Florida express cruiser selection help

[mjfink]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

Oh, and BTW, thanks everyone for the great input/suggestions so far! I realize there's no "Right" answer to this question, so I really appreciate you helping me narrow (or broaden) my selection!

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

Sounds like you want to boat exactly like we boat. As you kind of pointed out, there are many, many ways to boat, and each boater figures out what is right for him/her. My first boat was a 23' walkaround. I enjoyed it for a year amd half as my learning boat before stepping up to the 28 footer.

I'll be watching with interest as you progress through the buying process. BTW, take your time to find the t8ght boat. Try to enjoy the buying procrss. And definitely get a survey done. I think you know what you want. Now go find it.

Sea ya

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

As much as many of you dislike express cruisers, they have a place in the general scheme of things. Here's what I've gleaned from the OP's posts:

- the boat will spend most of its time on a lift, out of the water. That in itself negates most of the arguments against running an I/O in salt water. Still a concern? All but the cheapest boats in that size range have SS hardware and fittings- not zamac. If he's scared to death of exposing the drivetrain to salt, regular flushing and zinc changes will solve that.

- he'll spend virtually all of his time in semi-protected water. He doesn't need a Bertram.

- he and 'the admiral' would like to spend their time on the water in relative comfort, with A/C, a real head and space inside the cabin for cooking, storage and moving about.

- he boats in relatively shallow water- straight inboards need to come off the list.

- it won't be just his boat- it'll be their boat. mjfink, before you go all 'manly man' and decide to forego the creature comforts, think about what you really want to DO with the boat. Regular runs to Bimini are one thing- spending weekends on the hook, or cruising to various marinas and waterfront restaurants are quite another. Turn the wife off to cruising and you'll both miss out on many good times.

My wife and I settled on the express cruiser type a few years ago, and it's been great for us and the type of boating we do. An outboard-powered walk-around cuddy? BTDT- no thanks.

My .02 and last post in this thread.

Have to agree with you whole heartedly. Wouldn't have anything but a cruiser.

 

[mjfink]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

This is exactly the reason I didn't spend much money on my first boat. I knew that "I didn't know" what I really wanted. I'd only really boated on lakes in the past (small lakes, 5-6 miles long and a mile or 2 wide), and always had a bowrider. Perfect for that kind of water. No big chop/wakes (well, until the big air boats came along), and always a bunch of folks going out to ski. But the furthest you could be from the house was maybe 10-15 mins (no "no wake zones" on this lake). If the weather got bad, or you had to use the head, just run back to the house, no big deal.

Down here; it's a whole different story. It's 30-40 mins to get gas for the boat (I think I might hate manatees). Monster boats running by throwing 2-3 foot wakes. Big water that chops up quite a bit. So, I bought what I knew (bowrider) and now I'm finding out that, while a very nice boat, it's just not the right boat for what we want to do in this area. We both really enjoy it, but it's too limiting (especially now with the colder weather coming; jumping overboard to pee in 85 degree water is one thing, 65 is something totally different) and not easy enough to use (because we have to bring everything with us every time we go out).

So, I learned; for my use, a bow rider is not the right boat. But the cruiser is going to be a big step up (both cost and size) and I want to make sure that this time I buy the "right" boat for what I like to do and for this area. But, as evidenced in this thread, you don't know what you don't know. I've always liked outboards, and, given the depth, would like to have them because they are more flexible. But, just doesn't seem like the layout that I want (which is more important, IMHO) is built often with outboard drives. And I know inboards are out, it's too shallow and I always worry about hitting my outdrive (and do hit it occasionally), a bent up prop shaft seems like a real bummer if I get in water that's too skinny.

I'll report back after the FLL boat show, hopefully I get some good ideas and see some things I like down there. Really appreciate all the help and comments; please keep'em coming!

Sounds like you want to boat exactly like we boat. As you kind of pointed out, there are many, many ways to boat, and each boater figures out what is right for him/her. My first boat was a 23' walkaround. I enjoyed it for a year amd half as my learning boat before stepping up to the 28 footer.

I'll be watching with interest as you progress through the buying process. BTW, take your time to find the t8ght boat. Try to enjoy the buying procrss. And definitely get a survey done. I think you know what you want. Now go find it.

Sea ya

 

[sasto]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

If you've never been to the Lauderdale Boat Show.....a little advise.

Check out their website and park as far away from that place, and where you can get a water shuttle. The shuttle runs every half hour or so and you get to expierence the L'dale waterways.....It's included in the parking. Just remember your lot, heed to the shuttle schedule, and enjoy!

 

[mjfink]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

I have been before.. And that's excellent advice!

If you've never been to the Lauderdale Boat Show.....a little advise.

Check out their website and park as far away from that place, and where you can get a water shuttle. The shuttle runs every half hour or so and you get to expierence the L'dale waterways.....It's included in the parking. Just remember your lot, heed to the shuttle schedule, and enjoy!

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

Went to the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show yesterday. Attendace was moderate. Probably a lot more people today and Sunday. I have always parked in the garage at the convention center ($10) on Eisonhaur (off 17th Street). Never had a problem getting in. You do need ID to enter the port.

Anyway, the show was great for me. Since we have started our renovation project, I looked at things from a different perspective. I'll post my personal show highlights on my thread later.

Have fun at the show!

 

[mjfink]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

Man, what a day at the show yesterday. Weather was awful (and crowds were pretty bad too), but I did get a chance to look at lots of different boats.

I was suprised how much we liked the Rinker (28' express), I thought that was going to be a significant step back from a Sea Ray, but we really liked the layout and the overall design of the boat. I also (once again) was thwarted in my quest for an OB powered express, I asked pretty much every manufacturer there and was given "dual console" or "walkaround" as the answer; neither of which are really the layout that I'm looking for.

Still up in the air on the dual vs single engine; seems like they both have pros and cons; I think I'm going to have to get some wheel time in both to get a feel for if it's something that I want/need (or an important decision criteria).

But, all in all, I got some really good ideas as to what I do and do not like. I was surprised that I wasn't in love with the new 280 Dancer; I think it's almost exactly the same as the 2005 I've already looked at. I like it, but thought that was going to be the "standard" that all others were compared to; some of the other boats had things I liked more. I also really liked the Montrey; very pretty boat with a nice layout. I love the "dual width" captain seat; it's always myself and the wife on the boat, it would be great to be able to sit next to one another.

Really enjoying the conversation on this topic, and I'll keep updating this thread as I look (and eventually buy) my next boat. Please keep the comments/questions/statements coming, it's great to have others pass on their real world experience in boats of the style I'm looking at.

Went to the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show yesterday. Attendace was moderate. Probably a lot more people today and Sunday. I have always parked in the garage at the convention center ($10) on Eisonhaur (off 17th Street). Never had a problem getting in. You do need ID to enter the port.

Anyway, the show was great for me. Since we have started our renovation project, I looked at things from a different perspective. I'll post my personal show highlights on my thread later.

Have fun at the show!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

I love the "dual width" captain seat; it's always myself and the wife on the boat, it would be great to be able to sit next to one another.

Just to show that every positive has a potential negative...

My 24' Chris*Craft express had both a wide helm seat, and a long lounge seat along the port side. My wife would sit on the lounge, er... lounging... and mostly look off the beam and stern of the boat while we were underway.

My Vista has a REALLY wide helm seat and no side lounger. Underway, my wife spends most of her time seated next me, reading her Kindle. She explained that with the boat underway and her sitting, she can't see over the bow. She misses the views she used to have. Her seat on the C*C was at least 'entertaining' where this one is boring for her. Who'da thought? Neither of us did when we bought it. At some point I may need to modify the helm seating.

Find one with at least a flip-up bolster, or (even better) a height-adjustable seat. Mine has neither. I spend most of my time standing anyway, but I wish I had a higher seat for those times when I want to sit.

Sounds like you have a lot to ponder. It's fun, tho. Good luck!

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

Just to show that every positive has a potential negative...

My 24' Chris*Craft express had both a wide helm seat, and a long lounge seat along the port side. My wife would sit on the lounge, er... lounging... and mostly look off the beam and stern of the boat while we were underway.

My Vista has a REALLY wide helm seat and no side lounger. Underway, my wife spends most of her time seated next me, reading her Kindle. She explained that with the boat underway and her sitting, she can't see over the bow. She misses the views she used to have. Her seat on the C*C was at least 'entertaining' where this one is boring for her. Who'da thought? Neither of us did when we bought it. At some point I may need to modify the helm seating.

Find one with at least a flip-up bolster, or (even better) a height-adjustable seat. Mine has neither. I spend most of my time standing anyway, but I wish I had a higher seat for those times when I want to sit.

Sounds like you have a lot to ponder. It's fun, tho. Good luck!

What model Vista do you have that doesn't have a side lounger? Any that i have seen does.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

h

What model Vista do you have that doesn't have a side lounger? Any that i have seen does.

It's in my sig. The 1994-1998 V278's are all the same. They have a roomy and well-equipped cabin, but the cockpit arrangement is better suited to fishing than lounging. All the seating (except the helm seat) either slides or folds away to open up the cockpit for moving around.

For comparison, a 1995 280 Larson Cabrio has a cockpit better suited for lounging around, but the weekending accommodations aren't as good. It was practically a coin toss between the two when we were shopping, but overall we liked the FW a little better.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Florida express cruiser selection help

h

It's in my sig. The 1994-1998 V278's are all the same. They have a roomy and well-equipped cabin, but the cockpit arrangement is better suited to fishing than lounging. All the seating (except the helm seat) either slides or folds away to open up the cockpit for moving around.

For comparison, a 1995 280 Larson Cabrio has a cockpit better suited for lounging around, but the weekending accommodations aren't as good. It was practically a coin toss between the two when we were shopping, but overall we liked the FW a little better.

10/4. I think the FourWinns gives you more for the money.