I am giving some thought to maybe a G3 or SeaArk 20 foot or so tunnel hull. I don't know anyone that has one. Anyone have one or know about them? Issues? Plusses? Minuses?
Thanks,
OD
OPINIONS TUNNEL HULL BOATS?
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Re: OPINIONS TUNNEL HULL BOATS?
i have a 1860 g3 tunnel and love it with a 70hp yamaha on it.if u wanna fish shallow i would sure recommend a tunnel i have learned my lesson about not having one and trying to get out of some places on low tide.the sea ark and g3 are both good boats the sea ark will run u a lil more in price but its built a lil better too.i got my g3 in panacea at mikes marine i can send you his way and he will give u a good deal on one and great service too.
Re: OPINIONS TUNNEL HULL BOATS?
good for shallow running. Don't turn well at low speed. I know several folks that have had leaks on the 90 degree welds in the tunnel, but all seem to have been addressed by the manufacturer (Triton, G3 and Express). Not sure I've ever heard of leaking SeaArk. I would add Express to your list of welded boats below.
That said, I can run my Express, non tunnel, with the JP fully up and not blow out. That includes hole shot. Unless you're going to mount the engine in the lower mounting holes, which most folks outside Texas don't do, then I'm not sure there is as great of advantage as most claim. I'm sure some tunnel owners will disagree with that statement and claim tunnels actualy float higher on plane, but I've buddy boated with lots of tunnels and it has never been an issue. It may be if I tried to follow Junior in "Off the Chain," but my 90hp doesn't push me fast enough to buddy boat with him anyway.
Take both styles of the model you decide on for a test ride
That said, I can run my Express, non tunnel, with the JP fully up and not blow out. That includes hole shot. Unless you're going to mount the engine in the lower mounting holes, which most folks outside Texas don't do, then I'm not sure there is as great of advantage as most claim. I'm sure some tunnel owners will disagree with that statement and claim tunnels actualy float higher on plane, but I've buddy boated with lots of tunnels and it has never been an issue. It may be if I tried to follow Junior in "Off the Chain," but my 90hp doesn't push me fast enough to buddy boat with him anyway.
Take both styles of the model you decide on for a test ride
In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. And we will understand only what we are taught.
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FUTCHCAIRO
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- Joined: December 26th, 2004, 2:36 pm
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Re: OPINIONS TUNNEL HULL BOATS?
HEY DON , GO AHEAD AND GET THE SEA ARK, YA WONT GO WRONG. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE 20 FT. AND A 115 EVINRUDE E-TEC AND IT DOES GREAT. ONLY BEEN ON IT 1 TIME, IF I WERE GOING TO GET ANOTHER BOAT IT WOULD BE THE 20 WITH THE 115 E-TEC.
EARL
EARL
FUTCHCAIRO
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charlie tuna
- Posts: 600
- Joined: March 30th, 2011, 7:00 pm
- Location: Fort White
Re: OPINIONS TUNNEL HULL BOATS?
I have an 18 foot Sea Ark with a 90 Honda on it. And used it for years "loaded" with gear, while fishing the back country on overnight trips in the back country On a plane i have run in 4 inches of water over hard bottom -- not by choice!!! It is a solid hull. I have owned it for ten or twelve years.
Last edited by charlie tuna on February 2nd, 2013, 9:56 am, edited 4 times in total.
Re: OPINIONS TUNNEL HULL BOATS?
I have a G3 2072 with 115 Yamaha, Non Tunnel, floats and runs very shallow. I bought it used and it has served our fishing needs well. If I were going to buy a new boat it would be an Express or SeaArk, preferrably SeaArk no less than 20ft.
Re: OPINIONS TUNNEL HULL BOATS?
Thanks guys I appreciate all of your comments and will take them under advisement! I fish the Apalachicola Bay area a lot in my KW 19-6 and with my trim tabs and jack plate I get around okay without too many problems but I am starting to think I might want to go lighter and shallower and the boats ya'll have mentioned are high on my list.
OD
OD