Sea Chaser 180 FS - A Boat Review

This is not a bad boat for the price. The buyer needs to be aware of the limitations this boat has when powered with a 4 cycle 150 hp engine.

I owned a Sea Chaser 180 FS for three years, and fished out of it regularly. It was powered by a 150hp Honda, an engine that performed perfectly. While the boat had some issues, I learned to compensate for them and was able to fish the boat safely and comfortably.

First of all, the boat is extremely heavy for a flats boat. Weighing in at 1720 pounds for the boat alone, it is much heavier than a comparable brand's 18 footer that weighs in at 1400 pounds including a 150hpo motor. The weight does two things. On a positive note, it provides a comfortable ride in a chop. On the negative side, it makes for a real load when trying to come up out of the hole.

When powered with a 4 cycle 150hp engine, the boat sits stern heavy in the water. The advertised draft is 7.5 inches of water. The actual draft with a standard fishing load, half tank of gas, and two anglers is more like 14 to 15 inches.

The boats dry lockers are not really dry. Spray and a light rain will be kept out, but a wash down hose or heavy rain will get through the edges of the lids. One good feature is that all the compartments are lockable. That allows a stop for breakfast without worrying about your gear while you eat.

The 180 FS will sharply drop off its chine in a turn at less than full throttle, something that will scare you the first time it happens. I either turned at slow speed or at full throttle.

The console on the 180 FS is more like a bay boat console. Driving from a sitting position, you have to sit up top see over it. On a positive note, it makes for easy driving from a standing position. But, the console and windshield sit high and sometimes altered the way I needed to cast to avoid hitting it.

I fished it for thee years and never had an issue with the boat's structural integrity, but I found myself finding ways to overcome some of the design issues on it.