I took delivery of my new Hewes Redfisher 18 last weekend and couldn’t be happier with it! Although I’m still in the break-in period on the motor, I was able to drive it in varying conditions and at various speeds so I can provide some valuable feedback. Here’s a summary of my two days on the Hewes.
Ingman Marine
Saturday morning my son and I picked up the boat from Ingman Marine in Sarasota. Ingman is the SW Florida dealer for Hewes, Pathfinder, Maverick, Cobia, Grady White and a host of others. They are a first-rate operation and they had the boat ready for delivery and did a great job of reviewing the details. I’ve never owned a flats boat so I found the 30 minute review necessary and helpful. For more information about other boats, view the Best Boats for Florida.
Boat Options
- 2019 Hewes Redfisher 18
- Yamaha 115 SHO
- Hydraulic tilt steering
- Black powder coating
- Aqua Mist full hull color
- Release well
- Motor Guide Xi5 trolling motor
- Garmin Fishfinder/Chartplotter Combo
- Black Edson Steering Wheel
- Seat backrest
- Cooler with cushion
- Compass
- Battery charger
- Custom Hewes Ameritrail aluminum single axle trailer with spare
- JL Audio stereo system (basic consisting of two speakers, small amp and bluetooth component)
- Yamaha sales promotion at time of delivery (extra three years warranty)
Weekend Boating
On Saturday I couldn’t do much for the first two hours because I had to keep the speed under 2000 rpm’s as part of Yamaha break-in procedure. Consequently, I was confined to no-wake zones and private canals to pass the time. Once that concluded, I was able to go faster but still had to keep it at varying speeds and under 4000 rpm’s. That allowed me to have a lot more fun with the boat and get a real feel. As a result, I cruised the Intracoastal, ran over boat wakes, traversed Sarasota bay and used the trolling motor and Power Pole. Needless to say, it was a ton of fun and the results really surprised me! I even found time to visit beautiful Midnight Pass and enjoy the beach. View information about Midnight Pass HERE.
What I Learned
I learned that with the motor down the boat can go skinnier than I thought. In addition, I learned that the boat was stable enough that trim tabs weren’t needed for side-to-side balance and the hole shot had the typical four-stroke lag but at the higher end there was significant speed (at 4000 rpm I hit 33mph). I also learned that the boat was dryer than I expected. Even in a moderate Easterly breeze I didn’t encounter a lot of spray when I hit the chop laterally. I didn’t expect that! The other big thing I learned (for music lovers) is the placement of the speakers at the front bulkhead of the boat is the best location. I’ve seen other Redfisher’s that have the speakers mounted on the console and I wouldn’t recommend that. Not only does that look ugly in my opinion, but it is also less functional. Upfront is the way to go and the sound was perfect!
My Biggest Surprise
Even after all that I learned the biggest surprise to me was how softly the boat rode. It was amazing! After reading countless posts on “The Hull Truth” and other websites, I figured all flats boats rode hard and despite the Hewes being better it would still bang. Wrong! The boat had soft entries into all the rough water I could find and at different speeds. Also, the boat has a heavy-boat feel while being nimble and efficient – the perfect combination for this type of boat. I’m sure I’ll notice the weight when I pole it but it seems ideal for what I bought it for.
Why I Bought It
I bought the Hewes because I wanted a boat that was versatile and offered a good blend of fishing, sandbar hopping with friends or family and trailered easily. I heard that the Hewes Redfisher was ideal for this because it supposedly handled open water better than other skiffs and was very stable which was key for multiple passengers. Based upon my limited experience, so far, I think I picked the perfect boat!
You’ll See More of it in the Future
As I film great locations around Florida I’ll provide more comments about the boat as I gain more experience with it. I’ll also create a detailed video review in the coming weeks. Below are some pictures and a video of the weekend. Stay tuned and get ready for some great locations with the new Hewes Redfisher 18!
