1st boat for lake in midwest

[Purecarnagge]

I'm finally getting the itch to buy a boat. I've been saving and saving and gotten myself cleaned up financially. I grew up on a lake every other weekend as a kid being out on a boat ski, tubing, kneeboarding on a IB/OB 9 seater. Usually only had 7-8 people though. Anyways, the local season is kind of short around here (iowa). I'm looking at buying something this summer or saving up and doubling my budget for next year. Right now I would be looking at like 7kish. I see alot of Bayliners, larsons, but mainly glastrons in this area. I remember from being on here a couple of years ago that FORCE motors were a little bit harder to work on and that some bayliners had these? Or maybe it was a Alpha something. (sorry its been awhile and I'm not the most technical person) I'm just trying to get a feel a person whose not the most mechanically inclined if there are any boats I should be avoiding just from a parts or technical stand point?

goals for the boat is
-hanging out on the lake and chill out, hopefully has a sundeck to keep the lady happy.
Occasionally ski/tube.

I was told by most people to avoid a merc 3.0 engine as it most likely will struggle to pull 6 people plus a skier.

Any useful advice to point me in the right direction would be appreciated!!

Engines, what I need and types to avoid etc.

 

[tpenfield]

Sounds like an Inboard/Outboard (sterndrive) is going to be the thing for you versus an outboard motor, as you will have good access to the stern and probably a sunpad for the Admiral.

Mercruiser and Volvo Penta is where you want to be . . . I tend to favor Mercruiser.

OMC (Cobra) is not the way to go, yet you may come across those engine/outdrives based on your budget.

A V6 (4.3) or a V8 (5.0, 5.7) would be better.

If you do get an outboard . . . Mercury, Yamaha, Evinrude, Johnson would be fine, but you can post questions about a particular model as some have their quirks.

The key thing to look out for, given that you will probably be looking at some older boats (10+ years old) is structural rot. Although the hull is fiberglass, the skeleton of the boat is typically wood.

The actual condition of the boat will be the most important factor.

 

[H20Rat]

A 3.0 is NOT going to be happy with a skier and 6 people! You might pull if it, with an accomplished skier on 2 skies, and all the people stuffed in the front of the boat. Even a 4.3 would struggle if it is a deepwater slalom start. A v8 gives you the torque you need.

Force outboards didn't have a great track record for reliability, and parts are getting more scarce for them, as they haven't been made for quite some time.

 

[JASinIL2006]

For that amount of money, you should be able to find something in decent shape in this part of the country (I'm in Illinois) with a 5.0 or 5.7. I have a Larson 19' I/O and it's pretty nice for the sort of uses you describe. Given your planned uses, I wouldn't look at anything with less than a 5.0L in it (if you're looking at I/Os).

One thing to keep in mind: I/Os are a bit harder to use at the beginning and end of the boating season around here, because you must take precautions to winterize the engine to keep it from freezing. Outboards don't have that limitation, as you can pull them out of the lake, let the water drain out, and you're set. Despite that, when I was looking, 98% of the runabouts I saw for sale were I/Os, and you see very few OB-powered bowriders on the waters around here.

Finally, keep in mind that this is the seller's season for boats around here, so your dollar won't go as far as it would in September or October, or February or March.

Good luck!

 

[oldjeep]

A 3.0 is NOT going to be happy with a skier and 6 people! You might pull if it, with an accomplished skier on 2 skies, and all the people stuffed in the front of the boat. Even a 4.3 would struggle if it is a deepwater slalom start. A v8 gives you the torque you need.

Force outboards didn't have a great track record for reliability, and parts are getting more scarce for them, as they haven't been made for quite some time.

I don't know how happy a skier is going to be with 6 people in a small runabout regardless of the motor

FWIW, my 2005 Bayliner 195 with 3.0L had no problem pulling me up out of the water on one ski with 4-5 people in the boat - it was the ride afterwards that kind of sucked On 2 skis it wouldn't matter, you could get pulled up on 2 by a row boat.

 

[oldjeep]

To the OP - if you are looking for a boat to haul 7-8 people then you are likely looking at something 20ft +, and you need to decide what you mean by skiing and how much you care about the wake. Boats up in that size in a runabout tend to have a deeper v and less than stellar ski wakes. Definitely 4.3 or 5.0/5.7 in that size, you would be hard pressed to find anything 20+ with a 3.0L anyways.

 

[Starcraft5834]

cant add much to what's been offered....5.0 + to pull skiers if that's your thing, put a 4 blade on for water sports.. Mercruiser vote here.. parts are not hard to find.

 

[keith2k455]

I was in the market last year and ended up driving to Chicago to buy my boat. IMO, 20+ footer in good condition with a v8 isn't going to happen on your budget. You could probably swing a19 footer in decent shape with a 4.3 that is a mid 90s model year. Don't get me wrong, the 19 footer should be a fine boat but doesn't sound like what you want. If you're budget will double after a year of saving, I would save and feel the market out this summer. If you run into the 14k boat for 7k,buy it.

 

[Purecarnagge]

To the OP - if you are looking for a boat to haul 7-8 people then you are likely looking at something 20ft +, and you need to decide what you mean by skiing and how much you care about the wake. Boats up in that size in a runabout tend to have a deeper v and less than stellar ski wakes. Definitely 4.3 or 5.0/5.7 in that size, you would be hard pressed to find anything 20+ with a 3.0L anyways.

I don't really care about it, but I have a niece and nephew that never grew up on the water and would love to learn. My dad would love to teach them. He's advising me against the boat, but as soon as its in the water he'll be asking what ski's I have and well it better be able to pull me salom, The niece and nephew will prob do alot of tubing to start, but yeah skiing is something we grew up doing and I don't see myself having a boat and not having people want to pick it up again.

On the flip side to this anytime my family isn't out with me it would be friends, and we would just lounge around and drink and hangout all day. (I don't drink alcohol very often so this boating thing works out perfectly for them).

Yes a bowrider would be cramped, but I'm not sure what 20+ft boat would be a good boat to cruise around on....I'm not into the cuddy thing. being out in the water means being out in the sun. Just my opinion. I'm sure what I'm describing is out there, just not known to me. Since I live in a smaller area for boating I prob won't have that many options, that said I'm willing to go to MN or WI or IL to get a boat since the competitive markets up there will result in a lower price which will cover the transportation cost to a break even point or more so in my favor.

So essentially I need a 4.3 or 5.0 for engine size.

 

[oldjeep]

Bowriders get up into the 25ft sizes, so no problems there. You might almost want to consider a powerful pontoon. Easier to get in at your price point, lots of room and you can ski behind them if you are just out having fun and not trying to carve really hard.

 

[DatacomGuy]

Bowriders get up into the 25ft sizes, so no problems there. You might almost want to consider a powerful pontoon. Easier to get in at your price point, lots of room and you can ski behind them if you are just out having fun and not trying to carve really hard.

Not to hijack, but what would you consider to be a powerful pontoon?

I'm in a similar "boat" as the OP.. no pun intended.

 

[oldjeep]

130hp on a 20ft pontoon is pretty powerful. Depends on how big/ heavy the boat is.

 

[keith2k455]

Purecarnagge: it sound like one other thing you should think about is seating layout. Would you want sport seating where there is a bench across the back or is back to back seating ok? All I would say is just don't compromise because it'll only lead you to trying to sell and buy another boat the following year.

I will tell you that in central il, the vast majority of boats ate listed on bulletin boards, not necessity boating online classifieds.

Good luck. I about stressed myself shopping last year. Also know that the good ones in this area will still in less than 1 day this time of year.

 

[DatacomGuy]

I will tell you that in central il, the vast majority of boats ate listed on bulletin boards, not necessity boating online classifieds.

Are you speaking of specifically IL forums, or are there other sites like this that have good classifieds?

Again, sorry for hijacking OP - but i've about worn out craigslist already.

 

[keith2k455]

iboats has classifieds, there are all the trader sites and flat out boats. Do a search for boat classifieds. Most of what you see listed will be on iboats though. Point I was trying to make is once I started being around boat people, I saw more boats for sale.

 

[Purecarnagge]

Thats helpful. sounds like I need a 21-25 ft bowrider, which isn't going to be all that common. I would want sport seating. easier to hangout layout on. wouldn't prob wan't to avoid having a deck off the back where it goes above the prop across the entire back I forgot what those are called, but it seems like it would cause some drag and just be more in the way compared to useful. I grew up on a 9 seater bowrider. 3 up front back to back driver/passengers then 2 along the back on each side of the motor.

 

[oldjeep]

Also look at deckboats. Basically a bowrider with a more pontoon like seating layout.

Also, swim platforms don't drag, they are extremely useful if you do any sort of water sports.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Lots of 21' bowriders. Extend your search (e.g., down to Lake of the Ozarks or up to Chicago) and you should have more selection.

 

[sub2010ss]

I was in your position about 3 months ago. Was looking to spend $8k for a boat big enough to handle my wife, 4 girls, and me. I can tell you here in Cedar Rapids there isn't much for our price range. But like other said, getting into something near Chicago is a lot better. I got lucky. Picked up a great deal on a bad 305 21 foot bayliner that's in immaculate condition. Dropped in a 350 and am as happy as can be!! Good luck with your search!

 

[Purecarnagge]

I was in your position about 3 months ago. Was looking to spend $8k for a boat big enough to handle my wife, 4 girls, and me. I can tell you here in Cedar Rapids there isn't much for our price range. But like other said, getting into something near Chicago is a lot better. I got lucky. Picked up a great deal on a bad 305 21 foot bayliner that's in immaculate condition. Dropped in a 350 and am as happy as can be!! Good luck with your search!

looks like a sweet deal from the sig.

I'm not all that mechanically inclined so dropping a new engine in, isn't something I'm going to do. How is it holding up when you go out?