something is awesome and here they make tons of sense.

For everything else they just dont work as well as a deck boat or a walk through open bow V from my experience with all of them.

Especially out here where some deck boats have 2 biminis up.

With seating in limited patches, scattered all over, some with tiny backrests because its really an ice chest you mostly stand all day and bake unless you are in the middle 2 seats or are the guy in front of the console either turned around talking to the people in behind you, or the few guys up front frying in the sun.

Look for where to hold onto something in rough water for passengers beside the guy next to the captain- some of them are completely devoid of grab rails.

That said people want what they want and Chris is mulling over building one.

UD

 

[RiverDave]

RDP is like Facebook... all these "contributors" for FREE! (I do wonder how much info RDP collects, packages, and sells. )

And remember with Facebook YOU ARE THE PRODUCT.

By content contributor I was referring to writing articles for the front page / media etc. never sold any content to anyone, although I have personally written for several people.

RD

 

[Backlash]

As we all know there isn't one perfect boat that meets the needs of every boater and every family. Each has its own strong points. But to say the CC wouldn't be practical is sort of a blanket statement. Once you've been on one, used it and spent some time on the water on one, you will realize how practical they can be.

As far as being up front and getting burned all day, there is a solution for that too. This Invincible is an example of just that.




During our two weeks in Abaco, I saw only one "High performance boat" (Cigarette 35' Cafe Racer). Every single other boat we saw was a CC or something very similar. Try one out, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

As we all know there isn't one perfect boat that meets the needs of every boater and every family. Each has its own strong points. But to say the CC wouldn't be practical is sort of a blanket statement. Once you've been on one, used it and spent some time on the water on one, you will realize how practical they can be.

As far as being up front and getting burned all day, there is a solution for that too. This Invincible is an example of just that.

View attachment 582535


During our two weeks in Abaco, I saw only one "High performance boat" (Cigarette 35' Cafe Racer). Every single other boat we saw was a CC or something very similar. Try one out, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Absolutely everyone's needs are different. I have been in a couple CCs, they seem great for a multi purpose boat.

That Invincible is cool, but again that is 36 feet i believe. I have yet to see one under 30 feet that is cost effective, does not look cramped, and makes sense to own.

Havasu is one of the few places where for most people the boat's only real function is to be a floating stereo, beer cooler and people mover. If it goes fast and looks cool that is an added bonus. Added functionality, capability and practicality just gets in the way, unless you are talking about a toon.

I don't really need a boat capable of tackling 4-6 foot seas.

 

[Old Texan]

The way I see it, cc boats are not practical for havasu for many reasons. Again my opinion.

They are tall on the trailer especially with a fixed roof/shade whatchamacallit (storage is of concern here)
They are heavy on gas consumption (3 engines on a lot of them )
They are long and beach access off the bow is very difficult (is with any large bee bottom )
They are expensive
They offer limited seating/standing only in most cases

Pro
Great for rough water
Reliable
Lots of storage and room for people
Great for fishing

I live in an area that has more CC's than other type boats because it's primarily salt water fishing driven. I own an open bow Chapparell and an old sm all center console McKee Craft. Each has it's pros and cons and each is better at what it's designed for.....At the end of the day I'd choose a CC for an overall boat, as to me it is the most versatile to what I need.

From your list it's weighted against a CC so I don't an objective comparison. Your list is what you need for your boating.

What I'd like to see, are more smaller CC's with sterndrives. I can see a a lot of benefits over OB's but OB's have there place forthe most part on boats 21 or so feet and under. But space is given up and a trade off.

Biminis make shade an easy thing although sometimes restricts casting. Taller helm position makes them a pleasure to navigate where line of sight is critical.

So many choices we have, one style ain't never gonna fit all situations. But CC's asTri/Pontoons are becoming more and more widespread and used in place they were not common in past.

Here's a great Saltwater choice with diesel power....
http://www.boatingmag.com/boats/edgewater-228-ccd#page-3