Anyone have any thoughts on Dusky boats. Not the big boys, even though I imagine they are all built similar, but looking at the smaller guys.
They started offering the small 17 Open Fisherman with a closed transom and a shortened Dusky Drive. Makes it about an 18’6" boat with a closed transom, 20 degree deadrise, and 35 gallon tank. Kind of hard to find in such a small baot.
I really like the rear platform, and the safety that comes with it. Like the fuel capacity, and the construction of the boat from the pictures I have seen looks great. 3 piece construction, thick fiberglass hull, minimal foam, good access to rigging for future upgrades, cause lord knows I am not paying Dusky to include everything.
I am looking at a 115 2 stroke for power, and with the right prop it looks like 45 plus is easy. Possibly 50 with a 20 pitch, but will probably want to keep it in an 18-19.
Any thoughts?
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
What kind of fishing do you want to do?
quote:
Originally posted by mhebbard
also, on the specs they have a 20* pitch prop and top speed is 42 http://www.dusky.com/static/sitefiles/performancereports/Dusky_17_DF115TX_PN.pdf
That’s on a heavy 4 stroke with a totally different gear ratio. 45 mph will be easy with 115 Optimax.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
quote:
Originally posted by mhebbard
What kind of fishing do you want to do?
My boating activities are as follows:
Striper trolling, and downrods on Lake Murray
Beached up on a barrier island in Beaufort, Santee delta, or Bird Island
Inshore fishing about 5-6 times a year
Nearshore wrecks, trolling for Spanish, Broad River Cobia
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
4-stroke HP is the same as 2-stroke HP and the weight of the 4-stroke is not going to affect top speed in a noticeable amount. Low 40s with a 115 powered 17 footer is customary. 45 may be possible light with perfect prop and trim. 50 is not going to happen ever with that hull and 115 HP.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
Yeah, the 50 top speed is a stretch. But 45-46 no doubt. Know anything about the boat?
Thanks
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
And you’re a little off base on your 17’ with a 115 speed.
http://www.yamahaoutboards.com/sites/default/files/bulletins/bulletin_4stroke_midthrustjetport_gyt3_sht-triton177-f115tlr.pdf
My 17’ boat with a 90 Johnson runs 46.
It’s not all about HP. Torque is more important, that in turn allows you to run different gears, that lets you run different prop profiles. Not even going to get into hydrodynamics of different foot profiles.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
I’ve run Duskys almost exclusively for the past three years, the 25’, 33’ and 17’ flats hulls. They’re not built to be pretty and top of the line but they’re solid and not terribly expensive. I haven’t fished the boat you’re referring to but I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase a Dusky for personal use as long as it’s in good shape.
I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
Ok, you found an example of a 17’ boat with a 115 that does 45 mph based on a factory performance report…It is interesting that they are only running 7% slip…quite low. It doesn’t matter because performance report mean little in real world in service conditions…That is only time that boat will hit that speed in its life. Performance report are most useful when used as a comparison tool.
Furthermore I did state that low 40s was customary, not an absolute.
As for torque and HP, they are interchangeable. They are both a relationship of rotational force at a given speed. HP differs only in that it is a measure of that force over time.
HP=(torque*rpm)/5252
As for gearing, it is just a means to the adjust the shaft speed and consequently torque. However, HP stays the same.
As for lower gear cases, a Mercury case may be more hydrodynamic, maybe not. In the 40 mph range it is not going to make a big difference.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
And what does that have todo with the purpose of this thread?
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
test the boat in the water
a 17’ boat with 20 degree deadrise is likely to be very tippy at rest
it will handle chop great, but if it doesn’t have the correct reverse chine, it may not be very stable at drift.
other than that, dusky builds a solid boat.
the higher the deadrise the slower the boat is going to be with equal hp, unless you have a pad like a bass boat
www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org
Thanks for the reply Rap, I didn’t even notice your post in the middle of Hairballs personal crusade about top speed and 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke. Still not sure what that has to do with the build quality of Dusky boats, but to each their own.
Rap, I know that they are not boats that are all chromed out, and have custom built hatches, etc. But would you say that the finish gel coat is at least as pretty and durable as other boats? Don’t want to pay money for a new boat and have it come out with flaws that are acceptable to the Dusky faithful.
Chris, doesn’t that look like a pad on the rear of that hull? I would think that, along with the motor setback is what makes this deep v hull still have a good top speed.
Good point about the boat being tippy. That’s why I was hoping to find someone on here who has been on that hull. They’ve only been making it for 45+ years, so figured someone around here had been on one.
Thanks!
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
No crusade; trying to be helpful based on your input.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
the is a super cool little boat. 17’ with a bracket and 3 piece hull? awesome. i would have no reservations buying a dusky, they are notoriously overbuilt.
got any more pics of that? i can’t find any on the web.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
looks like a pad to me
that’s what will make that boat faster than most
www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org
Thanks Chris. The Sea Hunt I posted above also has a pad now. That’s the new Vortec hull that Sea Hunt advertises. A pad allows smaller HP engines to push bigger hulls. Or larger HP to push the hull to 45-50 mph. It seems to be the new rage. Used to be pocket hulls, now everyone wants the motor setback and a pad.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
I’ve never been on that particular model, but I have fished and surveyed a few larger Duskys. Although they are not the fanciest or flashiest, they are a rock solid and well built boat. I would not hesitate to own one.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose