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Posts: 1
| I've browsed forums for an excessively long time while researching questions about my new-ish boat. I figured I would add to the historical record with my own observations.
This spring I bought a gently used 2024 Recon 985, with only 12 hours on the 200hp ProXS. I was looking for the best 19ft glass pure fishing boat for my money, and I thought this would be the ticket. I was told the boat was being sold due to the original owner's unfortunate financial circumstances, not due to any boat deficiencies.
It came rigged with a 12ft Talon, 9.9hp kicker and an Atlas hydraulic jack plate.
The boat was super clean when I got it. Fit and finish were generally quite good. The boat is definitely billed as a musky first boat, but it is also marketed as a capable multi-species rig which is what I wanted it for.
The first ride with my wife and no gear was awesome. We hit 55.5mph at 6100rpm running a Tempest 19p prop. It handled great with a good hole shot, but maybe a little breezy for her since it's only a single bubble.
After I loaded my gear and had a couple of buddies jump in is where the problem started. From plane to around 40mph the boat porpoises like crazy. I can accelerate through it, but I can't trim in/down enough to beat it. It's not a mild hop, but a brutal bounce if I'm not accelerating. On further testing, the boat still bounces when it's just me and the large rear livewell is full.
I moved weight forward and played with every level of jack plate elevation - no luck.
The problem is all the stuff hanging from the transom and the 4 inch setback from the jack plate. But I specifically bought this boat for how it was rigged. I was told it was ready to fish, nothing else was needed.
With three guys in the boat, if one guy sits on the center rod locker the porpoising almost completely stops. On the bow seat, it's totally gone.
So I started the prop game.
The tempest is a bow lifting prop so I looked into stern lifting props. Precision Propeller in Brainerd (BIG shout out to Mike) let me trial a couple of props they had in stock: the Rev4 in 17p and a Powertech Bro4 in 20p (basically their Bravo 1 FS).
The Bro4 bounced almost as badly as the tempest but had respectable top end. The Rev4 let me use the 30-40mph range without porpoising, but I was still bouncing a good bit from plane to 30ish. Top end was 51mph at 5800 rpm. Both props ran a few ticks higher on the jack plate.
I debated between going with the Rev4 versus trying out a Bravo 1 LT, which would obviously cost me a pretty penny. I decided to have Mike order me the LT, figuring I could sell it and only be out a couple hundred bucks if it didn't work.
The LT in 20p was the ticket. That prop really pins the nose down. There is the mildest of bounce from plane to 25mph, but nothing obscene. From 25mph on its flat. Top end is 55mph spinning around 5900rpm. Hole shot was dang near instant. It's a good feeling to have a useable boat!
So halfway through my first season, here's what I like and don't like:
Pro's:
Fishability: A wide-open boat that fishes great.
Build quality: I can't find any imperfections in the fiberglass, it's very well made. I did not find any rocker in the hull that might cause the porpoising.
Motor: The Mercury does everything I want. Sounds, looks, and performs great.
Handling: Coming from a 14ft tin boat, this thing is a dream. Dry and stable.
Cons:
Fit and finish: Peeling grip tape on gunnel (very small spot).
The small gunnel storage compartments don't like to stay shut. I tried adjusting the lock but no luck.
Talon too low: I fixed it, but on my first run the talon (fully retracted!) was dragging so much water that it self-released to horizontal. I fixed that quickly.
Instrument panel: The very generic switches and rockers do not give it a high-end feel.
Kicker mount: The tie bar connecting the kicker to the main was mounted so low that it ground down some of the mount on the kicker...at least a quarter inch of metal gone. I bought a new one and bent it so it cleared better.
Front livewell: Since the rear livewell adds even more weight to the stern, I started using the front one. Unfortunately, in rough water it leaks around the lid which soaks the cockpit.
What I'm going to change:
Double bubble: I will probably add a passenger console. My wife doesn't like the wind.
Trim tabs: This is a high priority. I think it will help the boat overall, and especially the propoising (a band-aid, I know). I'd like zipwakes, but holy cow $$$.
Lithium batteries: I'd like to use lithium for the trolling motor, but I'm worried about making the front half of the boat even lighter. I'd like to replace the house battery with lithium, but I'm pretty sure it's tied in with the starting battery on the onboard charger. Not so sure about having a lithium starting battery.
I don't know who rigged this boat when it was new. The builder himself said it was too stern heavy and that I should take off the jack plate, but I bought this boat on consignment from the dealer who sold it to the first and only previous owner. So it either came from the factory this way or the dealer (maybe the biggest Recon dealer?) set it up poorly. The talon and kicker mounts make me question their knowledge in setting up boats.
Suffice it to say, a Recon 985 is a quality-built boat that probably shouldn't be loaded down like other 19-foot deep-V walleye boats. If you need the extra gear on the transom, you maybe should look at another make.
I hope this helps the tens of people who are looking at a Recon 
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Recon 985 - The good and the bad