Looking at getting my first boat

[Wes Hawkins]

Hello
My name is Wes and I am looking at getting my first boat. I have to keep my purchase down around two thousand dollars. I have been looking at an 75 Orion tri hull and a 77 V-hull Glastron. Both are 16 to 17 feet and appear to have been maticulasly maintained. Any opinions on these two boat brands and styles and of equal maintaining what is everyone's opinion between the two.
Appreciate all your opinions.
Thanks, Wes.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Looking at getting my first boat

If you are boating on fairly calm water and/or plan on sitting and fishing the Tri-Hull would be much more stable. If you are planning on running around and on not so calm water the V-hull will ride WAY better. Glastron is a good boat. You didn't state the drive options, i.e. I/O or OB and what mfg of the drive. This can be a big part of the decision. So let us know what the propulsion is.

BTW welcome to iBoats. Here you will find a great wealth of information and people willing to share their knowledge.

A few things when posting questions that will help get better/quicker answers:
List the engine/drive you have, or better yet put it in a signature line.
Post serial numbers when asking engine/drive questions
We LOVE pictures.

 

[tdrudd87]

Re: Looking at getting my first boat

CR is right, a trihull will beat the tar out of you on rough water. I prefer a v hull, they are better in rough stuff and not bad other wise. If you buy a boat with even the slightest soft spot you may as well get familiar in the resto section of the forum, you'll end up there

Terry

 

[Wes Hawkins]

Re: Looking at getting my first boat

Guys, thanks for your replies. Both boats I am looking at have the OMC out drive and the 120 horse 4cyl OMC engine which I believe is a GM design. I would be mostly on smaller lakes. I don't know if your familiar with lake Oroville in California but that would probably be the biggest I would be on. Is there any outdrive that is better than another as far a service and dependability. I understand about the soft spots, that's what I am trying to avoid. I've been an autotech for over 35 years but never really a boat guy until recently. I can handle most mechanical repairs but not to sure about reconstructing a floor, runners or a transom. I have to many projects already.
Thanks again, Wes.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Looking at getting my first boat

Never been on Lake Oroville but driven by many times on fires. Mercruicser would be better choice everything else being equal. Still in business and parts are reasonably priced. Service tech abound. OMC, well you didn't state the year of the boats...Cobra drive is OK. Stringer can work but needs to monitored and cared for. It is an older design OMC is out of business and some parts are NLA. I have one but I got the boat cheap and I am a marine mech. so I can keep it afloat. If you do get a stringer PM me and I can give you some tips to keep it going. Mainly the tilt has problems. But if the boat is in good shape it can work. Lots of people here will tell you to run from a stringer drive. Truthfully it would be low on my list too if I didn't have some knowledge of them.

The main thing is getting the family and friends out on the water and enjoying boating. I always wanted to boat on Oroville. Maybe someday you can show me the lake.

 

[Wes Hawkins]

Re: Looking at getting my first boat

cr2K
Thanks for your responses. I appreciate the advice. I don't mind getting in and doing the work as long as I can get the parts and pieces. The Tri-hull is a 1975 and the Glastron is a 1977. In the used boat market within my price range I really don't have a large inventory of boats to choose from. A friend of mine has a 92 Sea Ray with a mercruzer out drive and I liked the design of it over the OMC. It just seemed like a simpler system. So far I have only talked to these folks selling the boats and thanks to the responses I'm getting I will be better prepared when I go look. Are there any particular brands of boats that used the mercruser outdrives. I see a lot of boats using the volvo penta outdrives. How are those, are they something to stay away from? You said you pass by Oroville when on fires. Do you work for CDF or another fire agency? Just curious I retired from the Youth Authority and worked in CDF fire conservation camp with our Youth Authority ward for almost 18 years. I was an auto tech for 14 years before that and now am doing that again out of my home garage.
Again thanks for your help.
Wes.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Looking at getting my first boat

I don't mind getting in and doing the work as long as I can get the parts and pieces.

Then don't buy an OMC. Stick with Mercruiser or Volvo for I/O's and anything but Chrysler/Force for outboards.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Looking at getting my first boat

Then don't buy an OMC. Stick with Mercruiser or Volvo for I/O's and anything but Chrysler/Force for outboards.

So simply said, yet so simply true...

 

[Wes Hawkins]

Re: Looking at getting my first boat

Thanks Guys, looks like I'll narrow my search and stick with those two types of out drives. Seems like there are a lot more older boats with the penta out drive than the mercruizer. Thanks again for all your opinions, its been a great help.
Take care, Wes.