Hurricane 198 Fundeck Question

[Dirtydawg1]

Hello My wife and I are new to buying a boat and are currently looking at a Hurricane Fun Deck 198 18" boat. It seems like a all around fun boat that we can use for both fishing and recreation. My question is that it only has a very small windshield by the captians chair and nothing else. We primarily fish Mille Lacs lake here in Minnesota,which I believe is the second or third largest lake in Minnesota and it is rarely calm when heading out and fishing. Walleye Chop is usually the way people describe it. I am wondering how wet we are going to get heading out across the lake. I don't want to have to wear rain gear every time I fish to keep from getting soaked. Anyone have any experience with this, your advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ahicks]

I feel safe in sharing the fact most deck boats will never be judged as the best riding boats available (even though I am a big fan). They are generally very wide and stable, making that a difficult task to engineer into the design. With some, the hull design can be a big factor in spray control as well. Not being familiar with "walleye chop" myself, I would suggest if there were any way possible to get a ride on this boat in conditions like that, I'd go for it!

 

[H20Rat]

So I just happen to have a '02 Hurricane 198 Fundeck...


Ride quality isn't bad. I've been in other deck boats that were significantly worse, but it is no where close as a good deep-vee design either. Hurricane's aren't light boats, there is a lot of mass to help absorb some of the waves.

As far as the windshield, I've been out in some really choppy stuff, and spray is minimal. You are fairly high up, you will take a little bit every now on then, but most of it can be mitigated by driving/speed. The windshield itself is almost worthless, I've put mine up maybe twice. (it is easily detachable, and spends most of its life in the port storage compartment.)

As much as I love my hurricane, isn't a great fishing boat. No live well, lots of cushions to catch hooks on. It does have all-fiberglass construction, removable carpet, and a self-bailing sole which is nice!

 

[tacx]

We have a similar boat. A 1996 Harris Kayot super dek. 23 footer. See pic. We use it on an inland upper Michigan lake. We seldom have rough seas. It's a fabulous family boat, but if you are going to be in big water I would pass on an 18 foot deck boat. Also, it is not a good fishing boat unless you don't care about your vinyl cushins.

I think you need to decide what you would be mostly using it for. Family fun, tubing, skiing, etc it would be fine. Your not going to be going out tubing and skiing when the water is rough anyway. If it is a self draining deck then it probably has some weight to it. As is ours. That will help in rough water.
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