how much boat can I handle?

[LVChris]

So here is the story, I grew up boating with my father and his father before him in the lakes and rivers of Ohio. We always had a boat, mostly 15- 17 foot. I bought my first boat a year ago here in Las Vegas on craigslist...looking for a cheap entry level boat to get my wife and kids into the lifestyle. I got lucky and the boat really paid off, it's been nearly trouble free, I got a great deal on it, and she is a step up (in size ) from the boats I grew up with at 18'6".

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Since then I added a family member (6 month old) and we have gotten some freinds that enjoy boating with us...but my boat fills up too fast...and I have to take two trips to get people and things to our day camp....I spend a lot of time prepping and driving.

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So I started to look for something bigger, and I found exactly what I think I want. Its a 1993 24' Chaparral Signature. Wife thinks we'd be better off with a deck boat...but I have plans to stay nights on the water (she dosen't know this and gets sea-sick so she never will do this).

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Cut to the chase, I have to get bigger truck to tow this, I usually have to launch by myself as my wife is watching the baby and toddler, and I can't afford a slip.

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Biggest problem, I WANT this kind of boat, something bigger, something better, something more (is that the boater mantra or do some of you actually have the right boat?)

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In all honesty my boat now is a cuddy cabin, and launching and docking by myself can be a struggle sometimes, can I handle a 24 foot cabin cruiser? I have never been on a boat that size, let alone driven it. But I really want to.

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We tried to go out on Sunday, I got about 1/2 mile from the ramp and the winds on Lake Mead were so strong I turned around and went back. Even though I was only out for an hour it was a great day on the water if you ask me, things got rough and I got everyone back to shore safely.

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So the questions I am asking the community:

• Is there much difference in launching/driving/trailering a bigger boat...besides the obvious.
• Is there another boat style/type that I haven't considered that would be better for a family and freinds (wife loves the yamaha jet boats for the safety of no prop, I just don't like the price)
• Is there a greater cost of ownership with a bigger boat? Certainly more fuel, more wax, bigger truck, but what about the things I do not know about?

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I am really hoping that others here have taken this same path and can guide me by learning from their adventures. I am also looking for advice, maybe it's just stop looking on craigslist and go to a dealership...I don't know. Help?

TIA,

LVC

 

[Maclin]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

Launching by yourself is a sequence-intensive chore. Who helped you launch before?

 

[LVChris]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

every other week I have my first mate...my 16 year old daughter from a previous thing. She is very helpful and the two of us can get the 18 footer in and out with very little problem. As long as we remember to bring the keys, put the plug-in, and unplug the lights we're fine (yes we have done all of those things)

 

[Maclin]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

I have a 22 foot Cuddy and am looking to "rightsize" into a bowrider that I can launch easier by myself, just sayin'. I take a long time at the ramp and I let that induce extra pressure on me so it is the worst part of any day.

Can you slip this new one anywhere, or do you go to different lakes a lot? Any budget for that? May make more sense than having to upgrade tow vehicle at the same time as boat purchase.

 

[JoLin]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

Cut to the chase, I have to get bigger truck to tow this, I usually have to launch by myself as my wife is watching the baby and toddler, and I can't afford a slip.

In all honesty my boat now is a cuddy cabin, and launching and docking by myself can be a struggle sometimes, can I handle a 24 foot cabin cruiser? I have never been on a boat that size, let alone driven it. But I really want to. So the questions I am asking the community:

• Is there much difference in launching/driving/trailering a bigger boat...besides the obvious.
• Is there another boat style/type that I haven't considered that would be better for a family and freinds (wife loves the yamaha jet boats for the safety of no prop, I just don't like the price)
• Is there a greater cost of ownership with a bigger boat? Certainly more fuel, more wax, bigger truck, but what about the things I do not know about?

​

I am really hoping that others here have taken this same path and can guide me by learning from their adventures. I am also looking for advice, maybe it's just stop looking on craigslist and go to a dealership...I don't know. Help?

TIA,

LVC

Okay, I went from a 24' Chris*Craft express (essentially the same boat as your Chap) to the boat inj my sig last year. About the 24'..

- I needed to upsize from a 1/2 to a 3/4 ton 4x4 pickup. The 3/4 ton handled the load well, but I was always concious of the size and weight behind me.

- Increased cost of ownership... not much if you're trailering and storing the boat yourself.

- Able to launch and retieve easily? The boat before that one (21') wasn't bad, and I could handle it myself. With the 24' I did it only a few times a year and it was a real chore. I needed a second person- it was just too much boat for me to control when getting it back onto the trailer. Longer, taller and weighed twice as much as the 21'. I hated launching and retrieving it. When I went to the 27' I gave up trailering forever and was very happy to do so. You'll definitely want an electric trailer winch.

- You can handle the boat on the water. It's bigger and heavier but you have some experience. I wouldn't be overly concerned about the difference in size. You'll get the hang of it quickly.

My .02

 

[coopin87]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

watched a guy launch a 42' fountain by himself this weekend ... It was a sight to see took him about 45 min just to launch it ... (very entertaining) I cant imagine what it must have been like trying to put it back on by himself. But I guess it can be done.

Side note: If you put in at a fairly busy ramp quite a few people are more than willing to lend a hand (depends on your area though)

I had a 19' bowrider last year and could launch that by myself no problem. Upgraded to a 21' cuddy over the winter (23' with swim platform) and it is a bit more difficult to launch by myself but its not horrible. Just take your time and get a system down.

 

[Philster]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

I currently launch a 17 footer and a 24 footer, and launched a 27 footer regularly (which weighed in at 5000 lbs dry weight).

They all launch the same.

Once they are floating, any reasonably sized boat is not much to deal with when you have lines and enough water to float the stern. The difference in the nudge I give them hardly am'ts to much.

I also went from an 18' boat as a regular boat to a 27' boat and don't think there was much about the 27' boat that was all that hard.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

Depending on the weight of the Chap, you may or may not need the 3/4 ton. Most of the 24' boats I've seen won't max out over 6K lbs, which is in range of most modern 1/2 tons. Not saying a 3/4 ton is a bad idea by any means, but maybe not necessary. I don't know that adding another 3-4' of length over what you have now would be much different in terms of launching/retrieving the boat. You back the boat a little further in the water, but it should be identical to backing in the 19'er other than that. Retrieving the boat may take a bit more skill due to likely being slightly more susceptible to wind/current with a taller profile and more surface area, but it still shouldn't be unmanageable. The things I see that get people at the ramp with bigger boats is having the trailer at the right depth. Too deep and the back of the boat won't settle on the bunks correctly/drifts over the wheel wells, too shallow and you end up power loading. The only downside to the cuddy over the open bow is the access to the bow stop to latch on once you're close enough to the winch. Worse comes to worse, you get wet and drag the winch line to the end of the trailer and winch it on. Shouldn't be much of an ordeal anyhow.

 

[Robbabob]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

LV,

You're kind of bringing up two things here... 1. can you handle an additional 7' or so, and 2. should you get a cruiser or deck boat.

Answer to #1 very easy: Chances are, you'll be just fine. Oh, and I think you asked about the expense of it. I'm thinking our expenses doubled when going from a 16' bowrider to our current 22' Cuddy. We dry-dock, so there is also that added cost; you spoke of trailering.

Answer to #2 quite easy too: Wife doesn't want to stay out on lake for fear of sea sickness. You need to get the deck boat and never tell your wife you ever considered something to sleep out in.

Good luck and happy boating on that new deck boat!

Robb

 

[Maclin]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

On the launching solo or with a helper but not a tow vehicle driver, the launch ramp and courtesy dock configuration will make a big difference. The easiest time I had was at a very wide two lane ramp with a pier running down the middle from it out into the lake 100 feet or so. That was great, just get your lines ready, back in, shove it off and walk it down the dock and tie off, park the rig. Retrieving was literally the reverse, very nice. When it got busy 2 or 3 boats could tie off and wait and not be in the way.I miss that lake

 

[LVChris]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

LV,

You're kind of bringing up two things here... 1. can you handle an additional 7' or so, and 2. should you get a cruiser or deck boat.

Answer to #1 very easy: Chances are, you'll be just fine. Oh, and I think you asked about the expense of it. I'm thinking our expenses doubled when going from a 16' bowrider to our current 22' Cuddy. We dry-dock, so there is also that added cost; you spoke of trailering.

Answer to #2 quite easy too: Wife doesn't want to stay out on lake for fear of sea sickness. You need to get the deck boat and never tell your wife you ever considered something to sleep out in.

Good luck and happy boating on that new deck boat!

Robb

You have a happy wife hey Robb? Always give her what she wants...

 

[LVChris]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

I have a 22 foot Cuddy and am looking to "rightsize" into a bowrider that I can launch easier by myself, just sayin'. I take a long time at the ramp and I let that induce extra pressure on me so it is the worst part of any day.

Can you slip this new one anywhere, or do you go to different lakes a lot? Any budget for that? May make more sense than having to upgrade tow vehicle at the same time as boat purchase.

after buying the boat, no budget for slip...I can trade my truck for another resonably priced bigger truck. I have lots of experience trailering from being in the military so that's not really a problem for me. it's just the one man launch really, getting it back by myself hasn't been bad...so far...

 

[Robbabob]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

Yup, sure do! You already know, if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. She doesn't get everything her way, I've just learned which battles are worth fighting; whether I win or lose.

In your case, it may be different... but you seem like a logical man!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: how much boat can I handle?

IMO a 24' cabin boat is too big to trailer and launch frequently, especially solo. Yes I know that some people do it all the time but I see it as too much work and not worth the risk factor either.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

Had a 26' cabin I really loved. Last year I downsized to a 20. I could launch and retrieve the 26 fine with little or no wind. Wasn't the extra length that was a problem it was how much taller and wider the cabin was to catch the wind. When it started to blow a little bit it was near impossible for me to do it by myself. Bought a remote control elect winch, helped some but not enough. Yes, wife was with me to help,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nuf said.

 

[MCNPathfinder]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

I have a 22' cabin that I've never launched by myself. I can assume it would be a chore. I suppose I could do it if need be, but it's a lot of boat to throw around. If anything I would think if your trailer has those two poles on the back to keep the backend situated, that might aid in loading. That seems to be my biggest problem right now. I have to hit this one roller right on the keel, but usually by the time I do that, the backend is swinging all over the place.

 

[LVChris]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

I honestly think my '04 Sport-Trac could tow this boat, NADA lists it as 4800 lbs, and my truck is rated for 5300...of course I don't think I could ever stop it.....which is really the problem when trailering.

Sounds like I could handle it, but need a little more time at the ramp. I use Boulder ramp in Lake Mead primarily and so far everyone has pretty much been nice about me doing things a little slower. I put in at Temple bar last weekend, had some mechanical trouble (old control linkage) and spent an hour and a half at the ramp...never saw another person... had no problem with launching retreiving alone. I Think I could handle it, I always get in the water when I launch/retreive anyhow, just easier. But of course our lakes are very warm water, I never got in the water back in ohio...

Electric winch I hadn't considered, might be a good solution. The poles on the sides of the trailer, awesome on my present boat...I would want to add them if I got this chaparral.

So trailering - bigger truck
On the water - no real difference. Will I feel the chop less?
Another question...it has a head, and I know marina's have a waste pump. Do you pay for this service? about how often and how much?
Is there anywhere else to get info on this particualar vessel? I checked chaparral site, and NADA and a google search...but not a lot of info. I am a little concerned because the boat is titled as a 1993 26' Chaparral Cruiser (I saw the title) but they didn't make a 26' boat in 1993, it looks just like a 24' Signature...but dosen't have any marking for that...all the pics I have seen have a "Signature" emblem on the hull right behind the rail.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

Just upgrade from the SportTrac to an F-150 and you'll be fine, no need to go 3/4 ton for that unless you have been dying to own one, lol. The F-150 will tow well over 7Klbs without much fuss (as will any modern 1/2 ton). The trailer brakes should take most of the load anyhow. I wouldn't be too concerned about the title issue, as boats are titled as all sorts of things when people fill out the form.

You'll likely get much better ride in light chop due to the weight alone, in addition to a bit more leverage from the length. The grey water at the marinas is a pay service, but it's usually relatively inexpensive. You'll need to find out it has the pump-out head or a porta-potti style head.

 

[Robbabob]

Re: how much boat can I handle?

Everything Hauln says ^^ + a little added input:

On the head.... I sure thought we were living large having that Cuddy cabin with a port-a-potty... until you use it for #2 and it's time to clean. Of course, an emergency is just that, and better to have it than many alternatives.

The weight listed by nada is the dry weight. This does not include any fluid at all, nor the ice chests, and ALL other gear you will have on the boat while transporting. That's maybe 300 to 500 pounds in fuel alone. Regardless of the ice chest being in the tow vehicle or the boat, the rated capacity of the tow vehicle is for the entire load, not just what is being towed.

When we purchased our Chris Craft CC, I was very skeptical about many items being wrong on the title. Foremost, the HIN was different in just a few little areas that made a ton of difference. No, no issue at all getting the registration worked out. We had the Bill of Sale with the sellers Drivers Licenses and the registrar changed everything we noted. As long as you know what you're buying based on pictures and details, you're good to go.

Next would be to obtain the Motor ID and Outdrive data to give yourself a higher level of comfort on the set-up.

Good luck!