best riding hull???

[albernifisher]

I'm starting to get the bug to do another project boat, not right now but in a few months. Looking for opinions on the best riding fiberglass hull around 25-27' with a full bed and galley, somthing I can put a pod on.

 

[Dogbreath]

Hourston has a very comfortable soft ride-not sure how the pod will work though ask Wolf about that.

 

[Rockfish]

I have been on two 26 Hurston Sport Fisher guide boats (one an inboard-outboard and one with twin 150 outboards -no pods) in recent years and they are impressive sea handling boats for their size in open water and weather and usually cost less than a larger Grady or an Orca both to buy and operate. Remember a pod may well change the boats stability and if not very well designed and done, not for the better and good pod conversions are pricy. You will not get a well designed and built hand laid heavy glass project boat cheap unless it needs a transom and/or stringers so you could be taking on a lot of work. Even with your own labour you could spend $10,000 or more on such a project if you buy a pod that is custom made for your hull and designed by someone who knows what they are doing and what hulls make good candidates so as not to mess up the boats stability. I understand you want a hull that is very wide and side to side stable for its length to begin with as the pod will make it longer but not wider.
But as you have done a project boat before I suspect you know what you are getting into.

 

[bigdogeh]

cat hull? not sure how that would work on a smaller 25 to 27 with galley, etc... sure like mine in aluminum though. can cruise by pounding kingfishers, etc like they're standing still in the rough stuff.

 

[Derby]

love my Grady 232 hull

 

[SpringVelocity]

Fiberglass: hourston or grady white....Aluminum: northwest....

That's based and taking them offshore......

Skagit Orcas are nice looking but I haven't been on them to compare...

 

[JAC]

I think that shamrock hulls have a great rep for there ride. But you can often find deals on cats and they ride really nice. Hourston, contender, radon

 

[searun]

Three best hulls in my opinion are Grady, Pursuit and Pro Line. Hourston are good, but do not have the self bailing deck.

 

[Aces]

I love my podded 26ft Hourston with a centre console AND self bailing.

I can pass most boats drinking a coffee when it's rough out. It crushes the chop

 

[wolf]

Hourston are good, but do not have the self bailing deck

Mine does....along with a few others i know of...

As for ride i love my hourston but im a fan....

 

[Striker]

Just curious as to what makes one hull ride better than another? I have a 24' Trophy and have to admit I can get pretty beat up if it's rough out. Is it the weight, deadrise or shape of the hull?

 

[JAC]

Weight, hull design, deadrise the more rearward your helm is the better the boat will feel. There are many factors to how the boat hull will ride. Some boats ride better at speed and others are better and more stable at rest.

 

[albernifisher]

What do you guys think of Larson boats? here is one in seattle
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/4559573121.html

 

[the fog ducker]

not sure on the hull .
the power sounds cool though

350 mag perhaps lol...

 

[scar tissue]

cant beat a parker or a hurston

 

[Part Timer]

I spent many years fishing out of a 23 ft Hurston and yes they ride not bad. I have since bought the Sea Ray 270 Amberjack and in comparison to the old boat, the Sea Ray wins hands down no comparison.

 

[Sr SQ]

As subjective as any "best" threads can be......
I have owned or spent an honest amount of time in
Trophy 20/23'
Grady both the early and seevee 2 hulls 23/27'
Early whaler hulls 20' revenge their little cathedral hulls were brutal
Hurston 24'
Doral 24'
A bunch of tin cans up to 30'
Searay 24/27'
With out doubt for ride the sea ray and doral (looks like a copy of the searay ) were at the top of the list
The newer Grady and the big Hurston was a close second IMO
Larson makes a delta pad hull also but I have not had any time in one to coment
My 20' revenge was as tough of a ride as my 20' trophy but they both have new hulls that are said to be remarkably better

 

[fishin_magician]

It all works together. Beam, dead rise, chimes, V, keels, displacement, etc etc.

Lots of big $$ hulls are very very good.

There's a reason some hull designs are notorious over the world and others don't make it.

 

[Striker]

I'll have to get one of you with experience to take my boat out for a test run. I'm not sure how much pounding is normal for this size boat. It would be nice to have a comparison.

Joe

 

[Hookin'up]

Love my grady 232 as well and the 9'6" beam is real nice, factory pod with twin 150's biggest 23' you'll ever be on
But that being said not much of a sleeping area or galley will sleep 3 comfortably and 6'6" headroom,
I think my next will be a 282 sailfish
Nice compact galley, separate head, v berth and a midship berth