Nothing is better than boating, well except maybe fishing. A boat is not something you simply own, its something you love. Boating becomes part of your lifestyle that is hard to escape.
After owning a 2000 Sea Hunt 17 w/ 115 Johnson, I decided I wanted to go back to a bigger offshore boat. So, the first place I looked was back to my favorite boat manufacurer, Grady White. I looked around hard at many different boats, but decided to buy a left over 2000 Grady White 222 from my local dealer, Crockers Marine in Wrightsville Beach. Only two years ago I had owned a 1999 GW 222 which I absolutely loved, but sold so that I could get a trailerable boat, hence the Sea Hunt. I had a local rigger, Chris Powers rig my electronics, and I bought the equipment form Boater's World. Now I was ready to go fishing. Shaman Grady White 222 Fisherman w/ Yamaha 225 EFI
Specs:
LOA: 22' 2"
Beam: 8'
Draft: 15"
Maximum HP: 250hp
Fuel Capacity: 92 Gal.
Dry Weight: 3160 lbs.
Options On My Boat:
Cockpit Bolsters
Cockpit Shower w/10 Gal. Freshwater Tank
Hydraulic Trim Tabs
Deluxe Leaning Post
Forward Platform Cushions
Hydraulic Steering
Tilt Steering
Swim Platform w/ladder
Saltwater Washdown
Custom Gore Marine T-top
Fishboxes/Livewells:
2 55 qt. Fishboxes w/overboard drain Forward
1 272 qt. Fishbox w/overboard drain Forward
28 Gal. Raw Water Livewell w/overboard drain
Electronics:
Lowrance X-65 Depth Finder w/transom mount transducer
Lowrance Global Map 1600 GPS
Standard Horizon Eclipse Plus VHF
Jensen Marine AM/FM w/CD Player
Shakespeare Centennial 8' VHF Antenna
Shakespeare Centennial 8' AM/FM Antenna
The forward casting platform provides a great place to cast inshore or offshore and to throw a cast net. With the thick, comfortable cushions in place on the platform, it is a great place to lounge while at anchor. The low profile bow rail provides a handhold, but does not obstruct your casting on the platform.
The spacious cockpit is completely unobstructed. The fold down splash well keeps water out of the cockpit, yet allows the motor to tilt completely. The boxes in the stern corners provide storage for various things. The 4 in gunwale
rod holders and 6 under gunwale rod racks provide plenty of rod storage, gaff storage, brush storage, or anything else you need. The leaning post provides storage for life jackets, tackle, and has a rocket launcher for holding your rods when not in use.
The boat performs well in all sea conditions. At a top speed of 45 mph at 5500 rpm, most of the hull is still in the water, which makes for a very comfortable and stable ride. The 225 Yamaha is a perfect match for the boat. The engine runs rather rough because of the cylinder cut-off, but it has its sweet spots.
This is my second Grady White Fisherman 222, so needless to say, I am very pleased.
The Search for a Skiff After owning my 222 for a year, I decided that I wanted to sell it. I would like to use some of the money in that boat to build a small, second home in Pamlico County, NC. So, I am in search of a small (17-19ft.) skiff that I can trailer easy, is cheap, and is deep enough to fish offshore but shallow enough to duck hunt from. I also decided that my engine of choice on whatever I got would be a Yamaha F115 four stroke. I will put a trolling motor on the front, paint is dark green, and build a blind system for it. Several names came to mind right off the bat.
1. Pathfinder 1900
2. Parker 18
3. Lookout 18
4. Sea Hunt19
5. Hydra Sports 20
6. Grady White 18
7. Cape Horn 18
The first boats to go were the Hydra Sports and the Grady White because they were too expensive. The next to go, after a few weeks of examination, was the 19 Pathfinder. The Pathfinder is one of the nicest boats I have ever been on, but it is a little too shallow for the type of fishing I do. The next was the Sea Hunt because the layout didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. That leaves me with my current short list. The 18 Parker, 18 Lookout, and the 18 Cape Horn. All of these boats are designed to be very utilitarian and will most likely fit my budget. The Parker may end up being too expensive, but I am going to pursue it.
I have been talking with the owner of Lookout Boats in Beaufort, George Boykin, and it seems that this may be the boat I will end up with. He seems very nice, and is open to many of my customization ideas. I plan to check out his factory in the near future.
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