Anyone ever look at a stabicraft 2500 ultracab xl

Mike_b":3vtero58 said:
Hi,

Just curious if any of the ‘brats’ ever looked at a stabicraft 2500 ultracab xl in person?? If you did please share your thoughts.
It looks like a possible alternative to a C-D 25,23 and 22’.

https://youtu.be/rTMXSYuKyfU

I've not seen one in person. From the video, it's certainly an eye catching boat, but for the wrong reasons IMO.
 
I Saw a stabicraft on Sucia island at the dock two nights ago. Dont think it was the ultracab. It appeared to be built like a tank, and had the character of one. I noticed High quality welds where you might find rivets on similar styled aluminum fishing boats in the Northwest. It seemed like the kind of boat a kiwi launching from a beach might want. The kind of boat that doesnt have frivolous things like fenders 😂. It was a solid looking boat, if not a good looking one. Didnt get a peak inside, but it looked as utilitarian as a hewescraft/alumaweld type of rig.
 
There used to be one up at Sidney Marina, all lit up with every possible Rigid LED lightbar available, mostly in duplicate. And with a whole lot of antennas on it. I was g\told it was a private owner who had to be able to leave his island home anytime/any weather. Pretty stout looking boat.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

1_10_2012_from_Canon_830.thumb.jpg
 
Mike_b,
I had an opportunity to put a few hours on a US version of this boat, called Aluminum Chambered Boat. This was back in 2003... This boat is a US copy of the Stabicraft.
I did like the ride and the quality of the boat, but it is utilitarian in every way and to me, it was a good fit for a military /Government type of craft ( I was working back then with oversite of maintenance of Special Forces boats). There was no gunnel outboard of the cabin (to maximize cabin volume). You could drive it onto the rocks and only scratch it, but aside from that, it was not a good fit for a universal family boat.
ACB's went out of business, but if one was available and you wanted a rock solid rigid boat for fishing, this would be an attractive option.
 
srbaum":1szgh3oh said:
Mike_b,
I had an opportunity to put a few hours on a US version of this boat, called Aluminum Chambered Boat. This was back in 2003... This boat is a US copy of the Stabicraft.
I did like the ride and the quality of the boat, but it is utilitarian in every way and to me, it was a good fit for a military /Government type of craft ( I was working back then with oversite of maintenance of Special Forces boats). There was no gunnel outboard of the cabin (to maximize cabin volume). You could drive it onto the rocks and only scratch it, but aside from that, it was not a good fit for a universal family boat.
ACB's went out of business, but if one was available and you wanted a rock solid rigid boat for fishing, this would be an attractive option.

The stabicraft 2500 ultracab xl appears to be a little more refined than the ACB’s I’ve seen. The YouTube video I linked in the original post looks intriguing.
 
The one they had at the Seattle Boat Show a couple years back had terrible looking welds. I personally wouldn't have trusted that particular boat to hold together over time. I hope their welders figured out how to weld aluminum.
 
Not a C-22 but we used a StabiCraft at Doc Warner's in Excursion Bay. Alaska and we ran into square waves (90 hp Yammie) and I have never seen a boat handle the water so well. we went out and back 30-45 mile or further every day in often nasty stuff, no water on board other than wind blown minor spray. Good gas use, great fishability, wash down with a pressure washer every night, and I wish I could afford one like the Aussies build up, nice kit as they say. But at their best, not real good looking but as the old song use to say "She is ugly but sure can cook!" and excuse the sexism, I did not write the lyrics.
Pic of Doc's newest fleet of Stabi's at https://docwarners.com/alaska-fishing-trips/
Bob Jarrard
 
Ive never ridden in one, but have checked them out at the Seattle boat show multiple years. There was a stabicraft docked next to us in Sekiu, Ill never forget because the owner was especially unpleasant and the boat was a real looker :lol:

He comes up to our boat as we were getting ready to head out, it's still dark at this point in the morning and we are organizing all our gear and warming up the twin hondas. He says "Hey how do you like your c-dory?" I love it I tell the guy, its a great boat. His response was "yeah I heard they pound really bad so I wouldn't get one... you should really look at a stabicraft, they are great! and goes on a long rant about them that I didn't listen to because we were busy. Awesome.... now bye lol

It's the 2nd week of October and a small craft advisory that day combined with what was already a 11 foot northwest swell.

We go out and troll for a few hours and get a cooler full of coho, and the wind picks up pretty bad. It becomes too rough to fish, and the whole fleet decides to pack it up and head back the harbor around the same time. We watched as the whole fleet of boats, including the stabicraft, all pounded through the wind waves head on. As I'm watching the other boats of similar size handle it, the stabicraft didn't appear any more comfortable than anything else, it looked to be pounding pretty good, as did everything else. Maybe in other conditions it really excels, but I didn't think it lived up to the dudes hype first thing in the morning.
 
Great boats. More an alternative to a seasport or orca skagit due to the power needed and target market/use but both of those have a stand up head available. What is superior to many boats is the windshield, sight lines. Up there with some nice one windshield pursuits etc
 
I rode a 24 ft Aluminum Chambered Boat (company now banckrupt) from Bellingham to Eliza Island and back during some interesting weather on the return trip, which, of course Bellingham Bay is famous for. Stabicraft are similar but perhaps more refined. Eliza doesn't have a ferry, so you need to arrange or have a private boat, or use the small airstrip. The owners had a nice cabin on the island, and hadn't always been able to access it with their 21 ft aluminum boat with a soft top. That boat had flipped during a windstorm tied to their mooring buoy. Their cove was mostly sheltered but not from all directions. They needed a boat that could get them back if weather turned, and this was the boat. If I remember right it had two 200 hp motors and needed more. It was cold and drippy inside. It was very noisy, even when not moving. It vibrated badly under power. There wasn't much room inside for such a large boat, as there was so much flotation. The boat was designed to shed water, and the deck was self-bailing with large holes. Unfortunately, the flat surfaces of the bow seemed to shoot water out front, then the spray washed over the boat. It created a large wake at any speed. We consumed more gasoline than I have ever used in an entire day in my CD22 just going to Eliza and back. The only comparison in my mind would be a TomCat, and in that case, the Tomcat would certainly win in nearly everything except maybe ability to handle the worst weater. The chambered boat was perfect for them, since, though they might not go to the island in bad weather, it sometimes got bad, and they needed to get back to their businesses in Seattle. They didn't spend "quality" time on the boat. It was only for reliable transportation. If I were still young and more adventurous (you might read that "stupid"), didn't care about comfort, and still willing to go out in bad weather for fun, I might want one of these. This boat might have been better for Paul Sounders (Arctic Solitare) than a CD22 for his northern Hudson Bay trips if he could have afforded one. He probably wouldn't have felt he was about to die as often.
 
Like all boating choices, first needs and then wants. At the lodge we went to pure novices are set loose on their own for five days in a row to figure out hoe to boat and fish with no guide. I found the StabiCraft perfect for the challenging conditions and long distances we traveled at 25-30 MPH on rough water. Open boat, we wore rubber foulies and rubber boots while spending over 10-12 hours a day in the boat (three of us). I never once was worried about the boat, Doc always says that the crew will give up before the StabiCraft does. I have operated many a Boston Whaler, other tinnies, pangas, Sea Rays, Bayliners, ski boats, and other OB powered craft, and all had their day but the ACB concept got my attention. Again, the StabiCraft models equal to a C-22 or a C-25 are huge money, way out of my range but a nice 17' -20' air chambered boat would be great by me. By the way, have noticed what our governmental agencies buy? Either ACB's or combo's with inflatable collars of one kind or another. First rule of boating is "Have a boat!" and the second rule is "Be Nice!!!"
Bob Jarrard
 
There are lots of them around. The only thing I have heard, besides how good they are, is because of the closed chambered design they feel pretty small on the inside and don't have tons of storage.
 
I have driven and fished out of a 2400 XL stabicraft and driven on of the open 28 ACB's. All I can say is that I have never drove a better handling softer riding boat in my life. It may look like its crashing hard in to waves like the rest of them but the landings are so soft and non jarring its amazing when you com from a flat bottom 27 cdory. Fast , economical, turns on a dime at full speed if you need that sort of thing. When Susan was driving the open boat she was warned to brace her self for the full speed turn that she was about to do and she still nearly threw her self out of the boat. Sales man had to grab her. The boat does not slide in a full speed turn at 40 knots. It just changes ends like its on rails. very impressive but not very usefull when fishing.
The down side in the amount of room in the boat because of the design of the hull that provided the great performance. The cabin is not as wide as you would like in a boat that size. If I was looking for a 18 to 24 ft day fishing, crabbing or rough water commuter the stabicraft line of boats would be my only choice. But it not a cruising boat that I would want. I just wish they would make a 10 ft wide one. That would rock. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stabicraft+2500+ultracab+xl
 
Apart from riding on rails and not pounding, the wide side decks with toe under kick on the cockpit base means no need for handrails and you are super well secure in the boat. For cranking up a halibut, you can really use the extra height if you are careful with the rod against metal. It is a a bit tough to boat a big fish but for me, not an issue, just have your mate give a hand. Also, if set up Aussie style with a drum winch, pulling your anchor using a ball and ring is super easy. They build some of them with foam filled chambers, verdict is out on that one but using multiple air chambers on each side works great. Fuel tanks in the belly of the boat, auto flooding fish well in the bow, offset helm plus two or three mounted chairs, bait cutting table forward of the single engine or in-between twins, and stern doors to get to the Armstrong style bracket. Ideal would be the 15, a 17-19 day model and a 24-28 for overnighters. Take care. See ya.
Bob Jarrard
 
starcrafttom":1su97152 said:
I just wish they would make a 10 ft wide one. That would rock. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stabicraft+2500+ultracab+xl
Boats like what you describe are made, and here in the PNW USA. We've had these types of boats around for quite some time, including by the company Aluminum Chambered Boats. Check out the current Passagemaker, which describes the Life Proof 35 Full Cabin.

https://www.lifeproofboats.com/pleasure-craft

...starting at $399K.

Note that mpg is not discussed in the article, but the company site says 1.2-1.3 mpg typical. The 33' full-cabin has a 10 ft beam, and is nicely appointed. Like mentioned by this poster, interior room is small for the boat size on all of these types of boats, which are specifically designed to handle rough conditions that I wouldn't go out in on purpose but might encounter by accident.
 
ACB is the boat we drove and susan dam near went out of. They did not to my knowledge make a 10 ft wide boat. I looked at them for years including some of there 30 fts and the cabins where just not roomy enough. I wish they were big enough. The lifeproof boats are not a fair comparison. Bigger wider and far bigger motors. they may look similar but are not even comparable. the owner of "pingo" bought a stabi craft as his fishing boat / commuter boat to his cabin. I got to fish on it and was amazed how nice the ride was. For a day boat that is trailable it would be my only choice. I cant remember what his mpg was but it was over 5. Now thats a day boat with in closed cabin. More comparable to a hewes craft or a alumaweld. better fuel economy and a far far better ride.
 
Back
Top