Thank’s everybody for all the input! If any body has more advice I would love to hear it!
I will agree with the others to say that a bay boat is the best boat for Charleston, if you plan to fish inshore and sometimes offshore a little ways. Super versatile! I have a friend with a 21 Tidewater and its a great rig. Not to say others aren’t. BTW, don’t let others discourage you from looking at the Sea Fox. Check it out and make your own decision.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.sswaonline.com
just buy stonoman’s
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME THE ENEMY OF FREEDOM.
My name is Ryan Balderson and I am one of the owner’s of Sea Fox. Thank you for your interest in our boats. If you have any questions about construction process’s,raw materials in the boats or overall design features please let me know. Our plant is located 30 minutes from Hankel Marine so I can give you a plant tour to personally show you how they are built. All our new product is designed by a naval architect out of Florida on a Rhino CAD program and then milled by a five axis router for precision plug building. This ensures correct hydrostatics, dry ride, smooth lines, and overall quality of the boat. I currently fish in the SKA and can assure you that I put our boats through the paces tournament fishing. Please let me know if you would like to come to the plant.
Your obviously not a salesman. Like we all know what a 5 axis router is. Ooh wait they use rhino cad, it’s gotta be a good boat.
2003 15’ Bathtub
quote:
Originally posted by Catfishin FoolYour obviously not a salesman. Like we all know what a 5 axis router is. Ooh wait they use rhino cad, it’s gotta be a good boat.
Unbelievable… Your handle is half right.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.sswaonline.com
(**() sea fox! And I thought my marketing was good! ahaha
I’ve worked on a number of Sea Fox’s around this area, including some of their older models. They have substantially improved the quality of their boats over the years. A majority of the complaints I’ve heard(and addressed)have been related to rigging, electrical, and finish. The newer boats I’ve seen have had far less issues with these items. I personally have not seen a structural issue with any of the ones I’ve worked on. They are far from being perfect boats, but they compare to a lot of other boats that were once popular in this area. Sea Fox never seems to outgrow their “stinkin Renkin” legacy(and legacy, sea era). But they are decent boat and seem to be priced accordingly. They will never be held to the higher end boats like Regulator, Intrepid, Everglades, etc… But in their price range, they hold their own. Personally, I’d rather buy a used boat than new, but to many the warranty outweighs the price savings.
check out the tidewater boats. I would not hesitate to taking them offshore. Jimmy makes a great boat alot of room great value
HAPPYJACK
Luke 9:23
I wasn’t bashing Sea Fox in my post but wanted to show him where to find an opinion of ALL boat manufacturers by the only people whose opinion matters: The people who own them! That’s what the JD Powers survey is; a survey of people who actually own a boat from the manufacturer that you are inquiring.
Now, advise from the company owner, and boating magazine reviewers who receive advertising money from the manufacturers they review; is biased as well. It’s your choice as to which BIAS you decide to listen to; The people who actually own the boats or the people getting paid to sell you that boat. 
“If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel .” Benjamin Netanyahu
“Politicians and diapers need to be changed regularly –
and for the same reason.”
GW 205
F200 Yam
Hello all. Have not been here in a while. Spend most of my time on THT. Just got my account going again. While looking at the fishing reports, I cam across this thread. Here is my $.02. I currently own a 2012 Sea Fox 220XT. I will say hands down these are not the Sea Foxes of the past. I have had the boat since May. 85 hours later I have had to only do routine maintenace. What swayed me to the product was the major change and new mindset of the company. I was able to go on a factory tour and was impressed with the construction methods. I can definately say that the stigmatism of the past is in the past, and that their new product is a great cost to value that I feel safe going out on. If anyone would ever like to go for a ride, feel free to send me a PM anytime. I have owned many boats over the years, and I absolutely love my Sea Fox. I get compliments on it all the time.
2012 Sea Fox 220XT
Yamaha F250
USCG 100 Ton Near Coastal Master
I have an 03 220CC Sea Pro with an 2011 Mercury Optimax 250 that you could take a look at! I’ve had it 50 miles out and fished for catfish in the lakes.
all I have ever had is a 1986 Gheenoe 15’9" and I’ve never had a gas motor on it. Been fishing fresh and salt water for 25 years. If I had it to do over… I might would go buy a motor but as it is, I’m not paying any taxes or nothing.
That lasting long enough for ya?
1986 Gheenoe 15’9" bought new and never put a gas motor on her.
People who talk up Sea Fox are people who wake up every day kicking their own a$$es for wasting hard earned money on them. So, they go on the internet and speak highly of them hoping other fools will follow suit. I don’t care what anyone says, I would never suggest anyone spend the time or the money on this particular brand. But I can say that for a lot of other companies out there too. Bayliner is $^&* too. Back in the day when Sea Pro was around, there were bottom tier entry level boats that were moved en masse. You dont have to get all the way to top tier to enjoy a boat, but at least look at your options. Sea Hunt, Key West, Scout, Tidewater and Grady are all decent boats to start with.
Id take him up on the tour. Maybe do some good test runs offshore. Might be worth your time. May want to buy directly from the factory though… if you can.
“My fish served a whole lunchon. Your fish look like a munchkin”
167 Ranger Cayman
Yamaha 115
“Hydrophilic”
2007 Toyota Tundra TRD 5.7L V8
GO PIRATES!
the new seafoxes look better, but what about build quality
forget wiring, hinges hatches and thru hulls…all the lower end boats have issue with those things
what grade of gelcoat, resin, and type and thickness of glass is being used.
are they still built with a choppergun?
i have no experience with the hulls in the last 4 years, but prior to that, build quality was very questionable
Lot of local company bashing goin on here it seems, will add my .02. If you get a boat at seels, be SURE to check over every last nut and bolt they install on anything, they seem to think that nylon locking nuts came can come off steering parts in the first usage even when properly installed.
Have worked on a number of Sea Fox’s and really besides the normal issues all boats have I can’t find anything that really stands out on them as being inferior whatsoever.
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
I have the 19’ tidewater bay. G00d boat with no problems in 6 years. If buying today I would look at the 20’ seafox.
Also there is a 20’ 2010 Pioneer on Craigs list with a 150 honda for 23,000.
When did their production techniques change? I toured the plant in '07 and noticed several things. #1 A worker hopped into the hull after it came out of the mold and proceded to walk around the inside with a Rotozip trimming the top freehand. When he got back to the beginning he was 6" lower than when he started. No corrective action just attached the deck and moved on. Also at the time the color was paint not gelcoat. I would definitley take them up on the tour. Production techniques can be improved at any time and if they’re inviting you for a visit then they obviously have confidence in their product. Most of us can’t afford a Contender or a Regulator that’s why lines like Sea Hunt or Key West are so successful. Good luck in your hunt just do your homework. As mentioned earlier THT is a great resource.
Find a used MHP and be done with it!