Anyone heard and comments, good or bad, on the Sportsman Boats. They are a new company building CC’s in Summerville, SC. Have Googled them and can not find any comments except on the company website which, all are good comments.
Considering buying their new Heritage 211CC. The boat looks sold, good lines, carolina bow flair and has all the bells and whistles that are pretty much standard.
I have “heard” that they are the Sea Pro molds and I have “heard” that the family who owned Sea Pro started Sportsman. But I have no real info if that is true.
Pursuit 3400
Cummins Diesels-FOR SALE!
Dixie Craft-custom flats boat
One of the owners did own Sea Pro prior to selling out to Brunswick. I looked them over hard and they seem to be a good boat. However, from a fishing stand point I thinks there is some room for improvement when is comes to livewells and overall layout. Like any manufacturer they continue to improve the model as time goes on. Look at the orginal Sea Hunt BX22 when it first came out compared to the upgraded model they have today. I would look at alot of boats and then decide. Visit www.thehullthruth.com and so some additional research.
He must Increase,but I must decrease. John 3:30
REEL_SPORTSMEN or REEL_SPORTSMAN on here has the masters 227…
Looked at them hard back in the fall. But I kept going back to the Pioneer every time I looked at a different boat and just liked it more after every other one I looked at.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Tommy Hancock (SeaPro founder) and Dale Martin (Key West co-founder) started Sportsman boats. Look great! Solid - built in Ridgeville (N of Sumerville) in plant behind Scout where Zodiacs are also built.
Thanks, Captain Ross
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Looked at them at the Charleston Show. They look good from 50’ but up close the fit and finish leaves a lot to be desired. Also couldn’t quite understand all they had going on in the Heritage 22’. The livewells were real small, the little step up in the front between the seats is a trip hazard. Between having a euro transom and a full bench seat it’s a long reach to get a fish around the motor and it takes up way to much room for fishing IMHO. The batteries looked (**() near impossible to get to and check. I started looking at the hatches and compartments and the fit and finish of those areas did not impress me at all. They are not the old Sea Pro molds, they’re completely new. IMHO just looks like another average boat from another average builder.
They deffinately are not the “old seapro molds”
As previously stated, Tommy and Dale from seapro and keywest have built Sportsman boats from the ground up.
I looked at them hard last year and then again this year. If we didn’t have all these closures I would have bought the Heritage229 last year. I thought the fit and finish was at least average if not above average especially for a mid-tier boat.
It is a Mid-tier boat, not top of the line, but a well constructed nice mid tier. ( my opinion )
For me, access to the batteries, fuel filters, bilge pumps etc… were a big selling point. The ability to raise the rear hatch and there everything is… was nice.
The heritage line tries to fit in between being a Family boat and a fishing boat. Some of the family friendly stuff takes away from it being a serious fishing machine, but there was enough of the fishing mentality for it to appeal to me.
After the boat show this year, I reevaluated my favorite mid-tier boat and decided that I liked the Cobia line more that the Sportsman. Cobia has more “Fishability” features. Just my opinion.
Toured the factory several times and have been on the boats. Never ridden in one. Can tell you the owners are good guys and they care about their product. Between a local manufacturer and Hanckle you should not have any service issues. You can always find fit and finish problems in any boat.
I purchased mt Sportsman 229 Heritage last May and I love it. As someone mentioned above the boat is a combination of a family boat and a fishing boat. I equipped it with a Yam 250 and she runs like a top. The bow has a deep enough V to cut through the cop and enough flair to keep the wife dry. I had it off shore only once last year, but planning more trips this year. She handled a 2 ft chop with no problem and the occasional 3 to 4 made you pucker a little but had no problem getting through them. As with all new boats there were a few things that needed tweaking, but the dealership corrected it quickly. If anyone wants more specific information about the boat please ask away.
Kevin
Sportsman 229
Yamaha 250
If you ever need someone to ride along and help catch fish just give me a shout…
That’s the setup I had quoted last year except with a 225.
Seriously, I would love to ride on one and see how it handles and fishes on a real trip, not just a 15 minute sea-trial. As I said earlier, I was sold on the 229 heritage but am now torn between Sportsman and Cobia.
Thanks for everyones response to my inquiry about the Sportsman model line. To sum it up still have not gotten any bad feed back so it looks like this new manufactturer must be doing something right as this is their 2nd year and surely by now something badk would come up. Get my Heritage 211 in early May so will get to see. Paul
P. C. Carroll
I think you can chalk up the lack of bad comments to the combined 50-60 years of boat building experience Tommy and Dale have. Its what they have done their whole life.
The 229 was designed to meet the fishing and family needs. Key West has taken the same approach with their 203FS and 219FS (Family Sportsman) for example.
Thanks, Captain Ross
http://T-Topless.com folding, stainless steel T-Top fits most center console boats
http://ShadowTop.com entry level (Do-It-Yourself) T-Topless kit
http://Montauk-T-Topless.com for Boston Whaler Montauk, Dauntless or Outrage
http://Flats-Top.com Shade for Flats Boats
http://RNR-Marine.com/Canvas.shtml Factory Original-Equipment (OEM) replacement Sunbrella canvas for Sea Pro, McKee Craft, Sea Hunt, Boston Whaler, Key West, Cobia, Sea Fox, Grady White, Sea Ray, Pioneer, Tidewater, Mariah, Baha Cruisers, Sea Boss, Palmetto Custom & more…</font id=“size1”>
Drop your top and go T-Topless! T-Topless@RNR-Marine.com
Thanks for the ■■■■■■■■. The 229 was too big for my wife and I. Since I have not seen any bad comments on that boat, I agree with you the manufacturer must be doing something right. We are not in to fishing yet and the 211 will handle all we will do even if we do a little fishing in the future. Thanks
P. C. Carroll