Help on first boat purchase

[ksport]

I am new to boating but have been looking for a few months, its just alot to comprehend without actually having one before.

1. I would use it for me, wife and two kids. possibly with other family of 4 or 5 as well.
2. we live in arizona so 90 percent lake trips, with occasional gulf of mexico trip if possible. it is always really calm there.
3. not really intersted in overnight trips, we wanted to be able to water ski, tube if desired, but not too often and not seriously.
4. I was hoping to stay around 25k, not sure if i should get new or used
5. wanted something resonably fast.

thanks for any help with brand/size recommended.

 

[oops!]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

hi welcome to i boats.......

id start with a safe boating course....even before you get the boat.....why wait?

ok....the cash is fine......

id go used.....cause yer gonna hit the dock a few hundred times......

i would suggest an out board for your first boat.....but it sounds like you are an i/o guy.......

4 is great in a boat but 9 is crowed.......17 foot minimum.....prob 19 foot....

i/o....minimum 4.3 v6 for the suggested legnth....if you go 19 try for a 5.7....(350)

the sea rays, chapperall, and four winns, are great boats. a few years old thats well in the price range.

have a qualified person check the boat out......try to get one that has been garage stored all its life

the rest of the guys will have a few more suggestions

 

[taylorchix28]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

i agree with OOPS' comments. I thought our 18' four winns was big enough for my small family a couple years ago, but we ended up like a bunch of ants constantly climbing all over each other. my suggestion is to get larger if possible. keep in mind that the additional storage space it may take up and how you will be able to accommodate. After we got our current 21' Tige' boat (which is also wider), it was like we actually had room for everyone. You also want to keep in mind all the stuff you will be buying and how your growing kids will be changing from one sport to another as they get older (wake boarding seems to be hot these days). Figure a new set of skis and jackets every few years and always protect your investment since you will likely be reselling it in the future as your family grows. Just some stuff to keep in mind.

a.t.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

look for a deckboat, they have more space, and handle like a ski boat. 5.0 or 5.7 volvo is my recommended drive system. 4.3 will be minimum.

 

[KCook]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

I agree on a deckboat being a good choice for 8 people. Here is a link to another discussion on deckboats -

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1469702

Kelly

 

[ksport]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

Thanks alot, i was acutally looking at the hurricane deck boats. Maybe i will try to see some in person, thanks for the opinions.

 

[tmh]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

Bowrider or deck boat. Some deck boats are more like just wider bowriders, with the bowrider-type hull underneath - that's the type I'd look for. 20' or so would be best. I have 3 kids and we take out other 3-5 person families in our older 19' and do OK, but a 1985 19' has more room than most current 20' boats.

Used is what you want, but don't settle for anything but real nice condition. The power needed depends on the boat you're looking at. Obviously, the bigger and heavier the more engine you need. You'll see lots of what look like "great deals" on boats - they are often selling for a lot less than similar boats because they're underpowered.

Good luck.

 

[Fu-Inator]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

This being my first post and a new boat owner myself, I will not go into ?cadet leading the cadet?... lol. However, I can relate some things I have gone through the last couple of months with my new boat experience.

1. Ask a lot of questions. There is no shortage of advice from people who have boats or owned them in the past.
2. Everyone I asked (except one) recommended going used on your first boat. For the same reasons already listed here, plus you might not like the sport. It takes a little more effort to buy used but if you have to ditch it in a couple of years, you will be in a better position (a little better). Also, my used boat came with everything I needed to get started (vests, tubes, lines, fenders, tow ropes, etc.) because the seller had no use for it.
3. The boat isn?t the only consideration, check the trailer and ensure you have a vehicle/hitch that is capable of pulling what you buy. I had to have a different power plug installed on my tow vehicle to accommodate the trailer.
4. If you go used, see if the seller will take you out for a test drive. Bring a friend that knows boats, if available.
5. Check your state?s fees on transfer of property. I totally forgot that I had to pay sales tax on my ?private sale?. This added an extra 600 bucks to my boat that I didn?t plan for, so half of my Federal Stimulus check went right back into paying taxes?. lol.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[KCook]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

The Hurricane FunDeck GS 201 is a size that would be Ok for 2 families.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

You could also look at triple tube pontoons. There is no substitute for the deck space and comfort for the price of a toon and with the triple tube you can acutally get some decent performance and handling.

If you've got a big enough rig for a 20+' deckboat you could haul a toon.

You could also find an appropriate package in the 25K range.

 

[ksport]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

Ok, so i decided on going used for sure, and trying to get between 21 and 24 ft. and i just learned of the 2nd home deduction so i will find one that qualifies for that. (not sure if any bowrider or deck boat does as it is not enclosed quarters).

But should i stay away from used from a dealer? do they generally try to hide problems, or are they more honest due to reputation?

 

[KCook]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

Depends entirely on the dealer, and they come in a wide range of flavors. BTW, a 24 footer with cabin is kinda big for a 1st trailer boat. Will require a full size tow truck, not an econo SUV. But if you just left it full time at a marina, then no problem.

Kelly

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

If you are thinking about a deck boat, you really need to sea trial one before you buy it and compare it to a bow rider. Most deck boats do not handle like bow riders and the ride can be significantly worse. BTW, any sea trials need to be done with load similar to one at which you will usually be operating. Take all the opinions for what they are worth, but you need to get out there and try any type of boat that you are considering for yourself. This is the only way you are going to really know, you know what they say about opinions...

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

I need "Help on a boat purchase" too! I need the money to pay for it. Can anyone help me out with that? If someone can help me out with that, that would be great! Thanks for all that can help me!

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: Help on first boat purchase

I need "Help on a boat purchase" too! I need the money to pay for it. Can anyone help me out with that? If someone can help me out with that, that would be great! Thanks for all that can help me!

Actually, this is a really good point! The difference is that with money you can get someone to give you a yes or no answer, with boat type all you are going to get is someone else's biased opinion!