Baron Sportsman Boats
Submitted by kao007 on Sun, 2012-06-24 18:27
Hi guys just looking for some info on older Baron Sportsman Boats 18ft 6 roughly 20 yrs +old are they a good rig and how do they handle in rough water and at stop any info on them would be greatly appreciated tight lines and stay safe on the water thanks
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
hi matei had one a few years
hi mate
i had one a few years ago mate, 18-6' with an old 140 eveinrude on the back, bloody great boat and handled everything i threw at it with ease.
fishing out to the 100mtr mark, in shallow, skiing and even some cruise nights on the river, only downfall was the donk, heavy on fuel and not 100% reliable to head out deep unless with another boat.
if in sound cond i would not have a problem buying another, it was just time for us to upgrade to a larger boat with a new engine.
my mate who brought mine has it for sale now i belive, he did change the donk to a late yammy saltwater series 2, not sure what he wants for it but if keen drop me a pm and i will find out.
cheers
wangler
Posts: 607
Date Joined: 26/04/08
good boat, I take mine 65km's
offshore with ease, Just need to check things like spongie floor, soggy transom, excessive stress on a boat that old.
Its not that red one down south advertised recently on gumtree is it ?
Want to make someone mad... tell a lie! Want to get the world upset... tell the TRUTH !
Dougie
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
maybe this
maybe this one
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/munster/boats-jet-skis/baron-sportsman-18-6/1003325094
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
That one does look pretty
That one does look pretty tidy!
Rod P
Posts: 725
Date Joined: 20/05/08
Looks good but $26500 for a
Looks good but $26500 for a late 70's boat is too much.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Fair cop.
Fair cop.
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
agree mate, we only payed
agree mate, we only payed $30k for our 97 sf 655 southwind.
my mate has my old one for sale, needs a bit of work but i think he only wants around $10k
JohnF
Posts: 2836
Date Joined: 07/07/10
My mate has one.....quite
My mate has one.....quite staggering ho good a hull they are!!!! Fantastic!
The old models are heavier and better, apparently the newer ones were made with less glass and can crack up a bit.
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
Travisd
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 07/05/11
new ones are fine too
The first couple to come out were a bit light and didn't sit on the chines right. The boats coming out towards the end of his production were sweet.- they skimped a bit on the finishing(odd air bubble under gelcoat) though, which is annoying. I've owned mine sinnce 2005 and it hasn't missed a beat. Had six people onboard in exy a month ago swimming with whale sharks but it was tight. Great size for diving, fishing, and easy to tow / or launch on your own.i don't think you will find a better boat for its size ride or comfort wise.
Baron Sportsman
Just the depth that Varies
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Funny you say that, I've had
Funny you say that, I've had the reverse story told to me by baron owners a few times; the early ones were rock solid, and the later ones were a bit light-on.
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
Different barons handle differant?
I would imagine the different model Barons all handle in a different way. The ones with an inboard, weight further forward, weight low down, and the heavier motor and prop assembly would have the best stability. Barons with the outboards, the weight higher, the motor lighter and the weight moved back a little. Then those with pods the weight back even further, but with bouyancy. My baron slams down and is literally a pain in the back, getting to the anchor is a bitch. But coming into dock at a pier is a dream. When i go out next, going to take a tank ot fill with water and add weight to see if there is any improvement in the slaming.
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
Yes
My mate calls his the knee breaker
Rod P
Posts: 725
Date Joined: 20/05/08
Tell him to slow down then.
Tell him to slow down then.
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
Never heard or read a bad
Never heard or read a bad word about Barons, I find your comment interesting Tomcat. My boat is I think very light, and the motor is mounted on a frame not a pod. This I think is the reason for the slaming. For us oldies we have to tick along at 7 knots which is stupid. But I don't think other Barons suffer the problem.
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
mine was a
mine was a std 18-6' sportsman with a 140 outboard on the stock transom mount.
the transom had been reinforced with a s/s plate from the top of the motor mount right down the the bottom of the hull, it ran a 90ltr ally tank in the floor and thats about it.
never had any issues with banging hard at a resonable speed, not as good as my southwind but still good, i found it to be good at rest even with 2 people on one side.
the most important thing i found for the ride was to get her as level as possible by shiffting things around, like eskys and where the deckies were standing, a bit of a lean and the harder the ride.
i would recomend a barron to anyone as a first boat without a doubt, i know a guy today that still has his barron, with a late model motor and goes everywhere and then some where i go and boy does he catch fish!!!, out fished me and my uncle many many times, he headed out deeper while we stayed in a bit due to the weather and we where in a bigger boat.
cheers
ron
wangler
Posts: 607
Date Joined: 26/04/08
The last 2 sentences
Sounds like me
Want to make someone mad... tell a lie! Want to get the world upset... tell the TRUTH !
Dougie
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
Not mine
I have never been in one just going on what a mate says about his own boat
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
bloody great boat
we had one a few years back the old mercruiser died so we repowered it with a 190hp mercruiser cruised at 30 knots top speed 47 knots! rode the water very well and you could sit three on one side without a worry! the next door neighbour also had one but he had an outboard on his and it didnt sit or ride as well but you still wouldnt pick it! great boats all round in my opinion! 27000 dollars worth though ?????? it would want to be absoloutley smick! you can pick them up for around ten just depending on the motor
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
Baron Custom
Posts: 112
Date Joined: 04/09/09
sportsman
The "Sportsman" made by baron are realy good boat but as a standerd boat has to many problems with whats under the floor
stringer to ribs have no dranage under them.... few other small issues I found when re,doing mine , The sportsman was the last boats to come out of there factory before it burnt down.... As a custom boat they are Top's
The boys are dead right that boat is over priced..... Cheers, Daz
NEVER TRUST ANY GOVERNMENT
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
http://www.boatsonline.com.au
http://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/trailer-boats/baron-outrider-v1900-yamaha-115hp-4-stroke-efi/113017
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
Baron Outrider
Baron Outrider, exactly the same as mine including year and interior colour. The engine is supported by a frame, rather than a pod. Any thoughts on how that setup may effect performance.
But nice boat, spent a bit of money on it. One point though, the weight of the Baron must put it on the limit of a single axle trailer, mine is on a tandom. the single axle would cut down the all up towing weight, but you would dip out on stability.
Wannafish
Posts: 158
Date Joined: 20/05/12
My Dad started Baron boats,
My Dad started Baron boats, with Jay Pearce (who went on to start Leader Boats), designing and making the 18'6 Baron Sportsman.... Unfortunately Baron went broke.... Just a bit of trivia...
Rod P
Posts: 725
Date Joined: 20/05/08
Was your old man Jack? If so
Was your old man Jack? If so you'd know me from Freo yamaha days.
marble
Posts: 773
Date Joined: 03/09/09
http://www.boatsonline.com.au
http://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/bonito/114598
Same hull fron the chines down, Used to have a centre console one, it lives in New Zealand now.
PMY 25 Centre Console DF300 Suzuki
Wannafish
Posts: 158
Date Joined: 20/05/12
No Rod, his name is Rob......
No Rod, his name is Rob......
Rod P
Posts: 725
Date Joined: 20/05/08
My understanding was Jack
My understanding was Jack Fitzpatrick started Barons. I know there was some conjecture after he passed who owned what but that was more to do with wills and estate's.
stefanie
Posts: 5
Date Joined: 22/08/10
Baron Sportsman
Do any of you lads know how to contact Jack or Rob or anybody that's understanding of the Barons? I am repowering mine from a Volvo Stern drive to Mercruiser V6. I have seen these in Barons but I really need to know where the Stringers and/or ribs are located for setting up engine mounts. I was hoping to be able to do this without having to play hit and miss by tearing up the entire floor.
If anybody knows the under floor layout of the Baron Sportsmans or who to contact to help me with this, would be greatly appreciated. This repower is going to be a big job and I have to source all the info and homework I can.
Cheers lads.
Brett.
Gunner966
Posts: 145
Date Joined: 23/04/13
I have had Baron 18 6' for
I too thought Jack Fitzpatrick was one of the founders of Barons.
surfymuzz
Posts: 121
Date Joined: 05/05/14
baron sportsman
Hey guys,
What would the baron sportmans look like underneath? Stringers?
Im looking at one in Albany and dont know how to check what the condition is under the hull, is it possible to see?
Someone here said they cant drain water through the bung if water gets in under the floors? Is this true?