Boat advice

[orinoco]

I\'m starting to look at boats for next season, i\'ve started looking at the following. I\'m after any advice or thoughts about these boats.
Reiva Sportsman (first choice)
Alaska 500
Bayliner (not sure which one)
Fletcher Faro
Orkney 16ft or 19ft

I havent set a firm budget yet, but that will be below £10k. I\'ll be fishing with 1-2 other people, towing wont be a problem as i\'m changing my car for a 4x4 soon.
Iain

[Charlton]

Had an Alaska 500 for years, found it an excellent boat, high gunwales and very stable.

[kingfishersdaughter]

try a wilson flyer my dad has had 2 they are great

[CJS]

I have the same to say as Charlton of my Alask, great creaft, had a reasuring feel as a sea boat.
CJS

[orinoco]

What are the gunwales like on a wilson flyer? That is one of the things that caught my attention to the alaska

[daiseyduke]

I have a Reiver Sportsman and they are tip top.Gumwales are high giving a deep boat.

Very similar in price to the Alaskan and size.

You wont find a bigger deck area for the size and price of the Reivers they have a massive beam. The Orkneys seem very narrow.

Look in the back of Boat Fishing the Alaskan package is about 10k.
A new reiver package will probably be about the same.

[orinoco]

I have been out in a Sportsman, thats why i\'ve made that my number 1 boat. I may need to have a trip to Reiver in a few weeks to see what\'s what

[daiseyduke]

its well worth it to have a trip up to see Alan Craggs hes very helpful thats one of the reasons i went there. He\'s very busy at the moment, his order book runs into about Feburary(that was about 3 weeks ago).

[daiseyduke]

Forgot to mention that you will need at least half a day up there once you get talking lol.

[orinoco]

LOL, i remember him well! Last time i was there he was just developing the centre console Sportsman.

[kingfishersdaughter]

HOW ARE YOU DOING KINGFISHERSUNCLEALBERT

[kingfishersunclealbert]

very well hope to see kingfisher tomorrow but not looking good

[kingfishersunclealbert]

ask kingfisher if he wants that expensive bait out of the freezerfor tomorrow he can also use it for the beach for later

[ronw]

no contest for me orinico ran a reiver spotsman for a few years before changing cracking boat particularly in a following sea I ran 60 hp which is about right for the boat.

[orinoco]

If anyone hears of a Sporsman for sale could they let me know
Cheers