Is there any downside to this aluminum boat? Seems safe sturdy and light

[canuckjgc]

Like many of you, I'm always looking around for the next boat to buy sometime in future.

I currently have a welded plate 17' side console with a .160 bottom. I trailer over some very rough roads (which eliminates a glass boat for me, as the rock chips are hard to prevent no matter what I'm using to protect the boat). Family of 4 and we boat on bigger lakes, ocean bays and inlets (on good days). We beach a lot for camping and exploring. Being the west coast, the beaches are rocky and full of barnacles for the most part. A safe boat is always the priority given that we boat in the ocean (not offshore though, but inlets can get rough).

I don't see much mention of this boat, but it looks ideal for the following reasons:
Gregor Seahawk

- High bow at 51" with a nice sheer
- Wide beam at 96"
- High transom at 25"
- Max hp of 120 which is relatively economical
- 46" height amidship (this is the highest I've seen in an alum boat by far)
- Priced around $17k without motor which is fine by me - I always purchase lightly used outboards anyway

I see these downsides:

- 0.125 bottom -thinner than my .160 but more than most Lunds and Legends which are .80 to .100 typically
- Open bow, but that can be rectified with a pop-in alum cover for those days out on the ocean
- Deadrise looks shallow so it will pound

Are you seeing anything I'm not? Seems like a versatile boat for my purposes at the right price. Much less than equivalent Hewescrafts and plated boats.

 

[buellwinkle]

Re: Is there any downside to this aluminum boat? Seems safe sturdy and light

There's always the issue of lightning. Also, with boats rivited together, there may be leaks over time.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Is there any downside to this aluminum boat? Seems safe sturdy and light

I've seen some discussion on here about injected foam absorbing water over time. I
don't recall what brand of boat but the foam did form some of the strength of the glass type hull.
Of course the added weight was causing problems.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Is there any downside to this aluminum boat? Seems safe sturdy and light

seems like thewre are doizens of aluminum boat makers out in the pacific northwest.......no reason to settle for a boat not to spec


bob

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Is there any downside to this aluminum boat? Seems safe sturdy and light

A few items..... I would check.

What is the warranty and how does the factory handle cracks? xpress boats were all welded too and on certain lines of their boats they had cracks along the welds.

The alloys used in that boat are good quality and the thickness will be fine.

As far as the foam...... the injected foam will be quieter but I would also ask if there are drains routed through the foam.

Do not worry about the open bow since a simple snap in cover will suffice in rough water ...... no need for aluminum.

Yep, warranty would be my first main question. Nice looking boat.