johnnyb. Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Hi lads ,Ive got an old bonwitco 15ft with a cuddy and it gets a bit bumpy if we go out too far. Im looking for a new or newish boat .Ive thought about a Warrior they seem to be quite popular.Are there better or more stable boats out there ?.it has to be towable and the buget is 10 to 15 grand .I would love some advice from the more learned of you as its a lot of dough and Idont want to get it wrong.MANY THANKS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Welcome Johnny, Join the club and go out on one as crew! Can't say much more that that! There are loads of reviews and chat about boats and their merits on this forum - use the search facility and saerch all forums from the beginning. Fill ya boots!!! Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassncodformeplease Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Welcome Johnny, you are welcome to come out and try my warrior 165. its not new (1999) but i'm happy with it roller trailer makes easy work of launching. i'll be going out sunday down shambles way, prob alone unless someone fancies a trip. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Firstly a warm welcome to our clubs forum. Sound advice from Rob. Try and get a ride out on several types of boat until you find the one that suits you. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 welcome Johny My best bit of advice would be take up the offer of trials of boats afloat. some designs look great ashore but are not good or impracticle on the water with fishing kit onboard. Others look a bit dated but are in fact very good fishing platforms. If you go all the way and upgrade , then take Robs advice and join the Club, its a certain shortcut in the learning process. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Welcome Johnny. Take Rob's advice. - Accept Mike's offer. - Take your time. With boats there's always a compromise. Do you want speed? Do you want Stability? Do you want economy ? Do you want cooker, toilet etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. Don't rush into a decision. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Hi Johney Welcome to the forum If you want to read what others say about a number of different boats, can I suggest you have a look at my website Fishing Boats As others have said have a look around at various makes and models. Make a list of what you want, then what would be nice and then what would an extra bonus. Decide how many people you expect to have on board regularly to fish. Generaly the bigger the craft the heavier it gets which means if you are towing what are you going to tow it with? I would also suggest keeping at least Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Hi lads ,Ive got an old bonwitco 15ft with a cuddy and it gets a bit bumpy if we go out too far. Im looking for a new or newish boat .Ive thought about a Warrior they seem to be quite popular.Are there better or more stable boats out there ?.it has to be towable and the buget is 10 to 15 grand .I would love some advice from the more learned of you as its a lot of dough and Idont want to get it wrong.MANY THANKS. What's your location. I agree with the others, get trips on as many different boats as possible. If you can't arrange a suitable time to go out with Mike on his Warrior, you're welcome to come out on mine. I'm at Upton and launch at Cobbs Quay. It's a 2009 model with a Suzuki DF70. With the few extras I had fitted the complete package came out at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyb. Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 OMG What a great reponse. A big thanks to you all. It has reassured me that I have joined the right Club and you sound like a great bunch of guys. I am a self employed plumber near Heathrow Airport, so I tow my old boat down the M3 with my Ford Connect Van. I have got a caravan in Highcliffe so I usually stay there the weekend when I go fishing. I would love to go out on a few boats. Is the rule of thumb "bigger is better" apart from the tow and the fuel and the launch and the retrieve? (Yes I think I am getting it now). Thanks again to Rob, Brian, Bassncodformeplease, Great White, Small Fry and Coddy. Johnny B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Bigger isnt always better! Bigger often means more expensive too! The advice the guys have given is spot on. However if you do go for a Warrior 165 you wont be dissapointed! They are superb boat - you dont need a recommendation, just look at how many are out there - people vote with their feet. I had one for about 4 years and was very, very pleased with it. In my opinion they are hard to beat for a 16' boat. My single piece of advise is to be patient and get one with a good engine. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyb. Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Thanks Adam good sound advice.on the engine front which engines are good alrounders for reliability and fuel economy.Any thoughts on this one anybody? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Thanks Adam good sound advice.on the engine front which engines are good alrounders for reliability and fuel economy.Any thoughts on this one anybody? Here we go then ! Ahhhhhh E-Tec ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) To be honest any 4 stroke in the 60-75hp will be good. Mariner, Honda, Suzuki etc - Out of these three the Honda and Suzi will be the smoothest and quitest. I had a 60hp Mariner on mine, and whilst it was fine, the 75hp is the optimum engine size IMO. BUT! My overall choice nowadays would be the 75hp Evinrude Etec - awesome, engines, slightly noiser that the 4 strokes, but lighter, smaller and bags of power. A Warrior 165 with a 75hp Etec on is THE package to get. Edited March 26, 2011 by Adam F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassncodformeplease Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Here we go then ! Ahhhhhh E-Tec ! Jim if i were as rich as you i'd have an e-tec too mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Ahhhhhh E-Tec ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Don't dismiss the Mercury/Mariner Optimax they are also good engines. I had one from new for 7 years and it never missed a beat. To be truthful though most modern engines will give good service. If buying second hand get as new as you can afford and more importantly than that ask to see the service records. Service records are not only useful in helping you decide whether to buy but will also when its time to move on help you sell. Do get a marine engineer or at least someone knowledgeable to look at the engine and test the compression. If new to boating and spending lots of money consider a marine surveyor to look at the boat, he may save you a fortune and in some cases get you money off for faults found As when buying anything its a case of buyer beware cause if you don't it can hurt Oh have fun looking and welcome to the club Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 My own personal thoughts on the engine size with a Warrior is not to go as big as it is rated. I know the power hungry suggest big engines, but the 165 is an excellent small fisher and works perfectly within it's original design parameters with a 60Hp. Go large and you start to get handling issues and some serious porpoising as you ae trying to ring more out of it than it was ever designed to do. With a 60Hp she'll do 26 to 28 knots two up, she won't porpoise and is one of the finest small open cuddy fishing boats. Put a bigger engine on and beyond 23 knots they start to porpoise to the point that the boat has to have smart tabs and an additional wedge to trim the engine in even further... that's quite a major compromise just to squeeze an extra few knots from the hull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyb. Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) Thanks Tom and maverick ,Ive got to the age now when cosmetic goes out the window ,now I just want things to work .Ive got a Mercury on my Botwitco and to be honest its never let me down,starts on the key every time.It gets me on the plane and I never crank it up too far cos it sounds a bit like a biscuit tin full of nuts and bolts.Times change tec improves,Ihad a good chat to the E/tec dealer in Chirstchurch a lovely chap with plenty of time to pass the time of day.He informed me its a great engine 3 years with no service,no need to mix 2 stroke,its got a seperate< tank for the oil>etc-etc-etc.Sounds like a fantastic engine the down side is 60HP brand new is about 7000 smackers.The price of tap washers might just have to go up. Edited March 26, 2011 by johnnyb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike02380 Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 if you are interested in an e tec try powertech on hayling island, they were cheaper when i got a quote late last year, november time he quoted me 6999 inc vat for the 90hp, obviously the vat has since gone up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Johnny, Although I bought mine second hand, I had the engine serviced here: http://www.poolemarine.co.uk/categories.asp?cID=459 They're next door to Sunseeker in Poole Town centre. I was VERY pleased with price and service. Take a look at their prices to supply an engine. - - - - - Mike, It'll be a long time yet before I've paid the loan, but it's worth every penny. To quote Tom Bettle, - - I wish I had " My money " too. Jim PS Now the weather's warming up, we really should be looking at a " Warrior Day " We could get some cracking photos of our boats on the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 To be honest any 4 stroke in the 60-75hp will be good. Mariner, Honda, Suzuki etc - Out of these three the Honda and Suzi will be the smoothest and quitest. I had a 60hp Mariner on mine, and whilst it was fine, the 75hp is the optimum engine size IMO. BUT! My overall choice nowadays would be the 75hp Evinrude Etec - awesome, engines, slightly noiser that the 4 strokes, but lighter, smaller and bags of power. A Warrior 165 with a 75hp Etec on is THE package to get. Indeed - I would agree with that. Enticer had a 90HP did she not and that just flew but possibly a little overpowered. Just taken Neo out with Tommo to see "Just Purfick heading off to Newhaven" having rewired Neo I wanted to make sure all was OK before going further afield. ETec started first time after 3 months layup. Mind you the tachometer appears to have given up the ghost for now I just love the ETec and particularily the fact I can leave it 3 years between major services. Mind you a 60HP E-Tec will be cheaper than the 75HP and lighter, since the 60HP is a twin, whereas the 75HP is 3 cylinder but personally I would rather have the extra power to hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassncodformeplease Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Yes Jim a warrior day like i suggested last year but then we done nowt about it How about a warrior turbot/plaice hunt down the shambles on 9th april if weathers good mike prob not as a few have boat at marina's etc. long way from poole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Busy on 9th & 10th April Mike. Level 2 Power Boat training ( Depending on weather ) Isn't shambles over Portland way ? - - Bit far for Me. I'm a big softy. Also JK was after a boat. There's a Warrior 150 on Boats and Outboards for 3 Grand. And a 165 for 6,500 ish Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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