Posted: 10/13/2025 10:44:07 AM EDT
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I am currently in the market for a bay boat. I started my journey looking at fiberglass boats and then went to aluminum. The 2 biggest things I am paying attention to now are engine hours and electrical wiring. I have had several friends purchase boats in the last few years and all have electrical trouble. When you pop open consoles, they are rats nests. Other than that I am seeing a lot of negative reviews on Evinrude Etechs. After looking around, I really love the War Eagle Blackhawk series boats. Can't find many used. They are very utilitarian and not much usable storage but built like a tank. I have looked at a lot of fiberglass boats. Unless they are decked out with TM & power poles, the juice usually isn't worth the squeeze. I am shocked with how many engines have so few hours in this category. Low engine hour engines scare me more than high hour engines. Any boats and models you guys highly recommend or suggest I stay away from? Why? Thanks! |
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Everglades 243.... going to be PRICEY, but built like a tank, and hold their value. (I looked at one, but decided on a dual console Everglades instead). |
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand, Paul Bhranfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933, Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics...
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I played around Florida for a while. 19’ bay boat, Suzuki 100. Bought used, decent shape. The salt takes a toll. Wiring was always a challenge. You will be working on it yourself so don’t cheap out on wire. The marine grade tinned stuff and heat shrink crimp connectors. I ended up gutting some wires the previous owner did with THHN. Poor connections and the copper was black about 2”, under the insulation. If I did it again, my boat would have a flip up console for access, or a BIG door on the front. Both would be better. Working on my back thru the small door under the wheel was the definition of suck. Still, it was fun. Except that one time I blew my motor under the skyway bridge in my first boat, Carolina skiff. That boat sucked anyway. Attached File Yamaha outboards have a great rep. My Suzuki was trouble free. My Tohatsu 90 blew on me, but it had a ton of hours. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Don't even consider anything by Evinrude. I'm quite happy with my Blue Wave and Yamaha. The only drawback is that they are pretty wet boats in rough conditions. I re-did all the electronics in mine from front to back, Not Blue Wave's fault, previous owner was an idiot with a lot of scrap wire laying around and an obsession with wiring nuts. He actually cut the clamps off of a cheap pair of starting cables and ran them the length of the boat from the mounted trolling motor charger to the engine battery. |
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Don't even consider anything by Evinrude. I'm quite happy with my Blue Wave and Yamaha. The only drawback is that they are pretty wet boats in rough conditions. I re-did all the electronics in mine from front to back, Not Blue Wave's fault, previous owner was an idiot with a lot of scrap wire laying around and an obsession with wiring nuts and those Vato Zone inline fuse connectors. He actually cut the clamps off of a cheap pair of starting cables and ran them the length of the boat from the mounted trolling motor charger to the engine battery. |
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Agreed. Stay away from anything Johnson or Evinrude. Mercury, Yamaha and Suzuki in that order for me as I'm a Mercury Tech. Johnson and Evinrude were good motors if they had two cylinders. Any more and they were troublesome lol. Like you mentioned, check the wiring closely especially in a saltwater boat. Most boats are wired like crap and have cheap wire and switches to cut costs. KB. |
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