Sea Nymph Boats - Looking for reviews

[crazyjoeclemens]

A 17' Sea Nymph V-bottom has come up for sale in my neighborhood, and the price seems pretty reasonable.  I left a message for the owner, but I haven't heard back just yet on exact details, but its a side-console model with a 60 horse Johnson (supposedly under 200 hours on it) and electric trim.  It has a fish finder and trolling motor on it.  Not sure what models they are, but I have a newer trolling motor and fish finder I can rob from my old beater jon boat.  Anyway, the thing looks super clean - good carpeting, upholstery, etc., and no major dents, dings or scratches in the hull.

So here's my question:  I don't know a thing about Sea Nymph boats (other than the name sounds silly).  As far as quality goes, are they good/bad or middle of the road?  Is there anything in particular I should look for, before I buy?  Lastly, what price range would you guys consider reasonable for such a rig?  Let me know what you guys think!  The nicest boat I've ever had is a seriously beat-up Duracraft jon boat.  I'm pretty excited about the possibility of an upgrade this year, and this particular boat seems like it checks all the boxes for what I do.

[J Francho]

I had a 15' and 17' Sea Nymph deep vee, both tillers.  Great boats, handle much bigger water than a typical bass boat, yet easily fished small water.

The whole deal with a used boat, is good hull, engine in good running order, and no electrical issues.

[WIGuide]

Sea Nymphs are a middle of the road type boat. Nothing wrong with them at all though. It should make a solid boat if the price is right. 

[S Hovanec]

I had a 16' tiller with a 25 Johnson.  Nice boat, but I outgrew it quickly.

[Bluebasser86]

My dad's boat is an older deep V Sea Nymph with a 60 horse Johnson. It's seriously underpowered with the motor on it. Doesn't get on plane, just plows through waves to the point you can get wet even with the full windshields. It's not a bad boat, but it would be much better with a bigger motor that could actually push the boat. 

[crazyjoeclemens]

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

My dad's boat is an older deep V Sea Nymph with a 60 horse Johnson. It's seriously underpowered with the motor on it. Doesn't get on plane, just plows through waves to the point you can get wet even with the full windshields. It's not a bad boat, but it would be much better with a bigger motor that could actually push the boat. 

Any idea what model the hull is on your dad's boat?  The one I have my eye on looks like a mid 90's SC 170.

[J Francho]

I had a 50 on the 15, and a 75 on the 17 and they both screwed.  Probably 35-40 mph top speed. They were both tiller models, though.  Initially the 15 had a 20, and it was a dog with two people in it.

[crazyjoeclemens]

Thanks for the info.  I don't know much about v-bottoms, but I hope to learn.  Unfortunately, most of my experience is with flat-bottom boats. My buddy's old river rig was an 18' Lowe Roughneck semi-v jon boat.  It had a 35 Evinrude on it and it actually would get up on plane pretty easy with just 2 guys.  On the other hand, 3 people and a couple coolers full of catfish made it struggle a bit a lot.  His newer machine is just a newer 18' Lowe hull with a 90 on it.  That one launches like a rocket, but it seems to be quite a bit lighter, too.

The hull and interior of the boat I'm looking at is actually so clean I would seriously consider re-powering it, if it turns out to be a little sluggish.  I finally heard back from the owner - its an elderly couple that bought it new in 1995 and only took it out a few times a year.  I know the "low mileage/elderly owner" story probably gets thrown around a lot at the used boat(or car) lot, but this time the elderly couple still has it, they're local, and my folks know them.   Anyway, I'm gonna take a closer look at it today or tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

[Bluebasser86]

18 hours ago, crazyjoeclemens said:

Any idea what model the hull is on your dad's boat?  The one I have my eye on looks like a mid 90's SC 170.

I'm not positive, but it looks very similar to the GLS175. 

[GetJigginWithIt]

I have a 76 Sea Nymph with a 76 Merc thunderbolt 50 HP and I run around 35-40. The model I have is called the Fishing Machine. 16 Ft. For a 76 the hull is as solid as can be. Absolutely no leaks. It may need be a pretty boat but it sure does get the job done. I have had it on a lake in Wisconsin called Lake Geneva and it handled it although not at full plane. After all the years the only thing replaced was the transom and flooring with new wood. Other wise it is in great shape. Just ugly.

[crazyjoeclemens]

Well, I hate to say it, but I think I missed out on a heck of a deal here.  I went to go look at it, and right about the time I was ready to say "I'll take it," the owner tells me someone else just looked at it a few hours before me and that they were going to buy it and he's let me know if the other guy backs out.

Needless to say, I was pretty annoyed that nothing was mentioned about another buyer before I came to look at it, but I just thanked him for his time and headed home. I know a lot of people go on about buyer etiquette, but I could probably say a thing or two about seller etiquette as well...but I digress.

I guess the bottom line here is that I should have been a little more pushy about getting an earlier appointment to go look at it.  It was just as I described it - a '95 SC170, but it was a garage queen. Like new, low hours, and spotless. I'm sure the new owner is pretty excited about his find.

Back to the drawing board.