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Quicksilver Boats


Phil Deller
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Mark B (Loyal Royal) used to have one. He then moved up to a bigger Quick Silver (640?) but had a few problems with it. He's now got a Warrior 165.

 

Nice boats but you need to be a bit careful of manufacturing defects in the hull.

 

I once went to see one and the deck had started to ripple and sag in one area.

 

Otherwise, good boats.

 

BF

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Phill

 

Quality issues aside I feel that pilot house boats of this size are trying to be to clever and dont really achieve any of what they set out to do. They all look pretty and shiny but are to small to be a cruiser with not enough cockpit space to be a respectable fisher. You may be better reviewing what you want a boat for, set your priorities and then make a choice.

 

Martin

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phil,

my advise to you would be to go out on a wide and various range of boats and try them for yourself, its a big purchase and you want to make sure that you can live with what you buy. Things you should consider would be the main role of the boat, do you want it only to fish off etc. The best way is to spend a day with the boat, I for one would welcome you on board my raider 18 to allow you to assess it for yourself, and i'm sure other club members would also extend the same offer.

 

good hunting

 

simon

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I have a Cormoran 610 sports fisher, not a Quicksilver but similar. Can you remind us what do you have in at the moment.

 

I used to have a shetland sheltie, when I decided I wanted a bigger boat for the family, I decided a pilot house would suit me best. I now think I placed too much emphesis on the family matter unsure.gif . Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely boat )otherewise I wouldn't have bought a new Tohatsu TLDi 90 for her last summer), but it's too big for my fishing. If I live closer to the sea, and have a regular crew who helps out with cleaning her afterward then maybe I can live with her, but she's too much for me personally. Especially at the end of a cold/freezing winter evening coming back from the slip and have to hose her down, scrub her down, flush the outboard when at that time the only think you want is a hot steaming cuppa in front of the telly/fire........ sad.gif

 

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thanks for all your help

 

i have a shetland cadet at the moment but i would like a bigger boat,the

shetland is only two years old and in verry good condition so any

suggestions as to the best way to sell it?i would also

if possible like to join other club members on their boats to try them out

please let me know if this would be ok

 

 

thanks

 

phil

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I agree with Martin - the Quicsilver 500 is trying to be something its not.

 

For a 16' boat the wheelhouse puts it out of proportion giving you very little deck room and giving you a very high COG, this makes the boat succeptable to being very unsteady.

 

IMHO - if you want a pilothouse type boat - go for the bigger ones - 18'+ and put up with the extra haste of trailering or put it on a mooring. If you want to stay 16' ish go for one of the numerous fishing cuddies around.

 

Also echo Britboard - You will be welcome to come aboard and try mine (warrior 165) anytime.

 

adam

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Well I waited to see what others would say because I am a bit of a traditionalist and prefere a boat shaped boat rather than a jelly mould. IMO the Quicksilver is a styling attempt to make it appear something it is not. The high pilot house will create enourmous windage which will make the lie of the boat at anchor unpredictable and also greatly increase the drag coefficient when underway. That will mean higher fuel costs.

 

Also I agree with Adam that for fishing a 16 to 18ft cuddy style is far better bet. For the price I have seen the Quicksilvers at you could get a Warrior/Sea Hog Samurai/ Endevour sort of boat.

 

Having said all that the ol' 'You pays your money and takes your choice' still holds true.

 

Mad Mike

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"The high pilot house will create enourmous windage"

 

 

Not sure I agree with what Mike said here. Yes you do get additional windage from a Pilot House, but certainly not "enormous".

The point of the particular pilot house in question is that it is just too top heavy which effects it's stability.

 

I do however agree with Adam and Mike that at 16 feet the tried and tested open cuddy fishers are far more practical and safer sea boats.

 

Everyone has a preferred style and IMHO if i was buying a 16footer I would certainly take Warrior, Orkney & Raider into very serious consideration.

Again and personally IMHO if my budget stretched a tincy bit further I would look at Pilot Houses in the 17 to 20 foot mark which are still easily towed and launched, but provide a lot of additional protection from the weather.

With rarely more than 3 onboard fishing, for me this style is perfect and with stacks of stowage too.

 

Mike was right on the "You pays your money" bit though and you do get what you pay for so look carefully at everything on offer.

 

Tom

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I take your point on...Not sure I agree with what Mike said here. Yes you do get additional windage from a Pilot House, but certainly not "enormous".

 

What I should have said is that a Pilot house that big on a 16ft boat would affect the boat far more than it would on a larger heavier craft which would carry its way to better effect in penetrating a head wind. My main point is that on a 16ft boat a pilot house like it has, is a pretentious style rather than a usefull design feature.

 

 

Mad Mike

 

P. S . However Jeannau are wonderful in all respects and I must say I realy admire them and those associated with their sale and service blink.gif cringegrovellsnivelbackingawaymakingengratiatinghandwashinggesturesandbeing

eversohumble sad.gifweep.gifunsure.gifsad.gifsad.gif

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glad you two ( blink.gif ) have got that sorted then..............

 

I do think that the 500 (size pilot house style boat) has a market but it's mainly for the single hander all weather guy - possibly a bit of potting / trolling etc - who is alone more than in company.

 

The layout starts to make more sense at 6.0m, is good at 7m and is excellent at 8m.

 

Think the comments re launch / recovery need clarifing too - most of the problems are caused by shallow water, shallow gradients at many local venues which favour smaller lighter craft. I never had a problem with my previous 6.6m boat but always launched at good slips (when I did) and kept afloat when actually in use either home or holiday (Kam's point being excellent here)

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The launching / easy of launching and "will the family really appreciate having a larger boat" + is the drive big enough for a larger boat was what persuaded me to stick with the same size boat I currently have ( 17 Ft ) .

 

ie. Do I really need a heavier / bigger / less economical boat just so I can push further offshore on rare occasions.

 

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The launching / easy of launching and "will the family really appreciate having a larger boat" + is the drive big enough for a larger boat was what persuaded me to stick with the same size boat I currently have ( 17 Ft ) .

 

ie. Do I really need a heavier / bigger / less economical boat just so I can push further offshore on rare occasions.

A very good point Paul. Having been through building and owning a mirror dinghy in the 60's/70's from which I fished the length and breadth of Poole harbour, day and night too. My thoughts then were for a bigger 16ft boat with a cabin. This resulted in my buying a bare hull (Island Plastics) and making my own. So some more of the same thing in a bigger boat. BUT I thought something more seaworthy would be better, along came a big 20ft open launch, full bodied, good flare at the bow, tremendous sea keeping but open to the weather. Ah Ah ! a couple of seasons later I justified buying a big Romany Fisherman (a bit like 'Furzey') so I could roam far and wide, take all my mates fishing, or the family and dogs on weekend trips. At the end of three seasons I did the maths and discovered that every revolution of the engine cost 50p in the days that 50p was worth

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LOL Mike, I have just been reading an old sea fishing book with pictures of the boat owners in their trendy shirts with those HUGE collars and loud patterned jumpers and for one awful minute I pictured a younger Mike on his Island Plastics boat dressed likewise biggrin.gifbiggrin.giflaugh.giflaugh.gif

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Guest Steve Ward

I have a Quicksilver 620 and go out of Cobbs Quay usually. The 620 (21ft) has loads of deck for fishing and a wheelhouse for shelter. I have had it for 2 years now and is an excellent fisher but also a great family boat when we want to do a bit of watersports (115hp Mercury Outboard). It feels 100% safer that my old Orkney 16 Strikeliner and the 4 stroke engine starts everytime first time.

 

Regards,

Steve

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Got a 580 and like it - it is a nice boat and goes through the water well. It is hard to launch though and a big boat to trailer (but not impossible) so we leave it on a swinging mooring. Deck space is limited but it accommodates 3 fising no problem. The 'white' can be a bit hard to keep clean! Personally, I would look at a 580 over a 500 as the 500's seem to 'bob' about more. I'm pleased with the boat and would recommend it to anyone as both a good angling boat and a family boat. I am out of the country until end March but would be willing to take you out on it when I get back. In the meantime, you can contact me by email if you want anymore info though. My address is dave.pettis@morrison-southgeorgia.com

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