Great reviews, Zac, I appreciate your attention to detail in discussing everything you did….. I recently ordered a 2023 210 Searunner….. set up exactly as you have yours, really looking forward to getting that boat out on the water once I have it…. i’ve actually watched your video several times….. lots of your topics regarding this boat helped me make my decision……. Thanks again for a very thorough review!
Hi tlang48 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad to hear that you found my boat review helpful. CONGRATS on the new boat!!! I hope you love it - my boat still fishes great after 4 full seasons and I'm sure it has many more years of adventures left in it. Where are you located? Will you be primarily salmon and halibut fishing? Congrats again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac thank you for your response, I’m in California….. I fish, the San Francisco Bay and the ocean, in the bay I target, halibut and sturgeon, and the ocean ….rockfish, salmon, and halibut. 2022 was an amazing year for salmon and halibut (California halibut) , hoping for that to continue this year. Occasionally we do catch a Pacific Halibut this far south, not often, but occasionally..
Hi Game Of 64 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. Wow - congrats on the new boat!!! Sounds like you and your wife will have tons of adventures to come! Are you fishing in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska? Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
GREAT REVIEW. I pulled the trigger on the same model, but one year later, running a 200 main in November of 2023. Same kicker and electronics suite, for use on Puget's Sound, Straits, and offshore in Summer. Can hardly wait to fish it in Spring of 2024, starting with lings, then halibut and other groundfish, se crab, then moving to offshore, as the Summer progresses. I'm a retired commercial fisherman, ironically, doing black cod and halibut in Alaskan waters.
Thank you for the detailed review of a great boat. Cannot believe we do not see more of these for the rocky shores of Minnesota's rivers and 10,000 lakes
Hey @greathornedowl3644 thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review! Yes I agree - these boats would be awesome for Minnesota's various fisheries! Perhaps you could start a trend! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
I HAVE to add this one thing. Years ago, in the Pac Northwest, I was invited aboard one of these. As I stepped aboard, I set my balance--as you do, because I knew my weight would push the "tin boat" NO WAY, it seriously felt like I stepped onto concrete and I'm not kidding. Blind folded--again, in all seriousness, I would have not believed I was stepping onto a water platform. "Solid" is like saying the water is wet. I don't know what they cost--must be a lot, but again, I have never been more impressed with a metal boat--ever.
Hi Jmichael Isbell thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this boat review! Yes that is a fantastic point - this Hewescraft is VERY stable and solid, especially when boarding and exiting the boat. Hewescraft adds a lot of extra flotation foam throughout the hull and in the gunnels that contributes to this sturdiness. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
This video is so good that I feel Hewescraft and all the other manufacturers should pay you some sort of commission. The video is not jittery and your diction is clear. The copy is thoughtful and well presented. As a buyer, I want it all - thank you!
Hi Dedrick - many thanks for watching this review and for the very kind words! I'm really glad you found it helpful as a buyer. I know when I was looking around I had to piece together information from various forums, videos, etc. so I figured that a detailed walkthrough could add value to future buyers. If you have any other questions about more specific boat features/attributes, please don't hesitate to reach out - I'd be happy to clarify anything. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Captain Zac! I purchased a new 210 Sea Runner last year and like you think it is a great boat! Your reviews helped my decision for sure! Looking forward to the 2023 season! I'm just looking at installing my 18" Garmin radar I would be very interested in seeing how you mounted and ran your power and network cables through your hard top if you have the time. Thanks again for all your great videos!
Hi Clayton thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! CONGRATS on your new 210 Sea Runner! Although my radar was mounted during the rigging process at Tom-n-Jerry's, I'll take a few pictures the next time on I'm on the boat (probably this weekend) and can send them to you for reference. If you drop me an email then I can reply back. captainzacalaska@gmail.com Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey, good morning from Colorado. just looking at the storage issue with the down rigger balls. I've seen boards @ 2x4 - 2x6 with holes drilled to set them in. Then trim to fit inside the shelf. I'm sure you get a lot of ideas thrown your way. Love all your videos and please keep them coming. Mike
Hi Mike thanks for the great suggestion! You are right it can be a hassle when the downrigger balls are banging around so this solution sounds like a great way to solve that problem! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Zac, Great rundown on the boat there. I know this an old video but I went back and watched it seen as I am in the process of buying a very similar one. Your rundown was very helpful to me.
Thanks Mark I'm glad you found this boat review helpful in the context of your boat search! Feel free to drop me an email with any more specific questions - happy to help however I can! captainzacalaska@gmail.com Tight lines! Captain Zac
Great review, Zac! I have an older (2003) Hewescraft 220 Searunner, and absolutely love it. Wish I had all the new bells and whistles that your boat has - maybe in the next one. There are 3 good reasons that I enjoy your videos: 1) we fish the same boat; 2) we are both fishing Alaskan waters for the same species; and 3, we both often fish alone. For example, it helps me to watch you struggle with netting a nice salmon and I’ve learned to do it myself better. Keep up the good work.
Hi there that's awesome to hear you are enjoying your 220 Searunner! I appreciate the kind words and am glad you found this review helpful. Great point about solo fishing - I believe this boat is especially good for solo anglers due to the high gunnels. Just super stable so that an angler can focus on boat positioning and fighting the fish without fear of one wrong step causing a swim! Do you ever go out solo halibut fishing? I've boated some chickens along but never hooked into a barn door solo. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac my biggest halibut so far is 46 pounds so nothing really large. I had a buddy along on that trip who helped. I’ve definitely caught the chicken size by myself, but it usually takes me 2 or 3 attempts to gaff the creature.
Hi Gordon CONGRATS on your new rig - sounds awesome!!! I'd love to hear how you like it after you've had some time on the water! Calm seas and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
After considering the Hewescraft offerings in the 22 ft range I settled on and bought a Thunderjet Alexis OS 23. With continuous bracket extension the LOA grows to 25 plus anchor pulpit and leg. The fishing platform difference is considerable with each added foot of length. 23 just seems ideal hence my decision on length. The boat rigged up much the same but added during rig out the Espar diesel heater which is a delightful must have that brings much comfort and joy, not to be sidelined, if year round use intended. For the price, Hewescraft is a great value choice. Thunderjet Alexis OS has increased dimensions across the board. Gull wing option I opted for eliminates any chance of head banging, Arm rests, rear door, 300 hp Merc, 15 hp Merc kicker. You pay more but get more. There’s no end to the upsizing and upgrades. Enjoyed the vid, and being able to confirm the differences between the two fine boats.
Hi Archie many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this review useful in your boat search. CONGRATS on the new Thunderjet! Sounds like a sweet fishing platform and I bet that will move like crazy with a 300 on the back! You raise a number of good points and I'm sure the additional space and features will be a big benefit when fishing for halibut and salmon. I'd love to hear how the boat runs and fishes once you get it on the water! All the best and tight lines my friend! Congrats once again! Captain Zac
What a great detailed video Capt. Zac. I’m currently looking for a smaller 22-24 fishing boat, to use for pleasure as well as fishing on the Great Lakes here in Michigan. Weather can change here rapidly. And nice to hear you talk about the size of seas it is capable of, when that happens. Thank you for the great review. VERY helpful.
Hi Jeff many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! I used to live in Chicago and can CERTAINLY understand what you mean by weather changing rapidly. That lake can go from glass to 6-footers just a few hours! This would be a nice boat for most days trolling out on the lake. I fished with a charter down in northern Indiana who had a slightly larger hewescraft (26' pacific explorer I believe) and that boat fished just fine as well. www.kingseekercharters.com/ We trolled near-shore cohos so the extra length/stability didn't really matter that day. On days when you run 30 miles and the wind kicks up I'm sure it would help. Feel free to reach out if you have any more specific questions about my boat - captainzac@fromrodtotable.com All the best my friend! Captain Zac
Just a idea for you. I know this is a older video but may still help. Helps me on my new boats that I keep like new. Use a School Lunch Tray for bait or cutting up fish. Easy to clean as well. Works awesome and you don't have to mess your lids up. Keep ripping lips!!!
Hi Corey thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! That's a great idea for bait prep! Since this video I've switched to a silicone mat which does a better job than the shop towels I was using. The lunch tray would be super easy to clean and also keep different baits in their own piles (squid, herring, salmon, etc.). Thanks for sharing and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Sorry, I meant the flat food trays. They have a lip around the edges and keeps all the yuk out of your boat. The separate compartment tray may be good for keeping bait separate as well but harder to cut up. Good luck this spring catching.
One last comment about using an outboard at the top of the range--many people I know lobby for something in between the low and high. But consider also, that if you mount the high end of HP for a particular design, it means more than just having the fastest top end. It means you speed AT CRUISE is higher than lesser engines, which means less strain on the motor, less wear.
Hi Jmichael thanks for stopping by and this is a fantastic point. The accumulation of less wear on the engine (able to cruise "at speed" at a lower RPM) can make a huge difference over the lifetime of the engine. Thanks for sharing this insight and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great vid Zac. I live on Whidbey Island and have had my share of crappy boats over the years. I pass by Tom and Jerry's all the time and would dream about a hewescraft. Finally had the opportunity to purchase a new Ocean Pro 200 from them last year and we love it. I've done a ton of research and always find Hewes is just a cut above the competition. Very well made boats! Liked and subbed!
Hey congrats on the new boat! Your Ocean Pro sounds like a great vessel! Sounds like the perfect rig for fishing in the Whidbey Island area. I hope you are getting after some salmon and halibut this season! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thank you for taking the time to explain the boat and your reason for purchase. I've never owned a boat, but I'm thinking about it; much appreciated! This boat is the one I have been considering; seems just the right size. Your review was thorough, one of the best I've seen. Really appreciated the time taken to go over the details. Do you have videos of you using some of the equipment you have on the boat; particularly the down riggers and the chart plotter and navigation features? Thanks, again Cap. Zac.
Hi David - thanks for the comment and I am glad you found this video helpful! It's great to hear that this size boat may be just right for your situation. Where are you located and what do you typically fish for? I am planning on making more videos to cover additional specific topics like chartplotter and downriggers so stay tuned! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac We currently live in Port Angeles, WA. Would like to eventually be able to fish for salmon and halibut, but in order to get where the better fish are we need to get out into bigger water near Sekui and Neah Bay. That's why I thought the Ocean Runner might be a good boat. Just dreaming so far, but good information really helps. Thanks!
That's awesome David - best of luck making the fishing boat dream a reality! Those halibut and salmon will be hitting the deck of your boat soon! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Moving to Juneau for work in the next few months and was just up there back in early August scouting out places to live. Caught a 148lb halibut with some friends. Just found your channel tonight, great information, keep it up. Hope to cross paths sometime when I’m up there.
Hi Marcus thanks for watching and I'm glad you hear you are heading up to Juneau for work! CONGRATS on the 148lb halibut - I bet that was a fun battle! It would be cool to cross paths at some point - feel free to hit me up here or drop me a note at captainzac@fromrodtotable.com. I do return to the east coast for the winter so perhaps next spring/summer. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Marcus thanks for watching and I'm glad you hear you are heading up to Juneau for work! CONGRATS on the 148lb halibut - I bet that was a fun battle! It would be cool to cross paths at some point - feel free to hit me up here or drop me a note at captainzac@fromrodtotable.com. I do return to the east coast for the winter so perhaps next spring/summer. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Love this review thank you, i just bought me a Hewescraft 220 Ocean Pro like 4 days ago . i learned some new stuff like the Bilge Pump "Masterator setting" . I upgraded from a open boat 18' Western with a 60HP Honda. My Hewescraft boat has a 200HP Yamaha. My first outing i got tested out at Biorka with mother nature with some big winds and waves. managed to get blood on the deck (King Salmon) after we reeled him up we had to throw in the white towel to mother nature winds got to crazy.
Hi Wisskey8t9 thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! CONGRATS on your new Ocean Pro - sounds like a sweet fishing platform! I bet you are loving the upgraded experience coming from an open boat. Awesome to hear that the boat handled the weather and that you caught a nice king - I'm sure there will be many more kings, cohos and halis hitting your deck in the future! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thank you for a very informative walk through! My wife and I are purchasing a new 220 ocean pro. I am down in Ketchikan, and as I get it equipped I would love to pick your brain on a couple things.
Hi Noah thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this review helpful. CONGRATS on the new ocean pro! Sounds like a sweet rig! I'd be happy to answer any follow-up questions you have as you are getting it rigged and outfitted for salmon and halibut adventures! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Haha hi Buster many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! I appreciate the kind words! Yes indeed - these boat are purpose fit for any fishing environment that benefits from a solid boat with well thought-through fishing features as well as the safety and comfort to get out of the elements in nasty weather. I'm sure these play very well in the Maine waters! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great video thanks for taking the time to do it. Planning on buying this boat with the Yam 200. Still researching options. Mainly fishing for Salmon in the Puget Sound and the Columbia but plan to do some Halibut fishing as well as doing some Kokanee on the east side. Great to hear it’s meeting your needs in Alaska. Awesome boat man!
Hi PNW Sportsman thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! CONGRATS on plans to buy this boat - it should be perfect for the salmon and halibut fishing in your area! I'm mid-way through my third season in this boat and would still recommend it without hesitation - just a hard-working, purpose built, fishing machine - period! Best of luck and I'd love to hear how you like the boat once you pull the trigger! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac thanks man! Just checked out your other videos. Man, that looks amazing up there! On my bucket list for sure. Just subscribed to your channel 👍
Lots of great info from a guy that no doubt has put the boat through many days of use fishing (mainly halibut and salmon). I have a couple of questions and perhaps one small suggestion that may help keeping the boat clean and uncluttered. 1) You mention perhaps sleeping on board the boat. Sounds fun. How is it that you handle food preparation or do you only bring fully prepared meals? Easy to use a cooler to keep food cold, but how do you heat food up? 2) With 500 ft of anchor rope for use on this particular boat with average conditions you find where you fish, what's the maximum depth you feel comfortable that you can securely anchor in? Are there any features with the boat/electronics that help you decide where to deploy the anchor so that you end up in your desired location? Minor suggestion with the bait cutting station would be to bring a small portable plastic kitchen cutting board (maybe 12"x16" ) and a small kitchen scrub brush. You can clean the little board up between trips with the brush and not scar up your main board on the boat. Would easily store between trips where you keep your little bait cooler. Thanks for taking the time and energy to share your thoughts on this boat which you've obviously been through a lot with, both before purchasing it and then using it once you had it. Last little question: Were there any surprises, good or bad, that you found out about after buying and using it for a season? Tight Lines
Hi Geoff - thanks for these great points! I'm glad you enjoyed this review. Overnight trips on the boat can be a blast - so many little coves in Southeast Alaska to serve as a weekend lodging spot! In addition to bringing food/drinks in a cooler with ice packs, we also use a small cook stove (fueled by JetBoil which heats up quick and the cooking unit folds down nicely) and heat up a variety of shelf stable foods (including freeze dried camping meals and ramen noodles). Sometimes we even freeze chili into large cubes and then just "defrost" the cube via the cooker and then a hot home cooked meal is ready in minutes! On average I would say anchoring in 150-300 is pretty standard. Of course, the conditions vary drastically based on tides, winds, currents, bottom makeup, etc. which all impact the amount of extra line needed to deploy to ensure a proper hold. Sometimes anchoring in 320ft at a slack tide with very little movement can be easier than anchoring in 200 feet in ripping tide/current and gusting winds. The chartplotter is essential for determining the likely drift path BEFORE deciding to deploy the anchor - this helps me informally calculate the exact "drop spot" needed to achieve a drift back to the target spot. Also - back-trolling with the kicker is another great approach for the deeper spots (which saves you from anchoring and allows you to either cover ground slowly or hover over the spot). The rear helm and sonar unit are helpful when back-trolling (allows you to precisely track boat position). Great suggestion about the bait station cutting board! We've found that the thick blue paper towel comes in handy but a flexible cutting boat would do an even better job protecting the bait station from knife cuts. Ha - in terms of surprises, I guess I would say a positive one would be how streamlined the boat setup / breakdown process is. My wife and I are about 5 minutes from the harbor so we can just swing over to the harbor and be "pushed off" for a quick adventure within 15minutes of arriving. Similarly quick break-down (more time if fishing/boat cleaning are in order!). Perhaps one negative surprise, which isn't really a negative, is just that we are always eager to "push the envelope" to get to great halibut spots and whale watching areas. With safety as our top priority, we sometimes have to turn back if seas are building or scrap a game plan entirely due to 4+ ft seas. A larger boat would be able to handle these seas, but would also not have many of the benefits that this boat does! (streamlined, gas efficient, easy to navigate, etc. - a total fishing machine!) Tight lines! Zac
Hi Wm Cottrell many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful. Thanks for the kind words about my channel and I'm thrilled to hear you are subscribed to be notified of future content. I'll be posting a lot of great action from the 2021 season in the coming months! If you do end up finding your way to Juneau (hitchhiking or otherwise) definitely let me know! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great detailed video….I’m from Unalaska/Dutchharbor, Alaska & Purchased a 210 searunner from Tom n Jerry’s also in June 2020… Great people to work with… Kinda wanting to upgrade to a pacific explorer now🤷🏽♂️
Hi Kevin thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this video helpful! That's awesome to hear that you worked with Tom and Jerry's as well on a recent 210 Sea Runner. Someone once warned me about about a condition that boat owners get called "2 foot itis" - basically whichever boat they get, they immediately want the next size up! The good news for you is that the resale market for 210 Sea Runner is extremely strong. There are very few recently used boats around so if you did want to trade up eventually, I'm confident there would be a buyer willing to the Sea Runner off your hands! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac With this pandemic and inflation of prices going up it’s crazy how boats prices has gone up and back ordered… kinda glad I got it before the prices gone up. So we’ll be keeping our searunner. She’s done very good here in the Bering sea
Hi Mark many thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! CONGRATS on your SeaRunner!!! The model without the bulkhead is really nice because it provides a lot of extra fishing room. It is very easy for guests to hang out under the bulkhead while actively fishing (with a rod either in the holder or a downrigger). Are you in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska? Best of luck with your new boat - tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Yep we're on Vancouver Island - if I'm totally honest it's a family exploration boat more than a fish boat at the moment - but were all keen to learn and I'm sure it won't be long til it's full of salmon and halibut!
Hi Matt - great to hear you are visiting Juneau next month and enjoy fishing in this area! Feel free to drop me a line with specific dates and let's see if we can cross paths! captainzac@fromrodtotable.com
I'm visiting my folks in Annacortes and going to Tom and Jerry's tomorrow to look at these and the ocean pros. Kinda just kicking tires and drooling tomorrow. Ha ha. Very nice review. Tight lines!
Hi there Piscatorian thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this review helpful! Oh that's awesome! I hope your visit to Tom N Jerry's was enjoyable. They have a nice lineup of all sizes and models so it is nice to compare what features you get for various price points. I'm sure the Ocean Pro would be a fantastic option for your area. Did they have any of the Hewescraft 29 Adventure models in stock? Those are pretty sweet also! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey, what are the little round screw plates on the deck both inside the house and out on the fish deck for? As always, keep those video's coming........Please
Hi Mike thanks for stopping by and great question - to be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I've wondered this exact thing. My best guess is that these are access points to assist the rigging/wiring process. I'll take a closer look while on the boat this weekend and let you know if I come up with anything else on this front. Thanks as always and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks for a great review Zac, Tom and Jerry's has serviced my boat and I'm happy with them. I have an older 19 ft boat and it worked well off the West side of Vancouver Is. close in to shore. I'd like to get out further for halibut. The gasoline price this past summer was over $2.50 / liter [CAD] and fuel price is a concern. I'm getting 4.5 to 5 MPG and you're getting quite a bit less. Do you have your burn rate at maybe 4000 Rpm? I usually cruise about 24 - 25 MPH. The SeaRunner 21 with trailer and same power at the Seattle boat show was $92K in Feb. 2022 I don't believe it had any electronics.FYI
Hi George thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! Your boat sounds perfect for that area! Yes I hear you about the pain at the pump - gas was very expensive here in Juneau all summer and you don't really have many options but to pull up to the fuel dock and cringe at the bill. Wow - I've heard some examples of boat prices shooting up over the past few years and yours adds to this trend. $92k without electronics means that you are pushing six figures once fully outfitted! I don't have my burn rate at 4k rpm handy but let me check into this when I'm out on the water and follow-up. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I watched this vid last year and I bought the exact same boat. WOW! We love it! Your in depth review helped a lot, Thanks. One issue we have is that we didn't go with the optional heater and we get condensation on the interior windshield. I was thinking of installing a couple of 12V fans aimed at the windshield. Do you have the same problem? If so - did you solve it??? Thanks again for the fantastic review!!
Hi macsgetthemacs thanks for stopping by and I'm glad to hear that you found my boat review helpful, so much so that you bought the same one! Are you fishing in the Ontario area (guessing based on your channel)? Trolling the Great Lakes? Yes - I do occasionally get condensation on the interior windshield, especially after fishing in the cold rain and coming back into the warmer cabin with soaked rain gear. My solve to date includes a few tactics - none perfect but manageable. I do have a small 12v fan that I plug into the dash and clip onto the upper storage shelf on the above the captain's chair (pointing directly at the front windshield). I also ensure that the window is clean with periodic windex cleanings. I'll open the side window as well to promote more air flow. Lastly, I always have a roll of disposable blue heavy duty shop wipes on board (think heavy duty paper towels). I'll always have 1-2 of these within reach when underway in case I need to give the windshield a quick wipe. Typically, first thing in the morning I'll need to wipe it and then the moisture subsides once underway. The other case is when I bring a bunch of moisture into the cabin after fishing - which tends to require a mix of the tactics I stated above to address. Although not a perfect solution, hopefully this helps! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thanks for the advice. Will put it to use. Really appreciated. We are on Lake Nipissing Ontario. Our cottage is water access and somewhat exposed to heavy winds. Super safe comfortable boat to get us there and back. Plus awesome fishing boat to boot!! Thanks. Dano
Hello Captain Zac, I’ve got my eye on a 21’ Sea Runner for fishing on Lake Erie. Erie is shallow and is known for its short chop which can produce hard, heavy seas. If you don’t mind I’ve got a few questions. How does your boat handle chop and heavy seas? What’s the biggest seas you’ve been in with your boat? Long term, are you seeing your Hewes Craft hull hold up to the pounding it takes on the ocean? Do you run trim tabs and how helpful are they in rough conditions? Any other comments or suggestions on the durability and sea worthiness of your boat? Thanks in advance. Great Video! With Best Regards, Art
Hi Art - many thanks for watching my boat review and I'm glad you found it helpful. I spend the offseason in PA (near Pittsburgh) so I can relate to your Lake Erie fishing adventures! Although, I miss all the good walleye fishing because I'm up in Juneau then - but the steelhead are around in the late fall / winter! Looks like you have some very cool underwater walleye footage - that's awesome! I'll try to answer all your questions and happy to follow-up as needed. The boat handles well in chop and heavy seas. It is a very stable fishing platform. The wide gunnels and heavy main motor (225hp) contribute to this stability. I do run trim tabs which are very helpful in choppy seas - highly recommended. I've had the boat in 5-7 foot seas but don't make a habit of that. I would describe those seas as uncomfortable but not unsafe. With trim tabs, engine power to "push through" the swells, self-bailing bow, buoyant foam insulation within many parts of the boat, etc. - I've always been able to navigate away from these nasty seas to safety. I have enough days on the water that I can pick and choose the better weather days. That said, you always have to be prepared for the seas to pick up unexpectedly, and for that, I have been very impressed with this boat. When seas are 3-4 feet, I can still carry decent pace by cranking up my trim tabs and punching through the chop. I prefer to fish in 3ft or less unless there is a tournament on the line. Most days around Juneau are 3ft or less unless there is a big storm passing through. The full bulkhead makes navigating heavy seas much nicer... you'd be surprised how calm it can feel inside the cabin navigating through otherwise nasty seas in the pouring down rain and fog. I've put two full seasons into this 2019 boat and it is holding up great - absolutely no sign of hull wear. I actually get compliments on how well the boat of welded. Some of my guests who know about welding techniques have suggested that Hewescraft went above and beyond with their welds. Overall, I'm happy with both the durability and the sea worthiness. Durability wise, it is just a rock solid aluminum fishing boat with many features that benefit fishermen (truly designed by fishermen for fishermen). It isn't a luxury cruiser, which is totally fine - since it is a purpose fit fishing machine! In terms of sea worthiness, I've been very impresses. As mentioned, very heavy seas feel uncomfortable but not unsafe. The extra power of the 225 main also allows me to either outrun bad weather or punch through heavy swells (versus getting swamped like an underpowered boat may) en route to safety. Depending on passenger/gear load, I can run around 40mph at full tilt (away from danger) which is a huge advantage if a storm is brewing. Happy to answer any other follow-up questions you may have! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Very informative video, thank you. I've narrowed my choices down and the hewescraft pro v is one of them. Although yours is not a pro v I believe they share some same features. Great looking boat sir!
Hi Tommy thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this walkthrough helpful! The Pro V is an awesome boat as well and you are correct - a lot of the hewescraft features run across their product line. What others are you considering? Best of luck narrowing down the boat search! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@s2ktommy1 While I am a little partial to the Hewescraft, all of those sound like great options and I'm sure you'll be setup for success in any of those rigs! Would love to hear what you land on and how you like it! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks for the review it answered a ton of questions about the Sea Runner. I did have one question did you have the boat fully painted or did you go with a decal? Did you have the bottom painted or go with the shark hide coating?
Hi DCS many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! I did not have it fully painted - just the colored stripe (I chose red). I also did not have any shark hide coating applied when I bought it - just opted for the standard floor boards which are still very grippy even when it is pouring down rain and you have the deck slimed with halibut goo! That said - both of these are nice upgrades so I certainly wouldn't try to talk you out of them. Mostly comes down to specific use case, preference and available budget. Are you in the market for a hewescraft? Overall, I'm still very happy with this boat and would highly recommend this fishing platform. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Great review. I’ve ordered a sea runner and your video helped a lot. Have a question, did you apply shark hide or another product ? I will be in fresh water most of the time, maybe salt a week out of the year. Thanks again
Hi there Richard thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you found my review helpful during your boat search. CONGRATS on the new Sea Runner! As you can tell I'm a big fan of this fishing platform and I have no doubt that you will be too once you get some hours on the water. Where will you be fishing? Good question - I did not apply shark hide or any after-market products to the floor. That said, the standard floor boards are treated with a "grippy" material that has thus far provided both good traction and sheds fish slime with a spray or brush down. Perhaps see how you like the standard floor boards when the boat arrives and then if you are still looking for extra protection/grip, then consider an aftermarket coating. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zak, I got my sea runner a few weeks ago. Only been out one time with it. I got it with Honda’s , I like how they looked on your boat. My question is , did yours come with a fuel gauge? Mine only has the Honda gauge that keeps tack of the burn rate. I want a gauge that I can glance at once in awhile. lol. Thanks.
Hi Richard congrats on getting the new boat in your hands and glad this review served as inspiration for the Hondas - I agree they have a slick look! Yes - my Sea Runner does have a manual (gravity) gas gauge on the dash next to the helm as well as the digital gas gauge on my garmin unit (which measures burn rate from my 225 main engine and subtracts burned gas from available fuel - shows up like a car gas gauge with a little red needle across 1/8 tank markings). I mostly favor the digital gauge since I've found that I am able to track down to the gallon or so how much I need at the fuel dock (e.g., I'll pull up knowing I need 57 gallons - and it'll take 57.3). That gives me confidence in fuel calculations for longer trips where 10-20 gallons becomes material to getting to the destination or home safely. That said, I do often double check with the manual gauge. For example, a fuel leak or fuel theft would not show up on the digital gauge yet could conceivably take a full 90gal tank down to near-empty quite quickly. Does this make sense? Hopefully the dealer would be willing to install a manual gas gauge for you free of charge - I'd argue this is a basic safety feature. They wouldn't sell a new car without one! Let me know your thoughts / how this turns out. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Great video and detail .......I’m sold! Do you have any problems or interference from your rocket launchers or poles with your radar being mounted directly on the roof without a riser? I like the look w/out but of course don’t want any interference issues.
Thanks M B - I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! No - I don't have any issues with interference. Once I spin up the radar, it takes a rotation or two to calibrate then I adjust it to the appropriate sensitivity. It identifies other surface objects such as boats, logs, visible reefs and shores / points. I don't have a comparison point to state whether the performance would be any better if I had a riser but can say confidently that I have used this radar successfully in practice. You might give Garmin or Tom-N-Jerry's a call to get more technical details about the pros/cons of a riser on this specific setup (also - there are other brands and models of radars that may perform better/worse).
Hi Jonathan thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my review helpful! I find this boat to be very sea worthy. If I get into 4-5 footers (which I don't like but sometimes winds pick up), this boat certainly has the stability to "hunker down" and shove through the chop - the trim tabs help with this as well. After three full seasons I'd still definitely recommend this boat! Good luck with your boat search and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@jonathanproctor690 No problem! Good question - I have not taken any additional precautions other than pulling the boat multiple times per season and washing with a pressure washer. I'm still searching for the silver bullet to help prevent saltwater corrosion (especially for those of us who leave the boat in the harbor all season vs. trailering it). I'll let you know if I come up with any better guidance on this front. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks Captain Zac. I currently own an 18’ kingfisher jet boat but it only sees fresh water so corrosion isn’t an issue. But if I bite the bullet and get a dedicated big lake/ocean boat I definitely want to maximize its longevity
I see your VHF antenna was mounted down by the gunnel, they did the same with mine. I feel my reception is not very good and the antenna should have been mounted close to the roof line. Have you noticed any issues like this?
Hi A Allan sorry to hear your VHF is giving you troubles. My VHF receiver is mounted down beside the steering wheel but I also have an antenna which stands well above the top of the boat (mounted just outside of the starboard window). Given this antenna, I've not had any issues with VHF reception. Good luck with the VHF issue and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. I plan to buy a boat in the next 5 years. This is in the top two for consideration. You may have just narrowed it down to just one.
Hi Troy - thanks for watching and I am glad you enjoyed the review! I'm thrilled that it was helpful in your boat buying journey. Definitely feel free to reach out as you get closer to your buying decision - happy to answer any more specific questions about the process, boat specifics, feature considerations, etc... Tight lines! Zac
@@CaptainZac I definitely will. I saved your review to my favorites folder for future reference. Thank you SO much again. There isn't a review online that holds a candle to your walkthrough explanation.
Hi Galavanta - thanks for the kind words and I am glad you enjoyed the review! Sure - overall, I paid about 80k, 70k of which was boat/motor/trailer and the remainder was upgrades/features (electronics, downriggers, etc.). There is a strong resale market for these boats which can make the initial sticker price more palatable based on different circumstances. Best of luck if you are searching for a boat - I'd be happy to show you around this one if you ever happen to be in the Juneau area. Take care!
@@CaptainZac Thank you so much for the reply and all the information. I live in the North West (Vancouver Island) and have just bought a house on the water that has a private mooring buoy in front and I think this boat would be the perfect fit for my location. From the research I have done it seems like the price is very similar no matter where you buy, and yes when these boats have a few years on them they are not far off the new price which is pretty rare in the boating world 😃 Thanks again and happy boating.
Wow Galavanta your new house sounds incredible! I bet you are in store for some AMAZING fishing adventures!!! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Wow Galavanta your new house sounds incredible! I bet you are in store for some AMAZING fishing adventures!!! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Wow Galavanta your new house sounds incredible! I bet you are in store for some AMAZING fishing adventures!!! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Pat thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful, including the drawer material tip! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zac, Just wondering if you could answer the following: Have you considered installing an autopilot? I am 6' 3" tall and was wondering how tall the rear boat house door is and what is the interior height of the boat house at its centerline? Thanks ahead of time.
Hi Andrew thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review! I chose not to install an autopilot on this vessel since the navigation around Southeast Alaska can be challenging with unexpected obstructions such as floating logs, kelp beds or even wildlife (whales, sea lions). I like to maintain an "always on" mindset when navigating since it only takes a split second for an awesome trip to turn into a nightmare if you take out the lower unit on a floating log. I'll have to get back with you on the exact dimension of the door - I pulled the boat for the season and it is in storage. I'm 5'10" and don't have any trouble getting through that doorway or fully standing inside the cabin. Since I added some rod hanging straps to the inside of the cabin roof this year, I did lose a little bit of head clearance (but gained the benefit of not having to move rods inside every time I dock the boat). I'll let you know the exact height once I get the boat back. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Instead of using that thin rubber Matt, try buying self adhesive 12" × 12" carpet tile and cut to size. It has to be the good carpet tile with the industrial 3m adhesive backing. P.s it'll last forever captain, i promise.
Hi Darien many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. I appreciate the suggestion about using carpet tile for a durable bait-cutting setup! I assume that you have used this approach successfully? Sounds like it would work great. Thanks for sharing this tip and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey capt! Which transducer are you using?I just ordered a 10”Garmin Echomap with a GT54 transducer. All the vids I’m finding for GT54 mostly relate to bass fishing…I want to hit deep sea.
Hey stoweman34 thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful. I'm going to have to check and get back with you. When Tom & Jerry's rigged the boat they installed a Garmin GPSMAP 1042xsv GPS Chartplotter/Sonar Combo as my main unit. I'll need to double check which transducer they paired it with. Given their experience rigging boats for the PNW, I assumed that the corresponding transducer would be fit for purpose for Southeast Alaska. I haven't had issues with the transducer other than lack of reading in extremely deep water 600-1000ft+ which generally isn't a problem since I don't bottom fish those depths (e.g., black cod fishing). I'll let you know if I can find the specifics on the transducer model. Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zac After doing some more recon, it appears the GT54 that comes with my Echomap would have issues in anything deeper than 50’. The GPSMAP looks like the way to go for deep sea. I also just learned the Echomaps don’t support radar, which is something I’d like to get later. I made the 5 hour trip to Tom and Jerry’s a few months ago to look at a few boats; super nice folks up there. Sounds like they know their stuff on the rigging too. Thanks for checking on the transducer…and all the great vids!
Ah makes sense re: the deep sea focus of the GPSMAP models! Radar is certainly a nice safety feature thus it would be good to go with a model that is radar compatible (so that you can have an integrated overlay - radar and chart plotting). Glad to hear that the folks at Tom and Jerry's were helpful! Tight lines! Captain Zac
I’m trying to decide between the 210 SeaRunner and the 21 Seahawk. Was there one or two big things that made you want the SeaRunner over the Seahawk? Did you consider a Seahawk? Seems like those might be the best contenders in that range of boat. Thanks for the vids!!!
Hi stowman34 thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you are enjoying my videos! I hadn't considered the Seahawk given that I was pretty sold on the Hewescraft years before I bought the boat. For more than a decade I had been visiting SE Alaska for fishing trips. I had seen a lot of Hewescrafts on the water and while walking the docks in Juneau, Petersburg and Sitka. I figured this many locals must be "tuned in" to the optimal boat for fishing in SE AK. Other benefits of Hewescraft specifically are the multiple compartments of safety foam throughout the hull and the resale value. I once spoke with someone from a boat rescue service and he said after seeing boats capsize and attempting to rescue passengers from the water, that he would always own a Hewescraft due to the extra buoyancy foam. Also - if you look at the market for a used Hewescraft, you'll see that they are very hard to come by and when they do go on sale they attract a premium price. A boat is a big purchase for most people - so it is nice when the "investment" has a good resale value at the end of the intended use timeframe. Just a few considerations - I'm sure either boat would be an AWESOME fishing platform so either way you'll be hauling halis and netting salmon soon! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zac Great info! I appreciate the in depth response. That foam must be the reason the Hewescraft sounds less “tinny” on the water too. I assumed all aluminum boats over 20’ got away from foam. The Hewescraft dealer never mentioned the foam or the foam benefits. Time for some more recon. Thanks again!
Hi Wisskey8t9 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. On evenings when it isn't too cold, we sometimes just use a few "hot hands" handwarmers or bodywarmers (the 18hr versions) to keep us warm. This year we also added a Mr. Buddy Flex to the lineup - which serves as a heater and has a cooking attachment. We use this heater for colder nights and early season trips (it can be very cold on the water in March/April!). We ended up adding a 20lb propane tank to the boat since we initially were going through lots of the little 1lb ones. What do you typically use to stay warm on overnight trips? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
I have ordered a Sea Runner 210. I had a few questions on the Garmin Setup you went with. What radar, chart plotter, transducer, and marine radio? Do you like them or would you get something different.
Hi DCS many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! CONGRATS on your new Sea Runner! I've got the Garmin 18xhd radar mounted directly to the top of the boat. Thus far after about a dozen or so uses in heavy fog it has worked flawlessly. I do get the question about whether there is interference with the boat roof and rocket launcher rod holders but so far I'm perfectly happy with how this unit has performed when I needed it the most! My main chart plotter is the Garmin 1042 XSV and I have a smaller unit on the same transducer (Garmin 742 XS) at the rear helm. The transducer is whatever came standard with the larger 1042 XSV unit. I've got the Garmin VHF 110 radio and it works just fine. I'm not a heavy user of this radio but if I want to check the weather, monitor chatter or hail another boat - it has performed flawlessly. After two full seasons and into the third, I really like the way my Garmin setup has performed. I wouldn't change a thing. Double check with a few others about a riser for the radar but consider my vote (with a grain of salt) in the camp that it is fine to mount w/o a riser directly to the roof. When does your new boat arrive? What area will you be fishing? Let me know if you have any further questions. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zac , I wanted to tell you your video is the best one for this boat that I have found. The detail you gave is very good and can be applied to a lot of boats Hewescraft sells. There are a couple of other videos out there that are good too. I used all your recommendations on the options when ordering my Sea Runner with a 200 Yamaha and 9.9 kicker. I will be getting it in late August. I live in eastern Washington and do a lot of fishing on the Columbia River for Salmon, Steelhead, Walleye, and Bass. I got the soft top due I will be doing more inland fishing than ocean. The soft top will work better due to summer temps in the 90s and 100s, high winds that would make a hard impossible to control. As you know it is all about compromises. I will also be putting a bent leg tower on it from WHO DAT Towers for the radar. I will also be using the Sea Runner to do ocean fishing in Oregon and Puget Sound in Washington for salmon, halibut, tuna, rock fish, and dungeness crab. I have been doing a lot of research for electronics and have decided to go with the Garmin Sweet. I will be getting a 1242 xsv unit with a GT51M-TM transducer, a GMR 18 Fantom radar, and a Garmin 115 VHF radio. Thanks again for all your help. Safe Travels and Tight lines my friend Captain Snidley
Nice video Zac! very interesting boats, I noticed in other vds too there is plenty of aluminium boats in those parts... is there a reason why people prefer these boats there instead of lets say a wellcraft a striper, gradys or any other cuddy fisherman in fibeglass? and how do you heat the cabin? being in metal must be very cold in there right?
Hi Antonello many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review! The key reason why people prefer an aluminum boat in Southeast Alaska is durability. People often "beach" their boat on gravel shorelines which is unthinkable for a fiberglass hull. Aluminum hulls are also more resistant to being damaged by floating debris such as sticks and logs. That said there are some fiberglass hulls in the harbor up here as well - these folks just have to be extra careful. To stay warm at night we either use a Mr. Buddy propane heater or simply just use a good sleeping bag and a few hand disposable hand warmers (these keep you surprisingly warm when inside a good sleeping bag!). All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thank you for the reply and infos! great stuff! wish one day to go over that side of the world and try some salmon and halibut fishing like you guys do! all the best and stay safe!
I would add to what Capt Zac said, for the given size these boats tend to be lighter than glass boats, so are more fuel efficient for the long distances we often run. Glass boats are quieter and tend to ride better because of that extra weight, so it's a trade off. I fish 75 days a year or so so the fuel savings add up, that's why I went AL in my boat.
Thanks for this video it's very informative. I do plan on buying a boat and with this info it has opened my eyes on some things I didn't realize. I had plan on getting my boat from Bass Pro Shop because of their warranty and they're all over the U.S. Also I want it for fishing and recreational activity. I'm in Texas but I travel a lot so I'm concerned about maintenance. Do you know of a company with a good warranty plan and throughout the U.S?
Hi Patrice! Thanks for watching and I am glad you found this information helpful. I'm not sure about specific boat warranty programs offered by Bass Pro but I will say that I had a similar thought about maintenance before buying my boat. There is often a tradeoff between buying a used boat for less money but expecting more maintenance jobs/costs and buying new or newer boat that may be more expensive but generally will have less maintenance issues. If you travel a lot, it is definitely worth exploring the warranty and maintenance programs Bass Pro offers. Plus, even some used boats have a transferable manufacturer warranty which could still provide additional coverage. Also - worth checking around to find a reputable boat mechanic, preferably one that gets positive online reviews, customer testimonials and that is certified to work on the brand of engine you purchase. For instance, our mechanic locally here in Juneau is Honda Certified, so any Honda coverages and warranties can be fully utilized locally with this mechanic. Sometimes you can void a warranty by having work done by a non-certified mechanic (just check into this because it varies by brand). All the best!
Where exactly did you purchase this boat? I’m searching around for a boat just like this but my budget is set at 80k. Im fine with a used one as well, but I can’t find a used one anywhere.
Hi Kevin thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this boat review! I bought this boat from Tom & Jerry's Boat Center in Mt. Vernon, Washington. I had a good experience with them. They sell a lot of Hewescrafts which I found helpful in terms of selecting additional features, ensuring proper rigging, etc. The fact that you can't find a recently used one speaks volumes about how much people like these boats once they buy them! Good luck with your boat search and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Tommy S - thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I paid about 80k with 70k boat/motor/trailer and the rest feature/gear upgrades (electronics, downriggers, etc.). Tight lines!
Hi Duncan many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful. These "smooth ride" seats came standard with the model that Tom & Jerry's sold. From speaking with the sales rep, he said this is such a popular feature for the pacific northwest that they order boats with these included - because they know fishermen will appreciate them! Are you exploring a boat purchase and considering Hewescraft? Happy to answer any other questions you have based on my recent experience with this vessel. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac thank you for your reply,yes I'm shopping for new boat .I have been dealing with lee at tom and jerrys and am looking at the 24 ocean pro.I am also considering raider coastal 2384 .I hope to make it to AK someday if so what is the name of your charter ?
@@duncangaffney7314 Hi Duncan that's awesome! Either of those boat should serve you really well and Tom N Jerry's certainly has a good lineup of different sizes and options to hone in on your exact fishing use case. I'm partial to the Hewescraft since I've been seeing those cruising around the waters up here in Alaska for the last decade! I'm still actually just taking friends and family on my boat but I do have my US Coast Guard Captain's License so I'm keeping options open in terms of establishing a charter business. Either way - I certainly do hope you make it up here one of these days! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks Bones 805! I appreciate the kind words. We still enjoy this boat just as much this season (the third full season) as the day we put it on the water! Are you researching a potential boat purchase? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac No purchase. Just love boat porn and your boat looked pretty cool in the other vids. I built my own 19' "Greenough" copy in 1990 from the ground up but always looking for improvements. Thanks for the vid.
Hi B W thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this boat review! Trolling in the wind is actually great with the bulkhead acting as a sail. If you troll with the wind (following sea) it is very comfortable and stable, even in very choppy seas! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi remustrading thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! After 3 years of running this engine, I get around 2.8 to 3.1 miles per gallon cruising about 30 miles per hour which is about 4600 RPM. Thanks and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi M B sorry for the delay. Sure - On my 225 I run a right handed 3-blade 15 3/4" prop with 15 degree pitch. This was recommended by Tom & Jerry's Boat Center and I love the way handles. They told me that they arrived at this suggested based on testing the boat / engine to achieve optimal RPM ranges. This prop gives me enough "punch" to step up to plane quickly and provides a really consistent power range as I increase the RPMs (w/o any weakness or inconsistency while stepping up). I hope this helps!
Hey Zac thanks for the reply I needed this info due to mine, identical to yours, has been ordered and I’m gunna have to make a decision on prop size/pitch soon. You guys look like you have lots of fun, your boat review was right on.....tight lines my friend and thank you.
Haha hi J Taylor thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review! Yes indeed you called it - hot coffee is a MUST for any morning out on the water! Very observant! haha All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Robin many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! I tried to be as thorough as possible. Are you in the market for a boat? After a third full season with this boat, I'd still strongly recommend it! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Adam thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. It was approx $80k - about $70k for the boat/motors/trailer and $10k for the electronics/downriggers/radar. Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
While my wife and I are not Alaska residents (yet), we do spend all summer in Alaska each year and then the offseason back on the East Coast. Even full summers aren't enough time to enjoy and explore all that Alaska has to offer! Are you local to Alaska or elsewhere? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Anyone out there have the hewes craft pro v 20? Extended transom. 150 HP. Think it’s total length is 22’5” or so. I am looking to use it on Lake Superior and looking for opinions on if it would be a good choice! Can get pretty choppy fast out there also. Thanks
Hi Disc thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed this boat review! Sounds like the Pro V 20 ET with a 150hp would be a great setup for Lake Superior - plenty of power to get out of dodge if the weather picks up! Hopefully others can weigh in with more specific first-hand experience with this rig.... Tight lines and happy holidays! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac thanks for the response! I’ve only made it to Alaska for 1 fishing trip but like to watch your videos. I figure if everyone is using hewes craft up there it should be good for Lake Superior !
Hi Tamzin - thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I paid about 80k with 70k boat/motor/trailer and the rest feature/gear upgrades (electronics, downriggers, etc.). Tight lines!
I must say--because I know many think it--is it must be hard to make money as a Guide, with the enormous outlay of monies for the boat and electronics.
Hi Jmichael Isbell thanks for stopping by. Yes indeed a guiding business can be very expensive before the first dollar of profit arrives - boat, motor(s), maintenance, electronics, rods/reels/tackle/bait, docking space, insurance, licenses (which can run 100-150k for a halibut guide permit), website/marketing, deckhand, and on and on!!!
@@CaptainZac Not to rag on about this, but the permit reminds me of liquor licensing, and the government is worse than any mafia, sure, they should regulate, but THAT much? You know what it does--and I'm not saying you should or it is right, but it promotes what I call an underground economy when the government wants THAT much--for what? Again, THAT much? Talk about shutting down legitimate business-especially when you consider having a guide business--or a restaurant that serves just wine and beer HELPS the local economy, helps the tourist afford coming to the area, state, country but the government sits there on their dead behind and charges--the hell out of you--and the tourist. Sorry for the rant, my point is always to not "take it out on the Guide", he/she is doing his/her best to give you a good day on the water, whether you catch anything or not, and they face--aside from ever changing wind/water/and other fishing conditions, their own government who are trying their best to make their job impossible.
Hi haff202 - many thanks for watching. Take home price for this was around 80k, with 70k of that being boat/motors/trailer and the remaining 10k being feature upgrades and electronics. Hewescrafts do hold their value and there is a strong resale market so if you are looking into one of these it will hold a respectable market value for years to come with good maintenance. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Troy - we did not install a heater. We considered using a simple small propane heater but honestly didn't even need that. We prefer to just use hand warmers when chilly and when overnighting the large hand warmers (body warmers) are great within a warm sleeping bag. The cabin stays pretty warm given that it blocks out all outside wind/weather. There are heating systems you can install if you plan on spending a lot of time on the boat in the winters. We are primarily boating all summer in Alaska so the temperatures aren't too cold. All the best! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thank you for the reply. My purchase will be in Washington State where it has it's fair days of cold weather. However, most fishing too will be during the summer and fall months. I'll probably take your approach to those cooler days. Unless the diesel heater is a 'reasonably' priced item to purchase and install then simpiliar and cost effective is definitely better.
Save your Money people. In July of 2017 I got a quote on a left over 2017 190 Searunner Soft top ET with a 150yamaha, 9.9 kicker with forward controls and link 8 system with a lowrance 9 inch with 3d down imaging like I requested. It was 65k Went to my local dealer Verles and they sold me the same set up in a 2018 for 57k I saved 8k. Called back to see what they would do and told me yhat was the best price. Not knocking the video. Check around before you buy. Its way worse now. Now Verles is 10 to 30k cheaper on Searunners to Adventures.
Hi David thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. Shopping around to get the best price always makes sense, especially on a large purchase such as a boat! I'm glad you ended up in a great fishing rig - all the best and tight lines in 2024! Captain Zac
Hi @polarisstar4958 thanks for stopping by. Yes - this boat has a self-bailing bow (small holes to let the water out in case I take on a wave) and of course two bilge pumps in the back. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Привет и большое спасибо за просмотр моего видео! Эта лодка стоила около восьмидесяти тысяч долларов, из них десять тысяч - электроника и даунриггеры. Я надеюсь, что это будет полезно и всего наилучшего, мой друг! Капитан Зак
Thanks sharkfin2009! I'm glad you enjoyed this boat review. I assure you that I'm always wide awake when halibut fishing! Naps are for after you have a limit on board! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Yes there is a bed that works out great for weekend camping trips on the water. Generally speaking I don't typically see cobia towers around Alaska but I'm sure it is possible to retro fit if desired. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Steven thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! About 5 years ago, this setup was in the 80k ballpark - around 70k for the boat/motor/engines/trailer and 10k for electronics/downriggers/radar/radio/etc. That said, I've heard boat prices have skyrocketed since then so the price for a similar setup today could be much higher. Good luck if you are searching for a new boat and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great reviews, Zac, I appreciate your attention to detail in discussing everything you did….. I recently ordered a 2023 210 Searunner….. set up exactly as you have yours, really looking forward to getting that boat out on the water once I have it…. i’ve actually watched your video several times….. lots of your topics regarding this boat helped me make my decision……. Thanks again for a very thorough review!
Hi tlang48 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad to hear that you found my boat review helpful. CONGRATS on the new boat!!! I hope you love it - my boat still fishes great after 4 full seasons and I'm sure it has many more years of adventures left in it. Where are you located? Will you be primarily salmon and halibut fishing? Congrats again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac thank you for your response, I’m in California….. I fish, the San Francisco Bay and the ocean, in the bay I target, halibut and sturgeon, and the ocean ….rockfish, salmon, and halibut. 2022 was an amazing year for salmon and halibut (California halibut) , hoping for that to continue this year. Occasionally we do catch a Pacific Halibut this far south, not often, but occasionally..
I really appreciate this video! My wife and I just bought a 2023 HewesCraft Sea Runner 210… thank you for helping us make our decision!
Hi Game Of 64 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. Wow - congrats on the new boat!!! Sounds like you and your wife will have tons of adventures to come! Are you fishing in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska? Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac PNW- We are in WA.
GREAT REVIEW. I pulled the trigger on the same model, but one year later, running a 200 main in November of 2023.
Same kicker and electronics suite, for use on Puget's Sound, Straits, and offshore in Summer.
Can hardly wait to fish it in Spring of 2024, starting with lings, then halibut and other groundfish, se crab, then moving to offshore, as the Summer progresses.
I'm a retired commercial fisherman, ironically, doing black cod and halibut in Alaskan waters.
Thanks @thomassmestead9905 I'm glad you found it helpful! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Thank you for the detailed review of a great boat. Cannot believe we do not see more of these for the rocky shores of Minnesota's rivers and 10,000 lakes
Hey @greathornedowl3644 thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review! Yes I agree - these boats would be awesome for Minnesota's various fisheries! Perhaps you could start a trend! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
I HAVE to add this one thing. Years ago, in the Pac Northwest, I was invited aboard one of these. As I stepped aboard, I set my balance--as you do, because I knew my weight would push the "tin boat" NO WAY, it seriously felt like I stepped onto concrete and I'm not kidding. Blind folded--again, in all seriousness, I would have not believed I was stepping onto a water platform. "Solid" is like saying the water is wet. I don't know what they cost--must be a lot, but again, I have never been more impressed with a metal boat--ever.
Hi Jmichael Isbell thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this boat review! Yes that is a fantastic point - this Hewescraft is VERY stable and solid, especially when boarding and exiting the boat. Hewescraft adds a lot of extra flotation foam throughout the hull and in the gunnels that contributes to this sturdiness. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
This video is so good that I feel Hewescraft and all the other manufacturers should pay you some sort of commission. The video is not jittery and your diction is clear. The copy is thoughtful and well presented. As a buyer, I want it all - thank you!
Hi Dedrick - many thanks for watching this review and for the very kind words! I'm really glad you found it helpful as a buyer. I know when I was looking around I had to piece together information from various forums, videos, etc. so I figured that a detailed walkthrough could add value to future buyers. If you have any other questions about more specific boat features/attributes, please don't hesitate to reach out - I'd be happy to clarify anything. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Captain Zac! I purchased a new 210 Sea Runner last year and like you think it is a great boat! Your reviews helped my decision for sure! Looking forward to the 2023 season! I'm just looking at installing my 18" Garmin radar I would be very interested in seeing how you mounted and ran your power and network cables through your hard top if you have the time. Thanks again for all your great videos!
Hi Clayton thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! CONGRATS on your new 210 Sea Runner! Although my radar was mounted during the rigging process at Tom-n-Jerry's, I'll take a few pictures the next time on I'm on the boat (probably this weekend) and can send them to you for reference. If you drop me an email then I can reply back. captainzacalaska@gmail.com Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey, good morning from Colorado. just looking at the storage issue with the down rigger balls. I've seen boards @ 2x4 - 2x6 with holes drilled to set them in. Then trim to fit inside the shelf. I'm sure you get a lot of ideas thrown your way. Love all your videos and please keep them coming. Mike
Hi Mike thanks for the great suggestion! You are right it can be a hassle when the downrigger balls are banging around so this solution sounds like a great way to solve that problem! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Zac, Great rundown on the boat there. I know this an old video but I went back and watched it seen as I am in the process of buying a very similar one. Your rundown was very helpful to me.
Thanks Mark I'm glad you found this boat review helpful in the context of your boat search! Feel free to drop me an email with any more specific questions - happy to help however I can! captainzacalaska@gmail.com Tight lines! Captain Zac
Great review, Zac! I have an older (2003) Hewescraft 220 Searunner, and absolutely love it. Wish I had all the new bells and whistles that your boat has - maybe in the next one. There are 3 good reasons that I enjoy your videos: 1) we fish the same boat; 2) we are both fishing Alaskan waters for the same species; and 3, we both often fish alone. For example, it helps me to watch you struggle with netting a nice salmon and I’ve learned to do it myself better. Keep up the good work.
Hi there that's awesome to hear you are enjoying your 220 Searunner! I appreciate the kind words and am glad you found this review helpful. Great point about solo fishing - I believe this boat is especially good for solo anglers due to the high gunnels. Just super stable so that an angler can focus on boat positioning and fighting the fish without fear of one wrong step causing a swim! Do you ever go out solo halibut fishing? I've boated some chickens along but never hooked into a barn door solo. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac my biggest halibut so far is 46 pounds so nothing really large. I had a buddy along on that trip who helped. I’ve definitely caught the chicken size by myself, but it usually takes me 2 or 3 attempts to gaff the creature.
Just picked up a 21 ft sea runner today... you're right... just a beautiful boat. 200 hp Merc and a 9.9 Merc...
Hi Gordon CONGRATS on your new rig - sounds awesome!!! I'd love to hear how you like it after you've had some time on the water! Calm seas and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
After considering the Hewescraft offerings in the 22 ft range I settled on and bought a Thunderjet Alexis OS 23.
With continuous bracket extension the LOA grows to 25 plus anchor pulpit and leg.
The fishing platform difference is considerable with each added foot of length. 23 just seems ideal hence my decision on length.
The boat rigged up much the same but added during rig out the Espar diesel heater which is a delightful must have that brings much comfort and joy, not to be sidelined, if year round use intended.
For the price, Hewescraft is a great value choice. Thunderjet Alexis OS has increased dimensions across the board. Gull wing option I opted for eliminates any chance of head banging, Arm rests, rear door, 300 hp Merc, 15 hp Merc kicker.
You pay more but get more.
There’s no end to the upsizing and upgrades.
Enjoyed the vid, and being able to confirm the differences between the two fine boats.
Hi Archie many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this review useful in your boat search. CONGRATS on the new Thunderjet! Sounds like a sweet fishing platform and I bet that will move like crazy with a 300 on the back! You raise a number of good points and I'm sure the additional space and features will be a big benefit when fishing for halibut and salmon. I'd love to hear how the boat runs and fishes once you get it on the water! All the best and tight lines my friend! Congrats once again! Captain Zac
What a great detailed video Capt. Zac. I’m currently looking for a smaller 22-24 fishing boat, to use for pleasure as well as fishing on the Great Lakes here in Michigan. Weather can change here rapidly. And nice to hear you talk about the size of seas it is capable of, when that happens. Thank you for the great review. VERY helpful.
Hi Jeff many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! I used to live in Chicago and can CERTAINLY understand what you mean by weather changing rapidly. That lake can go from glass to 6-footers just a few hours! This would be a nice boat for most days trolling out on the lake. I fished with a charter down in northern Indiana who had a slightly larger hewescraft (26' pacific explorer I believe) and that boat fished just fine as well.
www.kingseekercharters.com/
We trolled near-shore cohos so the extra length/stability didn't really matter that day. On days when you run 30 miles and the wind kicks up I'm sure it would help.
Feel free to reach out if you have any more specific questions about my boat - captainzac@fromrodtotable.com
All the best my friend!
Captain Zac
Just a idea for you. I know this is a older video but may still help. Helps me on my new boats that I keep like new.
Use a School Lunch Tray for bait or cutting up fish. Easy to clean as well. Works awesome and you don't have to mess your lids up.
Keep ripping lips!!!
Hi Corey thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! That's a great idea for bait prep! Since this video I've switched to a silicone mat which does a better job than the shop towels I was using. The lunch tray would be super easy to clean and also keep different baits in their own piles (squid, herring, salmon, etc.). Thanks for sharing and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Sorry, I meant the flat food trays. They have a lip around the edges and keeps all the yuk out of your boat. The separate compartment tray may be good for keeping bait separate as well but harder to cut up. Good luck this spring catching.
One last comment about using an outboard at the top of the range--many people I know lobby for something in between the low and high. But consider also, that if you mount the high end of HP for a particular design, it means more than just having the fastest top end. It means you speed AT CRUISE is higher than lesser engines, which means less strain on the motor, less wear.
Hi Jmichael thanks for stopping by and this is a fantastic point. The accumulation of less wear on the engine (able to cruise "at speed" at a lower RPM) can make a huge difference over the lifetime of the engine. Thanks for sharing this insight and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great vid Zac. I live on Whidbey Island and have had my share of crappy boats over the years. I pass by Tom and Jerry's all the time and would dream about a hewescraft. Finally had the opportunity to purchase a new Ocean Pro 200 from them last year and we love it. I've done a ton of research and always find Hewes is just a cut above the competition. Very well made boats! Liked and subbed!
Hey congrats on the new boat! Your Ocean Pro sounds like a great vessel! Sounds like the perfect rig for fishing in the Whidbey Island area. I hope you are getting after some salmon and halibut this season! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thank you for taking the time to explain the boat and your reason for purchase. I've never owned a boat, but I'm thinking about it; much appreciated! This boat is the one I have been considering; seems just the right size. Your review was thorough, one of the best I've seen. Really appreciated the time taken to go over the details. Do you have videos of you using some of the equipment you have on the boat; particularly the down riggers and the chart plotter and navigation features? Thanks, again Cap. Zac.
Hi David - thanks for the comment and I am glad you found this video helpful! It's great to hear that this size boat may be just right for your situation. Where are you located and what do you typically fish for?
I am planning on making more videos to cover additional specific topics like chartplotter and downriggers so stay tuned!
All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac We currently live in Port Angeles, WA. Would like to eventually be able to fish for salmon and halibut, but in order to get where the better fish are we need to get out into bigger water near Sekui and Neah Bay. That's why I thought the Ocean Runner might be a good boat. Just dreaming so far, but good information really helps. Thanks!
That's awesome David - best of luck making the fishing boat dream a reality! Those halibut and salmon will be hitting the deck of your boat soon! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Moving to Juneau for work in the next few months and was just up there back in early August scouting out places to live. Caught a 148lb halibut with some friends. Just found your channel tonight, great information, keep it up. Hope to cross paths sometime when I’m up there.
Hi Marcus thanks for watching and I'm glad you hear you are heading up to Juneau for work! CONGRATS on the 148lb halibut - I bet that was a fun battle! It would be cool to cross paths at some point - feel free to hit me up here or drop me a note at captainzac@fromrodtotable.com. I do return to the east coast for the winter so perhaps next spring/summer. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Marcus thanks for watching and I'm glad you hear you are heading up to Juneau for work! CONGRATS on the 148lb halibut - I bet that was a fun battle! It would be cool to cross paths at some point - feel free to hit me up here or drop me a note at captainzac@fromrodtotable.com. I do return to the east coast for the winter so perhaps next spring/summer. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Love this review thank you, i just bought me a Hewescraft 220 Ocean Pro like 4 days ago . i learned some new stuff like the Bilge Pump "Masterator setting" . I upgraded from a open boat 18' Western with a 60HP Honda. My Hewescraft boat has a 200HP Yamaha. My first outing i got tested out at Biorka with mother nature with some big winds and waves. managed to get blood on the deck (King Salmon) after we reeled him up we had to throw in the white towel to mother nature winds got to crazy.
Hi Wisskey8t9 thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! CONGRATS on your new Ocean Pro - sounds like a sweet fishing platform! I bet you are loving the upgraded experience coming from an open boat. Awesome to hear that the boat handled the weather and that you caught a nice king - I'm sure there will be many more kings, cohos and halis hitting your deck in the future! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thank you for a very informative walk through! My wife and I are purchasing a new 220 ocean pro. I am down in Ketchikan, and as I get it equipped I would love to pick your brain on a couple things.
Hi Noah thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this review helpful. CONGRATS on the new ocean pro! Sounds like a sweet rig! I'd be happy to answer any follow-up questions you have as you are getting it rigged and outfitted for salmon and halibut adventures! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I wish you did reviews for every boat haha. Great video. I've seen a few Hewes in Maine and they always look so mean!
Haha hi Buster many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! I appreciate the kind words! Yes indeed - these boat are purpose fit for any fishing environment that benefits from a solid boat with well thought-through fishing features as well as the safety and comfort to get out of the elements in nasty weather. I'm sure these play very well in the Maine waters! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great video thanks for taking the time to do it. Planning on buying this boat with the Yam 200. Still researching options. Mainly fishing for Salmon in the Puget Sound and the Columbia but plan to do some Halibut fishing as well as doing some Kokanee on the east side. Great to hear it’s meeting your needs in Alaska. Awesome boat man!
Hi PNW Sportsman thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! CONGRATS on plans to buy this boat - it should be perfect for the salmon and halibut fishing in your area! I'm mid-way through my third season in this boat and would still recommend it without hesitation - just a hard-working, purpose built, fishing machine - period! Best of luck and I'd love to hear how you like the boat once you pull the trigger! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac thanks man! Just checked out your other videos. Man, that looks amazing up there! On my bucket list for sure. Just subscribed to your channel 👍
Zac, EXCELLENT review. Very informative over all. Thank you for sharing. ❤👍👍👍👍
Hi @stevesheller9223 I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Lots of great info from a guy that no doubt has put the boat through many days of use fishing (mainly halibut and salmon). I have a couple of questions and perhaps one small suggestion that may help keeping the boat clean and uncluttered.
1) You mention perhaps sleeping on board the boat. Sounds fun. How is it that you handle food preparation or do you only bring fully prepared meals? Easy to use a cooler to keep food cold, but how do you heat food up?
2) With 500 ft of anchor rope for use on this particular boat with average conditions you find where you fish, what's the maximum depth you feel comfortable that you can securely anchor in? Are there any features with the boat/electronics that help you decide where to deploy the anchor so that you end up in your desired location?
Minor suggestion with the bait cutting station would be to bring a small portable plastic kitchen cutting board (maybe 12"x16" ) and a small kitchen scrub brush. You can clean the little board up between trips with the brush and not scar up your main board on the boat. Would easily store between trips where you keep your little bait cooler.
Thanks for taking the time and energy to share your thoughts on this boat which you've obviously been through a lot with, both before purchasing it and then using it once you had it. Last little question: Were there any surprises, good or bad, that you found out about after buying and using it for a season?
Tight Lines
Hi Geoff - thanks for these great points! I'm glad you enjoyed this review.
Overnight trips on the boat can be a blast - so many little coves in Southeast Alaska to serve as a weekend lodging spot! In addition to bringing food/drinks in a cooler with ice packs, we also use a small cook stove (fueled by JetBoil which heats up quick and the cooking unit folds down nicely) and heat up a variety of shelf stable foods (including freeze dried camping meals and ramen noodles). Sometimes we even freeze chili into large cubes and then just "defrost" the cube via the cooker and then a hot home cooked meal is ready in minutes!
On average I would say anchoring in 150-300 is pretty standard. Of course, the conditions vary drastically based on tides, winds, currents, bottom makeup, etc. which all impact the amount of extra line needed to deploy to ensure a proper hold. Sometimes anchoring in 320ft at a slack tide with very little movement can be easier than anchoring in 200 feet in ripping tide/current and gusting winds. The chartplotter is essential for determining the likely drift path BEFORE deciding to deploy the anchor - this helps me informally calculate the exact "drop spot" needed to achieve a drift back to the target spot. Also - back-trolling with the kicker is another great approach for the deeper spots (which saves you from anchoring and allows you to either cover ground slowly or hover over the spot). The rear helm and sonar unit are helpful when back-trolling (allows you to precisely track boat position).
Great suggestion about the bait station cutting board! We've found that the thick blue paper towel comes in handy but a flexible cutting boat would do an even better job protecting the bait station from knife cuts.
Ha - in terms of surprises, I guess I would say a positive one would be how streamlined the boat setup / breakdown process is. My wife and I are about 5 minutes from the harbor so we can just swing over to the harbor and be "pushed off" for a quick adventure within 15minutes of arriving. Similarly quick break-down (more time if fishing/boat cleaning are in order!). Perhaps one negative surprise, which isn't really a negative, is just that we are always eager to "push the envelope" to get to great halibut spots and whale watching areas. With safety as our top priority, we sometimes have to turn back if seas are building or scrap a game plan entirely due to 4+ ft seas. A larger boat would be able to handle these seas, but would also not have many of the benefits that this boat does! (streamlined, gas efficient, easy to navigate, etc. - a total fishing machine!)
Tight lines!
Zac
My newest favorite boat/fishing channel. Liked, subscribed and notified. If I was a young man, I'd hitchhike up there and go fishing with you.
Hi Wm Cottrell many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful. Thanks for the kind words about my channel and I'm thrilled to hear you are subscribed to be notified of future content. I'll be posting a lot of great action from the 2021 season in the coming months! If you do end up finding your way to Juneau (hitchhiking or otherwise) definitely let me know! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
My SeaRunner 210 ET HT will be done in June. Thanks for the review.
That's awesome congrats on the new boat! Halibut and salmon beware!!! I'd love to hear how you like it. Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great detailed video….I’m from Unalaska/Dutchharbor, Alaska & Purchased a 210 searunner from Tom n Jerry’s also in June 2020… Great people to work with…
Kinda wanting to upgrade to a pacific explorer now🤷🏽♂️
Hi Kevin thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this video helpful! That's awesome to hear that you worked with Tom and Jerry's as well on a recent 210 Sea Runner. Someone once warned me about about a condition that boat owners get called "2 foot itis" - basically whichever boat they get, they immediately want the next size up! The good news for you is that the resale market for 210 Sea Runner is extremely strong. There are very few recently used boats around so if you did want to trade up eventually, I'm confident there would be a buyer willing to the Sea Runner off your hands! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac
With this pandemic and inflation of prices going up it’s crazy how boats prices has gone up and back ordered… kinda glad I got it before the prices gone up. So we’ll be keeping our searunner. She’s done very good here in the Bering sea
Thanks for the detailed review - helped to sell my family on a SeaRunner 210 HT (no bulkhead) loving it!
Hi Mark many thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! CONGRATS on your SeaRunner!!! The model without the bulkhead is really nice because it provides a lot of extra fishing room. It is very easy for guests to hang out under the bulkhead while actively fishing (with a rod either in the holder or a downrigger). Are you in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska? Best of luck with your new boat - tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Yep we're on Vancouver Island - if I'm totally honest it's a family exploration boat more than a fish boat at the moment - but were all keen to learn and I'm sure it won't be long til it's full of salmon and halibut!
I’ll be up in Juneau for a few days in August... have fished with Moore’s a few times would love to go fishing with you while I’m there!
Hi Matt - great to hear you are visiting Juneau next month and enjoy fishing in this area! Feel free to drop me a line with specific dates and let's see if we can cross paths! captainzac@fromrodtotable.com
I'm visiting my folks in Annacortes and going to Tom and Jerry's tomorrow to look at these and the ocean pros. Kinda just kicking tires and drooling tomorrow. Ha ha. Very nice review. Tight lines!
Hi there Piscatorian thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this review helpful! Oh that's awesome! I hope your visit to Tom N Jerry's was enjoyable. They have a nice lineup of all sizes and models so it is nice to compare what features you get for various price points. I'm sure the Ocean Pro would be a fantastic option for your area. Did they have any of the Hewescraft 29 Adventure models in stock? Those are pretty sweet also! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey, what are the little round screw plates on the deck both inside the house and out on the fish deck for? As always, keep those video's coming........Please
Hi Mike thanks for stopping by and great question - to be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I've wondered this exact thing. My best guess is that these are access points to assist the rigging/wiring process. I'll take a closer look while on the boat this weekend and let you know if I come up with anything else on this front. Thanks as always and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks for a great review Zac, Tom and Jerry's has serviced my boat and I'm happy with them. I have an older 19 ft boat and it worked well off the West side of Vancouver Is. close in to shore. I'd like to get out further for halibut. The gasoline price this past summer was over $2.50 / liter [CAD] and fuel price is a concern. I'm getting 4.5 to 5 MPG and you're getting quite a bit less. Do you have your burn rate at maybe 4000 Rpm? I usually cruise about 24 - 25 MPH. The SeaRunner 21 with trailer and same power at the Seattle boat show was $92K in Feb. 2022 I don't believe it had any electronics.FYI
Hi George thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! Your boat sounds perfect for that area! Yes I hear you about the pain at the pump - gas was very expensive here in Juneau all summer and you don't really have many options but to pull up to the fuel dock and cringe at the bill. Wow - I've heard some examples of boat prices shooting up over the past few years and yours adds to this trend. $92k without electronics means that you are pushing six figures once fully outfitted! I don't have my burn rate at 4k rpm handy but let me check into this when I'm out on the water and follow-up. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I watched this vid last year and I bought the exact same boat. WOW! We love it! Your in depth review helped a lot, Thanks. One issue we have is that we didn't go with the optional heater and we get condensation on the interior windshield. I was thinking of installing a couple of 12V fans aimed at the windshield. Do you have the same problem? If so - did you solve it??? Thanks again for the fantastic review!!
Hi macsgetthemacs thanks for stopping by and I'm glad to hear that you found my boat review helpful, so much so that you bought the same one! Are you fishing in the Ontario area (guessing based on your channel)? Trolling the Great Lakes? Yes - I do occasionally get condensation on the interior windshield, especially after fishing in the cold rain and coming back into the warmer cabin with soaked rain gear. My solve to date includes a few tactics - none perfect but manageable. I do have a small 12v fan that I plug into the dash and clip onto the upper storage shelf on the above the captain's chair (pointing directly at the front windshield). I also ensure that the window is clean with periodic windex cleanings. I'll open the side window as well to promote more air flow. Lastly, I always have a roll of disposable blue heavy duty shop wipes on board (think heavy duty paper towels). I'll always have 1-2 of these within reach when underway in case I need to give the windshield a quick wipe. Typically, first thing in the morning I'll need to wipe it and then the moisture subsides once underway. The other case is when I bring a bunch of moisture into the cabin after fishing - which tends to require a mix of the tactics I stated above to address. Although not a perfect solution, hopefully this helps! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thanks for the advice. Will put it to use. Really appreciated. We are on Lake Nipissing Ontario. Our cottage is water access and somewhat exposed to heavy winds. Super safe comfortable boat to get us there and back. Plus awesome fishing boat to boot!! Thanks. Dano
Hello Captain Zac,
I’ve got my eye on a 21’ Sea Runner for fishing on Lake Erie. Erie is shallow and is known for its short chop which can produce hard, heavy seas.
If you don’t mind I’ve got a few questions.
How does your boat handle chop and heavy seas?
What’s the biggest seas you’ve been in with your boat?
Long term, are you seeing your Hewes Craft hull hold up to the pounding it takes on the ocean?
Do you run trim tabs and how helpful are they in rough conditions?
Any other comments or suggestions on the durability and sea worthiness of your boat?
Thanks in advance. Great Video!
With Best Regards,
Art
Hi Art - many thanks for watching my boat review and I'm glad you found it helpful. I spend the offseason in PA (near Pittsburgh) so I can relate to your Lake Erie fishing adventures! Although, I miss all the good walleye fishing because I'm up in Juneau then - but the steelhead are around in the late fall / winter! Looks like you have some very cool underwater walleye footage - that's awesome!
I'll try to answer all your questions and happy to follow-up as needed.
The boat handles well in chop and heavy seas. It is a very stable fishing platform. The wide gunnels and heavy main motor (225hp) contribute to this stability. I do run trim tabs which are very helpful in choppy seas - highly recommended. I've had the boat in 5-7 foot seas but don't make a habit of that. I would describe those seas as uncomfortable but not unsafe. With trim tabs, engine power to "push through" the swells, self-bailing bow, buoyant foam insulation within many parts of the boat, etc. - I've always been able to navigate away from these nasty seas to safety. I have enough days on the water that I can pick and choose the better weather days. That said, you always have to be prepared for the seas to pick up unexpectedly, and for that, I have been very impressed with this boat. When seas are 3-4 feet, I can still carry decent pace by cranking up my trim tabs and punching through the chop. I prefer to fish in 3ft or less unless there is a tournament on the line. Most days around Juneau are 3ft or less unless there is a big storm passing through. The full bulkhead makes navigating heavy seas much nicer... you'd be surprised how calm it can feel inside the cabin navigating through otherwise nasty seas in the pouring down rain and fog. I've put two full seasons into this 2019 boat and it is holding up great - absolutely no sign of hull wear. I actually get compliments on how well the boat of welded. Some of my guests who know about welding techniques have suggested that Hewescraft went above and beyond with their welds. Overall, I'm happy with both the durability and the sea worthiness. Durability wise, it is just a rock solid aluminum fishing boat with many features that benefit fishermen (truly designed by fishermen for fishermen). It isn't a luxury cruiser, which is totally fine - since it is a purpose fit fishing machine! In terms of sea worthiness, I've been very impresses. As mentioned, very heavy seas feel uncomfortable but not unsafe. The extra power of the 225 main also allows me to either outrun bad weather or punch through heavy swells (versus getting swamped like an underpowered boat may) en route to safety. Depending on passenger/gear load, I can run around 40mph at full tilt (away from danger) which is a huge advantage if a storm is brewing.
Happy to answer any other follow-up questions you may have!
All the best and tight lines my friend!
Captain Zac
Great review, how much did they charge you at t and j ? My father in law bought a 22 ocean pro HT there in 2018. They are nice!
Thanks! All in this was about 80k. I agree these boats are great fishing platforms! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Very informative video, thank you. I've narrowed my choices down and the hewescraft pro v is one of them. Although yours is not a pro v I believe they share some same features. Great looking boat sir!
Hi Tommy thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this walkthrough helpful! The Pro V is an awesome boat as well and you are correct - a lot of the hewescraft features run across their product line. What others are you considering? Best of luck narrowing down the boat search! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac other options are raider and thunderjet. Thanks!
@@s2ktommy1 While I am a little partial to the Hewescraft, all of those sound like great options and I'm sure you'll be setup for success in any of those rigs! Would love to hear what you land on and how you like it! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks for the review it answered a ton of questions about the Sea Runner. I did have one question did you have the boat fully painted or did you go with a decal? Did you have the bottom painted or go with the shark hide coating?
Hi DCS many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! I did not have it fully painted - just the colored stripe (I chose red). I also did not have any shark hide coating applied when I bought it - just opted for the standard floor boards which are still very grippy even when it is pouring down rain and you have the deck slimed with halibut goo! That said - both of these are nice upgrades so I certainly wouldn't try to talk you out of them. Mostly comes down to specific use case, preference and available budget. Are you in the market for a hewescraft? Overall, I'm still very happy with this boat and would highly recommend this fishing platform. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Great review. I’ve ordered a sea runner and your video helped a lot. Have a question, did you apply shark hide or another product ? I will be in fresh water most of the time, maybe salt a week out of the year. Thanks again
Hi there Richard thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you found my review helpful during your boat search. CONGRATS on the new Sea Runner! As you can tell I'm a big fan of this fishing platform and I have no doubt that you will be too once you get some hours on the water. Where will you be fishing?
Good question - I did not apply shark hide or any after-market products to the floor. That said, the standard floor boards are treated with a "grippy" material that has thus far provided both good traction and sheds fish slime with a spray or brush down. Perhaps see how you like the standard floor boards when the boat arrives and then if you are still looking for extra protection/grip, then consider an aftermarket coating.
All the best and tight lines my friend!
Captain Zac
Captain Zak, I got my sea runner a few weeks ago. Only been out one time with it. I got it with Honda’s , I like how they looked on your boat.
My question is , did yours come with a fuel gauge? Mine only has the Honda gauge that keeps tack of the burn rate. I want a gauge that I can glance at once in awhile. lol.
Thanks.
Hi Richard congrats on getting the new boat in your hands and glad this review served as inspiration for the Hondas - I agree they have a slick look! Yes - my Sea Runner does have a manual (gravity) gas gauge on the dash next to the helm as well as the digital gas gauge on my garmin unit (which measures burn rate from my 225 main engine and subtracts burned gas from available fuel - shows up like a car gas gauge with a little red needle across 1/8 tank markings). I mostly favor the digital gauge since I've found that I am able to track down to the gallon or so how much I need at the fuel dock (e.g., I'll pull up knowing I need 57 gallons - and it'll take 57.3). That gives me confidence in fuel calculations for longer trips where 10-20 gallons becomes material to getting to the destination or home safely. That said, I do often double check with the manual gauge. For example, a fuel leak or fuel theft would not show up on the digital gauge yet could conceivably take a full 90gal tank down to near-empty quite quickly. Does this make sense? Hopefully the dealer would be willing to install a manual gas gauge for you free of charge - I'd argue this is a basic safety feature. They wouldn't sell a new car without one! Let me know your thoughts / how this turns out. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Great video and detail .......I’m sold! Do you have any problems or interference from your rocket launchers or poles with your radar being mounted directly on the roof without a riser? I like the look w/out but of course don’t want any interference issues.
Thanks M B - I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! No - I don't have any issues with interference. Once I spin up the radar, it takes a rotation or two to calibrate then I adjust it to the appropriate sensitivity. It identifies other surface objects such as boats, logs, visible reefs and shores / points. I don't have a comparison point to state whether the performance would be any better if I had a riser but can say confidently that I have used this radar successfully in practice. You might give Garmin or Tom-N-Jerry's a call to get more technical details about the pros/cons of a riser on this specific setup (also - there are other brands and models of radars that may perform better/worse).
Great video! This boat is on my shortlist. I’m wondering how it handles larger swells. I’m in BC so our water is much like yours
Hi Jonathan thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my review helpful! I find this boat to be very sea worthy. If I get into 4-5 footers (which I don't like but sometimes winds pick up), this boat certainly has the stability to "hunker down" and shove through the chop - the trim tabs help with this as well. After three full seasons I'd still definitely recommend this boat! Good luck with your boat search and tight lines! Captain Zac
Thank you! Have you taken any special precautions to keep the aluminum from corroding in the salt water?
@@jonathanproctor690 No problem! Good question - I have not taken any additional precautions other than pulling the boat multiple times per season and washing with a pressure washer. I'm still searching for the silver bullet to help prevent saltwater corrosion (especially for those of us who leave the boat in the harbor all season vs. trailering it). I'll let you know if I come up with any better guidance on this front. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks Captain Zac. I currently own an 18’ kingfisher jet boat but it only sees fresh water so corrosion isn’t an issue. But if I bite the bullet and get a dedicated big lake/ocean boat I definitely want to maximize its longevity
I see your VHF antenna was mounted down by the gunnel, they did the same with mine. I feel my reception is not very good and the antenna should have been mounted close to the roof line. Have you noticed any issues like this?
Hi A Allan sorry to hear your VHF is giving you troubles. My VHF receiver is mounted down beside the steering wheel but I also have an antenna which stands well above the top of the boat (mounted just outside of the starboard window). Given this antenna, I've not had any issues with VHF reception. Good luck with the VHF issue and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. I plan to buy a boat in the next 5 years. This is in the top two for consideration. You may have just narrowed it down to just one.
Hi Troy - thanks for watching and I am glad you enjoyed the review! I'm thrilled that it was helpful in your boat buying journey. Definitely feel free to reach out as you get closer to your buying decision - happy to answer any more specific questions about the process, boat specifics, feature considerations, etc...
Tight lines!
Zac
@@CaptainZac I definitely will. I saved your review to my favorites folder for future reference. Thank you SO much again. There isn't a review online that holds a candle to your walkthrough explanation.
Fantastic review, thank you so much, please can you tell me what the total package cost? without the fishing equipment.
Hi Galavanta - thanks for the kind words and I am glad you enjoyed the review! Sure - overall, I paid about 80k, 70k of which was boat/motor/trailer and the remainder was upgrades/features (electronics, downriggers, etc.). There is a strong resale market for these boats which can make the initial sticker price more palatable based on different circumstances. Best of luck if you are searching for a boat - I'd be happy to show you around this one if you ever happen to be in the Juneau area. Take care!
@@CaptainZac Thank you so much for the reply and all the information. I live in the North West (Vancouver Island) and have just bought a house on the water that has a private mooring buoy in front and I think this boat would be the perfect fit for my location. From the research I have done it seems like the price is very similar no matter where you buy, and yes when these boats have a few years on them they are not far off the new price which is pretty rare in the boating world 😃 Thanks again and happy boating.
Wow Galavanta your new house sounds incredible! I bet you are in store for some AMAZING fishing adventures!!! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Wow Galavanta your new house sounds incredible! I bet you are in store for some AMAZING fishing adventures!!! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Wow Galavanta your new house sounds incredible! I bet you are in store for some AMAZING fishing adventures!!! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Drawer material is brilliant!
Hi Pat thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful, including the drawer material tip! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zac, Just wondering if you could answer the following:
Have you considered installing an autopilot?
I am 6' 3" tall and was wondering how tall the rear boat house door is and what is the interior height of the boat house at its centerline?
Thanks ahead of time.
Hi Andrew thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review! I chose not to install an autopilot on this vessel since the navigation around Southeast Alaska can be challenging with unexpected obstructions such as floating logs, kelp beds or even wildlife (whales, sea lions). I like to maintain an "always on" mindset when navigating since it only takes a split second for an awesome trip to turn into a nightmare if you take out the lower unit on a floating log. I'll have to get back with you on the exact dimension of the door - I pulled the boat for the season and it is in storage. I'm 5'10" and don't have any trouble getting through that doorway or fully standing inside the cabin. Since I added some rod hanging straps to the inside of the cabin roof this year, I did lose a little bit of head clearance (but gained the benefit of not having to move rods inside every time I dock the boat). I'll let you know the exact height once I get the boat back. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks for responding. The roof storage is a great idea.
Instead of using that thin rubber Matt, try buying self adhesive 12" × 12" carpet tile and cut to size. It has to be the good carpet tile with the industrial 3m adhesive backing. P.s it'll last forever captain, i promise.
Hi Darien many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. I appreciate the suggestion about using carpet tile for a durable bait-cutting setup! I assume that you have used this approach successfully? Sounds like it would work great. Thanks for sharing this tip and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey capt! Which transducer are you using?I just ordered a 10”Garmin Echomap with a GT54 transducer. All the vids I’m finding for GT54 mostly relate to bass fishing…I want to hit deep sea.
Hey stoweman34 thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful. I'm going to have to check and get back with you. When Tom & Jerry's rigged the boat they installed a Garmin GPSMAP 1042xsv GPS Chartplotter/Sonar Combo as my main unit. I'll need to double check which transducer they paired it with. Given their experience rigging boats for the PNW, I assumed that the corresponding transducer would be fit for purpose for Southeast Alaska. I haven't had issues with the transducer other than lack of reading in extremely deep water 600-1000ft+ which generally isn't a problem since I don't bottom fish those depths (e.g., black cod fishing). I'll let you know if I can find the specifics on the transducer model. Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zac After doing some more recon, it appears the GT54 that comes with my Echomap would have issues in anything deeper than 50’. The GPSMAP looks like the way to go for deep sea. I also just learned the Echomaps don’t support radar, which is something I’d like to get later. I made the 5 hour trip to Tom and Jerry’s a few months ago to look at a few boats; super nice folks up there. Sounds like they know their stuff on the rigging too. Thanks for checking on the transducer…and all the great vids!
Ah makes sense re: the deep sea focus of the GPSMAP models! Radar is certainly a nice safety feature thus it would be good to go with a model that is radar compatible (so that you can have an integrated overlay - radar and chart plotting). Glad to hear that the folks at Tom and Jerry's were helpful! Tight lines! Captain Zac
great review, very detailed. Thanks
Thanks Doug I'm glad you found this review helpful - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I’m trying to decide between the 210 SeaRunner and the 21 Seahawk. Was there one or two big things that made you want the SeaRunner over the Seahawk? Did you consider a Seahawk? Seems like those might be the best contenders in that range of boat. Thanks for the vids!!!
Hi stowman34 thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you are enjoying my videos! I hadn't considered the Seahawk given that I was pretty sold on the Hewescraft years before I bought the boat. For more than a decade I had been visiting SE Alaska for fishing trips. I had seen a lot of Hewescrafts on the water and while walking the docks in Juneau, Petersburg and Sitka. I figured this many locals must be "tuned in" to the optimal boat for fishing in SE AK. Other benefits of Hewescraft specifically are the multiple compartments of safety foam throughout the hull and the resale value. I once spoke with someone from a boat rescue service and he said after seeing boats capsize and attempting to rescue passengers from the water, that he would always own a Hewescraft due to the extra buoyancy foam. Also - if you look at the market for a used Hewescraft, you'll see that they are very hard to come by and when they do go on sale they attract a premium price. A boat is a big purchase for most people - so it is nice when the "investment" has a good resale value at the end of the intended use timeframe. Just a few considerations - I'm sure either boat would be an AWESOME fishing platform so either way you'll be hauling halis and netting salmon soon! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zac Great info! I appreciate the in depth response. That foam must be the reason the Hewescraft sounds less “tinny” on the water too. I assumed all aluminum boats over 20’ got away from foam. The Hewescraft dealer never mentioned the foam or the foam benefits. Time for some more recon. Thanks again!
Great point!
Capt. Zack question what are you using to heat your boat for when you do over night trips?
Hi Wisskey8t9 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. On evenings when it isn't too cold, we sometimes just use a few "hot hands" handwarmers or bodywarmers (the 18hr versions) to keep us warm. This year we also added a Mr. Buddy Flex to the lineup - which serves as a heater and has a cooking attachment. We use this heater for colder nights and early season trips (it can be very cold on the water in March/April!). We ended up adding a 20lb propane tank to the boat since we initially were going through lots of the little 1lb ones. What do you typically use to stay warm on overnight trips? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
I have ordered a Sea Runner 210. I had a few questions on the Garmin Setup you went with. What radar, chart plotter, transducer, and marine radio? Do you like them or would you get something different.
Hi DCS many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! CONGRATS on your new Sea Runner! I've got the Garmin 18xhd radar mounted directly to the top of the boat. Thus far after about a dozen or so uses in heavy fog it has worked flawlessly. I do get the question about whether there is interference with the boat roof and rocket launcher rod holders but so far I'm perfectly happy with how this unit has performed when I needed it the most! My main chart plotter is the Garmin 1042 XSV and I have a smaller unit on the same transducer (Garmin 742 XS) at the rear helm. The transducer is whatever came standard with the larger 1042 XSV unit. I've got the Garmin VHF 110 radio and it works just fine. I'm not a heavy user of this radio but if I want to check the weather, monitor chatter or hail another boat - it has performed flawlessly.
After two full seasons and into the third, I really like the way my Garmin setup has performed. I wouldn't change a thing. Double check with a few others about a riser for the radar but consider my vote (with a grain of salt) in the camp that it is fine to mount w/o a riser directly to the roof.
When does your new boat arrive? What area will you be fishing? Let me know if you have any further questions.
All the best and tight lines my friend!
Captain Zac
Captain Zac , I wanted to tell you your video is the best one for this boat that I have found. The detail you gave is very good and can be applied to a lot of boats Hewescraft sells. There are a couple of other videos out there that are good too. I used all your recommendations on the options when ordering my Sea Runner with a 200 Yamaha and 9.9 kicker. I will be getting it in late August. I live in eastern Washington and do a lot of fishing on the Columbia River for Salmon, Steelhead, Walleye, and Bass. I got the soft top due I will be doing more inland fishing than ocean. The soft top will work better due to summer temps in the 90s and 100s, high winds that would make a hard impossible to control. As you know it is all about compromises. I will also be putting a bent leg tower on it from WHO DAT Towers for the radar. I will also be using the Sea Runner to do ocean fishing in Oregon and Puget Sound in Washington for salmon, halibut, tuna, rock fish, and dungeness crab. I have been doing a lot of research for electronics and have decided to go with the Garmin Sweet. I will be getting a 1242 xsv unit with a GT51M-TM transducer, a GMR 18 Fantom radar, and a Garmin 115 VHF radio. Thanks again for all your help.
Safe Travels and Tight lines my friend
Captain Snidley
Nice video Zac! very interesting boats, I noticed in other vds too there is plenty of aluminium boats in those parts... is there a reason why people prefer these boats there instead of lets say a wellcraft a striper, gradys or any other cuddy fisherman in fibeglass? and how do you heat the cabin? being in metal must be very cold in there right?
Hi Antonello many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review! The key reason why people prefer an aluminum boat in Southeast Alaska is durability. People often "beach" their boat on gravel shorelines which is unthinkable for a fiberglass hull. Aluminum hulls are also more resistant to being damaged by floating debris such as sticks and logs. That said there are some fiberglass hulls in the harbor up here as well - these folks just have to be extra careful. To stay warm at night we either use a Mr. Buddy propane heater or simply just use a good sleeping bag and a few hand disposable hand warmers (these keep you surprisingly warm when inside a good sleeping bag!). All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thank you for the reply and infos! great stuff! wish one day to go over that side of the world and try some salmon and halibut fishing like you guys do! all the best and stay safe!
Thanks Antonello!
I would add to what Capt Zac said, for the given size these boats tend to be lighter than glass boats, so are more fuel efficient for the long distances we often run. Glass boats are quieter and tend to ride better because of that extra weight, so it's a trade off. I fish 75 days a year or so so the fuel savings add up, that's why I went AL in my boat.
Thanks for this video it's very informative. I do plan on buying a boat and with this info it has opened my eyes on some things I didn't realize. I had plan on getting my boat from Bass Pro Shop because of their warranty and they're all over the U.S. Also I want it for fishing and recreational activity. I'm in Texas but I travel a lot so I'm concerned about maintenance. Do you know of a company with a good warranty plan and throughout the U.S?
Hi Patrice! Thanks for watching and I am glad you found this information helpful. I'm not sure about specific boat warranty programs offered by Bass Pro but I will say that I had a similar thought about maintenance before buying my boat. There is often a tradeoff between buying a used boat for less money but expecting more maintenance jobs/costs and buying new or newer boat that may be more expensive but generally will have less maintenance issues. If you travel a lot, it is definitely worth exploring the warranty and maintenance programs Bass Pro offers. Plus, even some used boats have a transferable manufacturer warranty which could still provide additional coverage. Also - worth checking around to find a reputable boat mechanic, preferably one that gets positive online reviews, customer testimonials and that is certified to work on the brand of engine you purchase. For instance, our mechanic locally here in Juneau is Honda Certified, so any Honda coverages and warranties can be fully utilized locally with this mechanic. Sometimes you can void a warranty by having work done by a non-certified mechanic (just check into this because it varies by brand). All the best!
@@CaptainZac thanks for the good info and I will take everything you said into consideration
Where exactly did you purchase this boat? I’m searching around for a boat just like this but my budget is set at 80k. Im fine with a used one as well, but I can’t find a used one anywhere.
Hi Kevin thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this boat review! I bought this boat from Tom & Jerry's Boat Center in Mt. Vernon, Washington. I had a good experience with them. They sell a lot of Hewescrafts which I found helpful in terms of selecting additional features, ensuring proper rigging, etc. The fact that you can't find a recently used one speaks volumes about how much people like these boats once they buy them! Good luck with your boat search and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Amazing boat,may I know how much for it?Thanks
If I had to guess 80k minimum
Hi Tommy S - thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I paid about 80k with 70k boat/motor/trailer and the rest feature/gear upgrades (electronics, downriggers, etc.). Tight lines!
Great guess! You are spot on haha - tight lines!
Great video ,did tom and jerrys offer the smooth move seats ,or did you install ?
Hi Duncan many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful. These "smooth ride" seats came standard with the model that Tom & Jerry's sold. From speaking with the sales rep, he said this is such a popular feature for the pacific northwest that they order boats with these included - because they know fishermen will appreciate them! Are you exploring a boat purchase and considering Hewescraft? Happy to answer any other questions you have based on my recent experience with this vessel. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac thank you for your reply,yes I'm shopping for new boat .I have been dealing with lee at tom and jerrys and am looking at the 24 ocean pro.I am also considering raider coastal 2384 .I hope to make it to AK someday if so what is the name of your charter ?
@@duncangaffney7314 Hi Duncan that's awesome! Either of those boat should serve you really well and Tom N Jerry's certainly has a good lineup of different sizes and options to hone in on your exact fishing use case. I'm partial to the Hewescraft since I've been seeing those cruising around the waters up here in Alaska for the last decade! I'm still actually just taking friends and family on my boat but I do have my US Coast Guard Captain's License so I'm keeping options open in terms of establishing a charter business. Either way - I certainly do hope you make it up here one of these days! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Nice rig. Looks pretty sick!!
Thanks Bones 805! I appreciate the kind words. We still enjoy this boat just as much this season (the third full season) as the day we put it on the water! Are you researching a potential boat purchase? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac No purchase. Just love boat porn and your boat looked pretty cool in the other vids. I built my own 19' "Greenough" copy in 1990 from the ground up but always looking for improvements. Thanks for the vid.
@@bones8057 Cool it sounds like you've got a really awesome boat!
@@CaptainZac I love my boat. It is pretty small but still fishes fine for my wife and I. Plus a nice pilothouse and cabin for overnight trips.
How is trolling in the wind with that top acting like a sail?
Hi B W thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this boat review! Trolling in the wind is actually great with the bulkhead acting as a sail. If you troll with the wind (following sea) it is very comfortable and stable, even in very choppy seas! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi. How much fuel that Honda uses when cruising in that boat ? Thanks
Hi remustrading thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! After 3 years of running this engine, I get around 2.8 to 3.1 miles per gallon cruising about 30 miles per hour which is about 4600 RPM. Thanks and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great video thank you show your boat and detail.
Hi Kevin many thanks I'm glad you found this boat review helpful! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Can you tell me what size prop your running on the 225 and how you like it?
Hi M B sorry for the delay. Sure - On my 225 I run a right handed 3-blade 15 3/4" prop with 15 degree pitch. This was recommended by Tom & Jerry's Boat Center and I love the way handles. They told me that they arrived at this suggested based on testing the boat / engine to achieve optimal RPM ranges. This prop gives me enough "punch" to step up to plane quickly and provides a really consistent power range as I increase the RPMs (w/o any weakness or inconsistency while stepping up). I hope this helps!
Hey Zac thanks for the reply I needed this info due to mine, identical to yours, has been ordered and I’m gunna have to make a decision on prop size/pitch soon. You guys look like you have lots of fun, your boat review was right on.....tight lines my friend and thank you.
you got the Stanley coffee cup!!!
Haha hi J Taylor thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review! Yes indeed you called it - hot coffee is a MUST for any morning out on the water! Very observant! haha All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Excellent review solid 10 out 10 👍
Hi Robin many thanks for watching and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! I tried to be as thorough as possible. Are you in the market for a boat? After a third full season with this boat, I'd still strongly recommend it! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac I'm getting a stabicraft 2250ucwt in the spring with twin 150's . It can get a little rough out here on Haida Gwaii.
@@robintaylor1490 That's awesome - sounds like a sweet fishing platform! CONGRATS!
@@CaptainZac if you get a chance look at UA-cam it won an award this year.
If you don't mind me asking, how much did this boat cost?
Hi Adam thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. It was approx $80k - about $70k for the boat/motors/trailer and $10k for the electronics/downriggers/radar. Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Same boat is now 110k in Anchorage
Do you guys head up to Alaska regularly or are you residents
While my wife and I are not Alaska residents (yet), we do spend all summer in Alaska each year and then the offseason back on the East Coast. Even full summers aren't enough time to enjoy and explore all that Alaska has to offer! Are you local to Alaska or elsewhere? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Anyone out there have the hewes craft pro v 20? Extended transom. 150 HP. Think it’s total length is 22’5” or so. I am looking to use it on Lake Superior and looking for opinions on if it would be a good choice! Can get pretty choppy fast out there also. Thanks
Hi Disc thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed this boat review! Sounds like the Pro V 20 ET with a 150hp would be a great setup for Lake Superior - plenty of power to get out of dodge if the weather picks up! Hopefully others can weigh in with more specific first-hand experience with this rig.... Tight lines and happy holidays! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac thanks for the response! I’ve only made it to Alaska for 1 fishing trip but like to watch your videos. I figure if everyone is using hewes craft up there it should be good for Lake Superior !
How much did you pay for the boat,sir thank you.
Hi Tamzin - thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I paid about 80k with 70k boat/motor/trailer and the rest feature/gear upgrades (electronics, downriggers, etc.). Tight lines!
I must say--because I know many think it--is it must be hard to make money as a Guide, with the enormous outlay of monies for the boat and electronics.
Hi Jmichael Isbell thanks for stopping by. Yes indeed a guiding business can be very expensive before the first dollar of profit arrives - boat, motor(s), maintenance, electronics, rods/reels/tackle/bait, docking space, insurance, licenses (which can run 100-150k for a halibut guide permit), website/marketing, deckhand, and on and on!!!
@@CaptainZac Not to rag on about this, but the permit reminds me of liquor licensing, and the government is worse than any mafia, sure, they should regulate, but THAT much? You know what it does--and I'm not saying you should or it is right, but it promotes what I call an underground economy when the government wants THAT much--for what? Again, THAT much? Talk about shutting down legitimate business-especially when you consider having a guide business--or a restaurant that serves just wine and beer HELPS the local economy, helps the tourist afford coming to the area, state, country but the government sits there on their dead behind and charges--the hell out of you--and the tourist. Sorry for the rant, my point is always to not "take it out on the Guide", he/she is doing his/her best to give you a good day on the water, whether you catch anything or not, and they face--aside from ever changing wind/water/and other fishing conditions, their own government who are trying their best to make their job impossible.
What's a take home price for this$$$$
Hi haff202 - many thanks for watching. Take home price for this was around 80k, with 70k of that being boat/motors/trailer and the remaining 10k being feature upgrades and electronics. Hewescrafts do hold their value and there is a strong resale market so if you are looking into one of these it will hold a respectable market value for years to come with good maintenance. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Good to know! I have been looking into a Hewescraft but ballpark pricing seems to be taboo online for boats?
Did you install a diesel heater?
Hi Troy - we did not install a heater. We considered using a simple small propane heater but honestly didn't even need that. We prefer to just use hand warmers when chilly and when overnighting the large hand warmers (body warmers) are great within a warm sleeping bag. The cabin stays pretty warm given that it blocks out all outside wind/weather. There are heating systems you can install if you plan on spending a lot of time on the boat in the winters. We are primarily boating all summer in Alaska so the temperatures aren't too cold.
All the best!
Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thank you for the reply. My purchase will be in Washington State where it has it's fair days of cold weather. However, most fishing too will be during the summer and fall months. I'll probably take your approach to those cooler days.
Unless the diesel heater is a 'reasonably' priced item to purchase and install then simpiliar and cost effective is definitely better.
Sounds good - best of luck with your boat purchase!
Save your Money people. In July of 2017 I got a quote on a left over 2017 190 Searunner Soft top ET with a 150yamaha, 9.9 kicker with forward controls and link 8 system with a lowrance 9 inch with 3d down imaging like I requested. It was 65k Went to my local dealer Verles and they sold me the same set up in a 2018 for 57k I saved 8k. Called back to see what they would do and told me yhat was the best price. Not knocking the video. Check around before you buy. Its way worse now. Now Verles is 10 to 30k cheaper on Searunners to Adventures.
Hi David thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review. Shopping around to get the best price always makes sense, especially on a large purchase such as a boat! I'm glad you ended up in a great fishing rig - all the best and tight lines in 2024! Captain Zac
Called Verles the other day to see if they can match or beat Tom n Jerry’s price for a 210 searunner HT they could not.🤔
Funny. I checked and called verles and toms. Verles beat them by 6 k
No self drainage 😢
Hi @polarisstar4958 thanks for stopping by. Yes - this boat has a self-bailing bow (small holes to let the water out in case I take on a wave) and of course two bilge pumps in the back. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Привет , сколько стоит катер Hewes Pro 22
Привет и большое спасибо за просмотр моего видео! Эта лодка стоила около восьмидесяти тысяч долларов, из них десять тысяч - электроника и даунриггеры. Я надеюсь, что это будет полезно и всего наилучшего, мой друг! Капитан Зак
pay attention when you fish..no need to nap and let your down riggers know you live in LA
Thanks sharkfin2009! I'm glad you enjoyed this boat review. I assure you that I'm always wide awake when halibut fishing! Naps are for after you have a limit on board! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Theres a bed? Can say put
a cobia tower on it?….. lol
Yes there is a bed that works out great for weekend camping trips on the water. Generally speaking I don't typically see cobia towers around Alaska but I'm sure it is possible to retro fit if desired. Tight lines! Captain Zac
shhhh the price is a secret
Hey Dan thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed my boat review - tight lines! Captain Zac
What can you expect to pay for a setup like that
Hi Steven thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you found my boat review helpful! About 5 years ago, this setup was in the 80k ballpark - around 70k for the boat/motor/engines/trailer and 10k for electronics/downriggers/radar/radio/etc. That said, I've heard boat prices have skyrocketed since then so the price for a similar setup today could be much higher. Good luck if you are searching for a new boat and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac