Grady Sportman 180?

[mfreliech]

Anyone have experience/opinions on this boat? I've been looking at used boats now for a couple of years and now my name has come up on the mooring waitlist. The time has come to get serious. In my search I keep coming back to the baby Grady. Looking for a good fishing/family friendly boat that can handle Pleasant Bay and outside. I've seen it powered from 115 to 150HP. Is the larger engine mandatory for the best ride? I'd love to hear some feedback on this boat.

MikeF

[Joe R]

Head over to www.thehulltruth.com and search the site for this boat; I'd be surprised if you didn't find some good information.

I priced a new one at the Boston Boat Show. 30K for one with a 115 4S Yamaha and no trailer. A tad overpriced I would say. Most Grady owners love the boat and will tell you they are the best for whatever kind of fishing you do. I say the variable deadrise hull (they call it a SeaV2) is nice in concept, but in reality it makes for a wet ride. It is one of the few 18's that is rated for a 150 HP motor, and I know one owner that has it rigged with a 150 and trim tabs -- he and his wife love it. Fit and finish are excellent and they hold their resale value very well. Definitely a beefy 18 with a good stringer system and foam between the stringers, + a 60 gal tank. B-T-W, unless I’m mistaken, GW is one of the manufacturers that still uses marine-grade plywood as a base material in the hull. Older Grady’s transoms need to be checked thoroughly for wood rot. This is not an issue if you buy new. Don't know why they won't rig the 18 with pedestal seats -- I hate that cooler seat set-up.

Good luck.

[gf2020]

More boat, less money...

http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54560

--127-3-

[mfreliech]

gf,
Sweet boat. The McKee Craft would be great if the boat were just for fishing. I'll be using it at least half the time bringing out the kids, nephews and nieces so I think I need a little more seating, bimini and for added safety, higher bowrails. I could be wrong about these assumptions. Just basing them on your pics.

JoeR,
Thanks for the feedback. Wet ride? I'll have to test one. Didn't know about the plywood either. Good to know. Thx.

MikeF

[gf2020]

I'll be using it at least half the time bringing out the kids, nephews and nieces so I think I need a little more seating, bimini and for added safety, higher bowrails. I could be wrong about these assumptions.


Seems to work OK for my family and friends!


http://home.comcast.net/~gforrest1/000_0883.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~gforrest1/000_2072.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~gforrest1/000_2140.JPG


Seriously, contact me if you would like more information about the 196.

[mfreliech]

gf,

You're some saleman! Good looking family too. I do like your boat but I'm looking to pay mid-teens for a 5-7 year-old boat.

mf

[Joe R]

check out yachtworld.com search under 18 gradywhite. There is nice one in freeport Maine. 20K for a 9-year-old boat with a 2 stroker and an old trailer that needs replacing-- that's just nuts.

[fmw]

I've had a '99 20 ft. Grady since '03 and if you are looking for a combo family/fishing boat, its probably perfect for you. You probably don't need 150 hp. I have 200 on mine, but see many 20's with the 150, so I can't imagine the 18 needs that much.

If you are looking for an ultimate fly fishing boat, Gradys really just have too many snags and other things that get in the way. For god sakes, they really need to overhaul their small cc's and bring them up to date with the times . . . maybe one without the v-seats in front, or how about pull up cleats?

But when I bought my boat, I didn't want to buy a Parker 21 since my elderly dad fished with me sometimes and I was afraid he would fall overboard at Montauk given the Parker's low freeboard and I also didn't want to spend the money on a Regulator or Contender. In the end, I got the used in great condition at an excellent price. Except for the occassional fly fishing related annoyances, the boat's been great.