How would you answer this question?

[aspeck]

On a non-boating forum that I visit, and member posted the following. How would you answer him?

I am looking to get back into boating, my grandsons are 3 and 5 yrs old and they enjoy it. Looking at buying a new Regal LS9( 29 foot Bowrider with the 430hp engine ) and wondered if any of you guys had any experiences with this boat or any other Regal boat models

 

[roscoe]

No.

 

[Fun Times]

Welcome to iboats, what seems to be the issue with your new boat?

 

[cyclops222]

Wants to know if brand new Regal boats at 29' are a good boat.

 

[Mc Tool]

Wants to know if brand new Regal boats at 29' are a good boat.

better duck buddy , its coming back round

 

[bajaman123]

Regal makes a fine boat...hopefully it is NOT the LS9 Surf model because wake boats are lake lice...but dropping 200 large is something most people would think twice about at an advanced age. And it's not just the boat cost, it's a large boat to trailer around (if that is needed) and a large boat to find storage for (again, if that is a consideration).

 

[cyclops222]

Take test rides !!!!!!!!!!!! Must do !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[redneck joe]

Need to know lots more info about him if it's a good fit, I no nothing about new boats.

 

[jlh3rd]

no.
get a pontoon. Kids like the space, you can tube, lay around, add a grill, possibly add a porta-potty....even a slide

 

[Grub54891]

Looked it up. Seems like a lot of boat but then yet again you state he wants to get back into boating. I’d ask him what kind of boat he has had in the past and stuff related to that. I’ve seen quite a few people upsize their boats and can’t handle them very well. You know kids like to get on the bow when sitting still, how easy is it to access from the boat owners perspective? Of something happens you may need to get up there quickly. Just some random thoughts by me.

 

[Scott Danforth]

LS9 or LS9 surf? they are pushing the surf

If you have the coin to drop on a new boat. a new LS9 is $230k starting. used between 175k and 300k (option dependent). that is house territory. so unless the guy wants to be on the water every weekend and teaching his kids to surf, etc. there are better "bang for the buck" boats out there

430hp would be a Volvo Penta motor. If the LS9 Surf.....being a surf boat, its the volvo forward drive. which means no shallow water. 40" minimum

if the standard LS9, then you get by with 24" minimum draft on the traditional I/O drive

Regal makes an OK boat. they treat their vendors like crap

all the new boats are pushing the glass cockpits. great while the stuff works. however one little electronic hiccup and the boat doesn't start because everything is tied into the digital dashes. (I work in the boating industry, however do not believe that boats should have as much electronics as they do)

My personal recommendation. find a 10 year old boat, spend a few $ to go thru everything and come out money ahead in 2-3 years

YMMV

 

[aspeck]

I asked a lot of the questions you guys have mentioned and here was his reply:

Fresh water, covered slip with a lift and shore power. About a 20 minute drive from the house. We cruise, float, tube,ski and wake board. probably 4-12 people on board at any given time. I have been around pleasure boating most of my life. My last boat was a 27ft Bowrider and we were on it 2-3 times per week in season.
Very small amount of towing, basically launching at the start of the Season and recovering at the end of the season to clean, maintenance, winterize and take it to temp controlled underground storage facility. Boat and trailer about 10000# dry weight. My truck can tow up to like 12400

 

[Scott Danforth]

wakeboarding requires a tow boat (forward facing drive) or a direct drive..... or when you faceplant with a short line, you chum the waters

wet weight for the boat will push the boat weight to 12000#. (#1000 of just fuel and water, not including any gear, battery, etc.

plus the trailer is #2000

your buds going to need a bigger truck for the boat

 

[rolmops]

A three and five year old have a short attention span and they need a lot of distraction. They also need to be able to move around freely. A boat is not where you can do that. The type of boat suggested here, has a lot more to do with what daddy wants to do than what the kids want.