About Arima Boats
Click HERE for notes on Arima model info
Mr. Arima decided in the late 70's that there was a need for a small, easily powered and easily towed boat for use in fairly large bodies of water like Puget Sound (where he lives). This launched the company and their first boat, the Sea Hunter 15. Since then the line has grown to include boats of 16, 17, 19, 21 and 22 feet in length but the basic concept of full flotation, sound construction, simplicity and cost effectiveness has remained.
I like to use car analogies when describing various boat because most of us are a lot more familiar with car types and models than we are with boats. The Arima boats are like SUV's and minivans, they do a lot of different things pretty darn well. They are designed to be safe for first-time boat owners yet robust enough to take an experienced owner where s/he wants to go. And they are "family friendly" with great stability derived from their modified-v wide body design and have deep cockpit sides to keep smaller crew members aboard. The Arima boats are also designed for moderate horsepower outboards for lower initial cost and lower operating expenses. What's the trade-off? Just as the minivan isn't going to go head-to-head with a Porsche over a winding mountain road the Arima isn't going to go head-to-head with a deep-v hull design in larger waves. The minivan is safe going across the mountains just at a slower, stop-and-smell-the-roses pace and so it goes for the Arima. It's safe and comfortable in larger waves albeit at a slower pace than the deep-v boat.
A sports car requires a high horsepower-to-weight ratio to operate in its intended high performance role as does the deep-v hull. A sports car features quick, precise steering that requires full operator attention when in a high performance situation and the deep-v boat does too. A deep-v hull in heavy water at speed requires 100% attention from the helmsperson. You can drive a Porsche around town but it's not at its happiest and its potential is pretty much wasted and so it goes for the deep-v hull. Is this bad? Not at all! If you want speed on the water even in heavier conditions there is no substitute for a good deep-v boat, the typical deep-v is fast and a joy to handle a high speed. Just like buying a car, know what the trade-offs are before you spend that hard-earned cash. The car companies hype the heck out of their high performance vehicles and most of us see them for what they are and decide if they fit our needs or budget. Similarly, the boat companies hype the heck out of their deep-v high performance models, unfortunately a lot of potential boat owners aren't familiar enough with hull design to know whether or not that type of boat would be a wise choice.
You'll be most happy with an Arima boat if you're looking for a very stable hull, especially in low speed situations like trolling and sightseeing or when stopped while crabbing and shrimping (where the deep-v is at its worst). And you'll be most happy if you're more interested in fuel economy and moderate cruising speeds (20 to 25 knots) than the highest top speed you can get (where the deep-v shines). The Arima boats can safely be powered up to their maximum horsepower ratings but why? It's really missing the point of the boats. The horsepower ratings are derived from a Coast Guard formula and are not indicative of the horsepower requirements necessary for good performance from the hulls. The design of the Arima hull gives the operator the ability to slow the boat down for a comfortable ride and still retain good fuel economy, visibility and handling (a deep-v hull going slow isn't good).
Minivan or sports car? You decide what's best for you. If you're interested in a floating version of a minivan or SUV it would be hard to go wrong with an Arima.
Les Lampman