Hurricane vs bow rider

[haley]

I am looking at a 2004 Hurricane 170 with a 90hp OB. Recently a 2002 Sea Ray 176 with a 135HP I/O popped up for sale locally. I am only recently bitten by the deck boat bug and wish to share some assumptions so more experienced owners can correct and advise:

1. Both are rated for 7 passengers
2. The deck boat is a less weight for tow vehicle (Sea Ray seems to be about 2600lbs dry)
3. Sea Ray is close to 1000lbs heavier, which may decrease the difference in horsepower somewhat.
4. I sort of think OB's are easier to maintain. I do not know where I get this though. Maybe one unit versus the I/O's two major components.
5. Deck boat layout better for hanging out. Choice of bench seats rather than designated seat.
6. Bow rider's designated seats may make people more comfortable when traveling over 25mph?
7. Mounting a ski pylon for the bow rider takes floor space. I believe the Hurricane's have just the pylon.
8. Bow rider's windshield a plus for keeping the wind / spray off.
9. More storage on deck boat (cooler, under floor locker, under seat storage). Although if you count the under gunnel storage this gets blurry.
10. I/O's integrated swim platform makes a nice place to hang out and dangle ones toes in the water
11. Deck boat's bow platform makes a nice place to hang out and dangle ones toes in the water
12. It's a Mercruiser I/O - most shops can service
13. It's a two stroke OB - most shops can service
14. Sea Ray is lower priced but older - factor in major service within a few years.
15. OB has less than 200 hours on it - low mileage?
16. Bowrider has trailer with folding tongue - can fit in garage. Have to measure the full rig on the Hurricane 170.

 

[ShadowB]

Re: Hurricane vs bow rider

For me it comes down to applications you plan to use/enjoy the boat for, price, and number of hours - service availability would appear to be a wash . Both will pull skiers, tubes etc. and both would make pretty good swim platforms, though I'd give the edge to the Hurricane. As far as type engine OB vs. I/O you'll get every opinion on the planet on this site. I have both and have to say each has an application I prefer. I like an OB on my bass rig and the I/O in my Hurricane for the kids & swimming. If my Hurricane had an OB, I'd still have bought it. I do give the edge to OBs for northern locations because winterizing is easier (in my opinion). Southern locations, like I said you can spend all day on this site reading a bazillion posts on the subject OB vs. I/O. With all this said I'd go back to my first sentence. Bottom-line, I lean toward the Hurricane as a better overall package because of deck boat applications, not to mention I'm probably biased

2008 FDGS 202
4.3L 190HP

 

[haley]

Re: Hurricane vs bow rider

Thanks Shadow. When I saw my post it seemed long winded. I appreciate you taking the time and your experienced input. I am in a northern climate, Rochester NY (single digits today!).

I think the lighter tow weight and newer hull/engine are a big plus as well. The SeaRay has one third more power but almost twice the hull weight.

Bottom-line, I lean toward the Hurricane as a better overall package because of deck boat applications, not to mention I'm probably biased :

 

[ShadowB]

Re: Hurricane vs bow rider

Brrrr--- OB would be nice on those nice days (do you have nice winter days up there? Nice about OBs, pretty easy to re-engine if you want to increase the power some day. I have no complains about owning a deck boat, the family loves it. Certainly nothing wrong with a Sea Ray though, but 200 hrs on a well maintained engine and a 2004 Hurricane, sounds like the better of the two if condition is good. Stay WARM!!!

2008 FDGS 202
4.3L 190 HP

 

[Ernest T]

Re: Hurricane vs bow rider

I think you need to consider where you will use the boat. The SeaRay will give you a better ride in the choppy stuff and at full speed. If you are on a big lake, or one with lots of traffic that may be a factor. The Hurricane hull handles small chop just fine, but tends to a bouncier/wetter ride when things get rough. The down side of the SeaRay will be more bow rise especially when you start off, which can be very annoying if you have much traffic or you are trying to tow a skier, tube or wakeboarder. The Hurricane will have less bow rise making it easier to see where you are going. The Hurricane will be a much better fishing platform if that is any consideration for you, and will be more stable when you are stopped and people are moving around the boat (less rocking).

As far as the engines, the OB will be easier to maintain (I do my own). If you have to winterize, the OB is also much easier.........basically just take it out of the water and your done. The IO definitely harder to maintain (partially just because everything is harder to get to), and it also has to be winterized correctly or you face big problems (2 boats at my marina had cracked blocks last year because they were not winterized correctly..........this year will probably set a new record since it has been so cold). You also have to be much more careful about fueling and starting with the IO, and on board fires are more of a concern.

2 stroke OBs tend to smoke and stink more than 4 strokes...............probably won't notice it unless you are the one being towed behind it. I would also suspect the 2 stroke OB will be louder than the IO.

Finally if you plan to ever use the boat in salt water, definitely consider the OB as the best option.

I HIGHLY recommend you take both boats out for a test drive before you decide. My wife and I tested a bow rider that I had pretty much decided was the boat for us having done all the research. Within a few minutes it was apparent to both of us that it was not the boat for us and I started all over with my boat shopping. It all depends on what you are looking for.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Hurricane vs bow rider

As a former 170 owner, 7 passengers will fit (but snug) The bowrider, and I've not owned but been in one of that size, will be even tighter.

ErnestT and Shadow are bang on. I/O vs OB, depends on application and preference. OBs I find are easier to work on simply because they're outside the boat and depending on the boat, some of the I/O are tight quarters for getting in and around. What I can tell you is if you ever decide to repower the boat, the OB will change out quicker.

You'll obviously find bias to the Hurricanes here because we've all made that decision. However, I can attest that if you're leaning to a bowrider, SeaRay is a great choice if well maintained.

 

[haley]

Re: Hurricane vs bow rider

if you're leaning to a bowrider, SeaRay is a great choice if well maintained.

No, I am leaning towards the Hurricane which is why I am poking around here. The bow rider caught my attention because it is priced lower (asking price on '04 Hurricane 170 is $11k; asking price on '02 Sea Ray 176 is $9500) . It is older and has no canvas so it looks like the dealer wants to move it. But I want to keep the boat around for a while and recognize the difference between purchase price and total cost of ownership. That whole "easier winterization" tip provided on tis thread is exactly the stuff I am looking for.

The Hurricane looks like the more versatile craft - cruising, camping, tubing, fishing, skiing, etc. Some of the limitations (ex: no windshield) are manageable. In other posts I've read comments along the lines of "yes, it is a brisk ride without a windshield. That is why we dress for it."

Hey - we have an indoor (read "warm") boat show this weekend and one of the dealers attending sells Hurricanes. Will have to see what he brings - although I am not in the new boat market.

John

PS Overton catalog arrived yesterday. Guess what was on cover? That's right - a Hurricane.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Hurricane vs bow rider

The Hurricane looks like the more versatile craft

How's this for versatile http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=410772

 

[haley]

Re: Hurricane vs bow rider

How's this for versatile

I did see that. Very impressive. My last boat was a 18' sailboat with a cuddy. Sleeping on board was fun, but we usually used it to get to a place and then camp. I am already thinking of camping places accessible by boat (numerous in NY State). The sailboat would carry less people and needed more water.

With your idea I started thinking of other custom canvas - maybe a dodger if the ride is breezy w/o windshield.