Just curious if anyone knows why there aren't more wooldridge boats running the kenai? I mean they're well built sharp looking boats, and they're closer to ak than willie, fishrite, and koffler.

I don't think they make a kenai specific model like Willie, Koffler, Fish Rite or MM do.

I haven't seen one of their hull designs capable of fishing 4+ that would that well with a 50hp motor. They all seem to be pretty stout and on the heavy side compared to say a classic or predator. Style boat.

Lots of woolridge boats on other rivers up here though. They do make very nice boats.

Maybe Danny will chime in?

I kinda figured there may be some performance issues with just a 50 horse

Hmmm. Maybe we should all check out this video............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMDQ-Btife0&feature=g-upl[/url]

The 20' Alaskan XL open model is very light at 1250 pounds. Here are the specs.............

http://www.wooldridgeboats.com/catalog/products/alaskan-xl[/url]

I have tons of performance testing with fuel consumption numbers if anyone is interested. For a company that has been around for almost a hundred years as well as the first to install the very first outboard jet pump from Dick Stalman of Outboard jets, we have come a long way in designing lightweight boats with intracate hull structure.

So then, why aren't there any wooldridge boats on the kenai?

WIllie spent decades designing and building a boat for that specific market.

The Predator is 230lbs lighter. That makes a huge difference when looking to get on step w/ a 50hp.


Most importantly Willie Boats decided that the Kenai was a specific market that they wanted to target. This decision led them to figure out how to build a kenai specific boat at a helluva price for the guides.

Backtrollin is correct. Willie pursued the Kenai market and developed a river specific boat. The 20' XL has a bit wider bottom for lift in getting out of the hole which may add to the weight difference. Alaska is huge and we have 5 dealers up there so you will see more Wooldridge Boats in specific areas of the state.

There are more Wooldridges on the Kenai than you may realize. Jeff Moore, Donnie Smith, Pat Johnson, not sure who's still hanging in there. A few off the top though I know there are others. Predators, Raptors are not the fastest hulls on the Kenai!! The advertised weight is not completly accurate. I would be willing to bet that by the time all of the options are factored the 20xl and the Pred would be very close in weight. The Willie would be cheaper, you get what you pay for.