harbercraft kingfisher vs alumacraft trophy?

[blackstonegirl]

Hi all,

I am new to boating ... I have never owned a boat, but I have recently purchased a water access cottage in Georgian Bay Ontario. I am a single woman, and I have a toddler. I'm looking for an aluminum hull boat, that will be OK in waves, be nice and deep and safe for my toddler, will last a really long time, and will also be ok for lugging heavy things to and fro. I need a boat that is going to start every time. I will not be fishing, but I probably will be cruising around, sunning, swimming, and pulling kids on tubes etc. I would prefer to spend about 15 thousand, but I've seen a 2006 alumacraft trophy fish and ski 195 with a yamaha 150 four stroke and a 2003 harbercraft kingfisher 1925 with a four stoke honda 115 hp outboard both for over 20-25 thousand. Any thoughts about these two or other boats? thanks!

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: harbercraft kingfisher vs alumacraft trophy?

Welcome Aboard,

Georgian Bay lover here.

If you are new to the Georgian bay experience please understand that it is a very large and serious body of water.

I would not want to be out in a smaller boat if you are not inside the small craft channels, and even then some of the openings allow large waves to come in.

We have a medium sized bowrider (21'8") that is 4000 pounds and we're still very cautious. Most of the boats you list are substantially smaller than ours and would not have a lot of freeboard (height/depth of the sides of the boat).

Good luck with your hunt and enjoy your new cottage.

 

[Expidia]

Re: harbercraft kingfisher vs alumacraft trophy?

Welcome also . . .

For someone new to boating I think you are trying to move too fast for the amount of money you want to spend. It's a big investment and you are looking at big motors too. And both of those boats are more geared to fishing machines than cruising around.

For that kind of money I'd be looking at something with a closed bow. First they are safer and a lot dryer. You would not want to have your toddler or friends kids fall out over the front while the boats moving.

Second, by closing in the bow you give yourself a much more enjoyable boat for spending time on. For one, you can get one with whats called a cuddy (has sleeping births) which will make it fun to spend some over nights on. You can also keep a porta potty down below which is a necessity for boating.

I would definitely buy used as you will get a lot more boat for your money. Since most people are not happy with their choice of their first boat anyway. Also the best part of used is they sometimes come with a lot of accessories like bimini's, windows, mooring or trailering covers etc, fenders anchors, radios etc.

Go to a few boat shows and check out the various models, then buy a similar one used (they all look a lot bigger on the floor then they do in the water).

Go and rent a few different models, so you will know what each style handles like and you will be in better shape to be ready to jump on a great used one. Many people buy boats and then don't like boating. They used them very little and then sell them only a few years later with everything. The bad economy will make a lot of used rigs available this season too!

Don't be afraid to check back here and float your questions out to the members for their opinions if you find a good used boat. Everyone's happy to help guide you. Better getting hellp here than listening to "anything" that comes out of a dealers or a seller of a used boats mouth.


Take a local boating course, my wife and I both took it. It was only several Saturdays and it was actually fun!
Before you sign for a boat, get a boat inspection done (it's cheap insurance). After you buy the boat get boat insurance too. My boat new was around 13k and I think my insurance is less than $200 a year.

Keep surfing around the old threads here. You will learn a ton about boating and the best models for your needs.

We have nothing to gain by steering you in the right direction other than boaters are just a great group of people.

 

[blackstonegirl]

Re: harbercraft kingfisher vs alumacraft trophy?

hi mike,

thanks! the cottage is not in the open bay, it's in a harbour, so to get to the car and back i will need to cross two smallish bays, which i know can get choppy because i have canoed them. but nothing like the open water of the bay. i'd like the ability to pick days and go out a little farther from home though. even the 19 ft boats look absolutely huge to me at the boat shows. i'm not sure about anything bigger for my first boat. ... although i do like the stanleys!

 

[blackstonegirl]

Re: harbercraft kingfisher vs alumacraft trophy?

hi thanks!

for some reason, i haven't been looking too hard at the cuddy cabins, i think because early on in my search i started focusing on aluminum rather than fiberglass. they seemed lighter, less maintenance, and easier to fix if i hit something (not that i plan on hitting something), Also i wanted something that i could potentially pull up on a beach, but i have since been increasing the size of what i'm looking at to make that option not really viable anyway. i have been doing the boat show rounds. i love the stanleys and customwelds with cabins, (i actually really love the landing crafts!), but they are too expensive for a first boat. anyway, if you have any ideas of aluminum with some type of cabin that won't break the bank, let me know. in the meantime i'll look at the fiberglass cuddys.

thanks

bsg

 

[Expidia]

Re: harbercraft kingfisher vs alumacraft trophy?

I trailer and like aluminum too. I'm in the market for a second boat. I plan to keep the Lund I have now too.

I venture out on big waters from time to time and need a boat that's light weight, seaworthy and I like very high sides to it.

I want one with a cuddy and have decided on picking up a used Starcraft Islander. I want the 22 footer, but they have the exact same boat in a 19 footer too.

In 2006 they started producing models that have whats called a bracket which is where the outboard sits on and it frees up all the deck space. With an inboard/outboard, the motor takes up some of the deck.

I prefer an outboard as I think newer outboards are more reliable and have less maintenance.

Most Starcraft Islanders were sold with a 150 hp Mercury Optimax.

Used this boat is in your range. You may have to drive a bit, but I'm sure a dealer near you will have one that you can look at.

http://starcraftmarine.com/Showroom/Series.aspx?TypeId=15&SeriesId=150&Type=Aluminum&Series=Islander OB

Here is a link where I was discussing this model awhile back:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=230911

 

[blackstonegirl]

Re: harbercraft kingfisher vs alumacraft trophy?

thanks! i started searching for aluminum cuddys before i read your last post and ironically i came to the same boat! i'm going to check them out in person. thanks again. good luck with your hunt.