On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 15:00:05 GMT, wrote:

I'm looking at my first non-sail boat purchase. What seems to be most
likely is a 16 or 17' Cape Craft with a 50/90 hp Yamaha respectively.
Can anyone possibly offer any insight, feedback on this please?

Thanks in advance. Don

I assume that we're talking about this boat:

http://capecraftfishingboats.com/cc_...cfm?Model=17CC

Ok, here's the skinny. What you are basically buying is a center
console bay boat. It's not described that way, but that is exactly
what it is.

Don't expect this to ride nicely in a light/medium chop and forget
about any waves. The boat won't sink, but you will get bounced around
and very wet. These boats are light with a thin draft to get into the
flats and shallow inlets/rivers and aren't really designed for any
heavy weather conditions. Don't expect to back down on a big fish
either - you will have more water in the boat than out.

These boats can also be difficult to trim to keep the nose high enough
to keep the spray off and/or out. Even trim tabs don't work.

If you are going to do a T-top, get the manufacturer's T-top. On a
boat this small, you really shouldn't, but do youself the favour if
you do.

If you plan to do anything other than fishing, get a different type or
bigger boat. These type of boats are designed for light tackle
fishing which translates into relatively protected bays and
river/inlet systems. This does not mean that you can't use the boat
out in the open on good days, but keep a weather eye out and if the
wind starts to rise, get the hence to the launch ramp.

With respect to fishability, if that's what you are going to do the
most, they are all pretty much the same at this size. This is where
the old adage of center console is a center console is a.....comes in.
They all pretty much fish the same.

I have a lot of experience with these type of boats and every one that
I've ever tested, driven, owned have had all these same problems to
varying degrees.

Including my 20 foot Ranger.

As to the engine, it's a Yamaha - eh. I'm pretty sure it's not direct
injected, so your real decision isn't horsepower, but if you can live
with a carburated engine rather than the more costly, but way more
economical, direct injected engine. The 90 will push this boat around
well enough.

As to Yamaha, I wouldn't own one. It's a good engine, but parts,
around here anyway, are a problem. If you can, try to upgrade the
fuel system on the engine at the very least if you can't switch to
Mercury or Johnson/Evinrude.

Good luck.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717