I sold my boat and am in the process of looking to buy the new </font id=“Comic Sans MS”>HBII…! Thinking about the Hewes 18 Redfisher… Any ■■■■■■■■…?
I know someone that has a Hewes Redfisher for sell, I cannot speak of the condition as I am yet to see, he told me it was garage kept, I can put you in contact with him if you would like … shoot me a PM
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
http://old.charlestonfishing.com/forum/classDetail.asp?id=13037
186 Bone Flats Boat
140 Suzuki fourstroke
quote:
Originally posted by g8rnschttp://old.charlestonfishing.com/forum/classDetail.asp?id=13037
186 Bone Flats Boat
140 Suzuki fourstroke
I have a Beavertail and love it. It is not as pimped as the this boat but cost about half the price. Whatever you get make sure it drafts less than 6 inches or you will miss a lot of opportunities. Mine drafts 5 inches and there have been times when I wished it were less so I could get to the fish. My experience is less is more on a skiff.
Mine is a side console and that is the best layout for small boat. The tiny console they put in the center of an 18 foot boat is more in the way than anything. An 18 footer is really a 2 person fishing boat, The console puts one person in front of the console and then you cant see when you drive. I nearly hit a channel marker one time because of this on a previous flats boat I had. Plus, the tiny center console is a nightmare to get into if you need to access something for maintenance.
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Plus, the tiny center console is a nightmare to get into if you need to access something for maintenance.
BOY!!! Do I ever second that statement Corks! These manufacturers should be lined up and shot multiple times with a small caliber, the sprayed with gas and set afire. Not to be harsh or anything…just sayin’ 
Ok…you know I’m kidding, but I have multiple scars to prove what tight fiberglass compartments and consoles can do…and it ain’t pretty.
I owned an 18 Redfisher with a Yamaha 150 and the boat was really very nice and fishable. Very stable and that set up was very fast too. It would be a great open deck boat if you plan to use the trolling motor a lot. I have poled one many times and it is just a little too heavy for a lot of that in my opinion. I now have a 17 hpx which is a totally different boat, much like a beavertail would be. Draft and weight are significantly different.
The newer redfisher have better access than the older ones I believe, but I was able to rig three batteries and a charger in mine and have plenty of room for storing extra stuff/phones/ect.
The seating has been much improved on the newer redfisher as well.
Great all around, just not super skinny.
I owned a Hewes 18 Redfisher. Great all around flats boat. It is probably as large of a boat that you will want to pole. Mine had a 150 four stroke. I relocated the batteries to the large front compartment to distribute weight. The boat would run about 53 mph lightly loaded. Gunny has one with a 135 2-stroke and his would draft 1-2 inches less. Long story short, if you want to pole the boat and get skinny, then get the smaller motor.
Martin, you have a PM.
I appreciate all the input… Thanks…!
HB
Right on HB! Glad you got it sold. I know you’ll be getting skinny soon!
Cool lookin boats, can’t say anything about performance though. The 18seems kinda heavy for poling though. Take a look at the maverick mirage 17’ hpx boats.
SEAFOX 185DC MERC 125
[MRS KAREN]
14’TARPON 100 paddlepower
[SALTY FLY]