Luke_Slater
N/A
would you recomend a fletcher speed boat?
Fletcher boats
- Thread starter Luke_Slater
- Start date
RobWales
Active member
Doh!
Welcome,but I think you should be a little more specific...????
Welcome,but I think you should be a little more specific...????
sailbadthesinner
New member
depends what you want to do
budget
how many people use it
where
what engine you want or will have attched ot the boat
the early small ones i think are not worth the candle. there s one i see out that is lijke a toy and goes verticcal with any engine and any throttle
you'll have more use out of a small rib tender
budget
how many people use it
where
what engine you want or will have attched ot the boat
the early small ones i think are not worth the candle. there s one i see out that is lijke a toy and goes verticcal with any engine and any throttle
you'll have more use out of a small rib tender
Luke_Slater
N/A
sorry a FLETCHER GTS 17 with a Mercruiser 3.0L inboard engine with an Alpha 1 leg. just thinking about it but worries as they went bust
Luke_Slater
N/A
we just want a trailer sports boat realy. nice to have a small cuddy as well . any ideas
pau1gray
New member
Luke,
Had one for a year - great little boat for flying around in. It can be a bit gutsy on fuel - but if you keep your hand off the throttle that will help a lot /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Was great for us as a starter type boat. Your about 3 weeks too late though just sold a 95 one for 6000 ish complete with trailer
Had one for a year - great little boat for flying around in. It can be a bit gutsy on fuel - but if you keep your hand off the throttle that will help a lot /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Was great for us as a starter type boat. Your about 3 weeks too late though just sold a 95 one for 6000 ish complete with trailer
Luke_Slater
N/A
what about these two Fletchers?
FLETCHER GTS 17 no cuddy
or a
Fletcher Sportscruiser 19 with cuddy looks a bit bloated
what about the resale? can't find these on the
Fletcher Website any other makes of speed boat you can think of that could have a cuddy and trailer?
point me in the right direction please
FLETCHER GTS 17 no cuddy
or a
Fletcher Sportscruiser 19 with cuddy looks a bit bloated
what about the resale? can't find these on the
Fletcher Website any other makes of speed boat you can think of that could have a cuddy and trailer?
point me in the right direction please
alan006
New member
Why not consider SeaRay. I had a 185 with a 4.3litre mercruiser. It was great. I think the build quality on the SeaRay's is very good and mercruiser parts are normally much cheaper than volvo.
Luke_Slater
N/A
is that the same as this one Sea Ray 180 ?
landlockedpirate
Active member
My current boat is a Fletcher 19GTS with a 4.3l. I have had quite a few boats over the years (Bigger and smaller) and so far I really like this Fletcher.
Your choice of cuddy V hardbow is a lot to do with personal preference. I like cuddies because theres somewhere to store gear, stick the kids, get out of the rain, make a brew etc. But the hardbows are quicker and look better.
I bought the Fletcher cuddy because it has a higher freeboard (Sides) than most other boats of this size, has a deeper V hull (better handling but less space) and it was the only one narrow enough to fit on my drive !!
These boats are not as flashy looking as some American boats, but its well built, quick and agile.The bloated look that you mention means you can sit up easily in the cuddy, a sleaker look means you have to crawl in and cant sit up on a boat of this size.
As for price I am sure that the 1 above is sold. 4.3l's are worth more than 3.0l's but they are a lot more thirsty (and faster /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) Second hand value of these boats is high, there is a great used market for them and they sell well. I dont think there are any 4.3's for sale in the UK at the moment but you would need to pay about 14k for a decent one with trailer. The 3.0l's are about 1-2k cheaper. Buy on condition not age. Outboard versions are cheaper but depend a lot on what engine they have.
IMHO Fletcher went bust due to poor management, not bad boats. (Having said that at the times they actually went bust a few dodgy hulls did get out, but these should have been sorted or binned by now)
In the sub 20ft cuddy sector others to consider are Maxum 1900sc, Bayliner 1950, Regal 1950 lsc, Mariah 19 sc. All of these are cuddy boats.
Good luck
Mark
Your choice of cuddy V hardbow is a lot to do with personal preference. I like cuddies because theres somewhere to store gear, stick the kids, get out of the rain, make a brew etc. But the hardbows are quicker and look better.
I bought the Fletcher cuddy because it has a higher freeboard (Sides) than most other boats of this size, has a deeper V hull (better handling but less space) and it was the only one narrow enough to fit on my drive !!
These boats are not as flashy looking as some American boats, but its well built, quick and agile.The bloated look that you mention means you can sit up easily in the cuddy, a sleaker look means you have to crawl in and cant sit up on a boat of this size.
As for price I am sure that the 1 above is sold. 4.3l's are worth more than 3.0l's but they are a lot more thirsty (and faster /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) Second hand value of these boats is high, there is a great used market for them and they sell well. I dont think there are any 4.3's for sale in the UK at the moment but you would need to pay about 14k for a decent one with trailer. The 3.0l's are about 1-2k cheaper. Buy on condition not age. Outboard versions are cheaper but depend a lot on what engine they have.
IMHO Fletcher went bust due to poor management, not bad boats. (Having said that at the times they actually went bust a few dodgy hulls did get out, but these should have been sorted or binned by now)
In the sub 20ft cuddy sector others to consider are Maxum 1900sc, Bayliner 1950, Regal 1950 lsc, Mariah 19 sc. All of these are cuddy boats.
Good luck
Mark
alan006
New member
It looks very simular, mine was a 1991 model. The standard engine was a 3litre, the 4.3 litre was top of the range. It was rated at 190hp. This one is rated at 225hp. It will have great performance. I notice this one is tax not paid so allow for that extra expense.
Luke_Slater
N/A
Cheers for all that mate! do you know of the Four Winns Sundowner 205 cuddy?
It also has to have a trailer.
It also has to have a trailer.
ARROWSTREAK
New member
Hi Luke, I have a 17 foot fletcher Arrowstreak bowrider with a mercury 115bhp outboard and would recomend it to anybody it;s very stable and nicely built and by the way Fletcher are still trading in Wolverhampton they were bought out by SBS trailers and still produce nice boats although they are not the cheapest but all parts for older boats are available off the shelf as far as i know hope this helps
landlockedpirate
Active member
Had a Four Winns 268, excellent boats. The 205 is the next step up in cuddy size (and price). Its a lot wider at 8ft6 and nearly 21ft long. It gives you a big cuddy, with plenty of room to sit up. 2 different cockpit layouts-either back to back seats and 2 rear jump seats or 2 front seats and a rear bench. You need a minimum of the 5.0l to make it interesting and they all come with volvo's. Some have duo-props, they are well worth the extra. (better speed, handling and economy).They also have full standing headroom under the covers (but this makes them look pig ugly with the covers up)
I would have bought one if it had fitted on my drive. To tow this you will need a decent 4x4. All up weight on trailer with cruising gear about 2500kg. Prices start around 15k for a '98 5.0l upto 30k for new. (the 1 in the ad looks overpriced esp without trailer)
If you are now looking at the 20ft+ sector, other boats include Maxum 21sc, Bayliner 602/212/2152, Four Winns 205, Chapparel 205, Searay 215ec, Rinker 212 etc. There are a lot more boats in this sector than the sub 20ft cuddy market.
Mark
I would have bought one if it had fitted on my drive. To tow this you will need a decent 4x4. All up weight on trailer with cruising gear about 2500kg. Prices start around 15k for a '98 5.0l upto 30k for new. (the 1 in the ad looks overpriced esp without trailer)
If you are now looking at the 20ft+ sector, other boats include Maxum 21sc, Bayliner 602/212/2152, Four Winns 205, Chapparel 205, Searay 215ec, Rinker 212 etc. There are a lot more boats in this sector than the sub 20ft cuddy market.
Mark
Kipper
New member
Our first boat was a Fletcher Arrowstreak with a 115hp merc out board. fantastic boat 55mph and loads of fun. Bowrider is fine at that size as the cudies are useless under 26foot anyway.
Luke_Slater
N/A
is the cuddy rubbish then? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
lovezoo
New member
I´ve got a Fletcher 19GTS and the cuddy is a very useful size. I´m 6´2 and there is enough room to sit in the cuddy and two people can comfortably lie down in there for overnighting if you really wanted to. The cuddy on the 19GTS is bigger than the cuddys on many other boats of that size, but its not designed as something you could spend a lot of time in. It does take all the kit you want for a day out (kneeboard, wetsuits, skis, inflatable dinghy, coolbox, lifejackets etc etc) and I don´t really know where you would put that lot on a bowrider.
My boat has the 210HP engine and does around 50MPH, which makes it one of the fatest boats out on the water, plus being a comfortable sun lounger for two people. If you were planning on having more than two people on the boat regulalry you would probably want something bigger.
My previous boat was a Fletcher 15 with a 90HP engine - brilliant fun, but only really useable in sheltered water. There are a few Fletcher 17 bowriders round here and people use them mainly for skiing.
Although Fletcher did go bust, they are still making boats in a new incarnation. One of the big problems of building boats of that size is the cut throat competition from the American manufacturers, who work on a much larger scale, so its not really a question of the quality, but the quantity.
On final thought, make sure you car is rated to tow the size of boat/trailer you decide to get (based on the overall weight). I use a Shogun - there are not many cars smaller than that that could legally tow it.
My boat has the 210HP engine and does around 50MPH, which makes it one of the fatest boats out on the water, plus being a comfortable sun lounger for two people. If you were planning on having more than two people on the boat regulalry you would probably want something bigger.
My previous boat was a Fletcher 15 with a 90HP engine - brilliant fun, but only really useable in sheltered water. There are a few Fletcher 17 bowriders round here and people use them mainly for skiing.
Although Fletcher did go bust, they are still making boats in a new incarnation. One of the big problems of building boats of that size is the cut throat competition from the American manufacturers, who work on a much larger scale, so its not really a question of the quality, but the quantity.
On final thought, make sure you car is rated to tow the size of boat/trailer you decide to get (based on the overall weight). I use a Shogun - there are not many cars smaller than that that could legally tow it.
Pinnacle
Well-known member
No, its not rubbish.
I have recently purchased a used Four Winns 225 Sundowner cuddy. Based on my short ownership, I think they are great. We have the 5.0litre Volvo V8 engine. There is enough room to store all sorts of things in the cuddy and you could also overnight (if you don't mind the marine equivalent of camping!)
Prices are at about their peak at this time of the year - wait a couple of months and they will fall, not to recover until about Easter next year.
Welcome to the Forum! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I have recently purchased a used Four Winns 225 Sundowner cuddy. Based on my short ownership, I think they are great. We have the 5.0litre Volvo V8 engine. There is enough room to store all sorts of things in the cuddy and you could also overnight (if you don't mind the marine equivalent of camping!)
Prices are at about their peak at this time of the year - wait a couple of months and they will fall, not to recover until about Easter next year.
Welcome to the Forum! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
beejay190
New member
Nope. I took delivery of a 19 GTS diesel cuddy in March. Delighted with it.