If you look up "wet riding boat" in the dictionary, a picture of a Red Fin will be right next to it.

 

Right along side of a Bay Hawk!

 

Aka wet-fin. Been on one out of mouth of Brazos and trolled for kings in it. Reminded me of a cheaper early 90"s kenner

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I have never owned one but from what I have read and recall, Red-Fin boats do not have a good reputation. Even if you were given the boat, you want to be careful not to sink too much money in it. I got a free boat one time and fixed it up. I did most of the work. The motor, Yamaha 115 2 stroke was the best part of the deal. I made it few dollars but it wasn't worth it to me. IMO

 

I never have owned or fished out of one, but my buddy had one. He liked it. If it were free you cant beat that...imo

 

A buddy of mine had one. 18' with a Johnson 88 spl. on it. Caught a lot of trout out of it but it was a wet riding boat. We fished a lot of East Galveston bay all the way out to the Jetties. I went out in it with him in a lot of wind that I would not go out in my 24" ft. Kenner now. But I was a lot younger then in the 1990's.

 

wet-fin hard riding cheap hulls imo. Most of the time a free boat will cost you a bucket load more money than one you pay for upfront be careful what you may get yourself into. If you get it make sure you pull samples on the transom, deck, and stringer cores to verify it is not rotted out before you put a dime in it. A lot of times things will feel solid but a sample of the core tells a different story.

 

You need to message Shadslinger on here he owns one and uses every day.


Good fishing to all!

 

Which version?

I had the 19ft Deep Vee and rebuilt it, served us well..

Watch the fuel tank, you can add spray rails, the 19fter was pushed by a 150 Yama..


JOhn

 

Which version?

I had the 19ft Deep Vee and rebuilt it, served us well..

Watch the fuel tank, you can add spray rails, the 19fter was pushed by a 150 Yama..

JOhn

It’s a 20T with a Kevlar hull.

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If memory serves that is the bay version.

Check this link out
https://www.2coolfishing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294584

If you can work glass and wood it can be an okay project. do not fool yourself, you will not make 20 year old hull into a new hull..

John

 

The version you got makes a big difference, it isn't just the brand. I have been in a 19 deep vee that did well in rough water and I didn't consider it wet. I attached a picture of one similar to what I mean.

 

I've had two. Last one I had was a project that I did and ended up selling for $5500. They are wet in chop but its a boat.

 

Right along side of a Bay Hawk!

Nooo, not even a Red Fin is as wet as a Bay Hawk!

TH

 

Does it come with the monkey that throws sheets of cold saltwater onto you in a 5 mile per hour chop. Also if it doesnt come with the mandatory snorkel so you can breath while underway, I would pass. I owned one, by far the worst boat I ever stepped foot in.

 

I never saw one that came in for a trade that didn't have a broken transom. Really bad design, materials and construction.


Best example of "hole in the water" I've ever seen.

 

I bought a 20’ Kevlar Hull with a 150 on it about 18 years ago from my uncle who bought it new about 6-8 years prior. We caught hundreds of limits of trout and won many tournaments of that boat. The boat was made in Texas, rides extremely rough & you will definitely get wet. Even as a kid it use to hurt my back but that’s what we had to fish out of. The hulls and transforms are known for cracking and yes I cracked my hull. Be careful how much money you sink into it if I recall correctly I sold mine for 2,500 with a running motor 15 years ago.

 

A friend of mine had one and coming in on Galveston bay in a moderate chop the bottom delaminated and we nearly sunk at the ramp. POS if you ask me.

 

I had a 20T for the last 7 years...just sold it a few months ago. PM me any questions you have.

It is rough, wet, poor mpg, but I will say I beat the living hell out of that boat, fished all of Galveston to a few miles past the jetties (with 15 mph winds) and never once felt unsafe or that the boat wouldn't get me where I wanted to go. Just had to plan on getting whooped on the way there.

 

Why didn't you tell me this when you were selling it to me??? Lol.

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Agree with most all the posts. Never owned one but a friend had both a red fin, then bought a longer Bay hawk.

Not only will it beat you half to death, I really think it made its own wind and sea spray. Even on a calm day, we would come back looking like we were deep wading. We did catch fish on it though.

 

The Mighty Red-Fin is the boat I bought new in 1999 with a Saltwater edition 125 mercury an aluminum channel trailer all new for $15,500.
It’s a190DV that has a sharp V at the bow gently flattening some but not completely to the stern.
Kevlar hull that’s tough as can be.
I put 5k hours on the original motor. Had a couple of 115 Etecs on it since.
It has no amenities, and is made for fishing with deep sides and is 8’ wide at the stern.
It does not ride wet unless you don’t know how to tac across the water.
T hulls are much rougher riding mine is quit smooth.
About 30,000 fish have been landed on The Mighty Red-Fin in its twenty years of service.
Both as a recreational boat and as a guide boat. I still fish from it.
So I like mine just fine.

 

Was thinkin about you when ? was asked...Glad ya Chimed in ...

 

I had this one for a little while, it wasn’t bad unless crossing the open bay with a steady wind.

 

It was a heavy hull.

 

There are alot better platforms to start from like an old shoalwater or pescador.

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Having been in the marine wholesale supply business for a number of years, (I'm talking mid 70's to late 80's) I remember the Red Fin as being one of if not the first of what we called "A shell hull center console". The first dealers did well with this rig and I believe that many boat manufacturers knocked it off and did well with this hull that had a lot of features and benefits to sell. It is a lightweight hull that is seaworthy and runs pretty shallow. I never heard any complaints. Sure, it may run wet, but for the price it's probably hard to beat. I have no financial interest, but I would say if the hull is still in good shape, you could probably do well with it from a financial standpoint. Good Luck!

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Just remember, people bought new Yugos too.

 

I remember when Red Fins were first coming out. At that time folks were fishing out of Falcon tri-hulls, Fish-n-Ski Barges, Alweld aluminum boats and if you were rich maybe a Boston Whaler or a Mako. Back then a big bay boat was an 18'er. The Red Fin and then Bay Hawk were some of the first of the Texas style bay boats. In their day they were awesome boats. I remember seeing those big ol' 20' Red Fins and thinking when I grew up I was gonna have a boat like that with a HUGE 150 hp motor on it. That was the baddest rig on the water to me. They are wet, they are rough but they were a big step in the evolution of the bay boats we have now. I wouldn't own one now but I can't help but smile when I see an old Falcon Cougar, Red Fin, the old style Kenners, Bay Hawks, etc. I use to think those were all just beautiful boats and one day I'd own one. You have to remember in 1980 we weren't running around in 25' bay boats with 300 hp motors. There was no such thing.

 

I remember when Red Fins were first coming out. At that time folks were fishing out of Falcon tri-hulls, Fish-n-Ski Barges, Alweld aluminum boats and if you were rich maybe a Boston Whaler or a Mako...... I can't help but smile when I see an old Falcon Cougar, Red Fin, the old style Kenners, Bay Hawks, etc. I use to think those were all just beautiful boats and one day I'd own one. You have to remember in 1980 we weren't running around in 25' bay boats with 300 hp motors. There was no such thing.

Man I had fun in the old Falcons (a Stingray and a Malibu in particular) and they were well made! And yes boats have progressed, the same family that made Falcons now makes ShallowSport.