Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

[convergent]

I bought my Glasstream Fish and Ski at the beginning of the summer and we've loved it. That said, I'd like to move up to a little bit larger version of the same boat. I found a '95 ProCraft 19.5' Fish and Ski with a 200HP Mercury Black Max that looks to be exactly what I'm looking for. Anyone have comments on ProCrafts of this vintage and what I should be looking for when inspecting the boat. This one has been garage kept so it looks well kept as I went through it at a quick initial look/see, but I'm planning to go back and see it again and go for a ride on the lake. I plan to have a mechanic check out the motor before we finalize the sale.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Mine's not of that Vintage, but figured I'd chime in. We bought a 20.5' Procraft Combo with 200 Optimax this summer. Have been loving it so far. Our last boat was a 17.5' and we constantly remark how much more room there is in this one. Besides the normal (check transom, check floors, check motor) I don't have much else. If it was truely garage kept, it will show. Get a sea trial, and if it seems right, go for it.

The only thing I will say (which you know based on your current boat) is that it isn't a rough water boat. We've been out twice now on water that we shouldn't have been on, and it wasn't fun. The procraft F&S's bow curves down to the water. I love how it looks, but it acts as a scoop, and takes water over the bow pretty easily. Again, I suspect you already know this, and don't mind as I don't. Just mentioning it.

19.5 with the 200 should fly. Our's does 62 on GPS, running a 23" prop. I plan on getting a 19" for skiing as it could use more bite, but it's fun to run wide open when the conditions are right.

Good luck and let us know with pics when you get it!

 

[convergent]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Thanks for the feedback. The design of the boat (hull, instrument cluster, etc.) looks very similar to the current ProCraft models... and a lot different from the ones a few years older. I did notice that the bow kind of slopes down and it does look kind of cool. My current boat will take water over the bow very easily when turning around to pick up a skier if you don't do it right, so I'm kind of used to that. I assume you were talking about that type of thing. We will be staying on the small local lakes so not a lot of big rough water to get into unless there's a storm or something.

I did already look at the boat in the guys garage and it does look garage kept for sure. I know with my boat though, you need to raise the bow to get all the water to drain out of the hull when its setting.... so I was wanting to find out if there were any problem areas to check. He told me that he didn't think there was much wood in the boat and he did mention that he had replaced a reinforcement board under the two pedestal seats. I would think that was just from wear and not from water since its suspended. There are so many nooks and crannies to check look in that it would take a while to get into every one.

He did mention that it will do 65 on the top end... well beyond the speed I really need to go, but I'm hoping I'll get a little more pull on the low end too.

The other nice thing on this one is that the trailer is a dual axle which should distribute the load a little better.

Thanks for the info.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Yup, both of my incidents were when storms kicked up. Both were avoidable, but I went out anyway.

Definitely a ton of nooks and crannies. One nice thing is all the lids for the various compartments are plastic, and the floor is fiberglass - so no rot issues. Not sure about the stringers. Also, all of the compartments have drains to the bilge, so no water should sit in them.

Didn't even dawn on me before. My last boat was a Glasstream too. Too funny. Good luck with it!

 

[convergent]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Thanks for the info. I think I have a buyer for my boat. They are supposed to be back tomorrow with the cash and I am planned to take a test run on the ProCraft tomorrow. I really like the layout of this ProCraft boat. I'll let you know if I end up with it. I know my kids are going to be quite upset with me if I end up boat-less for the holiday weekend!

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

I know of two 1995 procraft bassboats that had serious structural issues.One was my cousins who barely got back in after hitting a wake in a tournament.Another is a pro(flw)who ran procrafts back then and told me he actually sank one in a tournament.Both stringer issues.the pros name is vic(something) sorry mind went blank.but he owns a boat shop near lake erie and my cousin(now ranger z21)takes his boat there.Vic told us both about his incident and others after hearing of my cousins issue w/his in casual conversation.He(vic)stated that they had serious structural issues in that time and thats why he switched.Just want you to be informed and to take for what its worth.Sorry,but dont want to see anyone get hurt.

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Oh,and since im on my phone and cant quickly look back at what i said,i want to say it was all stringer issues.Busted,broke,came loose,whatever.Just split one boat near in half(vics)and put about a 1ftx1ft hole in my cousins,just from taking a hard wake.thats all i can tell you.

 

[convergent]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Thanks for the info... I'll be sure to try and look for any problems as best as I can. The fish and skis are probably different construction so hard to know if that is something that would carry over. As you said, have to take it for what its worth. It sounds like both of those incidents the owners were pushing them pretty hard in tournaments. I don't intend to be out in really rough water... mostly stay in smaller local lakes... and will be taking it easier.

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Thats exactly how I hoped youd feel.Im not saying ALL are that way.Im not saying that the way they were used wasnt a factor(they both were on Lake Erie numerous times).I also have no info on the others Vic mentioned.You may very well never have any issue like that.On the other hand ,you might.I simply cant say.I just saw this post and immediately thought of that beautiful boat of my cousins(really as close to showroom as you could ever be)and it was 11yrs. old when it bit it.I can say other than being run in tournaments,it was almost stupidly babied.It was NEVER outside other than when on the lake(s)and was covered always.Just saying water intrusion(verified)played no factor in its demise.Again,just wanted to inform you of my known issues and best of luck in this or another purchase.

 

[convergent]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Thanks again. I'll admit that I really like this boat and the thought of being boatless tomorrow is hard to take. These larger fish and skis are few and far between in this year/price range. Your info will certainly help slow me down a bit but there is probably no way to see that kind of problem in a boat I would guess. Sounds like there may have been a defect in there but it's also really odd that it was that far along in life when it failed. You'd think that kind of thing would show up earlier.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Okay ......... I am not a fan, Split open a new 94 procraft from stem to stern running a 150 on it. Granted we were in choppy water but the boat split open

It was handling funny like a wet noodle and upon loading it on the trailer it was split down the keel wide enough to put your hand inside.

ProC replaced the boat (after a fight)....... never rigged the replacement ....just traded it towards a Ranger.

Do what you want but I am still leary of them

 

[convergent]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Thanks for all the info... from what I can tell, the combo boats are a completely different hull from their bass boats. It does look like they had some quality problems back then based on the two reports here. I don't really have a lot of options at this point and I like this boat.

The problem I have here is that these 19-20' "fish and ski" boats are few and far between on the used market, unless you want one that is nearly new. My budget doesn't allow that. There are a ton of the 17' "fish and skis" out there, which is what I just got rid of. I need a bigger boat, and I've literally been watching Craigslist for a year and this is the first one that's popped up anywhere near where I live and anywhere near my budget.

I just got a call from my mechanic who said the motor looks good, and for what I'm paying the motor is worth a significant part of the price I'm paying, so I'm going to get it. I guess I've been warned if I find myself floating on pieces of broken fiberglass in the middle of some lake! ;-) I really don't intend to be taking hard water with it though.

Thanks again for all the help... almost back to being a boat owner!

 

[convergent]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

Here's a pic of the boat and my happy daughter I took with my phone last night... big surprise she loves the color. Not the best picture I've taken, but it gets the job done.

 

[TMoNeE]

Re: Looking at a ProCraft Fish and Ski

It looks nice, enjoy it, daughter looks like she loves it too which makes it all the more fun.