Hey BW owners!

Looking for some feedback on the BW's.

Gigglesnort, I did some search's and see you have had your 22 for awhile, how do you like it so far? Any problems? I have been looking at the 22 Classic and so far like what I have seen. However looked even closer today at some wiring and they have used electricians tape on some areas even though they say all connections are soldered. (A little scary!)

Anybody else run a BW?

Let me know good or bad.

Also anybody running a 2002/2003 150 Merc.?
I know some of the 200-225 Optimax had some problems but haven't heard about the 150's.

Thanks,

Hey Shad I like my Bluewave CS18. I,m gonna look at my wiring today. Ya scared me on that one. I bet that was done by the dealer , not the factory.Mine is a four stroke 90 Yamaha. Don't know abt. the 150 merc.I haven't had any major problems with the boat. Only minor things, and Bluewave was real quick to respond. I think l'd have to give them a A+

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theres only two kinds. Good ole big'ems. And big ole good ems.

Shad boy, I have a 189 blue wave with a 115 Johnson and never had any problems with it. Not too bad in rough water either. If everything goes well, I will be upgrading to a new blue wave this year, wanting a bigger boat with more hp.

SB,
I have had the 18' classic for 2 years and the only issue i have had was the quality of the hatch latches and the live well in the center console splashes water out in rough water. With the 22' the livewell will be in the back so that wont be an issue. If you are going to be fishing shallow get a hydraulic jack plate and you will be very impressed with how shallow of water you can get up on plane in. I run a 115 yamaha 4-stroke and if i could do it again i would go with a 2 stroke direct injected VMAX instead due to the weight hanging out there off the end. All and all i am VERY happy with the boat. I also like the new models because it looks like they addressed a lot of issues people were having with them...

I am looking at the 22 classic with a 150.
It is a little more than I want to pay but I have already had a smaller boat and you seem to catch a bad case of 2'itis.

I may end up going with the 190 classic (new name, same length 18'9")

Went to the boat show at Ft. Worth and talked directly with the BW rep. For 1 grand more they will install a fiberglass leaning post and install a custom live well instead of the standard one on the console. Since I will be mostly fishing for striper I like this idea alot because my orginal plan is to not use the built in livewell and to install a grayline or some such tank.

Thanks for the info guys.

Shad Boy-

My buddy and I bought the 220 Classic with the 200 HP Yamaha HPDI about 2 years ago, and I would have to say that I'm pretty pleased with it overall. There are a few items that I think they could have improved by spending a few more dollars on, but I have to remind myself that this isn't a $50K bay or $150K offshore boat. (Fishing out of those Contenders will ruin you...)

What lake do you plan on fishing? I fish Texoma 99% of the time and sometimes wish that I had gone with a boat that handled big water a little better, but the 220 was all the boat we could afford. I hate fishing when its blowing 20 mph anyway, so I usually just take it the house and wait for a better day.

I think the 220 Classic is a pretty solid boat and I've had phenomenal service from the Parks family when I sent them an email. Feel free to send me an email if you have more questions, I'll be glad to give you my $0.02.

Matt

Shadboy--
I have the 22 ft with a 200 yamaha HPDI,
this is my second bluewave, that should
tell you something.
It will be slow with a 150. You are
pushing a lot of boat. I had a 150 merc efi
on my 189. I love the bigger boat, and like
the feel of the 200, even thou I never run
wide open. I can ease it up on plane with
almost no bow rise.
It is a solid boat and they will build you
one just the way you want it.
Good luck
MO

Hey Mo, (just had to say that!!)

You are right about the power. If I buy the 22' and get the extras I want it is really stretching what I have budgeted for it. Since I won't be fishing the coast but a couple of times a year getting up on plane real quick is not a huge concern for me. Also if I order it with small console and special live well they will have to move the console about 8" to 12" inches forward. That will also help get on plane quicker. I think it will make the ride a little rougher but not sure.


I have thought about getting the 18'9" with a 150 but I sure would miss that extra 2'.

I have been looking for used and can't find anything in the area. Who knows maybe a dealer will take pity on me a cut me a deal (yeah, thats going to happen).

Oh well the search goes on.

Nice one posted in the Trade section if your still looking, decent price and he listed it as "Make Offer"
Definately worth looking at.

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Texas Resource'

I have a 22 Blue wave with a 175 Yamaha and it is more power than I need even with 4 people two shad tanks 60 gallons total it gets on plane almost as soon as I put on the gas. I got the boat and did not like the prop because at 30 MPH I was at 2500 rpm so I went with a lower pitch to increase my rpm as I have been told right or wrong that cruising below 3000 was not good. In an open boat 30 mph is comfortable to all on board and if I need to go faster top speed with full load is 45 mph at 5700 rpm.With the higher pitch prop top speed was around 50 mph. I know you will be happy with a 150 hp but also try a lower pitch prop on it as most dealers will let you do it. This is my second Blue Wave and I love it.

Hey Bird Dog,

Is that your BW sitting at your house on Murphy street?

Shadboy-- I have noticed that the average
boat used at the coast has less power than one sold inland. Most people running in the bay and nearshore do not run WOT all the time
like some people do on the area lakes.
I bought my boat at the Dallas boat show
from Plano Marine. I got the boat show
price, even thou I ended up with the 200HPDI
yammie, which was not on the boat show special. I have not priced them on the coast, you might be able to make a better
deal in houston( I like dealing locally if I can).
My first BW was the 189, with no baitwell. That left more room when I was
not live baitfishing. My 22bw has the live
well with a filtration system and a proair
system. This works OK, if I dont overload the
well with too much bait.
I really , Really like the bigger boat
a lot better. If you are considering
using the boat at the coast and getting
out of the bay at all, get the 22. That extra 3 ft make a huge difference when you
ease past the jetties .
The only time I took my 189 to Freeport, I took a huge pounding in 3 ft seas.
I took the 22bw to Biloxi last June and
ran the 10-12 miles to ship island in worse
seas and had no pounding at all.
Good luck
MO

No my boat is at Cedar Creek Lake waiting for quail season to end. I also had the 189 1st also and yes the 22 is the way to go. I was thinking about buying a new one until I looked at the new prices.

I am thinking about buying the 189, what is the negative of this? I usually only fish 2 or 3 people, and I think a 17' boat is plenty for 2 or 3, and a 18'9" should be more then enough.

I can't afford anything bigger anyways, but why are you'll so unpleased with the 189?

I am looking at a 189, and I feel it is a little underpowerd with only a 90hp (probably the 'budget' package they offered.) The new 18'er comes with a 90, and it is smaller. But, the price is right, and I would be upgrading to a new engine in a few years if I decided to keep the boat a long time anyways...so I am not as worried about the power as I am the hull.

Thanks
Shawn

Shawn,

I don't think the guys are against the 190, just that they now have the larger ones and well, we all know bigger is better.

I have been following your post and know you will be fishing the bays and Calaveras and Braunig alot. I used to have a 17" bay boat when I lived in Austin and it was great for Decker and when I went to the coast. However sometimes I would fish Buchanan and if it got windy it could get very dangerous. (Also this is the argument us old married guys tell our wives so we can get the bigger one. shhhh.)

Now I am living in DFW area and know that Tex and Tawak are large open lakes, and IMHO can get worse than the bays in big wind. Also I plan on joining the TSA and fishing in the tournaments and in the 18'9' there just isn't enough room to install a good shad tank. I wish BW made a 20' model. They have the 20 Vtec but it is narrower and you seem to lose some of the room.

Check out this link if you are looking. This looks like something you would like and I still may go look at it.
http://www.texasaccess.com/blue_wave.shtml