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  1. #1
    Member MindenSkeeter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Minden
    Posts
    93

    Thumbs Up 2019 G3 Sportsman 1810 Adventure



    Big thanks to H&W Marine in Shreveport, La for their help in ordering and customizing the boat I wanted! After much research I had settled between an Xpress or G3. Having been a G3 owner before (10yrs ago) and knowing the salesman at H&W (he worked at a different dealership and sold me my Skeeter) I settled on the G3.
    Was told 4-6 weeks from the time I ordered, got boat 1 day shy of 4 weeks!! That NEVER happens!

    I have completed the 2 hr portion of the break-in and here are my observations.

    Cons:
    recessed trolling motor tray does not work with Ulterra
    very tight and hard to access wiring channels
    difficult to mount large sonar on console
    Lowrance Hook 5x is very cheap and basic sonar unit
    when removing plastic storage bins, I notices large areas of unused space
    front bow panel is rather cheap
    rod holder is small

    Pros:
    VMAX 115 SHO is AWESOME!!! runs great, quiet, very quick on plane.
    console has lots of room to sit and tons more room underneath
    seats are very comfortable
    all weld and construction hidden under storage bins looks well done
    3 good Interstate Batteries and a good 3-bank charger are standard
    gauges are good quality and accurate
    livewell is large
    ran in whitecaps and handles rough water well (for an aluminum boat)
    aluminum trailer seems well made
    bunks are rubber
    extra accessory wiring is run and terminated at the front under TM tray
    nice fuse panel is easy to access under console
    lots of usable space under seats
    deck space is about the same as my Skeeter ZX200
    top speed so far is 46 mph on a short run (me and 2 kids onboard), thats not bad for a 115!

    I pulled the 8 gauge TM wiring and replaced with 6. all terminals soldered with a 60 amp breaker at batteries.
    Ulterra installed. had no problems with it hitting bow roller when loading and unloading.
    Ran separate 14gauge wiring for all electronics. Helix 7 up front, Helix 10 at console, both networked with TM.
    NMEA 2000 backbone ran. Plugged right in to SHO.
    Extra fuse bank and negative bus added for all electronics. Wiring for this is run to cranking battery on separate post, all connections soldered and shrink wrapped.


    Ulterra installed


    Beneath TM tray


    6 gauge wire for TM

    Co-pilot was happy to help during break-in.


    Basic Lowrance unit.


    rubber bunks on aluminum trailer


    matching spare


    Drilled hole in deck and used rubber folding chair foot to hold cables and seal out water.

    More to come!!!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    2019 G3 Sportsman 1810
    MK Ulterra
    Helix 10
    Helix 7
    SHO 115

  2. Not Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Oak Ridge TN
    Posts
    1,486
    #2
    Congrats. I too came from a Skeeter to the G3. I ran an 08 ZX225 for years before making the switch back to aluminum. I like it more every time I take it out. I fished the Chic Sunday with a buddy and it really impressed me with its rough water handling. With a pretty good chop on the water and 500-525 pounds in us two with full fuel and a power pole, I saw 51.8 mph (Sportsman 19 with 150hp) which is the fastest I've ever seen... Take into consideration we were going with the wind. The only thing I miss about the Skeeter is being able to run 70 if I wanted to or needed to.

    I feel your pain on the wires... I ran power to a separate supply and then to the front for a Humminbird Helix 9 and Hydrowave. It wasn't a pleasant experience. I made sure I ran enough to the box so that I could run what ever I wanted to without having to fish wires from the back again. I also ran another Helix 9 transducer cables from the wheel. That was no fun either. I've got a Lowrance HDS in dash that I plan on hooking up to the motor when I get around to it. The Hook units do leave a lot to be desired. I kept mine and may put them on a kayak one day. If you're running across the lake the one I had at the dash didn't load the maps fast enough to keep up with where you were going. I used it to navigate the river before I hooked the Helix units up and at 30mph or so they couldn't keep up.
    _________________________
    Know God, know peace. No God, no peace!

  3. Member MindenSkeeter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Minden
    Posts
    93
    #3
    Loving the SpotLock!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    2019 G3 Sportsman 1810
    MK Ulterra
    Helix 10
    Helix 7
    SHO 115

  4. Member MindenSkeeter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Minden
    Posts
    93
    #4

    Helix 10 at the console using a DeckMount bracket. Very sturdy.


    Bracket JUST did fit!!


    The Battery Tender plug seems to be well built. Once it locks in, it ain't coming out!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by MindenSkeeter; 11-09-2018 at 07:46 AM. Reason: edited to show Helix 10
    2019 G3 Sportsman 1810
    MK Ulterra
    Helix 10
    Helix 7
    SHO 115

  5. Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Southbridge, VA
    Posts
    1,993
    #5
    The bunk slicks they are using are really an improvement. The Potomac ate my original trailer for my 2002 Pro175 and three years ago I ordered a galvanized trailer and surprised to see it with the new bunk covered slicks. We can power load here and the first time I did with those bunk slicks I almost drove into the truck bed LOL.

  6. Member MindenSkeeter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Minden
    Posts
    93
    #6
    Beware of this issue!!!
    Ground cable overheated ans burned up the pick up tube for the speedometer on my SHO 115. According to a VERY knowledgeable OB mechanic that I trust, these motors are prone to grounding issues. Before I finished telling him what happened he asked if my boat was in an aluminum cradle with the motor touching the water on a dock with power. Well of course it was! i am going back with a larger ground and double checking all connections on the battery!
    IMG_2003.jpgIMG_2004.jpg
    2019 G3 Sportsman 1810
    MK Ulterra
    Helix 10
    Helix 7
    SHO 115

  7. Member MindenSkeeter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Minden
    Posts
    93
    #7
    Has anyone found tackle boxes that will fit the front side storage compartment? It is indexed for slide in boxes but it is 13 3/4" wide and all the boxes I can find are 14" wide.

    IMG_2001.jpg
    2019 G3 Sportsman 1810
    MK Ulterra
    Helix 10
    Helix 7
    SHO 115

  8. Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Pell City Al Logan Martin Lake
    Posts
    355
    #8
    Quote Originally Posted by MindenSkeeter View Post


    Big thanks to H&W Marine in Shreveport, La for their help in ordering and customizing the boat I wanted! After much research I had settled between an Xpress or G3. Having been a G3 owner before (10yrs ago) and knowing the salesman at H&W (he worked at a different dealership and sold me my Skeeter) I settled on the G3.
    Was told 4-6 weeks from the time I ordered, got boat 1 day shy of 4 weeks!! That NEVER happens!

    I have completed the 2 hr portion of the break-in and here are my observations.

    Cons:
    recessed trolling motor tray does not work with Ulterra
    very tight and hard to access wiring channels
    difficult to mount large sonar on console
    Lowrance Hook 5x is very cheap and basic sonar unit
    when removing plastic storage bins, I notices large areas of unused space
    front bow panel is rather cheap
    rod holder is small

    Pros:
    VMAX 115 SHO is AWESOME!!! runs great, quiet, very quick on plane.
    console has lots of room to sit and tons more room underneath
    seats are very comfortable
    all weld and construction hidden under storage bins looks well done
    3 good Interstate Batteries and a good 3-bank charger are standard
    gauges are good quality and accurate
    livewell is large
    ran in whitecaps and handles rough water well (for an aluminum boat)
    aluminum trailer seems well made
    bunks are rubber
    extra accessory wiring is run and terminated at the front under TM tray
    nice fuse panel is easy to access under console
    lots of usable space under seats
    deck space is about the same as my Skeeter ZX200
    top speed so far is 46 mph on a short run (me and 2 kids onboard), thats not bad for a 115!

    I pulled the 8 gauge TM wiring and replaced with 6. all terminals soldered with a 60 amp breaker at batteries.
    Ulterra installed. had no problems with it hitting bow roller when loading and unloading.
    Ran separate 14gauge wiring for all electronics. Helix 7 up front, Helix 10 at console, both networked with TM.
    NMEA 2000 backbone ran. Plugged right in to SHO.
    Extra fuse bank and negative bus added for all electronics. Wiring for this is run to cranking battery on separate post, all connections soldered and shrink wrapped.


    Ulterra installed


    Beneath TM tray


    6 gauge wire for TM

    Co-pilot was happy to help during break-in.


    Basic Lowrance unit.


    rubber bunks on aluminum trailer


    matching spare


    Drilled hole in deck and used rubber folding chair foot to hold cables and seal out water.

    More to come!!!
    i have garage restrictions, could you please let me know minimum length with break away tongue and motor trimmed down. Also you mentioned the recessed trolling motor tray is small, do you know if an Ultrex foot controll will fit. One more will the dash panel fit a Helix 10.
    Considering the 18’ but may need to go with 17’ just rather have 118SHO.

    Thanks
    Last edited by loganmartincat; 01-16-2019 at 09:18 PM.

  9. Member MindenSkeeter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Minden
    Posts
    93
    #9
    IMG_2123.jpgIMG_2122.jpg

    Newest addition to the G3. Much easier to load the boat by myself now!
    2019 G3 Sportsman 1810
    MK Ulterra
    Helix 10
    Helix 7
    SHO 115

  10. Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Hope Mills, N.C.
    Posts
    8,516
    #10
    I would never own another boat without a boarding step/ladder. I got the trick step and it is worth every penny.
    2007 Bass Cat Pantera IV
    2018 G3 Sportsman 1710

  11. Panfish Forum Moderator SOONER*REDNECK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Pryor, Oklahoma
    Posts
    12,549
    #11
    Fisher 1710C - Mercury 60 Horse 4 stroke
    **Crappie Fishing Fool**

  12. LDraper
    Guest
    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by MindenSkeeter View Post
    Has anyone found tackle boxes that will fit the front side storage compartment? It is indexed for slide in boxes but it is 13 3/4" wide and all the boxes I can find are 14" wide.

    IMG_2001.jpg
    I use the Bass Mafia 3700 series in my Sportsman 17.