Hargrave boats built in the last 12 years appear to have reasonable quality and half the price of a Westport. Question: what are the Achillies heal areas of these boats. All boats have trouble areas that raise ownership cost. Exterior finish, exhaust, running gear are probably the big 3 areas of interest.
I'm sure cosmetic, just to me an eye sore. I noted that on a couple of boats that I was assisting on during deliveries years ago. One was supposed to have been fix already and it was coming back. Now that I'm looking back, That was over 10 years ago, on now 11 to 13 year old boats. I have not been on one or in that group since. I remember saw dust and wood crumbs piled up behind the water heater, under a port staircase, on a supposed boat show ready boat. Been there since build, Ha. But that was it, Sweet ships, rode, responded all well.
I regularly run a Capri Skylounge (94') built in 2006, and it's as solid as a boat that I have ran. Good cruise and with a great fuel capacity, it just goes. I have never noticed anything cracking on the hardtop supports, but its a Freshwater Boat and has been for the last 12-13 years, and she goes to heated storage every October.
Hargrave's were a little boxy in the early years under the penmanship of Ben Doderal who later moved to the PacNW to design boats for Richmond Yachts. Mike Joyce's signature is on every Hargrave because he works closely with buyers. They often become family. In the early years, the interiors were a little woody but not unusual for boats built in the region at the time. Most of the hardware was sourced stateside so finding parts shouldn't be difficult. I haven't been aboard one in years so I can't speak to how well the gel has held up, but in my opinion it's a boat worthy of shortlisting. It would be a good, affordable alternative to a Westport.
I could not tell you if it was originally gell or paint. That repair probably was paint. I would think they have fixed that issue and figured how to fix the older boats with that problem. There were other hardtop designs that did not have this issue. I thought then it was because more of the top was supported keeping it from twisting on every roll. Lil vertical support pipes forward could only do so much.
We recently closed on a 2010 101 Hargrave. She went through a 3 day survey with 2 hull and 1 mechanical surveyor. Very thorough. This particular boat was gel coat, painted 2 years ago. The boat surveyed very well with no essential big $$ issues. The steering apparatus needed backing plates but otherwise it was just your typical used boat punch list. The overall construction and engineering are above average. Nice value and wear well. My first experience with the brand.
Ride, the 100' is a stretched hull with little beam (21' I think) they tend to rock and roll very good on anchor and underway. Undersized anchors. Hargrave also will use very poor quality stainless that needs to be polished every 2 weeks, unless the buyer upgrades it (an option) during the build process. There are a few aspects of the build this is the case, I think teak thickness as well. They also tend to run like a Taiwanese tub and most will cruise at 12-14 knots at maximum plow.
Every boat we looked at had upgraded anchor packages and teak replaced. 10-12 knot cruise is what she likes for trips. For 50% the cost of comparable age and size the Hargrave brand is a nice value if it matches your use.
As a side question, I used to visit the Hargrave site occasionally They had some interesting recent launches out of Turkey. The site seems to have disappeared. Only brokers come up advertising used Hargraves. Has anything happened?
Thanks. Can't get it on Google Chrome for some reason so went to Microsoft Edge and there it is. Thanks.
