Looking to finally purchase my first glass bass boat. I have narrowed my decision down to two boats:

 

1. 1985 16' Skeeter Strada F 80 w/ 75 HP Merc.

 

2. 1990 18' Javelin 378 w/ 150 HP Evinrude XP

 

Both boats are in GREAT shape for their year and both have had alot of recent upgrades/ maintenance done.

 

Looking for current or past owners or anyone that has any helpful input on these two boats. Will try to upload pics. Thanks.

Owned neither, but if price and condition are compatible I have no idea why you wouldn't want to go longer (by 2 foot) and more HP.

I'm in the same boat as JB. If you can afford the bigger one go for that. It's bigger and newer. You'll have more storage, will handle better in rough water, and get you there and back a whole lot faster than the other boat. 

I agree with the 2 other posts. If it's priced similar, there is no comparison at all in boats. 2 feet is a lot in a boat, and twice the hp? Pretty obvious choice. 

 

 

Want an s10 or a extended cab z71? 

Of those 2 the Javelin is the only choice.  A 16' boat in this day and age of 7'+ rods is way too small for even one guy.

I agree with everyone else and those Javelins are fast boats

16' glass is a really small boat. Strada is like a Sea Doo boat with a small fishing platform upfront. The actual length is 15'6". The gun rails are really high. Rod storage is going to suck. Tackle storage is going to suck. I wouldn't even consider that boat. The wieght of that glass with a 70HP you are far better off with a 17' or 18' Tracker and a 50-60HP. That 70HP probably bogs down terribly. If those are your choices the Javelin is the only choice. 

Y'all ever fish in a 16' glass boat?

I got a 1996 Stratos 258 (15' 5") with a 70 hp Johnson, handles extremely well with 2 anglers, stores 7 1/2' rods easily, & runs about 50 mph.

Now the Strada was not Skeeter's crowning achievement which is why it didn't stay in the line up for long. Plus it's 30 years old & the Javelin is 25, personally I would look for something in the 2000s