what is your favorite 26' to 30' downeast boat

[guitarman]

What is your favorite downeast boat and what do you like about it. say from 25' to 30' and 31' to 41' That way it cover most sizes. favorite fishing boat, and or your favorite cruising boat? Most sea worthy, best ride and so forth.

 

[Powderpro]

Favorite- 46' Wesmac (Osprey). 2nd favorite- 42' Wesmac (Red Beard)

I'm currently building a 38' Wesmac for Cook Inlet, Alaska. I will have it out in Bellingham in May/June for finishing touches and sea-trial.

 

[guitarman]

wow that's a real beautiful boat i would love to see it I,ve been doing the Inland passage about the last ten years I just sold a 2009 Seaway 25 coastal cruiser so im looking for my next boat something a little bigger 27' to 29' with a full cabin

 

[Teaserhead]

PowderPro,

I agree! Osprey looks like a killer ride. Beauty Wesmac. Absolutely love her lines. I'm really looking fwd to seeing your 38 when she arrives in Bham.

 

[Mobeach]

I'm partial as I just bought a 28' BHM. It's a big 28' for sure, so far I have been impressed with its handling, especially in a head sea.

 

[Powderpro]

Guitarman- Did you mean the Inside Passage? If so, where do you start and how far north have you gone? I'm planning on running my Wesmac up to Kenai, AK; so I would like to speak with some guys who have run from Puget Sound to Juneau. Where abouts in Montana are you? I've been all over the state, have family in Bozeman, been there more times than I can count. I think if I was trailering a boat around, I would look at a 26' Tollycraft. Seasport and Osprey also build sweet 28' boats that are about 9'6" beams, but they would be expensive and they have outdrives.

I think the 29' H&H would be a good boat, overall length is 29'8" and has a 10'8" beam, so all you need to transport is an overwidth permit in each state you pass through, no flag cars required. Depending on what speed you want, I would go with about 300hp - 350hp and you would have a great, efficient cruiser. The 28' BHM also seems nice and has great lines. Wayne Beal also has a 28' boat and I think Mussel Ridge has a 28'.

 

[Badlatitude]

I would say Blitzen's 36 Flowers would be my favorite of all time. She is ssseeexxxyyy and fast

 

[Hooper]

So many favorites...!

In 30' it's the Calvin Beal South Shore 30, for 29' I love the H&H 29, for 28' I love the Seaworthy 28 and the Harris 28, in the 26' market it's the Fortier 26 and the General Marine 26....just off the top of my head

 

[WoundUpMarine]

Dont forget the young brothers 30, she's a champ!!! I'm still waiting to see what the new calvin beal 30 is going to look like! Oh and blitzen, your boat is all kinds of sexy!

 

[m williams]

28 crowley beal is a realy nice boat

 

[m williams]

Went fishing on one set up for sportfishing realy liked the way it rides. I am saving my penny's for my down east boat in 28 33 ft range can't wait to get one

 

[googinhater]

43 glaspec 38 h&h 36 NB are my picks for big rides

 

[Del]

There are a pile of beautiful DE's out there and their proportions, simplicity, mechanical and electronic elegance, power, and function make me drool. Those that I admire the most are on this forum. But my favorite?....It's the old, worn, reliable one I am honored to own, share with my family in the summer, and tweek all winter.

 

[TwoRivers]

BHM of course ! Mine !

 

[guitarman]

powerpro
I run from seattle to prince rupert i run two of the three Dragons the strait of Georgia the Queen Charlotte Sound from Port Hardy to rivers Inlet and the Dixon Entrance all formidible bodies of water that you have to pick your crossing carefully.let me know what question you have maybe i can anwser them.

 

[guitarman]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Of the boats you mention what is it that you like about each boat . I have spent some time on other pacific deep v boats and i don't feel that they handle and go through the water like the downeast boats do that why i travel 6000 miles to bring them back [That just my opinion]

 

[RAMPAGE88]

So many favorites...!

In 30' it's the Calvin Beal South Shore 30, for 29' I love the H&H 29, for 28' I love the Seaworthy 28 and the Harris 28, in the 26' market it's the Fortier 26 and the General Marine 26....just off the top of my head

Gordon. Admission to an addiction is the first step to a cure. Just face it, you love them all & want to buy every one that comes available.....Go get another Downeaster before you drive yourself nuts !! Call Steve up in Kennebunk, he's got your cure Happy New Year Gordon, Rick....

 

[Powderpro]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Of the boats you mention what is it that you like about each boat . I have spent some time on other pacific deep v boats and i don't feel that they handle and go through the water like the downeast boats do that why i travel 6000 miles to bring them back [That just my opinion]

The DE boat, in my humble opinion, is the best all around design in an offshore boat if you care about a comfortable ride, fuel economy, and good speed potential. They are a classic design and have only improved with time. I'm sure you are aware, but a Northwest boat that is similar to a DE boat (full keel, protected running gear, nice lines) is the Nordic Tug. The 32' Nordic Tug may be a little bigger and heavier than you are wanting, but it seems to be a nice boat with a lot of living space. If you had a Dually with a diesel and a good trailer, it could be moved around with overwidth permits, wouldn't need flag cars.

Are you wanting used or new? If I were looking in the 29' and under size and building new, the H&H 29' would be high on the list with a light weight diesel like a D6 Volvo 370hp, that would be a sweet combo. If you are going to be traveling 6,000 miles round trip to get a boat, make sure it's the biggest boat with the most HP that you can afford. As long as you stay under 12'1" beam, you will not need flag cars to move the boat. From 8'7" beam to 12'0" beam you have to get the same permits but still will not require flag/pilot cars. Go over 12'0" beam, and a flag car will be required in most if not all states east of Ohio.

 

[guitarman]

I fell in love with the down eastboats a few years ago when i was back in Maine but once i tried it out i was hooked. The boats that i made the 1000 mile trip up the Inland Passage in so far. was a 28 larson planing hull. a 28' sail boat, a regal 29' regal express cruiser soft top did the trip twice in the Regal .a 36 grandbanks it was nice boat but to slow. then i was looking for the perfect boat because you have lots of open water the Queen Charlotte SOund north of Vancouver Island has sunk more that one B.C. Ferry. you have tidal rapids 12 knot currents And all of the boat i had so far all had something i didn,t like about them. Then i bought a new 2009 Seaway 25 Coastal cruiser [ Iknow it's not a true down east boat but it is a semi displacement hull] and i couldn't believe how well it made the trip I crossed the strait of Georgia 20 miles during a small craft advisory and i ran between 18 and 22 knots and passed eveything that i saw. the big boats were all running slow and a Boston whaler was trying to stay with me and took a big wave over his bow and headed for shore and i just turned up the heat and sipped on my coffee. I passed a 40' Searay express cruiser and he was having an awful time the water was to rough for him to get up on plane and if he went slow he would get bounced around like a corked they were not having fun at all. and when i got to vancourver a number off people that i had passed came up and wanted to know what kind of little boat i had. So thats when i decided i was going to get a true downeast boat because the little seaway was very impressive.it was like the little boat that could. And it would do 28 knots with 150 hp. A seasport or osprey you need twice that much power and they could not stay with the Seaway in rough Water. So that my Story of why i will go to the east coast for my next boat.

 

[Hooper]

Gordon. Admission to an addiction is the first step to a cure. Just face it, you love them all & want to buy every one that comes available.....Go get another Downeaster before you drive yourself nuts !! Call Steve up in Kennebunk, he's got your cure Happy New Year Gordon, Rick....

Rick, had I not sold Fair Tide I wouldn't have my current problem, LOL!

With a one year old, college fund and a need for an addition to our house it's gonna be awhile. Have to live through you guys.

Merry Christmas buddy!