HOURSTON BOATS

[Kris]

Hey guys I gotta ask....

Why are these boats so popular on this site? I see allot of posts on here regarding owning/selling these boats, and honestly don't know allot about them. I just sold my rig, and will be upgrading when I find the "right fit"...any secrets you guys wanna share?

I took a look at the latest thread on here about the 23 foot Hourston, and don't really see the hull as all that efficiant..am I missing somthing?

 

[Kris]

This is the boat that I am looking at going and getting...Thoughts??

Just copy and paste link...

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatFullDetails.jsp?boat_id=1675224&

 

[walleyes]

Well there is a differance between a Trophy and a Hourston,, if you can't tell the differance then by all means enjoy the Bayliner,, I'm sure it will serve you for years...

 

[danthewire]

Google,hourston glascraft it will come up as untitled document,go in there Bill has his site tuned up now.There is a complete history of the boats and all his models.They are one of the finest boats made,can't go wrong buying a hourston,hold thier value,and are hard to come by.My 2 cents.DAN

 

[--smtw]

Buy the best boat you can afford (or afford to finance....) not too sure about Horustons, they may be an offshore knockoff of our well loved Hourstons... (kidding folks, relax)
Trophy is a nice rig, the one you showed looks to be well fitted. When a new boat is being searched, it's what my dad calls "2 foot-itis" Always have to go bigger 'n' better (or just bigger) than the budget.
Hourston has a long and deserved reputation on this coast, the Trophy is nice as well. Price/features/extras come into play at this point. Go with what fits your budget. I have been there, in my case I had to get "real" not just go for broke. Worked out here, got a good boat for a decent price. (still looking for 2 or 3 electric riggers' though, anyone ?)

 

[Kris]

Thanks Dan!!! Like I said I know nothing about them, and I am just looking for guys like you to steer me in the right direction. I don't want to buy a boat that I won't be happy with...

 

[Kris]

I sent an email to Bill and Nash about thier boats...Thanks for the tip...This is the fun part...learning and shopping!!!

 

[Last Chance]

I can't think of too many Trophy's in the local guide fleet, but I can think of a lot of Hourstons (I'm on my third one). The 5/8" Thick plug I have from the bottom of the hull from where I put my washdown thru hull should tell all. And the front of the boat is sharp like a knife, look at the front of a big Hourston, and the front of a Trophy, and you'll see which one is a menace to the waves. If you take a CLOSE look at the front of the hulls, the Hourston has a much sharper entry.

Go for a ride in the Hourston on a good, 3-4 foot wave day off Sooke, and then a Trophy. See what your back tells you.

HOWEVER, aside from the hull construction itself, the Hourston is a pretty ho-hum boat, the upholstry and seats on them are usualy crap (Mine have been replaced with air rides), and they don't have a lot of bling bling, and the window leaks can be maddening.

 

[bananas]

not only does the hull punch the waves well.but the low cabin is great in the wind doesn't blow around much at all,stays on a proper tac.
I have a 27 grady and 23 hourston and while nothing rides like the grady the hourston is a close 2nd and i'm sure they have the highest sides going don't think you could fall out even if you tried.Oh ya unless your 7ft tall like someone else on this topic.haha

 

[Striper Sniper]

Hey Last Chance, I would be interested in how you rate the Seaswirls... It seems there are an ever increasing number of them around. While I own one and like it, I do not have any experience with Hourstons or other boats. Thanks, SS

 

[Last Chance]

quote:Originally posted by Striper Sniper

Hey Last Chance, I would be interested in how you rate the Seaswirls... It seems there are an ever increasing number of them around. While I own one and like it, I do not have any experience with Hourstons or other boats. Thanks, SS

I've never been on one in the rough, a buddy had a 21 footer, seemed OK, but heavy in the arse end. I'm not really an expert on them.

 

[mlaag]

That boat will cost you over 30 K to get it here(taxes and a trailer) and it is 8 years old and its a trophy

 

[Kris]

It has a trailer with brakes allready. I called the broker. The only thing is that I would have to drive down and pick it up...2100miles away = about 2000 in diesil + GST on the thing when I hit the boarder...

 

[mlaag]

I purchased a boat from the states and got the boat but to Canada only to find that both the motor needed to be replaced and the foam was water logged
a little expensive

 

[Gypseas]

Hey Kris
Not to bash them Trophys but...I went down and picked myself a 2005 Trophy 1802WA with a 115hp outboard and can tell ya that I would never go back and buy another, electrical pbs, poor workmanship all around, underpowered, heavy on gas, cracks all over, all and all a bad experience
Sold the POS and got a 20ft welded aluminum with a 150 outboard. Night and day. Easy on gas, lightning fast, and that aluminum is tough and easy maintenance if any at all.
And it trailers like I sometimes forget it's there. Gotta watch them curbs though
You may get lucky but thats my experience
Take care

quote:Originally posted by Kris

This is the boat that I am looking at going and getting...Thoughts??

Just copy and paste link...

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatFullDetails.jsp?boat_id=1675224&

 

[Gypseas]

Almost forgot
The walk around cuddies are such a waste of good fishing space. By the time you get a couple of rods, downriggers, takle boxes, scotsman, lifejacket, etc etc say goodbye to any room in there.
cheers

 

[Kris]

Thanks guys,...I am also looking at a 20ft alluminum Harbourcraft. It really looks sharp, and I trust the previous owner. The only reason that I was looking at a cuddy at all was my wife would like a place to put the little ones to get them out of the sun and have a nap...

 

[Kris]

I got an email back from Bill at Hourston boats today,...For what I want I think it might be more than I wanna spend. I only fish on the coast maybe 8-10 days a year, and the rest is done at home here in Alberta...I am leaning more towards the harbourcraft I have been eyeing up...Hey if I come to buy it (It is in Sooke) is there anyone on this site that would take my wife and I out...eithier in our boat, or yours? I don't know the area at all, and probably wouldn't bring all my gear.

 

[Gypseas]

So how come you're buying an aluminum boat instead of another Hourston?
Is your Intruder shown up yet?
cheers

quote:Originally posted by Concerned Angler

Hold on now-- the thread is about Hourstons. My history with Hourston goes back more years than I can remember. The first one was a Sewells rental from Horseshoe Bay. Had to be back in the 70s. Next was a purchase of a 15.5 Hourston with a 50 hp Merc. Man-- that little boat amd I went EVERYWHERE!!!. My fishing buddy was my Duck Toller who curled up on the back seat until I connected with a fish... then he was there to kill it if I needed help!!!

I launched at Rocky Point and ran out through the harbour to Cape Roger Curtis. A good day was a lingcod or two and a couple of coho. Fishing the Wall outside of Horseshoe Bay gave up a few springs too.

Next was a 19ft Hourston that I used to run around in Johnstone Straits between Campbell River and Alert Bay... now that was a special boat..I could overnight on the sleeper seats . The seas that vessel could take was all out of proportion to its size. Finally I had a 17.5 Hourston that I just sold to Kokanee on this board. Great little boat== been everywhere from Renny to the QCI with that boat. Good on gas with 90 HP Merc and easy to trailer. But I had a case of 2 footitis. so I got a 20 ft Alumaweld.

If a Hourston has been properly taken care of-- it will last almost forever. ( But so will a Double Eagle!!!! )

If I could roll back the clock twenty years, I would not hesitate to buy another Hourston-- they may not be fancy-- but they sure are tough!

 

[juandesooka]

I've had a 15.5 Hourston and a 17.5 Double Eagle. I'd call them both very solid, thick hand-laid fibreglass, deep Vs. Down to earth fishing machines, without a lot of fancy finishing or frills.

From my shopping, seemed that all the local manufacturers copied each others molds in the 70s, Hourston, Double Eagle, K&C, Sangster, and a few others. These are a specific design in south-west BC, I don't think you see this boat type elsewhere....so a purpose-built PNW boat! I'd think they are pretty heavy to trailer though, for long distance travellers.

re: walkaround cuddys. I just got one, a Campion 542 rather than the somewhat cheaper Trophy 1802s I'd been looking at. <phew, given Gypseas review...>
I went for the walkaround cuddy design with the goal of having a more family oriented boat...somewhere for the kids to get out of the weather and in calm weather to be able to run up to the bow. Less space for sure, but with the trade-off (hopefully) of more time on the water....