Hewescraft Boats for Sale

From a flying school to boats

Bob Hewes and his younger brother Ralph ran a flying school for veterans in Colville after World War II. When it slowed down, Bob bought aluminum sheet from a Spokane junk dealer and built fishing boats with three friends, then got Ralph to help with his own. They sold boats under the flying school name from 1948 and became Hewes Marine Company in 1952. Ralph and his wife Rita took over in 1956 and started using the Hewescraft name.

The River Runner, with its squared-off nose for whitewater, arrived in 1971. The first hardtop Sea Runner came in 1996, every model was welded throughout by 1999, and by 2000 every Hewescraft had a lifetime warranty on the hull and welds. The Hewes family later sold the company to the Honeycutt family, longtime employees. Hewescraft says it now builds 10 series from 18 to 29 feet.

The Sea Runner

The Sea Runner is the do-everything Hewescraft: light enough for a lake, deep enough for the Sound. From the 2026 brochure:

• 190 Sea Runner: 21'8" overall, 96-inch beam, 225 hp max, 60 gallons of fuel, about 2,150 lb dry, 8 people.
• 210 Sea Runner: 23'8" overall, 96-inch beam, 250 hp max, 90 gallons of fuel, about 2,300 lb dry, 9 people.

Both have a 0.190-inch bottom and 0.125-inch sides, with deadrise running from 35 degrees at the bow to about 15 or 16 at the transom. That bottom thickness is the reason people buy Hewescrafts over riveted boats.

What to check on a used Hewescraft

Which series. A River Runner or jet sled is built for shallow rivers. A Sea Runner, Pacific Cruiser or Alaskan is built for open water. Make sure the boat matches where you'll run it.

Weld cracks. Look along the keel, chines and transom welds, especially on river boats that have hit rocks. A crack in a weld can be rewelded, but find out whether it was done properly. Ask whether the lifetime hull and weld warranty transfers to you.

Jet drives. On inboard jet boats, look at the impeller and wear ring, and ask about the engine hours. Gravel wears jets fast.

Corrosion. Salt boats should be checked for pitting around the transom, under the floor and anywhere stainless or copper touches aluminum. Look at the anodes.

Recalls. Hewes Marine has six closed Coast Guard recalls. The most recent covered 323 of the 2006 Sport Jet 180 SM for a fuel hose clamp. Older ones were for flotation and ventilation on River Runner and outboard models. Run the HIN.