Are there any issues with these boats? Looking in particular for a 17cc. Just starting search and want to know what to look for. A recurring theme I’ve read is the ones made by Taylor mfg aren’t made as well.
I’ve got a 22 made by the same McKee brother that did Henry O, and I love it. It’s a cool, unique design that is built well. Nice and simple construction. I haven’t been on the 17, but it has a similar bow shape. If you are in the market for a slightly bigger version of that boat, shoot me a PM.
I had a 17’ once upon a time. They nailed it with that hull! I kick myself constantly for getting rid of it…
Will still buy a 22’ if I can find the right deal
JPW
I have a 1988 17’ dual console. Love it. It is old school. No under gunnel rod storage. No built in cup holders. But, the inner hull is cleanly laid out with ample storage and the outer hull is like nothing else. I grew up on the water and worked on the water for DNR for most of 10 years operating boats from 14’ to 25’ outboards and larger research vessels. There is no outer hull design that delivers similar ride, handling, and dryness for its size. It does drink some fuel. But, that is partially due to the fact that I have a 1995 Johnson 88 smoker on the back (which won’t die). A newer motor would use less. Even so, while the under side has ample planing surfaces, it is also more complex than most others and there are some hydrodynamic losses there. At my age, though, I’ll trade a little efficiency for a 17’ hull that behaves as well as this one does. She’s a comfy ride and when it gets snotty she handles it very competently.
My hull is an early Henry O McKee hull. I have no idea about the quality (good or bad) of the Taylor hulls.
The McKee built hulls have some wood in them. But, it is not structural and very well encapsulated. Don’t drill a hole in it and it’ll never go bad. Drill a hole in it correctly (see Cracker Larry’s advice on the subject) and it will never go bad.
I called McKee Custom Boats (the sons/nephews of Henry O McKee) a couple of years ago to try to get details about my hull. The guy I talked to had worked with Henry O and was intimately familiar with the builds. He said there was no structural wood in the outer hull. There is a 2"x2" center line piece that they used to layup the keel portion. He said there was so much glass in that deep keel that if the wood rotted to powder, it would not matter a bit. I also found plywood in the top faces of the gunnels when I installed my down rigger base. But, the plywood was under nearly a full inch of hand laid glass and was bone dry/solid. With that much glass, the wood is inconsequential. And, the gunnel cavity was fu
Do a search, taylor made hulls had lots of problems with quality control. any of the mckee hulls were fantastic
2000 20’ Twin Vee twin nissan 50’s
Thanks guys. I’m mostly interested in a 17 cc. I’ll keep scouring the 'net. One will turn up.PalmerScott your dscription of these boats is exactly what I’ve read over and over. Thanks again!
There is one in Jacksonville NC. Don’t know the year. Good luck. Those boats are beast.
Here is the one that I was talking about earlier – http://charleston.craigslist.org/boa/4574970612.html
Really similar to the 17, but slightly larger. Let me know if you’re interested!
edited to add photo
The boat gregsc linked to is exactly like mine, except, my batteries are moved into the drivers side console so the entire back of the boat is open/flat. The boat used to live on the end of a long dock and the batteries (and, anything else left in the boat) had a habit of walking off. Putting them in the console stopped that.
If I didn’t already own one, I’d be headed to Rock Hill to look at it.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott