My 1st boat...Hurricane Fundeck 172 O/i or Glastron Max 175 I/O

[Moulin6801]

Hey guys, I never owned a boat before and I want to get one now. I can only fit a 17 ft boat in my garage.
Figure I want a I/O since I leave outside Nashville... no winter-prep.
I took a ride on an used Hurricane and we had a blast. It was a 90HP 2 strokes, I think it was a little underpowered and it was noise. I hope a 4 stroke 115 HP will do the trick. What do yout think?
Now the thing is we love the deck style boat, but I am wondering if I should get the Glastron because it has the windshield.
Do you guys think that the Windshield is a big factor?? Has anyone have gone for a ride on a deck than on bowrider and felt a big difference??
In fact, what would be the biggest difference between this 2 boats in your opinion??
What would be the better boat for the money??
PS: It would be for me,wife and 3 boys.
Thanks in advance for you help!!
David

 

[CATransplant]

Re: My 1st boat...Hurricane Fundeck 172 O/i or Glastron Max 175 I/O

Check that garage again, remembering that your boat will be on a trailer. It's the trailer that has to fit into the garage, not the boat. I have a one-car garage, and I can't even put my little 12' boat in it on the trailer.

 

[ziggy]

Re: My 1st boat...Hurricane Fundeck 172 O/i or Glastron Max 175 I/O

the wind in yer hair is great. i love it.......however, on a long ride or a windy day, the wind can get to be a little much for me. wind whipped i call it. then a windshield is real nice to have to hide behind.......it's also easier to talk with people when yer behind a windshield....less wind noise......

 

[KCook]

Re: My 1st boat...Hurricane Fundeck 172 O/i or Glastron Max 175 I/O

Very, very important point made by CATransplant. The garage length needed for a boat is ALWAYS greater than the stated length of the boat. Do your own measurements of both garage and boat on trailer with a tape measure.

I don't care at all for the way the motor hood on the Hurricane I/O intrudes into the cockpit. IMHO the OB version of this boat is a much happier design. The extra room makes this deckboat a nice choice for hanging out in a cove, and for fishing.

The full width windshield is a huge plus in rain and also on cool mornings. How badly you need this depends on how far you expect to stretch the envelope for times you run your boat.

In boats this small I would also consider aluminum runabouts by builders like Crestliner, G3, Lowe, Polar Kraft, Tracker, etc.

Kelly Cook

 

[Moulin6801]

Re: My 1st boat...Hurricane Fundeck 172 O/i or Glastron Max 175 I/O

I did measure and I know I can fit a boat and trailer that is around 18ft, less than 19. The Trailer is not a problem since they make trailers with the folding tongue that it can actually folde right the the tip of the boat.
Than thing is just trying to decide if I would be happier with the windshield or without it!!?
Thanks
David

 

[AguaSki]

Re: My 1st boat...Hurricane Fundeck 172 O/i or Glastron Max 175 I/O

You are correct about the folding tongue trailers. They are nice if you can find one. Don't forget about the extra length added by your drive in the back of the boat. You should plan on at least an extra two feet. Sometimes you can get some space back by putting the drive in the down position. I am partial to Glastron's because I have one.

 

[EricR]

Re: My 1st boat...Hurricane Fundeck 172 O/i or Glastron Max 175 I/O

Don't fell that winterizing is un needed in Nashville! It gets into the twenties and below. Not a thing to take a chance on, even stored in the garage. A guy I know works at a boat dealership in the great lakes and every year they get someone in there with a heated garage, except the heat went out for long enough in a power outage to crack the block. Winterizing isn't expensive and does not take long.