Tahoe 204 DB

[jefrow18]

Recently purchased a 2004 Tahoe 204, anyone know any flaws? I haven't been able to find any so far, but haven't towed a tube or anything yet... Couldn't really find any reviews of the boat before I purchased it, so if anyone has any info that would be great.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

My father had the Tahoe 215. His had the 4.3L Mercruiser in it. It was very sluggish, but it drug a tube around OK. He barely got 43mph out of it. The biggest complaint we had was the ride was rough. It did not do well in any kind of rough water at all. We also found the fit and finish to be somewhat poor, but for the price it was a great boat.

I had a 2001 Tahoe Q7 that had a 5.7L Mercruiser in it, and that solved the sluggishness, but the rest still held true. It was horrible on rough water and all my upholstery had to be completely redone. Of course the previous owner did not take care of it.

Overall we loved the boats and they served us well for the years we had them. My father bought a Sea Ray Sundeck to replace his and I bought a Monterey 214FS.

 

[jefrow18]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

I was out in a storm this weekend with it and it held it's own in a down pour with winds, water was really rough (2-3 foot) and was still able to go 20-24.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

Oh, none of my Dad's forward storage areas, under the seats, had drains. If you get into rough water, or a lot of rain, they will fill up and cause all sorts of issues. Namely the front being even lower to the waterline especially with people up there. We nearly swamped his in Tampa Bay. We drilled holes in them that night so they wouldnt do it again.

 

[whmoore18]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

I got caught in 3-4ft ocean well in our 215cc. We were doing 15-20mph it was rough but it kept us dry the nose of that boat is flared due to the deck design so it sheds the water well. It wasn't fun don't get me wrong the report called for 2ft out to 20 miles and 2-4 in the canyons. We were out 14 miles and it took about an hour to get back in....the boat held it's own took no water on, the bilge was dry and more importantly the cooler filled with flounder and black sea bass was still full lol

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

I got caught in 3-4ft ocean well in our 215cc. We were doing 15-20mph it was rough but it kept us dry the nose of that boat is flared due to the deck design so it sheds the water well. It wasn't fun don't get me wrong the report called for 2ft out to 20 miles and 2-4 in the canyons. We were out 14 miles and it took about an hour to get back in....the boat held it's own took no water on, the bilge was dry and more importantly the cooler filled with flounder and black sea bass was still full lol

I am thinking there is a lot less weight in the front of the CC than the regular dual console deck boat. I promise you, your experiance would not have happened in Dad's. I wouldnt have even considered going out that far. Just going out in Tampa Bay got us VERY wet just cruising around in moderately rough water.

 

[whmoore18]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

I all depends I think the weight forward is the same. Hell we were probably more front loaded than most as we use the forward starboard side under the seat insulated drained storage area as our "kill box." We had 2 bags of ice in there with fish as well as the livewell full of ice and fish along with our anchor rope and our second anchor, wreck anchor, dock lines and other goods in the floor locker. Also we store our lifejackets under the foward left under the sea storage along with other stuff. I've never taken water over the nose but I set my engine trim according to sea conditions. If it's rough I ride with the nose a little high and she sheds water like a champ even with the nose at a lower attitude in moderate chop no issues. We just got the boat last year and have ventured as far out at 20 miles and this year we will go 30-40 miles out for tuna and mahi out of OC. It's all about how you drive it I think and I've been as crazy to test it in a nasty 4-5ft just outside the safety of the inlet. Nose up a little and never got the boat wet.

I think the difference is Outboard on the CC and I/O on the dual console. I can control trim a little better. I know most guys are running smart tabs on the tahoe boats where I don't and it only porpoises when I don't have the trim set correctly in 6ft of water when heading for the marina.

20 miles is no joke in the boat 30-40 wont be a cake walk either. That's a long way out and you lose sight of land after about 9-10 on an excellent day. It's fun we catch big fish far out and make the big 30ft and 42ft convertible guys get on the radio "there is a 21ft deck boat out here" I come back saying "we do have full electronics onboard"

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

I all depends I think the weight forward is the same. Hell we were probably more front loaded than most as we use the forward starboard side under the seat insulated drained storage area as our "kill box." We had 2 bags of ice in there with fish as well as the livewell full of ice and fish along with our anchor rope and our second anchor, wreck anchor, dock lines and other goods in the floor locker. Also we store our lifejackets under the foward left under the sea storage along with other stuff. I've never taken water over the nose but I set my engine trim according to sea conditions. If it's rough I ride with the nose a little high and she sheds water like a champ even with the nose at a lower attitude in moderate chop no issues. We just got the boat last year and have ventured as far out at 20 miles and this year we will go 30-40 miles out for tuna and mahi out of OC. It's all about how you drive it I think and I've been as crazy to test it in a nasty 4-5ft just outside the safety of the inlet. Nose up a little and never got the boat wet.

I think the difference is Outboard on the CC and I/O on the dual console. I can control trim a little better. I know most guys are running smart tabs on the tahoe boats where I don't and it only porpoises when I don't have the trim set correctly in 6ft of water when heading for the marina.

20 miles is no joke in the boat 30-40 wont be a cake walk either. That's a long way out and you lose sight of land after about 9-10 on an excellent day. It's fun we catch big fish far out and make the big 30ft and 42ft convertible guys get on the radio "there is a 21ft deck boat out here" I come back saying "we do have full electronics onboard"

LOL, trust me, I know how to trim a boat. I have been doing this for the better part of 25 years and was trained by some pretty great experts on everything from a dingy to a 65ft cruiser. These boats are not made for rough water. They are lake boats. If you are that far out on that boat, you are either brave or have a death wish. The differance with our "swamping" is that it was not rough. It was a pretty calm day. Moderate at the worst. We took that boat out quite a bit on the lakes and on the rivers and intercoastal. Passengers in the front got wet every time it got rough, no matter how it was trimmed. My Q7 never took on any water in any conditions, it was just a terrible ride. Dad now has a Sea Ray 240 Sundeck(which is now the 260), and I have a Monterey 214FS and both are very dry boats, but no matter how dry they are, you are always gonna get some wet in rough water.

 

[whmoore18]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

I pick and choose my days for the long runs offshore. When we got caught in rough water 14 miles out the day was calling for 2ft it started out glass we got out to the grounds in about 35 minutes smooth sailing. Pop up storms turned the seas upside down and it happened so sudden that by time I saw them develop on the Sirius weather antenna the winds had changed already and the water picked up fast. Even while changing positions on the grounds at idle speeds in the rough seas no water over the nose. The ride in the rougher water wasn't fun like I said but it wasn't bringing on panic or any kind of scary listing. Like I said it kept us dry. Even back all the way to the marina the highest the splashed was maybe 2 inches above the "rub rail." I was shocked cause when I say bad I mean it was white capping out there when we were getting back into the inlet.

Not saying it's a perfect boat but it's getting the job done. Next boat will be a 28-30ft Robalo, Boston Whaler, or Yellowfin just because of what we want to do. We were new to owning a boat but I've been around them since I was a kid. Tahoe had a nice deal on it so we got it. We may only have it for 3-4 more years but it's going to have some sushi hit the deck a few times before that happens.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

Oh, dont get me wrong, I loved the Tahoes, especially for the price. I am thinking we have a differant impression of rough water. When I was a kid, we used to go offshore with my Grandfather in NJ all the time in about a 20ft Grady. Never seemed all that bad. This is where I typically boat though, and it is considered one of the most dangerous inlets in the US. This is an old article, but you get the idea. I did a search and came up with a bunch of referances on other boating forums, but didnt want to link them here.

Daytona Beach Morning Journal - Google News Archive Search

After our experiances in Tampa Bay, I would never dream of leaving this inlet in a Tahoe. I might think twice about taking a Boston Whaler or a Grady White of 21ft or so out of that inlet. Just crossing the inlet on the intercoastal can get hairy on a choppy day. Do I think I could navigate it safely, probably, I just dont want to take that chance in a Tahoe.

Of course when I was in my 20s we took a pair of Jetskis out there. What doesnt kill you makes you stronger I suppose.

 

[whmoore18]

Re: Tahoe 204 DB

Our inlet isn't nearly as dangerous as many inlets. It's rough on the outgoing tide due to the rocky bottom creating unpredictable currents but nothing like what I saw in your article. If you from NJ you've probably heard of the Indian River Inlet aka IRI thats more dangerous than our inlet and I wouldn't dare take the Tahoe in or out of that hell hole on the outgoing tide. I think I've just been around that inlet so much as a child on up I'm use to it and know where to be to avoid certain parts that will scare even the commercial captains.

To be honest I hope for slack or the last part of the incoming when heading out as that inlet is as calm as glass during those times. In a calm 2ft with a long swell period the boat will ride right over it no banging set it to 26mph roughly 4.02mpg and cruise. On 2-3ft with a decent swell period it gets a little more noise and occasional thud. When that swell period gets short then it sucks and I turn back. I typically wont head out in anymore than 2-3ft I just have gotten caught in the heavy swell. Anyway we just picked up the outriggers today with their gunnel mounts w/ backing plates (taco metals brand) and should have them mounted by the start of May. Tuna season is usually in June with the bluefins 20-30 fathoms and yellowfins 40-50+ we plan on getting both.