Silver Streak Challenger or Thunderjet luxor 18.5?
- Thread starter CoolC
- Start date
kaelc
Crew Member
Challenger centre console? No comparison in my opinion. TJ has a bigger beam, longer, cover and seating for 6.
Aluminum floor and more dance floor for the silver streak.
I like people and staying warm and out of the sun so Luxor for me.
Throw their stats into notebook lm and compare?
Aluminum floor and more dance floor for the silver streak.
I like people and staying warm and out of the sun so Luxor for me.
Throw their stats into notebook lm and compare?
Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
I'd go with the Silver Streak - no question. The Challenger is not a center console. It is a heavier, better built boat with thicker sides 3/16" vs. 1.8" It is built all round with 5086 aluminum plate not a mix of grades. Comes standard with a proper full hard top not some weird hybrid thing that will need fabric replacement down the road. It can take up to a 175 hp outboard. It can take 6 people if you need it to, not sure why on that size boat. The side stiffeners are too small on the TJ compared to the SS ones - that are bigger, like commercial boats.
The open bow design has always seemed kinda useless (river boat feature) as I would rather have a bow that makes the boat more seaworthy and doesn't catch water from big waves and more useful covered and lockable dry bow storage. Like mentioned above it has 18 degree deadrise, not 16, so it will pound less in rougher water. A SS has always been a purpose built boat for west coast waters - not a river boat design hybrid. As far as resale value SS hold their value very well, just search online to find out.
Finally why buy a Yank boat?? I say support Canadian business over US ones, especially with Trump screwing Canada on trade and seriously hurting Canadian businesses and families. My 2 bits.
The open bow design has always seemed kinda useless (river boat feature) as I would rather have a bow that makes the boat more seaworthy and doesn't catch water from big waves and more useful covered and lockable dry bow storage. Like mentioned above it has 18 degree deadrise, not 16, so it will pound less in rougher water. A SS has always been a purpose built boat for west coast waters - not a river boat design hybrid. As far as resale value SS hold their value very well, just search online to find out.
Finally why buy a Yank boat?? I say support Canadian business over US ones, especially with Trump screwing Canada on trade and seriously hurting Canadian businesses and families. My 2 bits.
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Pineapple Express
Well-Known Member
I find posts like this so frustrating!!
Please explain where/how one boat is built better than another.
Also, resale value is difficult to assess because we don't know the actual transaction price for most new boats. Anecdotally, it seems that Silver Steak boats have high prices on the used market which kinda goes against your assertion that Thunder Jets have better resale value. I guess if both boats are listed at $80kCAD, and you buy the Silver Steak at $80kCAD and buy the ThunderJet at $65kCAD and then after 3 years the Silver Steak sells for $65kCAD and the ThunderJet sells at $55kCAD it technically has better resale value (SAS81.3% vs TJ84.6%), but also the market says that the TJ is worth less overall. This is hypothetical, but I really want to hear your explanation to understand your post
Brando
Well-Known Member
Don’t listen to him he just stirs the pot and pretty much says the opposite in every post
zurk
Well-Known Member
opposite of what you think, maybe.
doesnt mean what you think is correct.
the silver streak - https://www.silverstreakboats.com/boats/18-6-centre-console-boat-challenger-edition/
it has space for 1-2 people maybe and you will freeze to death. any waves will slosh around you feet until they drain. its a bathtub not a boat.
compare that to the luxor - https://www.thunderjet.com/boats/model/luxor-185.html
enclosed cockpit, front draining and 6 people can fit nicely.
Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
Hmm, didn’t know that the SS was a CC. While I still maintain that the SS is a better overall built boat, I personally do not like CC designs. No protection from any weather hot or cold. Hard comparison as they are two very different styles of boat.
Pineapple Express
Well-Known Member
Silver Streak has both a hard-top Challenger and centre-console Challenger. I would suspect that the OP is comparing the hardtop version to the Luxor so they're similar configuration.
Here's the hard-top Challenger:
kaelc
Crew Member
Andy should really highlight the Aluminum floors more and improve the site navigation. In the mobile site, I couldn't see the Challenger's hard top.
Pineapple Express
Well-Known Member
Yeah, the Silver Streak site makes it harder to find out the details. Like I still can't find info about rated power for the Challenger hard-top.
The welded floor alone makes the Silver Streak superior to the ThunderJet for me. If they're the same price I wouldn't give the TJ any further consideration.
kaelc
Crew Member
Looking deeper into their site, larger boats 21 hard top list aluminum floor as a standard feature. Bigger boats like the 26 have self-bailing as a standard feature. I would guess the challenger does not come standard with Aluminum floors? Access to fuel tank and type of foam/how it drains should always be considered but I'm not sure how many buyers look at that. Many of the major manufacturers only install aluminum floors and self-bailing decks on their "Pro" models, priced at $150,000 and above.
Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
Yes the 18.6 Challenger comes with aluminum floors. I know because I own one. As far as I know SS does not build any boats with wood floors.
Our aluminum boats require very little ongoing maintenance. No carpets to maintain, no wood to replace and clean. High quality electrical connections mean minimal effort to maintain. Outboard motors mean a simple "end of life" switch, and protect your investment.
https://www.silverstreakboats.com/
Why anyone would buy an aluminum boat with a wooden floor is beyond me? A wooden floor will need to be replaced and that won’t be cheap. If TJ’s have wooden floors than IMO the SS is much superior - no contest.
Why Silver Streak Boats?
https://www.silverstreakboats.com/Our aluminum boats require very little ongoing maintenance. No carpets to maintain, no wood to replace and clean. High quality electrical connections mean minimal effort to maintain. Outboard motors mean a simple "end of life" switch, and protect your investment.
https://www.silverstreakboats.com/
Why anyone would buy an aluminum boat with a wooden floor is beyond me? A wooden floor will need to be replaced and that won’t be cheap. If TJ’s have wooden floors than IMO the SS is much superior - no contest.
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RevyG
Crew Member
wait time will be an issue with Silver streak. We have a SS center console landing craft here at work and I own a TJ and I can tell you they both have their pro's and cons. We just got a Kingfisher here at work and I can say it is the least favorite of the three, the fit and finish is not even comparable, and the welds..... wow. the other two have both been great and wouldn't hesitate to run either. for me personally it was the availability of the TJ and a dealer (Jones Boys) close to my home. Can't go wrong with either IMO.
InterMechanico
Well-Known Member
I’ve had a Gambier 18.6 for about six years now. It is the same hull design as the Challenger 18.6, albeit with some differences in the cockpit and cabin design. My wife and I feel safe travelling up the coast in all seasons and the boat hasn’t let us down.
The boat has been fantastic and I will probably keep it for another 20 years.
I’m not sure why some people have a bone to pick with the founder of Silver Streak. Is it differences of opinion or personality, I don’t know? I have never, in all my interactions with personnel at SS had an unfriendly or heated conversation. He and his team build really great boats and stand behind them with a great warranty.
Thunderjet probably makes good boats as well. If the OP is debating between welded aluminum floor (SS) and plywood floor (T-Jet?), I don’t see what the debate is about. I would not bother with a plywood floor because it won’t last, and will probably cause corrosion below deck during its (short) lifetime.
The boat has been fantastic and I will probably keep it for another 20 years.
I’m not sure why some people have a bone to pick with the founder of Silver Streak. Is it differences of opinion or personality, I don’t know? I have never, in all my interactions with personnel at SS had an unfriendly or heated conversation. He and his team build really great boats and stand behind them with a great warranty.
Thunderjet probably makes good boats as well. If the OP is debating between welded aluminum floor (SS) and plywood floor (T-Jet?), I don’t see what the debate is about. I would not bother with a plywood floor because it won’t last, and will probably cause corrosion below deck during its (short) lifetime.
Max123
Well-Known Member
My only experience is seeing Thunderjet boats in the Pitt/Fraser river. The shape of the bow and the way the hull hits the water tends to throw up massive amounts of spray (it has a very distinctive elongated bow). I don't know how they ride or if they pound, but it is definitely a wet ride.
I'd note that the 185 Luxor is listed on the Thunder Jet website as and Inland boat (not exactly sure what that means, but take it at face value), whereas a Silver Streak Challenger will be pretty happy out in the ocean. Not a 50km offshore boat - but definitely at home out in Strait.
I'd note that the 185 Luxor is listed on the Thunder Jet website as and Inland boat (not exactly sure what that means, but take it at face value), whereas a Silver Streak Challenger will be pretty happy out in the ocean. Not a 50km offshore boat - but definitely at home out in Strait.
jackfish
Active Member
I was shopping a couple years back, just a bit longer at 21". Eventually got the Silver Streak because of the build quality and materials, and the fact that it is locally made. Nothing bad to say about TJ though...they were a top contender for me, slightly more affordable. The fully self draining deck on the SS has been a feature that in hindsight, I'd never go without.
jackfish
Active Member
I think Mr Zurk likes taking the ****. His brand of humour is just a bit inaccessible.
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