Tuffy Boats - 10/22/2006 11:07 PM

Moreyes, that's an excellent question. We think they are counting the Warrior 'feather steer' as 'remote' steering, which the USCG has rejected in the case of the Mertens system; it makes no sense that this would be considered superior to the Mertens, which we install on our 2060 T rigged with anything over 140 HP. 'Remote' steering, according to our USCG Compliance specialist, means a wheel. As long as we cannot get that classification on the Mertens, the USCG maximum HP will be determined by the USCG tiller formula.

The build schedule on a Tuffy Esox Deep V is 13 layers of the highest quality hand laid lamninates and resins, and incorporates a kevlar spine in the composite used in the hull. We don't see where there is anything in the competing fiberglass brand's laminate schedule that is 'better' than what we are doing at this point. Keep in mind Tuffy has been building fiberglass Muskie specific designs since the mid 1970's. Many of the features you see today in competing brands Tuffy pioneered over the last 30 years including Muskie sized 60" livewells, removable rear deck modules, and rod lockers that would take a Muskie rod. The Esox and Esox Magnum were designed 'Muskie Only', and still fill a large portion of our production schedule every year.

The front deck on the 2060 EDV and 1890 EDV is designed for 8.5' to 9.5' rods to fit in the center load rod locker, something the Muskie anglers told us they wanted. Also, we understood that all three anglers want to be elevated and fishing from a deck in the front or rear. The front deck of all the DV platforms will fish two easily, and the rod locker will handle 14 rods in a system that keeps them safe and organized. We were told the cockpit needs to hold a Frabill and a couple large tackle boxes plus three anglers, so that's how we came up with the interior. The rear deck module will accept a ton of tackle in gull wing access storage, and the deck is easy to install or remove in a couple minutes with a socket wrench.

Top speed with a 90 HP on the 1890 is mid to upper thirties, and with a 150 on the 2060, low 50's.