I've been looking a a few boats in the Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida area....
Seen a couple of center console "Dusky" boats that were reasonably priced........anyone know anything about this brand?
Any info appreciated.
Rick
I know I'm responding to an old post, but when someone heard about how pleased I am with my 2015 25' Dusky they directed me to this website and this is the post that seemed most relevant.
I bought my current Dusky 25' new in 2014, and now with nearly eight-plus years using it (at least a a dozen or more times each month), I've had every opportunity to test it in real world conditions. FYI: I'm based in Southeast Florida where I use it for everything from inshore/river fishing to making the 200-mile round trip to the Northern & Central Bahamas several times each year. Being a serious fisherman (which is an understatement to begin with), I've added a few custom features like a fold-down tuna tower, but mostly just used it as it came - so that's my first compliment: it's a great fishing boat right from the factory.
Otherwise, given the great sales that Suzuki has every couple years, I'm on my third set of motors (200 hp@), which tops-out at 45-50 knots when light, and cruises beautifully in the 25-30 knots range, which is my second major compliment: while still being just a little on the short-side (for regularly running the Gulfstream), this boat handles all seas really, really well (but I still live by the "there's a boat for every sea and a sea for every boat" and never go offshore when it's blowing >15-20 knots). And yes, on days when the wind blows a true 10-15 knots you'll occasionally hit a slammer or get some spray over the rails, but come on, you're talking about only a 25-footer and I always get from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time, so any of this kind of discomfort I'm basically asking-for.
I can't say enough great things about the Dusky 25 CC, because I've fished a LOT on pretty much every other CC in the 20'-30' range and the Dusky 25 gives you everything that all the competition gives you AND you save upwards of $50K! (which goes a long way in going-with truly top-shelf electronics, trolling motor and whatever else you want to add to make the boat "yours").
Aside from the typical issues you have with any boat's electronics, rigging/steering, live well pumps, rubber components, batteries, etc., after 6-8 years of HARD fishing and running (and exposure to the brutal South Florida weather and seas), I've never had even one minor issue with the hull, the Dusky Drive, the layout, fittings/hardware or the overall performance of this boat. I love the Dusky Drive by-the-way - I would never own another boat without this same configuration, as it gives you a (proportionally) very-large cockpit and it makes the boat incredibly sea-worthy (I've never once taken water over the stern, not once, including on days when I've had to crawl through a big following sea).
As I said, I've fished a LOT of center consoles, even tricked-out tournament ones that are pushing $200K-250K new, and even if I DON'T consider that mine cost a full $100K LESS, I honestly wouldn't trade my Dusky 25 for any of them. BTW: I've also fished the Dusky 33' CC and I seem to love it just like I do my smaller one, and the 33 deck-space and free-board feels like I'm on an aircraft carrier.
So if any of you are looking for a (relatively-inexpensive) CC that runs and fishes like a boat much bigger and is durable as hell, you'll love the Dusky 25'!
