Boat Upgrade

[congerking160]

HI ALL
Has anyone had any experience with a raider 18?im looking to upgrade to one as my predator 160 is a bit small!

[Lookfar]

I have a mate in Scotland with one who is entirely happy with his. By his reckoning, it runs smoother over a chop than my Warrior and there's been no issues about build quality after five long, hard years on an East Coast mooring. Loads of headroom with the high cab but no major troubles with drifting, which is his main method. Having said that, he uses a drogue a lot of the time. Deck space is huge, simply enormous, freeboard is good. You want more details, PM me an e-mail address and I'll put you in touch with him.
Only downside that I can see is that the layout forces you to drive looking through the screen, which would be difficult in bad weather or poor light. The cuddy version gets round those issues but then you are talking of the newer, Polish-built boats. Only time will tell whether they've been built to the same standards.

Steve

[congerking160]

thanks for that,i was looking at buying a new package,but didnt know they where built in poland!!!ill have a good look at them at the go fishing show next week!!or might get a warrior 175??

[Lookfar]

Warrior 175 is something else again. I looked at them when we bought the Pro Angler, and again when I went back to the 165. The ride is superb, they'll do 25 knots in comfort over a chop that'd have a 165 chucking the gear all over the deck at the same speed. Loads of space, brilliant build quality but they are HUGE. I'd have had to widen my gateposts and change the car, they are a full 200kg heavier than the 165. Also getting up towards £20K new with adequate horsepower, more if you want all the toys fitted. That starts to go head to head with some very capable pilothouse style boats.

Steve

[congerking160]

The reason why im upgrading is i pay nearly £1000 a year storage for my boat,there is ample room for 2 people but there is always a 3rd or 4th person that wants to come,with a larger boat i can ofset the mooring and fuel costs with more people coming out!!is the deck space on the warrior 175 as large as the raiders???

[Lookfar]

Just as much USEABLE deck space on the 175 as the Raider but I suspect it'll be 3-4K more expensive. Compared with a Predator, any 18 footer will need more horsepower (and therefore more fuel) to get about and Sod's Law says as soon as you upgrade, those extra bods will evaporate and your bills will have gone up, not down. The finances don't really stack up but bigger boats ARE quicker, more comfortable and just plain more desirable etc etc so go for it anyway!

FWIW, I got caught out the other way. Moved from a 165 to a Pro Angler as I almost never seemed to have a third crewman any more. Soon as I did that, I ended up with three crammed aboard and no room to swing a dogfish almost every trip

Gone back to a 165 now, so no doubt I'll be back to just two of us. Yer can't win

Steve

[congerking160]

seen a few for sale on boats and outboards,there is a 2001 model with a 90hp honda on trailer for £14000 not far from me so might go for a look on friday,then be out fishing in it saterday!with a spare predator 160 to rent to my mates!!LOL the bass have started to show at portland already !

[congerking160]

If you go on youtube and put in predator 160 you can see my dad driving my boat with his roy croper coat on!!

[Codfather]

If you want to checkout what people say about their boats, I run a web site called Fishing Boats & Equipment.

I have a Radier 18 and 175 report on the site, see my sig for the link.

Regards

Coddy

[monkey nuts]

Originally Posted by Codfather

If you want to checkout what people say about their boats, I run a web site called Fishing Boats & Equipment.

I have a Radier 18 and 175 report on the site, see my sig for the link.

Regards

Coddy

its a good little site, i found it last year when doing some resurch in to what engine to up grad to for my shetland 535,