Lund Alaskan or Predator TILLER 20’

[toyguy]

Boy, I surely do appreciate your detailed reply and the time you took to write it.

OK, let’s go thru this point by point. FWIW, I currently have a Smokercraft 16 Big Fish 40 hp tiller. I write that because I can relate to a lot of what you have written.

I'll admit that its a rough-ridin' SOB. It does bounce around pretty good, especially if you're going head-on into some 3-footers. It is also wet-riding unless you're directly head-on or following. If you hit big waves at any angle, you get a shower. I find myself going "the long way" sometimes so that I don't have to quarter into any waves. I'll run parallel and ride the troughs, then cut into the waves, to get from point A to point B.

[#4040ff][#4040ff]You mean it’s not just my boat??? Hitting a wave wrong generally means a shower. As such, I usually just ride the troughs to stay dry.[/#4040ff]
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Having said that though, I've only had waves thrown at me here twice that I turned around in. I "probably" could have made it, but I don't run through "probablys." I've actually taken several waves directly over the bow of my Alaskan, and still didn't feel like I was going to die or stick the nose. I hit the bilge pump, cinched my life jacket a little tighter, slowed down a bit more, and kept on going. I did NOT have customers on the boat!

[#4040ff]From another website: ” I've been in 4' rollers and didn't take waves over the bow, however I was VERY careful.”[/#4040ff]

If you want a smooth, dry riding boat in rough water, you need to go fiberglass. Period.

[#4040ff]Is that because glass is heavier, or is it because glass is MUCH more dead to vibration transmission?[/#4040ff]
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[#4040ff]The reason I ask is because I’m looking at a glass boat that actually weighs slightly less than the Alaskan 20, so I’m curious as to how it’s gonna ride.[/#4040ff]
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[#4040ff]I’m going back to my first home (and your second?), Florida, soon, and I’m gonna wet test it to see for myself.[/#4040ff]
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[#4040ff]FWIW: [/#4040ff][url "http://www.pangamarine.com/superskiff_specs.html"][#4040ff]http://www.pangamarine.com/superskiff_specs.html[/#4040ff][/url][#4040ff] I’m really curious about the panga hull design.[/#4040ff]

If you want a tough-as-nails boat you can bang into boat docks, beach on rocks, break ice, and do about anything else you want with it, you need a Lund Alaskan!

[#4040ff]That’s a perfect synopsis. And it’s also the problem. Because I want both. BUT, since I do a lot of boat camping, it’s just hard to look away from the Alaskan.[/#4040ff]

I've never seen an aluminum boat that rides smooth and dry in the waves though. Even mine, with 3 group-29 batteries, a full tank of gas, and three large customers--rides rough in the waves.

[#4040ff]I spend more time using a boat as a utilitarian fishing/camping tool than I do riding thru rough water. Again, advantage Alaskan.[/#4040ff]

Also, If you want a 20-footer, I'd forget about a tiller. First, the motor will be too big unless the boat is seriously under powered, and that would be a huge mistake. You need a MINIMUM of 90 hp on a 20' Alaskan. Second, its much easier to control a boat of that size with a steering wheel. Plus, you have something to hang onto, and your weight is better distributed.

[#4040ff]This is a HUGE new piece of information. I’ve read Alaskan 20 T reviews on other websites, and no one has ever mentioned this. This morning, I found someone in Canada with a 20’ T on another Board. I’m gonna register and PM him about this. My next boat is my last boat, so it needs to be right.[/#4040ff]
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[#4040ff]I’ll post his response if he replies.[/#4040ff]


[#4040ff]BTW, during the course of writing this reply this morning, I found a couple of fantastic fiberglass tiller boats. [/#4040ff]
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[url "http://skeeterboats.com/products/11/28"][#4040ff]http://skeeterboats.com/products/11/28[/#4040ff][/url]
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[url "http://www.warrior-boats.com/bt/2090_bt_xst_tournament_eagle.html"][#4040ff]http://www.warrior-boats.com/bt/2090_bt_xst_tournament_eagle.html[/#4040ff][/url][#4040ff] [/#4040ff]
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[#4040ff]Aside from the tiller/bigger motor issue you’ve mentioned, another big issue is I have with a tiller is running at high speed (30+) for a distance (think Powell) without a windshield.[/#4040ff]





[#4040ff]I'm in no hurry, so there's plenty of time to figure this out. But I still want to see an Alaskan![/#4040ff]
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[#4040ff]tg[/#4040ff]
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