Big forward casting deck along with 3 big molded-in dry storage boxes, the center one just big enough for me to climb into and sleep in if necessary, also drains overboard. The hatches of which can take a lot of weight and are still sound after almost 20 years of fishing on and walking/standing on.
Despite a 7'10" beam, the space to the sides of the center console is easily navigated and roomy enough. The rail going around the console is fitted just right and provides good holds for rougher seas.
The console on the 87 is nice and big, along with the molded-in livewell in the front which doubles as a forward seat which also drains onto the cockpit sole is nice and simple and has rounded corners in the inside and is easy to clean. I can keep two batteries under the console and a spare prop which I mount to the floor.
I have 2 gunwale mounted rod holders in each gunwale along with two rodholders in the top of the gunwale/what is that called?, and I put a 4 place rodholder on the hinged splashwell door for a total of 10 rodholders, fishing is the name of the game with these boats anyway.
The cockpit is self bailing, the important thing is the boat should at least be moving forward slowly to help the bailing/egress of the water from the inside out.
The removeable cooler/convertible leaning post-seatback is very key. I've drilled holes in the side of the frame to allow the seatback to be set so that my rump hits it just right. The cooler seat is key for keeping either food inside of or the hand-held VHF and the flare/safety/Orion kit and the handheld 12V light and little spares and tackle/lures.
The forward dodger is another nice touch for those just in it rains days or to get out of the sun, if it were a little rough, I usually don't want anyone sitting in the bow to get out of the spray, it is just too rough.
The boat, because of its low deadrise/flatter rear secton, is stable at drift, of course the tradeoff is when running in rougher seas, but the upside is a nice, shallow draft. Geared up in my "wets," I never worry about the anything but dry ride, I'm a boater and a fisherman first, not a leisure cruiser.
The boat runs plenty fast with a 150hp on it. Gets out of the hole right quick, planes at a low speed and can top out relatively fast. On top of that, because of its low weight and low deadrise, gets pretty good fuel economy despite its having had an 87 carbed motor. On the majority of my runs to the fishing spots, I'll have run at least 30-40 miles roundtrip and I'll only have burned maybe 15 gallons of gas.
Thankfully, it has been a very simple boat, uncluttered and very open and very low maintenance. If there were another made like it at a low price, in 1987 we paid $16,800 for the boat and motor along with all the goodies, cushions, console cover, dodger, anchor+rode, flare kit, lifejackets, fenders, lines all included, what a deal!, even in todays dollars.
