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Kingfisher Boats
We gave our Gear Lovers one job: Find the best and most popular Kingfisher Boats and review them.
Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews.
From the wild, untamed North Pacific to the winding rivers and endless lakes of British Columbia, Kingfisher Boats are made to tackle it all. The Canadian builder is known for their welded, heavy-gauge aluminum boats that are designed to take a beating and provide years of reliable service.
Models range from the 35-foot pilothouse 3425 GFX to the 21-foot 1975 Fastwater X9R for river jet boating.
It’s hard to beat a rough and tough metal boat for high-latitude recreational fishing and family boating. Let’s dive in and look at what makes Kingfisher Boats some of the best aluminum boats on the water, no matter where the adventure takes you.
All the kingfisher boats we've tested:, kingfisher 3025 gfx.
Where to buy kingfisher 3025 gfx:.
GFX stands for “Great Fishing and Exploration,” and the Kingfisher 3025 GFX certainly lives up to its name. These top-of-the-line Kingfisher Boats feature all the best options on the company’s most rugged, saltwater-ready, heavy-gauge aluminum boat hull. These feature hull thickness of a quarter inch and deep-vee designs that smooth out any offshore chop.
Compared to other models in the Offshore lineup, the 3025 is the smallest GFX boat , making it a prime choice for those looking for upgraded comfort and features compared to the Destination and Weekend series. Offshore boats are available from 35 to 25 feet long.
Things we like:, kingfisher 2625 coastal express.
Coastal boats range from 29 to 24 feet long and feature slightly shallower vee hulls than their offshore counterparts. Their bottoms are heavy-gauge aluminum, although slightly thinner than those used in the Offshore series. However, since Kingfisher is a custom boat maker, you can spec out your 2625 in nearly any way you want, including a thicker bottom.
The interior of the Coastal Series is designed to keep you dry and warm during the toughest months of the year, but its accommodations are limited to keep it functional as a dayboat. The bow area is storage, and the only berth available is the two rear benches that convert with filler cushions.
There’s no galley, and the toilet is under a bench in the cabin, with only a privacy curtain.
The boat’s strength is its large working cockpit, which can be outfitted for any fishing mission.
Kingfisher 2025 escape softtop.
The 2025 Escape and Escape HT are identical hulls with similar features, the only difference being that the HT is an enclosed hard top. But with the factory canvas enclosure option, the regular Escape will likely fit most boaters’ needs if they generally avoid windy and cold days anyway. This allows the best of both worlds— glorious open-air boating in the summer and warm and cozy protection in the winter.
The boat has a true 20-foot hull with an outboard bracket. The bracket is spacious, with a stowable swim ladder. There’s also space for a small kicker next to your main outboard, which is between 150 and 225 horsepower. Access to the cockpit is made through a clever folding step that makes entry and exit easier while not giving up any of your freeboard.
As a trailerable day boat on lakes, it’s hard to beat the rugged build of the Kingfisher 2025 Escape. Still, we’d like to see an upgraded family boat model with more seating. An optional bow seating area would help increase the functionality and appeal of this boat.
The Kingfisher 1825 Warrior Sport is a multi-species fishing boat made to take on tough northern climates. Like all Kingfisher boats, its welded construction and rough-water-ready Pre-Flex hull set it apart.
The interior of the boat is built for functionality and open space. Comfortable pedestal seats can be placed throughout, with four positions aft and one forward.
The aft casting deck is built on the fish lockers, and there is plentiful storage for big items like rods under the forward casting deck. If you’re fishing in colder climates, consider the full canvas enclosure, which works especially well with this boat’s welded windshield frame.
The 1975 Freshwater X9R is the latest version of Kingfisher’s popular jet-powered family boating platform. It takes the same great hull of other Kingfisher sports boats and couples it with a river jet boat. The boat has an ultra-beefy quarter-inch hull and has further reinforcement panels on the keel and chines.
The X9R’s Indmar engine produces 310 horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque at mid-range speeds. This incredible engine has closed-circuit cooling and is gasoline turbocharged direct injection (GTDI). The swim platform has a built-in service port to clean the jet, and an optional stainless steel impeller is available.
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Kingfisher Boats is based in British Columbia, Canada. They build a line of rugged aluminum fishing boats from 19 to 35 feet long . Larger models feature a functional pilothouse with overnight accommodations. All boats are designed to be long-lasting and capable of tackling cold climates .
While they lack some of the flashiness of fiberglass boats in the same class, Kingfishers are well worth a look for many boating enthusiasts. Their practical approach to boating means that these boats are easy to own and maintain , keeping your cost of ownership lower and your boating season longer.
Kingfisher Boats makes a line of welded aluminum boats ranging from 20 to 35 feet long. All of their hulls include the same “ Pre-Flex technology .” Simply put, they bend and shape the metal before welding it together to increase its load-carrying capacity .
Like a curved bridge is stronger than a flat one, the hulls then have no tendency to ‘oil can’ or deform over time. They are extremely rugged and long-lasting , with hull thickness up to a quarter of an inch.
Likewise, all joints are welded—there are no rivets anywhere . Huge rub rails protect the boat from docks, and optional double rub rails are available on the larger models. The cleats are oversized, and even the cabin door is beefy and secure.
Kingfisher takes pride in its craftsmanship , and even the small details stand out. The electrical components are neat and organized, and every piece of stainless is isolated from the aluminum hull.
The brand sells boats in five categories depending on how you want to use your boat: offshore, coastal boating, multi-species fishing boats, lake sports boats, and river jet boating.
The Offshore Series features big pilothouse powerboats built to take on big-water marine adventure. They have deep vee hulls, up to 18 degrees, for cutting through chop and providing a smooth ride at low speeds.
Offshore boats come in three trim levels: GFX, Destination, and Weekender.
GFX stands for “Great Fishing and Adventure.” They’re loaded with the brand’s best premium features and found on the biggest three models of the Offshore line, the 3025, 3225, and 3425. They are four inches deeper than the other trim levels and feature stand-out amenities.
Examples include the sliding door entry into the cabin, upgraded interior upholstery and woodwork, enormous in-floor storage areas, and an extended roof over the cockpit helm.
Destination and Weekender Offshore boats are similar but lack some of the high-end features. The Destination trim is available on the 2825 and 3025, and the Weekender is only on the 2525 and 2725. In many cases, it’s possible to upgrade Destination and Weekender boats with some options included in the GFX package.
The Coastal Series is aimed at anglers and families who don’t need as much space or seakeeping abilities as the Offshore boats provide. They’re smaller, ranging from the 2225 Escape HT to the 2825 Coastal Express. Compared to their Offshore sisterships, the Coastal Series have slightly thinner sides, bottoms, and shallower vee hulls.
But, they are nonetheless very robust and capable aluminum boats.
Aimed at anglers of all stripes, the multi-species boats are fishing machines made to hit any freshwater fishing spot . They’re small enough for your typical lake or river but beefy enough for coastal areas in good weather.
The 1825 Warrior comes with tiller or remote steering. The 1925 and 2125 Arrow Sports are slightly larger versions with more room to fish. In these boats, seating is all pedestal seats that can be removed and moved around. Bow and aft feature large casting platforms.
These are lake boats aimed at families looking for a one-size solution to their marine adventure. These boats are solidly built and capable of doing almost anything, from fishing to watersports or just lounging around.
Sport boats come in two trims, the Falcon and the Escape. The 1825 and 2025 Falcons feature an open design with a welded windshield panel. The 2025 Escape comes in softtop or hardtop (HT) versions. All boats have a similar seating layout—basic bucket seats at the helm and two 36-inch bench seats facing inboard.
The River Jet Series is a special set of Sport Series boats upgraded with Indmar inboard engines coupled with water jets. The result is a fast and sports boat with much more power and speed than their outboard-powered sisters.
The River Jet series includes the 1975 Fastwater and the 2175 Extreme Shallow, which can navigate in as little as four inches of water .
It’s easy to look at the lineup of Kingfisher Boats and write the company off as a niche builder focused on high-latitude fishermen. But doing so fails to acknowledge just how useful a workhorse boat like a Kingfisher is. Plenty of experienced boats shun the flashy looks of fiberglass in favor of the utility and indestructible nature of heavy-gauge aluminum boats.
Kingfisher Boats is one of the preferred brands for multi-species anglers, and these hulls are no stranger to the professional spotlight. They’re well-regarded for their fishable design features, strong construction, and no-frills/no-nonsense layouts.
Kingfishers are well-suited for year-round operations in any climate as boats for working watermen and women . The cockpit has plenty of working space, and their no-frills interiors are long-lasting and easy to maintain.
The same qualities that appeal to pro anglers always catch the eye of recreational fishermen. Kingfisher boats are popular compared to other—often more spartan—designs from builders like Lund Boats , Lowe Boats , or the aluminum offerings of Starcraft Boats .
Probably the most exciting use case for Kingfishers is that of the adventure seeker. For coastal exploring, it’s hard to beat the bigger Offshore series GFX boats . Their functional interiors make them the perfect boats for longer trips, from up the Inside Passage in the Pacific Northwest, Downeast adventures in Maine, and even winter trips to The Bahamas. There’s not much that these boats cannot tackle. For the adventurous couple, they also provide a robust and comfortable platform to make a big trip like the Great Loop.
On the other end of the spectrum, the River Jet series is a great exploration vessel for exploring rivers and lakes worldwide. The shallow drive and high speeds make for fun day trips, and the easy-to-trailer package means you can take it anywhere.
One particular strength of these boats is their ability to be customized for any outing. What makes them good recreational fishing boats also makes them good all-around family boating platforms . These aren’t one-trick ponies like those flashy bass boats —these are well-built adventure boats.
Other boats that fit the same bill include the Axopar 28 Cabin from Europe. While it suits many of the same missions, this boat is a fiberglass production boat of much lower quality. Undoubtedly, the Kingfisher could last many times as long as an Axopar Boat, and its resale values will consistently be higher.
Other fiberglass pilothouse fishing boat market competitors include C-Dory , Eastern , Osprey , and Parker . Other companies making similar Pacific Northwest-style welded metal pilothouse designs include Seawolf Marine , Eaglecraft , and Coastal Craft .
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Kingfisher’s 3025 GFX has the cabin-forward design and inspiration of more agile trawlers.
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KINGFISHER 20+JR 1975 to 1978. Sail Numbers as K20+ but with JR at the end of the number. Sail number. 414JR is the oldest member number, 412JR being the earliest I''m currently aware of. As 20+ but junk rigged. Fore hatch back on fore deck because mast stepped though the fore cabin roof. Came with either standard windows or portholes.
Kingfisher 20 is a 20′ 6″ / 6.3 m monohull sailboat designed by R.A.G. Nierop and built by Westfield Engineering Co. (Marine) Ltd. starting in 1962. Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. ... KINGFISHER 20+JR 1975 to 1978. Sail Numbers as K20+ but with JR at the end of the number. Sail number. 414JR is the ...
Built by Westfield Engineering Co. (Marine) Ltd. and designed by R.A.G. Nierop, the boat was first built in 1962. It has a hull type of Twin Keel and LOA is 6.27. Its sail area/displacement ratio 15.01. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by 15 L, runs on undefined. KINGFISHER 20 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a ...
The K20+ was basically perfect for this. It is small yet perfectly formed: proper cabins, with doors, even for the head (I don't know why, if a 20' boat can have a proper head, other much larger boats can't manage it, but that's for another thread). It's just really thoughtfully and well layed out inside. It's not going to be the fastest or ...
The main difference between the Kingfisher 20 and the 22 is the overall length. The latter and the 20+ had a LOA of 21' 7"; the former had a LOA of 20' 6 ¾ ". The 20+ was the extended version built when Nierop was producing them, but the 22s were manufactured by Kingfisher Yachts between 1978 and 1981. All of the Kingfisher 20, 20+ and ...
The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Kingfisher 20 Mk I is about 82 kg/cm, alternatively 464 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 82 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 464 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.
Kingfisher 20 Reviews. 20 from a report in 1968 Designed in 1959 the K20 has been an established favourite for many years as a sea-going cruiser and she has completed successfully in many races; she is eligible for J.O.G. classification. ... (Mr. Wolff is planning to sail his Kingfisher 20 Plus to England during the summer of '69) ...
The Kingfisher 20 is a 20.58ft masthead sloop designed by R.A.G. Nierop and built in fiberglass by Westfield Engineering Co. (Marine) Ltd. since 1962. The Kingfisher 20 is a light sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat.
Kingfisher 20 review Background I have been sailing for 35 years on a variety of sailboats and have owned a FJ 14 for 5 years, a Venture 17 for 8 years, a Yankee 24 Seahorse for 4 years and just purchased a Kingfisher 20. I have sailed the K20 only 5 times on Lake Erie. Description of the boat:
The ballast ratio for Kingfisher 20 is 42%. Low High 69% 0 50 100 This ballast ratio shows a righting moment that is higher than 69% of all similar sailboat designs.
This company makes fantastic boats, but that doesn't mean they are completely free from problems. In this post, we'll explore some of the most common problems with Kingfisher boats:-. Toggle. 1. Low Sides: 2. High Purchase Prices: Good Build Quality: 3.
The Kingfisher 20 1 is a 21.58ft masthead sloop designed by R.A.G. Nierop and built in fiberglass by Westfield Engineering Co. (Marine) Ltd. between 1967 and 1978. The Kingfisher 20 1 is a light sailboat which is under powered. It is stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat.
Specifications KINGFISHER 20. Home - Sailboat Listings 1962 - 20.58 ft / 6.27 m - R.A.G. Nierop - Westfield Engineering (UK) KINGFISHER 20 Sailboat Data. Hull Type: Twin Keel Rigging Type: Masthead Sloop LOA: 20.58 ft / 6.27 m LWL: 18.50 ft / 5.64 m S.A. (reported): 177.00 ft² / 16.44 m ...
48 posts · Joined 2015. #1 · Apr 6, 2020. Kingfisher 20 Mark II. Bought last April by my brother. After letting the boat age a bit more it was time to get to work. This April we have started rebuilding her. Telling the story with pictures. Here are the photos from the previous owner, in the craigslist ad.
June 9, 2021 at 9:49 am #2041568. I have 4 friends now that have Kingfishers. 1825 Falcon XL - 1875 jet and a 2175 shallow water extreme. I am absolutely in love with the 1875 jet (will be my next boat). The 2175 is underpowered in my opinion with the 200 sport jet (same motor is in the 1875). As far as the rides.
Get the latest KingFisher Boat specs, tests and reviews featuring models, specifications, available features, engine information, fuel consumption, and information resources. BoatingWorld ... Boat Reviews. Boat Reviews 2024 Pursuit OS 445: An Overview. Aquila Boat Reviews 2024 Aquila 47 Molokai Review. Boat Reviews
Kingfisher 20+ is a 21′ 7″ / 6.6 m monohull sailboat designed by R.A.G. Nierop and built by Westfield Engineering Co. (Marine) Ltd. between 1967 and 1978. Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. ... KINGFISHER 20+JR 1975 to 1978. Sail Numbers as K20+ but with JR at the end of the number. Sail number. 414JR is ...
Looking for reviews on how the boats handle offshore in the chop and overall ride. Reply. Upvote 0. fishing fanatic I Should Upgrade My Account. May 12, 2008 1,468 1,251 Alger, WA Name jason null Boat Name ... At least based on looking at the 21 sea runner and 20' kingfisher at the Seattle boat show, my impression is the hewes seems more rugged ...
Kingfisher 20 Reviews. 20 from a report in 1968 Designed in 1959 the K20 has been an established favourite for many years as a sea-going cruiser and she has completed successfully in many races; she is eligible for J.O.G. classification. ... (Mr. Wolff is planning to sail his Kingfisher 20 Plus to England during the summer of '69) ...
20' 6" Max HP. 150. Beam. 7' 8" 1825 Falcon. Starting at $41,719. Length. 18' 6" Max HP. 115. Beam. 7' 4" Multi-Species. Toughest Hull in the Game. Learn More. 2125 Arrow Sport. ... KingFisher Boats is the fastest growing brand of all welded heavy-gauge aluminum adventure boats. With 22 models for lake, river and ocean, we build tough boats for ...
Kingfisher 1925 Flex Sport one year review (long) Boats Home ... I have yet to come across another Kingfisher boat on the lake. After a year of use, I am very pleased with my decision and look forward to many years of fishing out of my Kingfisher 1925 Flex Sport. ... I compared the Kingfisher 2025 Falcon (20' 6") length to the Lund Tyee 2075 ...
It takes into consideration "reported" sail area, displacement and length at waterline. The higher the number the faster speed prediction for the boat. A cat with a number 0.6 is likely to sail 6kts in 10kts wind, a cat with a number of 0.7 is likely to sail at 7kts in 10kts wind. KSP = (Lwl*SA÷D)^0.5*0.5
The Top 5 Kingfisher Boats in 2024. 1. Big-Water Offshore Adventure Boat :Kingfisher 3025 GFX. 2. Coastal Boating at its Best:Kingfisher 2625 Coastal Express. 3. Family Boating/Lake Sport Boats:Kingfisher 2025 Escape Softtop. 4. Multi-Species Fishing Boats:Kingfisher 1825 Warrior Sport.