Downeaster Boats

[Islander11]

Does anybody here know anything about the 25 footers with 10.5 beam that were built by Downeaster in the late 80s to early 90s. I had heard that they were being built again, and was wondering if there was any truth to that.

[seapower]

I just so happen tpo have one of those boat's and love it. I talked with the original builder (Keith Willis) a couple of week's ago. Then I talked with the man who has the mold's behind his shop right now, those aren't being used. The boat was produced as the "Look Out" for awhile I am told. I see that boat as having alot of potential in the "fishing boat" market myself. Nothing fancy, every foot of mine is "fishable" and solid. Frank

[Islander11]

I just so happen tpo have one of those boat's and love it. I talked with the original builder (Keith Willis) a couple of week's ago. Then I talked with the man who has the mold's behind his shop right now, those aren't being used. The boat was produced as the "Look Out" for awhile I am told. I see that boat as having alot of potential in the "fishing boat" market myself. Nothing fancy, every foot of mine is "fishable" and solid. Frank

Seapower, thanks for the info, I knew somebody around here would have the skinny. Does the current owner of the molds have any intention of building anything, or is he just sitting on them? A good friend of mine has one as well, and we were talking about them today. His originally had a 454 straight inboard in it, but when he bought it, he redid the boat and jackshafted a 315 Yanmar to a Bravo 3. It's really a cool boat, not the best riding thing out there and certainly not the driest, but it runs great in a chop. Without a doubt, it's the largest 25 foot boat I've ever seen.

[seapower]

From what I was told it's not in the work's anytime soon. The mold's I am told would take quite abit of work. I've actually inquired about buying the mold's myself. There is no such thing as a "perfect" boat, from what I've seen. If it is good and rough I slack the speed back and drop the bow down with the trim tab's. We make out OK. I've fished some pretty nasty weather with this boat. I fished commercially for 18 year's, so I've got an idea what "rough" is. What I do like about the boat is room, it's the biggest 25 footer I've ever been on. It's a very stable boat bottom fishing, side to drifting. I've got a couple 130 hp Honda's on the back, I find it to be an easy hull to push (it'll plane with one engine). The ecconomy side of it makes me like it all the more, most day's offshore trolling burn's about 65 gallon's. I guess the best thing about it is, that's it's what I can afford ,to do what I enjoy. Frank