Any Feedback or info? Lanier Custom Boats / Hellcat Marine

**Flatout71** · 01-05-2018, 05:09 PM

Gentlemen,

Looking for any feedback you care to share on Lanier Custom Boats? It appears that a newer venture has been started up by them named Hellcat Marine. I am considering ordering one of their flats boats styled cats. Anyone with knowledge of what may have spun up the Hellcat Marine deal?

Does anyone have exact draft numbers with a 350/400 Vrod or Merc Opti Pro XS 250?

Thanks in advance for any comments or advice.

**LCB300x** · 01-05-2018, 05:32 PM

[QUOTE=Flatout71;3012163]Gentlemen,

Looking for any feedback you care to share on Lanier Custom Boats? It appears that a newer venture has been started up by them named Hellcat Marine. I am considering ordering one of their flats boats styled cats. Anyone with knowledge of what may have spun up the Hellcat Marine deal?

Does anyone have exact draft numbers with a 350/400 Vrod or Merc Opti Pro XS 250?

Thanks in advance for

**LCB300x** · 01-05-2018, 05:42 PM

Nothing has changed in the build quality of the boat or the Builder just the name. Errol Lanier still builds and rigs each boat himself. They are a great boat and can do a little bit of everything Bay, Lake, canal , skiing fishing,and riding. I have owned three and love the boat. Most of the newer boats are sold with verados but I myself would put nothing but a 3 liter motor on it.
It weighs less and in my opinion runs just as well. Most of them will float in 12 to 15 inches of water with a 3 liter,a verado would probably draw more.

**JPEROG** · 01-05-2018, 08:55 PM

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Errol and Troy are great guys and Errol has a ton of racing knowledge under his belt. The boats do things that no other 20' hull is capable of "that I have seen" anyway. I have one with a closed deck. This is not a knock to them in anyway but if I was having a new one built, I would make sure that that there is putty put in the mold at every sharp radius of the running surface before the skin coat goes in. It will insure that there are no air voids on the sharp radius at the keel, step pad sides and rears. Aside from that, they are a chop runner like no other and set up right they can make 99% of the single engine powered boats run off and hide.

Errol is a racer/builder not a marketer so the venture of hellcat doing the marketing and Errol doing the building should be a win/win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGxEomud4_A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni0krsZhRRA

Joe

**powerabout** · 01-05-2018, 11:33 PM

Are you saying they are not bagged hence tbe voids?

**JPEROG** · 01-05-2018, 11:55 PM

They are vinyl ester boats. Bagging them would create issues due to the fact that only a small area can be done with set up time unlike epoxy. There is nothing wrong with the boats construction but due to the sharp radius rolling it with putty in there would eliminate any issues.

Joe

**powerabout** · 01-06-2018, 12:16 AM

You can infuse and bag a whole hull any size you like.
I met a bunch of guys (from the USA) in china once, they were teaching a yard there, he was saying they just did a hull with several tons of vinyl-ester
Their opinion was any size can be done in one go.

**JPEROG** · 01-06-2018, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by powerabout

You can infuse and bag a whole hull any size you like.
I met a bunch of guys (from the USA) in china once, they were teaching a yard there, he was saying they just did a hull with several tons of vinyl-ester
Their opinion was any size can be done in one go.

Could be, I have never personally seen anyone do it but it would be nice.

Joe

**Li'l Toy** · 01-07-2018, 09:43 AM

Where's Tunnels?

**FUJIMO** · 01-07-2018, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Li'l Toy

Where's Tunnels?

...Lol, sure do miss that guy...

**Flatout71** · 01-12-2018, 10:04 AM

Gentlemen...thanks for the comments on the thread and for the private IM's. Some mixed reviews on late deliveries and other issues. I really like the hull and it's potential, but I called and left a couple of messages for Hellcat Boats and did not even get the courtesy of a returned call. That lack of customer service and the IM warnings are enough for me. Lookin for another cat to fish the flats on now.

Hull seems great......but it seems like they do not care about selling boats. I do not need to put up with that crap.

**JPEROG** · 01-12-2018, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Flatout71

Gentlemen...thanks for the comments on the thread and for the private IM's. Some mixed reviews on late deliveries and other issues. I really like the hull and it's potential, but I called and left a couple of messages for Hellcat Boats and did not even get the courtesy of a returned call. That lack of customer service and the IM warnings are enough for me. Lookin for another cat to fish the flats on now.

Hull seems great......but it seems like they do not care about selling boats. I do not need to put up with that crap.

Welcome to the world of small performance boating "there is very little money in it for the builders" so it sometimes seems like you have to beg to get things done. Like I said previously, the boat will do things that no other boat of equal length has the capabilities of, that is why I have chased mine to the extent that I have. If you are willing to move on and settle for something different, I do know where the 20 foot Talon fishing boat molds are and I am positive that you can work out a deal with them.

Give me a call if you want more info.

Joe
386 527 18 four five

**Flatout71** · 01-12-2018, 10:30 AM

Thanks Joe. I am familiar with the Talon's. I think they had one in water at the Miami Show a few years back too. If I decide to give them a shot I will give you a ring.

I think the LCB is probably a great hull design...perhaps they should consider selling the molds to a company that can service getting boats built.

**Todd D** · 01-12-2018, 12:58 PM

call Errol direct
754-581-4977

these boats are great performers!

**Todd D** · 01-12-2018, 01:14 PM

The boats have been built by a few different people over the years and are now being built in house again with Errol and Troy supervising everyday. Call Errol, he'll invite you over to the shop so you can see first hand the construction of the boats being built. There is currently a boat in almost every stage of being built.