As with my last experience checking out boats at a boat show late winter, I was suprised about the quality of the boat. I wasn't able to inspect a Hurricane at the boat show, but I was a little suprised how low quality things now appear to be. My 2000 Maxum Cuddy seems to be built with much sturdier componets than some new boats.
I looked at the Hurricane 187 SunDeck boat w/ a 4.3L carb.
Likes:
1) Great Layout
2) Extended swim platform
3) Lots of room for the size
4) Higher capacity plate 10 people/ ~1430lbs (compared to my 8 people/ 1200lbs for people+ gear 19ft Maxum)
5) Nice large ski locker
6) Large storage compartments under both consoles that includes a cooler for storage
Dislikes:
1) No sunbrella covers/bimini, only cheap material
2) Windsheild seemed flimbsy w/ a stamped hindge, never seen a hindge like this before
3) Very thin cleats
4) Cheap latches, every storage compartment seemed to use an exteremly cheap plastic latch that I couldn't see lasting more than a year or two w/ normal use.
5) Storage shelf under helm appeared to be made out of cheap disposable plastic cups that were recycled from your favorite drive through burger joint. (It was very flimsy)
6) While there were lots of storage areas under seats, there was very little to no area to store something w/o having to ask someone to move. I like to have some things easily accessible, i.e. dock lines, grapple/oar.
7) Not enough cupholders, I think I only saw two in the cockpit
8) Cushions seemed very hard, though they might soften up in heat and w/ use.
9) Not enough usable storage near/around helm. I don't recall seeing a cup holder near the helm either.
Even with all my complaints, most of them could be solved by not much money replacing the latches, adding cup holders, and replacing covers and bimin when needed w/ sunbrella. With that in mind my biggest concern would be cheap plastic shelf under the helm. According to the dealer the stringer are wood core, wrapped in fiberglass w/ holes drilled and PVC pipe placed through them and the pvc was also protected by fiberglass. They also say they get very few Hurrcianes back for used resell. In addition to that I seen no used Hurricanes on the market in my area. I am going to stick w/ my boat for now, though I might keep an eye out for one of these to see how they hold up in a few years, when I need the extra room.
-Hostage
I looked at the Hurricane 187 SunDeck boat w/ a 4.3L carb.
Likes:
1) Great Layout
2) Extended swim platform
3) Lots of room for the size
4) Higher capacity plate 10 people/ ~1430lbs (compared to my 8 people/ 1200lbs for people+ gear 19ft Maxum)
5) Nice large ski locker
6) Large storage compartments under both consoles that includes a cooler for storage
Dislikes:
1) No sunbrella covers/bimini, only cheap material
2) Windsheild seemed flimbsy w/ a stamped hindge, never seen a hindge like this before
3) Very thin cleats
4) Cheap latches, every storage compartment seemed to use an exteremly cheap plastic latch that I couldn't see lasting more than a year or two w/ normal use.
5) Storage shelf under helm appeared to be made out of cheap disposable plastic cups that were recycled from your favorite drive through burger joint. (It was very flimsy)
6) While there were lots of storage areas under seats, there was very little to no area to store something w/o having to ask someone to move. I like to have some things easily accessible, i.e. dock lines, grapple/oar.
7) Not enough cupholders, I think I only saw two in the cockpit
8) Cushions seemed very hard, though they might soften up in heat and w/ use.
9) Not enough usable storage near/around helm. I don't recall seeing a cup holder near the helm either.
Even with all my complaints, most of them could be solved by not much money replacing the latches, adding cup holders, and replacing covers and bimin when needed w/ sunbrella. With that in mind my biggest concern would be cheap plastic shelf under the helm. According to the dealer the stringer are wood core, wrapped in fiberglass w/ holes drilled and PVC pipe placed through them and the pvc was also protected by fiberglass. They also say they get very few Hurrcianes back for used resell. In addition to that I seen no used Hurricanes on the market in my area. I am going to stick w/ my boat for now, though I might keep an eye out for one of these to see how they hold up in a few years, when I need the extra room.
-Hostage
