Press Room

01/01/2005

PROCRAFT^® 181 Fish and Ski Combo

Youmight not expect a boatbuilder to put a lot of time into designing a boat that sells for $22,000 or less; but PROCRAFT^® had been tweaking the hull and deck on this fish-and-ski until its unveiling a few months ago. We verified the success of those efforts by testing it on a busy midwestern reservoir.
Withonly 115 aqua ponies pushing it, the 181 held its speed well in hard turns, with no tendency to blowout or slide. Times to plane and to 30 mph are average for a fish-and-ski boat this size and weight, but we think an engine upgrade would make it a standout performer and it wouldn't make a huge dent in the budget.
Low-speedresponse and maneuverability are excellent while pulling into and backing out of docks, partly because of the hull design and partly because of excellent visibility. The helm sports an attractive steering wheel with all gauges in easy view for average-size drivers.
The181 is more than a fishing boat. The interior fit and finish is excellent, with carpeting and vinyl showing obvious attention to detail. In-floor storage holds skis or a wakeboard until needed. The aft bench easily holds three people, and the front passenger can swivel the seat to face aft in order to observe wakeboarders or chat with other passengers.
Whenit's time to fish, lower the footcontrolled, 46-pound-thrust MotorGuide^® trolling motor, grab a rod from the storage compartment and start casting. The foredeck is roomy with plenty of lockable space for lures and gear. An aerated livewell holds the day's catch.
Theboat should also withstand the rigors of frequent use. The hull and gelcoat are flawless, confirming a quality mold and hand-laid process. The boat comes standard with a color-keyed factory-matched trailer with GalvaShield^™ protection for good looks and towing ease.
Wethink the folks at PROCRAFT^® succeeded in developing a multi-purpose, family-oriented boat. With a 115 OptiMax^®, it's a hard package to beat. - Darrell Taylor

NOTABLEFEATURES
-Legroom under consoles is plenty for talldrivers and passengers
-Trolling motor has a quick-disconnect platefor easy removal when it's time to ski
-Twin swim platforms, one on each side of the outboard, make it easy to board
-Handgrips alongside the rear ladder take the effort out of reboarding
-GalvaShield forms a barrier to corrosionand rust on trailers
-Optional Bimini top is a must if hanging outin a cove is a frequent activity

TESTDRIVE
TestEngine: Mercury^® OptiMax 115
TestProp: 13 x 18 Mercury
Vengeance,stainless steel
TestLoad: People (310 lb.); Fuel (10 gal.)
TopSpeed: 44.3 MPH @ 5,700 RPM
Timeto Plane: 5.5 sec.
Timeto 30 MPH: 8.1 sec.
Min.Plane: 21 MPH @ 3,500 RPM

STATS
LengthOverall: 18'5"
Beam:8'
DryWeight: 1,635 lb.
Seating/WeightCapacity: 5/1,560 lb.
FuelCapacity: 31 gal.
MaxHP: 200
MSRP(test boat): $21,395(includes single-axle trailer w/o brakes)

RPM MPH Sound Level
650 2.1 *
1,000 2.8 *
1,500 4.8 *
2,000 6.4 *
2,500 7.2 *
3,000 8.5 *
3,500 21.4 *
4,000 27.5 *
4,500 32.3 *
5,000 37.3 *
5,500 42.4 *
5,700 44.3 *
*Not Tested