KMV528cc v. Wahoo 1850 - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: The Whaler GAM or General Area
  KMV528cc v. Wahoo 1850

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   KMV528cc v. Wahoo 1850

JW_Spencer posted 01-31-2010 01:59 AM ET (US)
First of all, I apologize to the Whaler orthodoxy for the semi Whaler related content, in that these are clearly distant second cousins at best. Unfortunately a BW is not in the budget for this low budget operation. In searching for info on these boats, I ran across some smart folks in this forum.
I am searching for a first family boat (kids are 5&7), 95% of use will be in Quartermaster Harbor in the Puget Sound. It will be boueyed for week(s) at a time in summer. Crabbing, tubing, fishing, waterskiing,...
'85 KMV 528cc w/75hp Johnson for $2,500 880#, 17.5'v. '92 Wahoo 1850 w/150hp Yamaha ~$4,000, 1470# 18.5'
-Which would be better ride in the chop?
-Can the KMV pull a skier?
-KMV has only 6gal portable tank, would I want or need more?
-Wahoo has 61 gal built in tank. Built in tanks scare me - big bill should they go bad. Should I be concerned?
-Does the KMV have more freeboard?
-Is the Wahoo probably more stable?
-How much more efficient would the KMV be?
-Am I going to want more power and boat as the years go by?
-If and when the motors crap out or they ban 2 strokes, won't it be substantially cheaper to repower the KMV?
Any additional comments or experience would be appreciated.
Thank you,
JW

number9 posted 01-31-2010 03:15 AM ET (US)
Have had good experience with a KMV 528 Center Console, is that what you are looking at?
Kingsteven18 posted 01-31-2010 10:22 AM ET (US)
That's a great buy on the Wahoo if the motor is good. I love mine:
http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z84/kingsteven18/18%20Wahoo/
JW_Spencer posted 01-31-2010 10:40 AM ET (US)
Number 9, Indeed it is a 528 Center Console. It is an intriguing hull design. It looks like you could fit it with oar locks row it at 3 knots. It looks to have generous freeboard, purportedly planes easily and has fast dry ride. I have read that it will pound a little in chop. I have also read that it is good in the chop. I have read the both about the Wahoo (BW knockoff). It is an interesting dilemma. The 528cc design represents a clever original thinking, whereas the Wahoo is a well built knock-off of a proven design. jws
JW_Spencer posted 01-31-2010 04:07 PM ET (US)
Kingsteven18, Thanks for the pictures. It sure does seem that these boats are well respected by the boating community and well loved by their owners. It is an interesting dilemma, and it seems that if mechanicals and hulls check out that I can't go wrong. I hope to do some commuting by boat in the summer it will be approx 7 miles and will cross some shipping lanes in the Puget Sound. How does the Wahoo do in choppy confused seas? Do you have a sense of it's fuel efficiency?
jws
number9 posted 02-01-2010 10:29 AM ET (US)
JW,
Thought about oar locks myself for the KMV. Max hp is 85, their specs said a 70 with two aboard would hit 43 mph. My Nissan 70 would easily pull me out on two skis. I has a huge weight capacity of 1720 total and rated for up to 9 people. The narrow hull and rounded chines make it a bit tippy but that's offset somewhat by the deep cockpit. If operating in rough water or kept in the water a decent bilge pump is needed, it's not a self bailing design but is a dry boat. My opinion is it's a better rough water boat than the Wahoo with added character but has less interior space.
If you do take a look, check out the deck well for delamination of the treated plywood used between the hull and liner. Don't think it's a big problem area but one you should look at.
Bill

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: KMV528cc v. Wahoo 1850
JW_Spencer	posted 01-31-2010 01:59 AM ET (US) First of all, I apologize to the Whaler orthodoxy for the semi Whaler related content, in that these are clearly distant second cousins at best. Unfortunately a BW is not in the budget for this low budget operation. In searching for info on these boats, I ran across some smart folks in this forum. I am searching for a first family boat (kids are 5&7), 95% of use will be in Quartermaster Harbor in the Puget Sound. It will be boueyed for week(s) at a time in summer. Crabbing, tubing, fishing, waterskiing,... '85 KMV 528cc w/75hp Johnson for $2,500 880#, 17.5'v. '92 Wahoo 1850 w/150hp Yamaha ~$4,000, 1470# 18.5' -Which would be better ride in the chop? -Can the KMV pull a skier? -KMV has only 6gal portable tank, would I want or need more? -Wahoo has 61 gal built in tank. Built in tanks scare me - big bill should they go bad. Should I be concerned? -Does the KMV have more freeboard? -Is the Wahoo probably more stable? -How much more efficient would the KMV be? -Am I going to want more power and boat as the years go by? -If and when the motors crap out or they ban 2 strokes, won't it be substantially cheaper to repower the KMV? Any additional comments or experience would be appreciated. Thank you, JW
number9	posted 01-31-2010 03:15 AM ET (US) Have had good experience with a KMV 528 Center Console, is that what you are looking at?
Kingsteven18	posted 01-31-2010 10:22 AM ET (US) That's a great buy on the Wahoo if the motor is good. I love mine: http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z84/kingsteven18/18%20Wahoo/
JW_Spencer	posted 01-31-2010 10:40 AM ET (US) Number 9, Indeed it is a 528 Center Console. It is an intriguing hull design. It looks like you could fit it with oar locks row it at 3 knots. It looks to have generous freeboard, purportedly planes easily and has fast dry ride. I have read that it will pound a little in chop. I have also read that it is good in the chop. I have read the both about the Wahoo (BW knockoff). It is an interesting dilemma. The 528cc design represents a clever original thinking, whereas the Wahoo is a well built knock-off of a proven design. jws
JW_Spencer	posted 01-31-2010 04:07 PM ET (US) Kingsteven18, Thanks for the pictures. It sure does seem that these boats are well respected by the boating community and well loved by their owners. It is an interesting dilemma, and it seems that if mechanicals and hulls check out that I can't go wrong. I hope to do some commuting by boat in the summer it will be approx 7 miles and will cross some shipping lanes in the Puget Sound. How does the Wahoo do in choppy confused seas? Do you have a sense of it's fuel efficiency? jws
number9	posted 02-01-2010 10:29 AM ET (US) JW, Thought about oar locks myself for the KMV. Max hp is 85, their specs said a 70 with two aboard would hit 43 mph. My Nissan 70 would easily pull me out on two skis. I has a huge weight capacity of 1720 total and rated for up to 9 people. The narrow hull and rounded chines make it a bit tippy but that's offset somewhat by the deep cockpit. If operating in rough water or kept in the water a decent bilge pump is needed, it's not a self bailing design but is a dry boat. My opinion is it's a better rough water boat than the Wahoo with added character but has less interior space. If you do take a look, check out the deck well for delamination of the treated plywood used between the hull and liner. Don't think it's a big problem area but one you should look at. Bill