posted 05-12-2006 10:31 AM ET (US)            

My issue with the larger remote steered skiffs is at speed when turning the boat will slide (obviously) but if not handled properly will catch on the outer edge of the boat. It will act like chine or a strake causing the boat to tip and dig severely, and could easily toss someone overboard.

posted 05-12-2006 12:24 PM ET (US)            

I always find him sneaking out my 21 outrage when I am at work. With all those skiffs, I wonder why he has to take my whaler? Go figure.

posted 05-13-2006 08:38 PM ET (US)            

At around [half] the price of a Whaler many boaters can stand a little spray to go along with a "classic" ride.

posted 05-17-2006 04:39 PM ET (US)            

I would say sundance is an unsinkable boat..
http://sundanceboats.com/images/sboatcrew.jpg

There construction is a little differn't then boston whaler but check out the website and look at the boats...
they are really good quality and very resonable priced boats... not a whaler but in the same category in my opinion.

posted 05-21-2006 06:52 PM ET (US)            

Look at the website.. can anyone not read.. it clearly shows pictures and a discription of the manufacturing process. I have a sundance skiff.. I love it.. I don't have any blisters in mine at all it is a 96 model... looks brand new still...

You guys are way over rating boston whaler.. it is a good boat but why the heck do you all act like there is no other real boat. It's like the dang old corvette owners thinking that the corvette is the only car to own...
I understand this is a boston whaler site.. you guys prefer boston whaler but sheesh.. you guys can't honestly tell me there isn't any boat that compare or as nice as them. If a damn boat floats.. fishes well... gets good
gas mileage and service.. what in the world don't you mean they don't compare.

I don't get whaler owners... My dad had a whaler... I admit a nice boat.. I liked it.. I used it every summer...
but honestly how much greater can a boat be that offers must all the same imminities and options... same design style.. the only real diference might be the construction
but if you can get just as much use and life out of a differn't kind of boat.. whats the diff.... The name...
is that it?

posted 05-21-2006 07:12 PM ET (US)            

I'm glad you're enjoying your Sundance Skiff and are happy with the boat's build quality. The boat that makes you happy is the one to own!

However, with your '96 hull, it's a bit premature, perhaps, to say that you'll get "just as much use and life" out of your boat.

My Whalers are model years 1969, 1969 (two of that vintage) and 1985. Let's check in 11 years, or in 27 years, to see whether you've gotten as much use and life from your Sundance.

posted 05-21-2006 08:13 PM ET (US)            

Sundance says: "Our skiffs are designed to be easy going boats and are not intended to be run at top end speeds greater than 40 mph." I've never seen a maximum recommended top speed listed by Whaler. My little 15_Sport pushes 44mph by GPS on flat water.

I see nothing that resembles a reverse chine capable of deflecting any real waves/spray. Maybe you enjoy a little spray in your face while you drive? The saltwater leaves spots on my sunglasses. Even the 17V Sundance does not appear to have any reverse chine to deflect spray away from the hull as it slices waves.

All the photos of the boats on plane on Sundance's website appear as if all boating days are flat calm. If I could get water like that, I could waterski anywhere. Speaking of which, how bad does the back of one of those skiffs get pulled around when you put a slalom skier out behind one? I remember pulling a hydroslide behind a Zodiac and it was quite amusing tugging the rear of the boat around. I can pull a slalom skier off one of the rear towing eyes (no bridle) behind my 15_Sport.

posted 05-21-2006 11:21 PM ET (US)         

If this is the question I will give a comparison of the two boats. 16' Sundance Vs 15' whaler

Floats - Both do a good job at this. However, whaler rates the boats "swamped capacity" and has much more floatation throughout the entire boat (other than seats and console)

fishes well - I would give the nod to Sundance / CS here. The boats are easy to configured to any arrangement. Both companies sell decks / seats & consols at reasonable prices.

Gas mileage - Both did great is area. However, keep in mind that Sundance max HP rating was 30hp remote / 25 tiller (I think this has been since increased to 30 - 40 hp in the new K series) My whaler is rated 70 max remote and I think 40 tiller. My whaler came with a 70 omc and handled it fine. It now has a 50 omc and does good. My Sundance had a 40 hp omc tiller when I bought it. It porposed badly (even with a person in the front). A hydrofoil correted the problem. I eventually put on a 25 hp merc and it performed fine as is.

Service - As mentioned before, mine had some issues. This was the second year for the company so they still may have been working out the bugs. Mine blistered and had surface cracks on the bottom. Also the floatation area would take on a lot of water. There was a pipe threaded plug where this water could be drained out. I think the water was coming in from the interior (cable track option for the center console - mine was tiller with no drill holes in the floor)

posted 05-22-2006 11:10 AM ET (US)            

Well...I think your comparison was fair but I wanted to add a little.

My 16 foot is rated at 70 hp and has a 70 hp on it that performs well. the website says 40 hp recomended and I am not really sure why... the 70 top speed wot is about 52 mph and it handles well.

I have pulled skiers with a deck boat and my old wellcraft deep V and have felt the rear of the boat pull some.. so I don't get what you are trying to say really?

I've been ot the factory in blacksheer and met the owner of the company.. talked some to him met some people hand making the boats and found it to be a small honest family company that would really like nothing best thent o pelase the customer and make a good boat.

The chines on the boat are aligned so the sray goes out instead of up and the sides of the boat are high so I stay pretty dry in mine.

Resale Value ? ? ?.. who can honestly say they purchased their boat for the resale value.
Ofcourse the resale is high becuase the initial cost is about twice as much.

Also the boat picture are taken probly in clam water becuase it is a better looking picture and easier to shoot from on a clam day.. there is not conspiracy there.. lol
that cracks me up.

I'll agree that a mckee craft is a nice boat as well...
I almsot purchased one last summer but just missed it.

posted 05-22-2006 11:39 AM ET (US)            

It is in no way an attempt to copy a Whaler, imo. It's an attempt at a better skiff. The whaler bow does work as we all know. Also, as you can see from the link below, the DLV is not totally flat astern. There probably just isn't a better way to make a bow with those dimensions perform as desired.

http://groups.msn.com/carolinaskiffowners/dlvtransducermount.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1636

posted 05-23-2006 08:00 AM ET (US)            

They aren't totaly alike but like I said alot of things are simular. And I don't know what is up with the utilitarian aspect of all boats non whaler... BW was originaly a utility style boat... sheesh.. and I would challance most whaler owners to have more amentieis then my sundance skiff. I'ts like all of a sudden you guys are anti utility boats and anti small skiffs... HELLO

posted 05-23-2006 10:41 AM ET (US)            

Most of us are here because we find our Whalers to be high-quality, value-retaining, reliable boats. Many people here also own boats of other makes, as well.

posted 05-23-2006 10:44 AM ET (US)            

Carolina Skiff makes good quality utilitarian boats. They are great for running around shallow inshore waters. They are NOT so great in even modestly rough or windy conditions. They will pound you something fierce and soak you with spray over the bow. Fit and finish are good but do not compare to a Whaler.

McKee Craft makes great boats that, generally, offer a much better (smoother and quieter and drier) ride than Carolina Skiff. Fit and finish are a step up from Carolina Skiff but below Boston Whaler.

I don’t know anything about Sundance Skiffs. I’ve a good deal of experience with Carolina Skiff boats (though not with their “semi-v” series) and Whalers. I’ve looked hard at (and test drove) several McKee Crafts.

Every boat is a compromise of sorts. None are perfect nor will please everyone. But I would assert that Boston Whaler and Carolina Skiff boats are crafted and marketed today for fairly dissimilar customers. Of course they both float and move on the water. But they are really not similar in most other ways. McKee Craft is more similar to Boston Whaler in terms of construction, ride, and market niche.

posted 05-28-2006 06:50 PM ET (US)            

I have a 17' CS DLX and wanted to weigh in on this. It's not entirely fair to compare the 2, and they certainly aren't after the same market, but there are some comparisons that can be made. I'd like to dispel a few myths just the same.

"You have to see one of the latest ads. Shows an inverted hull on land with a large dumptruck tire perched on it. A second picture shows a skiff cut in three pieces, each piece with a couple people aboard...all afloat...! Just saw this yesterday in an April or May fishing publication here in the NE.
I smirked.+_+"

The ad may be new, but there were photos of this back in the late 80s, when they were made in Jacksonville, NC. I was looking at one then, but once you got a hull and put on all the stuff to outfit it the way you wanted, you didn't save much money. Now you can buy a pre-rig and that's not a problem.

"My issue with the larger remote steered skiffs is at speed when turning the boat will slide (obviously) but if not handled properly will catch on the outer edge of the boat. It will act like chine or a strake causing the boat to tip and dig severely, and could easily toss someone overboard."

I heard that from owners of the older styled boats. The new boats are different and do not have this issue. At least in the DLX series. The DLV and JV series are new designs. CS also makes affordable V-hull boats under the Sea Chaser name.

"Over the years there have been inumourous attempt to copy Boston Whaler, They`re advertised all the time in the classified ads, the add always starts with Boston Whaler type boat.... I`m sure you`ve seen them"

This may be a naked attempt at a copy, but nobody would confuse a CS with a BW. I think it would be more accurate to say it was a way of capitalizing on BW name recognition. I drive a Suzuki Samurai, and everybody I know calls it a Jeep. I am so tired of correcting them, I don't bother any more.

"A few weeks ago my son did a fishing survey at the ramp and the gentleman asking the questions saw our whaler and said to Matt, "the only folks that owns them boats is the government and rich people". "

Which is why I don't have one.

"I purchased a J-16 for my company (water utility) as a work boat this year. It's very rugged, has a large carrying capacity and great initial stability. It will be used exclusively on small reservoirs. The bottom is completely flat, and even a small chop sends the spray flying and the hull pounding. "

You could have also gotten a 16 DLX, and I've seen bare J16 hulls for $1200, which is less than my 14' jon was. A lot less. Also, I go out 2-3 times a week all year, in all kinds of weather. I seldom get wet unless it's raining, and usually only when it is VERY windy. I've gotten a lot wetter in other boats. The ride can get rough, but there have to be some trade-offs somewhere, and it's not like you can't live through it.

"I could not find the word "unsinkable" in any of the carolina skiff pages."

ask for a brochure. Mine had "virtually unsinkable" but that's lawyerspeak for it won't sink on its own. I'm sure if you try hard enough, you can get one to go down.

"I owned a 160 Sundance Skiff (16') a couple years ago. Now currently own 15' whaler... In short, there is no comparison in the build quality of these two boats."

No comparison in price either. They aren't trying to be a whaler, but an alternative to it that people can afford. It's the whole point.

"I think the Sundance & CS are good utilitarian boats good for work... are basically budget work skiffs."

The only thing I use my boat for is to fish.

"You guys are way over rating boston whaler.. it is a good boat but why the heck do you all act like there is no other real boat. It's like the dang old corvette owners thinking that the corvette is the only car to own... "

There may be something to this, like the guys who get a big watch cause they have a little (you know) but I think it's just a question of getting what they need, want, and can pay for.

"My Whalers are model years 1969, 1969 (two of that vintage) and 1985. Let's check in 11 years, or in 27 years, to see whether you've gotten as much use and life from your Sundance."

CS has been around for close to 30 years, and the company has steadily grown. Doesn't Brunswick own BW? Let's see what a new whaler will look like in 25 years.

"If you look around, I don't think you'll see any other boats from the 50s and 60s still in use like you will a Whaler."

True, BW is an enduring name. But is it because all other boats are lesser craft? And there were nowhere near as many boaters then as there are now. The market is much larger.

I think that anybody who wants a BW and can afford to buy it should go for it. I also think that people who want to get on the water, but are not in a position to buy a BW should compare the boats they CAN afford, and for me, it was easy.

My boat has more room than the 17' Mako center console, is very stable, can easily get to 35 mph with the 60 Yamaha, and went out the door for less than 12 grand brand new. And I fish in the near offshore, the Chesapeake Bay, Lake Gaston, and pretty much anywhere else. And I can run all day on less than 10 gallons of fuel. I don't like the boat because it's a rip-off of the BW, I like it because I can afford it, and it is very capable.

posted 06-03-2006 09:00 PM ET (US)            

Don, if you prefer a Sundance over a Boston Whaler, good for you. That's what you prefer. The reason your getiing reemed by basically the forum is because a majority of the forum prefers their whalers over your Sundance. I myself, I like Boston whalers as number 1, and tied for two are Aquasports and Makos.

If you are hear to preach of the greatness of Sundance skiffs, than go to the Sundance forum and talk to other Sundance there.

posted 06-06-2006 02:37 AM ET (US)            

I've owned 3 boats in my life. My first boat was a 1969 16' Donzi, my second boat was a 1985 18 BW Outrage and my third is a 2000 Albemarle 247 Express. The Whaler came in a very distant third as far as quality and especially the ride.

You see very few Whalers here in North Carolina. Perhaps they just aren't well suited to the area. Seems it's best to have a skinny water boat as well as a deep v. The Carolina Skiff type boat is a skinny water boat and the Whaler, in my opinion, really is not. I don't think it's because we don't know what constitutes a good quality boat. Gradys are built here, Carolina Classic, Albemarle, Regulator and even Hatteras is down the street from me.

posted 06-06-2006 02:22 PM ET (US)            

*my uncle has a nice donzi we take out and grouper fish about 60 miles out it ahs twin 225's man it is tough*

posted 06-07-2006 09:44 AM ET (US)            

You find it arrogant beyond belief that fans of Boston Whaler boats would compare them with a well-made automobile? Interesting. You then assert, apparently based on your singular experience with a 20-year-old 18-foot model, that you will never buy another Whaler in part because:

“The ride SUCKS offshore, bring on some good Outer Banks swell and my Albie will kick a Whaler's ass up, down and sideways, I don't care how big that Whaler is!!!”

Well now, it seems that Boston Whaler fans just might not have a monopoly on the irrational exuberance market.

posted 06-07-2006 12:05 PM ET (US)            

My take on this is simple. I agree that is absolutely apples and oranges. I own a 16 carolina skiff I use for duck hunting and i own a classic montauk. I have to say, that for anything but duck hunting, I despise that carolina. It is the wettest, roughest riding hull I have ever been in in my entire life. constant futile motor adjustment has not been able to alleviate the constant spray over the bow in more than one inch of chop.

Now, the skiff is extremely stable, extremely light and does great in extremely skinny water. I love it for hunting. It hauls a lot, lightweight, shallow draft, very stable.

There is absolutely no reason for anyone on this site to attack anyone elses boat.

I have encounterned a few folks on this site whose boston whaler ownership has made them a little elitist, or thats how it sounds when they say very condescending things to others. This site is a great resource and healthy debate is fun.