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I actually put $35K down on a new Marlin but ended up backing out. The reason I wanted bigger was for a fast and comfy ride home in the afternoon Pacific chop. I backed out because I was on the ocean on a snotty day, a buddy who had bought a new Marlin was out in the same area. I had a bumpy...

Put the proper 12x18 inch trim tabs on it and watch the ride get even better. I have a friend, he has a 271 Canyon, he came on my boat and just looked at me like "what's wrong with your boat?" He looked at the tabs at the harbor and said "those are two small". Sure enough, I go to the Bennett...

You get on my 228, you have a life vest on before we leave the dock. Arguing with me about it is how you never get an invite to come again. Arguing with me about it and then sneaking into the cuddy cabin to pull a shot of booze every so often is how you *really* never get an invite back (yep...

I put in flap valves. Bronze, they use gravity to go closed. They work well if I keep them clean. I'm not a fan of plugging up the drains because those drains are a safety thing, if the boat stuffs or a wave comes over, the water needs to go out. If you are in snotty conditions, the cockpit...

Join the club of never having heard, there is a lot to know. Now I open up the round hatches after every trip and wash down the tank maybe every 3 trips. Live and learn.

You might consider a Canyon 271. I fish with a friend who has one and that is the boat that made me want to upgrade my 228 to a Marlin 300. That 271 hull is special, it's heavy, it doesn't want to launch, I've done the 53 mile ride home from point sur in 8' @ 11s, 27 knots, never touched the...

I'll add that to my list of things to learn. I do have a kicker as backup that I can steer manually, but if I could steer with the trim tabs I could go home faster. Can you run the boat on plane and steer with them? I'm guessing you can because I've had the boat whip around when I put too...

I used to not know where my tabs were but that was because I had no experience with them. Magic Bill and others encouraged me to play with them. Great advice. Now I know where they are just by the way the boat feels. If you put too much down on one side, it will turn the boat around pretty...

Seasick et al, now that I'm using tabs, I'll try the motor back a bit. Here is Eric saying to do what I've been doing:

Well engine trimmed forward does cause a little drag and it burns .1mpg more. But if I didn't trim it forward, I'd just use more tab. For whatever it is worth, I learned the engine trimming thing from Eric S, the guy that does the videos for Grady-White. He says that's what you should do. I'm...

Boats are a lot like tractors. I started with a little 16hp, then sold that, got a 21hp, and added a 59hp. They all worked and they all were useful. Any tractor is better than no tractor and the same is true for boats. I think the appeal of the 228 is that it is "a big little boat" or "a...

Here's a point of view from a guy who didn't want to use trim tabs. If you look on youtube, you can find the video where Eric is talking about using your engine to trim the boat. I did that. 99% of the time, my engine is all the way forward so it is pushing the bow down somewhat. I played...

I went and looked, here's the sales order. $118K plus tax. $150K for the 218 is insane. No offense to those who have bought it, but it's not an upgrade from my 228 - for me at least. At the time I bought my boat, I could have gotten a 208 for around $85K and I thought the 228 was expensive...

Yep. I think I'd look hard at a Northcoast, Whaler conquest, even a Parker. I doubt Grady cares though, there will always be someone willing to over pay, Grady makes a nice boat. If it were up to me, I would have left the 208 and 228 in place. But it's not up to me, you have to assume...

So my local fishing crew pried out of me that I had the tabs down. Apparently that is a no-no so that might have been part of my problem.

I'm at the other end of the country so no fishing buddy for you. That said, you will love this forum. I've been on a bunch, bloody decks, hull truth, my local fishing forum. This one is the best. This place is full of people that want to be friends, want to help you, don't judge. You will...

Well the 228 is not an option and the price point of the 218 is way higher than a 228 3 years ago. I'm just happy with my 228 even though I bought new (should not have done that but whatever). $150K for a 218 makes me love my 228, it's a better boat and was cheaper. I don't see $150K as a...

I get both of your points. I haven't been in a 226 but I can imagine that the swim platform makes the 228 feel like a longer boat. For me, I love the enclosed transom, just feels safer. I do love my 228, in a good sea, she is a nice boat.

Went out of Santa Cruz today, 9 mile run to a reef that holds rockfish and lings. Windy said 5@11, seemed fine but was not. It was more like 5@5, really rough ride out, had the tabs all the way down, didn't help. It's been a long time since I've had a ride that bad. Up hill on the way out...

I looked at an 208 Adventure before deciding to buy the 228. Yep, $30K more for a swim platform, 50 more HP, and 2 feet of deck space. I asked my dealer why that was $30K more and he said "Because people pay it". Lovely. I'm sticking with my 228, she's a good boat and was a lot cheaper.