Conference vicki::boats

    Privateers are bare bones work/diving/fishing boats. I see lots of them
    in use, usually the 24-25 cabin models. An 18 cc is just right for
    stripers.
    
    As long as the boat is in good shape this sounds like the right
    kind of boat for the job.
    
    Bruce

	Hi Bruce,

	Thanks for the information.  The guy is asking $7500.00 for the boat, motor, and trailer. 
	Does that sound like the right ball park for a bare bones hull??

	Just trying to get it right the first time.   Can't wait to go find those stippers


	-Rob

    How many hours on the engine? What condition? The price may be in the
    ball park. Are there any electronics and accessarys (CG package)
    included with the boat? Check the want adds for other 18-20
    foot CC's. Call a privateer dealer and get the ball park for one
    new.
    
    Bruce

I was told that very few Privateers show up on the used market by a guy
at the launch ramp that searched for his for 2 years.  I have to agree 
that 90 HP is more than adequate for an 18 footer. These are great all 
around bass boats.  I've seen very few in the Want Advertiser, especially
in the smaller sizes.  Like Bruce said; it should all come down to the 
condition of the rig.

good luck

	Thanks for all of the input everyone!  I looked at the boat last night and decided 
	it's not for me.....didn't have a deep enough Vee.  I took it out for a ride and
	it just gave that small boat ride.

	-Rob

Gee....  I was sure you would have liked the Privateer given your wish
list in .0.  With the bigger boat, 20 footer, you get more range and
more stability but you now have to consider towing, solo launching...
I get a lot of stripers in a foot and a half of water while I notice
the bigger boats feel compelled to get out of the rivers and estuaries.


That's my excuse for staying in a small boat...

good luck

    Smaller is better for stripers. I consider my 25' Grady too big
    for striper fishing. I want to be in the rocks or very close to
    shore and its too big for that sometimes. To me, a 18 foot tin boat
    would be just right, that way if you did get in water a little to
    skinny the damage would be minimized or it would be light enough
    to push off a sand bar.
    
    Bruce

    	A friend of mine has done quite a bit of fishing for stripers this
    year in his 17' Bass Tracker (TX17). This is a smaller, shallower boat
    but does well for striper fishing in the river. He's gotten 19 keepers 
    so far this year which attests to the fact that the boat is adequate.
    
    	I'd have to agree with Bruce in that the 18'er sounded ideal for
    what you wanted. The small tin boat approach Bruce mentioned is a good
    one. It sounds like you may be looking for mutually exclusive features.
    
    	About the closest thing I could think of that may fit the bill is an 
    18-19' Starcraft or similar tin boat. They seem to ride well in the water, 
    have a decent amount of freeboard in the deep-V versions, and being 
    aluminum, may be a bit more forgiving if you drift into rocks (or should 
    I say, when you drift into rocks ;-). Trailering and launching would 
    probably be a bit easier than an equivilant sized fiberglass boat too, 
    since I'd expect them to be a bit lighter.
    
    	If your primary goal is striper fishing, you really don't need much
    boat for that (in the Merrimack anyway). There is a person I can think of 
    off-hand in the fishing notes file that has been doing the river in a 15' 
    aluminum V. So long as you know your limits, even 15' can be adequate
    and reasonably safe.
    
    	Ray