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Posts: 388
| Happened to click on a link for Crestliner today and was dissapointed that they changed the Fishhawk layout. They eliminated raised portion of the port side storage area adjacent to the console. IMO would have been better to make this a full rod locker instead of eliminating completely. Looks like they are "downgrading" the Fishhawk line to make way for the Raptor and Pro Tiller (which are very nice looking boats I might add). |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | that sux,, i do like the looks of the raptor (paint job) my 98 1850 tournament sc is still rockin and in darn good shape for being 12 years old.. but it can use a paintjob... i was gonna look into getting a new one. may just have to hold off and see what cresty does next year...bill
Edited by archerynut36 11/15/2010 4:13 PM
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Posts: 941
Location: Freedom, WI | The Raptor hull looks like it would take rougher water better but the interiors of their boats with the center rod locker has no storage. The center rod locker only holds rods from 7 to 7 1/2 feet depending on the model, so to me it is wasted space unless you gut the rod locker then you still need to put the rods someplace. To me the Lund Predator series is laid out better, I have a 97 1750 rides rough but laid out better and I think it has more storage than the newer 1850s. |
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Posts: 388
| Agree on the 1750 layout being very good. I like mine a lot but keep drooling over the 1850 Pro Tiller. Probably a good thing that my garage is only 20' deep and I can't fit anything bigger than a 1750 with a swing tongue trailer inside...
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| The 1850 Raptor Casting Edition has an 8 foot center rod locker. The port side rod locker will hold 8' rods as well. With a little work it would hold longer rods. There is a lot of storage up front. More so than the 1850 fish hawk. My next boat will likely be a 620 but I think the raptor is likely one of the best if not the best aluminum boats out there. I have test rode in one. |
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Posts: 941
Location: Freedom, WI | Yes the Raptor can handle 8' but that big of a front deck is to much unless you are putting 2 people up there. Most of my rods are 8 1/2 to 9 and longer rods are more and more the norm. Combine that with a 40" livewell it is not made for muskies in my opinion. Admitted I do not use the 50" in my 1750 but what if, cannot use it if you do not have it. Do not get me wrong I like Crestliner but since they changed the layout I will not buy one. They seem to be geared towards the masses which does cover a lot of sales and yes it would work for muskies but I still feel the Lund Predator fits better even though it is overpriced. |
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Posts: 388
| Agree that the Predator is a sweet boat. Too bad the 2010 won't fit in my garage either... |
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| I looked over the 1850 Raptor and spent some time in one. The center rod locker will hold 8 foot rods. There is a brace at the front of the port side rod locker. I think that could be trimmed out and then the port side rod locker would hold 9 foot and maybe even ten foot rods with a little bend. The rear livewell is actually 46 inches long. I feel it could easily hold a 50 incher given some tail bend. (who actually puts muskies in livewells?) It has more cubic inches of storage space over an 1850 fishhawk as the front and rear decks are about 3 inches higher than the fishhawks.
The cons to the raptor I feel is that it is still an aluminum boat and as such doesn't have the ride of a fiberglass boat. Crestliners tend to be a little wetter boat than other aluminums. On the plus side it does have a 17 degree dead rise to help with rough water.
Not trying to sell the raptor just wanted to point out that it is a pretty nice musky boat if a person wants an aluminum boat. So is the lund predator. |
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Posts: 941
Location: Freedom, WI | Good points, the only usable center rod locker I have seen is in the 1890 Tuffy. So for me I would rather see it as storage with a side locker. The bigger Predator still has a short center rod locker. As for higher decks all the in deck tackle storage is fine if you fish from only your boat, give me lower decks so I can put a cover on the boat and nobody can see the boxes (out of sight out of mind helps). You are right on the use of the livewell but the question is "what if", I have used mine only once in 14 years ( plugged it at the intake to keep water out of line because of invasive species ). Ride should be better on the Raptor and agree on the wet ride on Crestliners, I like aluminum, glass would get beat up where I go.
As long as I am whining, why do they always put the front seat base so far back from the front (all boats) ? To use the seat you have to be so far back that it makes it harder to work jerkbaits without hitting things. I do not actually fully sit but lean for stability when running the trolling motor(think old worn out joints). As for as butt seats go why do they shape them that you can only sit on them one way, unless you stay on them they turn and are never where they should be to sit with the point between your legs. I built a custom one that is round so it is always in the right place. |
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