BoatingChris
Recruit
- Joined
- May 9, 2021
- Messages
- 1
Hi all! I am a brand new powerboater and I have some questions that I am having a hard time getting a straight answer to. I have bought a place in the San Juan islands of the Pacific Northwest, and am looking for a boat to go island hopping, crabbing, fishing on occasion, and ideally even traveling between Anacortes and the islands. I have a mooring bouy, so I plan to moor the boat in the saltwater bay for weeks (or even more) at a time.
I have narrowed down the choices to two 150hp boats - a 21’ Raider 218 soft top ($61,450) and a 20’ Thunderjet Luxor softop ($53,450). I’m asking questions here because the various boat sales guys all disagree with each other, and violently!
The price difference is marked. Aside from the one foot in length, the raider has hydraulic steering and electric trim tabs.
How important is hydraulic steering on a boat this size and power? The internet seems to say ‘meh’ but the Raider dealer says it is ‘insanity not to have it.’ (I am learning a lot about boat dealers, who seem a lot like fishermen when it comes to comparisons). Should I try to have the Thunderjet guys install it or just do that later if I need it?
Trim tabs seem like a nice to have that are otherwise unnecessary. Many boats have them - but are they needed?
Thunderjet carpets the inside with marine carpeting, whereas the Raider leaves the aluminum painted. If I have this out on the bouy for weeks at a time, with the canvas up but the fishing deck exposed, will the carpet mildew and rot? Or just fade in the sun? I gather a mooring cover is recommended, but this seems like a PITA to install while on the bouy. Are there any out there that are easier than others for these canvassed soft top boats?
Finally - service. The Thunderjet is a good price from an out of state dealer. How good are boat dealers in handling another store’s boat as a rule? In cars, it’s no big deal. Take your Toyota/Ford/etc to any old dealer anywhere for service. But in boats? I’m getting these kinda sketchy vibes from these dealers overall. If I can’t reliably service the boat up here, I probably can’t save money (and access inventory) going out of state!
Thanks so much in advance for the help and apologies if I committed any faux paus - I’m new to the aluminum boat world and this community! I will do my best to learn.
I have narrowed down the choices to two 150hp boats - a 21’ Raider 218 soft top ($61,450) and a 20’ Thunderjet Luxor softop ($53,450). I’m asking questions here because the various boat sales guys all disagree with each other, and violently!
The price difference is marked. Aside from the one foot in length, the raider has hydraulic steering and electric trim tabs.
How important is hydraulic steering on a boat this size and power? The internet seems to say ‘meh’ but the Raider dealer says it is ‘insanity not to have it.’ (I am learning a lot about boat dealers, who seem a lot like fishermen when it comes to comparisons). Should I try to have the Thunderjet guys install it or just do that later if I need it?
Trim tabs seem like a nice to have that are otherwise unnecessary. Many boats have them - but are they needed?
Thunderjet carpets the inside with marine carpeting, whereas the Raider leaves the aluminum painted. If I have this out on the bouy for weeks at a time, with the canvas up but the fishing deck exposed, will the carpet mildew and rot? Or just fade in the sun? I gather a mooring cover is recommended, but this seems like a PITA to install while on the bouy. Are there any out there that are easier than others for these canvassed soft top boats?
Finally - service. The Thunderjet is a good price from an out of state dealer. How good are boat dealers in handling another store’s boat as a rule? In cars, it’s no big deal. Take your Toyota/Ford/etc to any old dealer anywhere for service. But in boats? I’m getting these kinda sketchy vibes from these dealers overall. If I can’t reliably service the boat up here, I probably can’t save money (and access inventory) going out of state!
Thanks so much in advance for the help and apologies if I committed any faux paus - I’m new to the aluminum boat world and this community! I will do my best to learn.
