Since I am considering upgrading my small 17' bowrider to a 20'+
deckboat, I was at the NY boat show this past weekend and I was
speaking with a salesman from one of the dealers selling Godfrey
Hurricanes. I was looking at the Fun Deck 201, and was pretty sold on
it, until another couple showed up (with a teenage kid) and began to
talk to me - the wife says she loved the boat, but the husband
absolutely KILLED the Hurricane Fun Deck, saying it had all sorts of
problems (they said they had a 201 fun deck purchased last year).
Specifically, he mentioned shoddy interior construction, quarter size
pitting marks in the hull (or some other imperfections that developed,
can't recall which term he used), no linings in the under seat
storages (stuff got wet, water got too close to boat interior), etc.

Before he said anything, I thought that Godfrey Hurricane was at least
average, and he made it sound like the absolute bottom of the barrel.

Can anyone comment from experience on buying a new godfrey? I do my
boating in salt water, a bay off the NJ shore, close to the Atlantic
but not IN the actual ocean (not deep sea). Despite it only being a
bay, it can still get choppy.

Hi Hap,
I have seen a few Godfrey boats around the ramps here. They make a line
of pontoon boats. The Fun deck I saw was (I think) a 205. The all
fiberglass model without the "playpen" aluminum. It was about 3 years
old. The reason I remember it was that I towed it in due to electrical
failure. I do recall the interior upholstery was showing signs of fading
and the front rope locker hatch was broken. I must admit, they are
pretty things, when new and sitting under the softly glowing showroom
lights.

I have seen Carolina Skiff offering a small deck boat. A bit Spartan,
but reasonably well built and bulletproof.

If you have the budget, I recommend Formula Boats. Not cheap, but you
really get what you pay for. I am on my third Formula. (A 27' PC.) It
has been nothing but great. Built like a battleship and comfortable as a
luxury liner. Sleeps 4 comfortably, galley and a real sit down toilet.

http://www.formulaboats.com/

If she likes the deck boat, she's gonna LOVE the Formula PC
By The way, the PC cruisers qualify as a second or "vacation" home and
is a nice tax deduction. You can finance for 12 years and have payments
about the same as the deckboat. Re-sale value is excellent.

Feel free to visit my personal website. I have a few PIX and extra info
on my Formula PC there. If you have any questions use the mail link on
the website.

Capt. Frank
la Dolce Vita

www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks

Happy Gilmore wrote:

Since I am considering upgrading my small 17' bowrider to a 20'+
deckboat, I was at the NY boat show this past weekend and I was
speaking with a salesman from one of the dealers selling Godfrey
Hurricanes. I was looking at the Fun Deck 201, and was pretty sold on
it, until another couple showed up (with a teenage kid) and began to
talk to me - the wife says she loved the boat, but the husband
absolutely KILLED the Hurricane Fun Deck, saying it had all sorts of
problems (they said they had a 201 fun deck purchased last year).
Specifically, he mentioned shoddy interior construction, quarter size
pitting marks in the hull (or some other imperfections that developed,
can't recall which term he used), no linings in the under seat
storages (stuff got wet, water got too close to boat interior), etc.

Before he said anything, I thought that Godfrey Hurricane was at least
average, and he made it sound like the absolute bottom of the barrel.

Can anyone comment from experience on buying a new godfrey? I do my
boating in salt water, a bay off the NJ shore, close to the Atlantic
but not IN the actual ocean (not deep sea). Despite it only being a
bay, it can still get choppy.