VolFan Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 Has anybody ever owned/used/ridden in a Sea Ark Easy 200? I'm going to be looking for a boat for fishing that's ok for family fun as well. I'll likely be looking at a "fish and ski" type boat, but if anybody has any suggestions, please post them up. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted February 10, 2014 Super User Posted February 10, 2014 Most fish and ski's do neither well. Sea Arks are built like tanks. Are you set on aluminum? The Easy is styled like a a deck boat. There are 'glass deck boats that might be a better option. There are tin deep v's that might be a better option. Is family fun pulling the kids on tubes and ski's or kickin' back and enjoying a cocktail? Quote
VolFan Posted February 10, 2014 Author Posted February 10, 2014 Kid (and wife) on tubes, and probably taking another couple out with us. I would imagine fishing out of it alone most, so I'd thought about the deep v's, but if you have any suggestions, please let me know. This will be a first big boat for me, so I'm leaning away from fiberglass due to my own clumsiness. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted February 10, 2014 Super User Posted February 10, 2014 If you're going to be fishing the majority of the time, get a fishing boat, not a deck boat. My last boat was a fish n ski. If we did swimming or tubes 2 or 3 times a year it was a lot. Sure whish I had listened to people and bought a fishing boat. You can get bimini tops or full canvas enclosures for most of the tin deep v's. Alumacraft Trophy, Lund Crossover is there fish n ski or the 20' Impact which seats 6, Crestliner Superhawk, Mirrocraft Dual Impact is a fish n ski. Tracker Targa. You're going to lose storage with most fish n ski's, but some of these are being marketed as a "sport" boat which is more fish than ski, and you shouldn't lose much. Quote
VolFan Posted February 16, 2014 Author Posted February 16, 2014 What fish n ski did you have? I'm looking for people who have had them for info on why they didn't like them, what they bought afterwards, and what make/model they've used. Hopefully/maybe I could be moving down near Guntersville this summer for a while, and I'm getting a boat. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted February 16, 2014 Super User Posted February 16, 2014 I had a 17' Mirrocraft Holiday with a 90 Merc. It was an entry level fishnski. Minimal storage was my biggest issue. I could either use it to fish, or for recreation, not for both. So, if the kids wanted to tube and picnic, there was no room for anything else. The rear seat folded down into a big fishing deck. Had a livewell big enough for 5 decent size bass or walleye or a bunch of panfish. Had a removable table like the Sea Ark has. Had seating for 5 comfortably. Snap in canvas to stay out of the sun or rain. Pulled the kids on a tube no problem. Big enough to take out on Lake Michigan in calm to moderate weather. I fished tourneys out of it for 8 years. The deeper I got into tourney fishing, my boating needs changed and the boat became a hindrance. If I didn't fish tourneys, I'd probably still bought a bigger boat, but not the one I have now. The Lund I have is really overkill for recreational fishing. If I was to get another fishnski, I'd get 'glass and it would be a Ranger Reata or a Charger 375 or 475. Both those boats are nicely set up for fishing and skiing. Princecraft makes a few different model aluminum deck boats similar to the Sea Ark and they also have a big line of deep v's set up in a variety of different ways. I don't know that you'd be able to find a dealer in your area. I also fished quite a bit out of a buddies 90's era Bayliner Capri fishnski. It was 'glass. It was basically a ski boat with a trolling motor. Quote
VolFan Posted February 16, 2014 Author Posted February 16, 2014 Yes, all the Bayliners I've seen are more of the ski and ...maybe fish variety, which I want to stay away from. I know it's boat-dependent, but did that 90 hp suit your needs fine? I won't be fishing tourneys, I just do this for fun. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted February 16, 2014 Super User Posted February 16, 2014 The 90 was fine for pulling the kids on tubes. One kid one tube at a time. No way it would have pulled 2 kids on a tube. Performed well with 4 people in the boat. I think the hull weight was around 1100-1200lbs. 70lb trolling motor was ideal. Top speed with an aluminum prop was 40. I wouldn't go with anything less on a 17 footer. I had a 1988 17ft Chris Craft prior to the Mirrocraft. It was a runabout. Had a 70 on the back and was a dog with more than 4 people. Quote
VolFan Posted February 17, 2014 Author Posted February 17, 2014 I was thinking something like a 115 on the easy 200 as it's a little more hull weight. Maybe a 150 if it drives significantly better, but that's tough to get to test out. I'm going to be pretty flexible as this will be my first. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted February 17, 2014 Super User Posted February 17, 2014 If you can swing the 150 or more do it. Not from a speed point of view, but just all around performance. You'll actually get better fuel economy with a larger motor. It has to work less for the same effect. Once you add the motor weight, maybe 450-500lbs, another 240lbs of fuel, 200lbs of water in the livewells, 180lbs in batteries, occupants, gear, and beer, you're looking at a lot of added weight. A stainless prop will give you better performance than an aluminum, but they cost more to purchase and to repair. Quote
MacP Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 I think the hull is the same shape as my SeaArk. They are built like tanks. I've got a 18 footer with a 115. It's fine. Tows a tube too Quote
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