What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

[seabob4]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

"Entry", to me, signifies something new, to the person who is going to enter. I would not consider a 26 footer to be "Entry Level", regardless of how she was rigged, simply because of her size.

Entry Level to me means small, affordable, lets you learn boat handling principles, allows you to achieve what your goals are out on the water, requires minimal maintenance, and gives you the fodder to determine if you want to move up.

 

[rbh]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

Entry level???
The first boat you can afford to buy without going into debt, could be a canoe.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

"Entry level" sounds to me like something a boat salesman would use when dealing with a new boater. I've said it before boating ain't rocket science, I'm not saying there isn't a lot for a new boater to learn just that I see too many people on this forum that are just plain scared to jump in and start boating.

I say buy what you want. If one goes out looking for a cheap, easy to tow, easy to launch plain Jane boat & motor only, they are going to outgrow it in a matter of weeks. I say to heck with entry level, if your ultimate goal is offshore fishing buy an offshore boat. If it is Skiing or wake boarding buy the best Ski boat you can afford. If you are just wanting to test the boating waters I say go out with a friend, rent a boat or just talk to people, forget the entry level concept.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

"Entry level" sounds to me like something a boat salesman would use when dealing with a new boater. I've said it before boating ain't rocket science, I'm not saying there isn't a lot for a new boater to learn just that I see too many people on this forum that are just plain scared to jump in and start boating.

I say buy what you want. If one goes out looking for a cheap, easy to tow, easy to launch plain Jane boat & motor only, they are going to outgrow it in a matter of weeks. I say to heck with entry level, if your ultimate goal is offshore fishing buy an offshore boat. If it is Skiing or wake boarding buy the best Ski boat you can afford. If you are just wanting to test the boating waters I say go out with a friend, rent a boat or just talk to people, forget the entry level concept.

Well said.

 

[cr2k]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

Most "entry level" boats are built a little thinner in the hull, chopped glass instead of laid matting. They cost less because they don't cost as much to build.

Everyone seems to stay away form names?
Bayliner, Tahoe to name a few are entry level boats. Not necessarily bad boats, but entry level. They usually weigh less and may go faster with the same power options as luxury boats.

Condition and upkeep can outweigh the entry level factor in an older boat.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

It can mean a good boat for a beginner or a new boat with less frills and a few shortcuts taken in construction. It comes up often in threads and is used both ways all the time. Examples in bowriders are bayliner is entry level, searay is a little better or in fishing boats mako is entry level and yellowfin is top tier. A 21' mako cost about $30k new while the same size yellowfin cost about $69k.

 

[perchin]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

ok my turn... I have an entry level boat its an old 1986 bayliner capri.. It was built for the lower end people.... ya take it out play then take it back home. there is nothing really extravigant about it. ive rebuilt the whole thing and i can tell you is was built cheaply but sturdy enough for the weekend first time boater, i took on the project to learn about boats as i knew nothing other than i didnt have one and they float... but ive learned alot. there is a definate difference in the quality of this boat verses ones that are better made, better designed and fitted out better.
the other as was said is cost.... now that im done working on it ,per se, i take it out buzz around the lake, dunk the kids and have a great time. then take her home....
it fits our needs now but it quickly wont. an entry level boat, to me, is something that your not sinking a house payment on and you can learn and enjoy so you can find out if the boating life is one you want to stay in.....

wow.... the only honest bayliner owner I've seen on here. I had the same senario, then eventually got rid of her.

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

I regard "entry level" as cheap boats made cheaply for the mass market. Fro some baoters, that's all they need and all they can afford. Fine.

Once the "entry level" boats circulate into the used boat market, their status depresses their value (selling price) way below the quality boat of similar size, design and power. They also start showing their age and lack of quality.

A boat can be stripped out and basic, like parker's used to be, and not tbe entry level b/c the work boat/fishing crowd (a) didn't want the crap on them and (b) knew the quality in both design and construction. In fact, a lot of crap boats are loaded up with stereo's and towers and such, to lure in the non-boater and distract him from the important things that are lacking--like a bilge pump or a decent motor.

therefore the cobalt/cadillac analogy is better than the "start small" analogy IMO.

Bayliner comes to mind.

 

[ezez]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

I think it really depends on the person as well.

For instance I had a 1984 17" Tahiti style PleasureCraft ski boat for years. It had a 70's 115HP Merc on it and it flew across the water and was a lot of fun.
With that it was a project boat when I bought it. The transom was rotted, no seats or steering in it, no fuel tanks or motor and on a crappy small trailer. It took me a winter to "rebuild" it and find an outboard, new trailer etc. This boat didn't have any accessories at all except a stereo I put in it. This was my entry level boat that cost me a couple grand and a lot of elbow grease. I used this thing for about 5 years until my needs changed as my family grew.

My current boat is what a lot of folks would consider an entry level boat but for me it is everything I want/need for me and my family. It is a 1991 18' Bayliner Capri Cuddy. We are the second owner and have had it about 7 years. The boat is in immaculate condition. It's not the fastest boat but it performs well enough for us to do everything we need to do, including skiing, tubing, knee boarding, etc. The boat is small enough to tow easily w/ our SUV. The cuddy is perfect for our little ones getting out of the sun. It has some extra accessories like a gauge cluster, depth finder, stereo, etc. that MY "entry level" boat did not. I purchased this boat for well under $5k and in seven years of ownership have put about $750 into it including a rebuild last year. We live in Idaho so, it is used pond jumping.

I even made the comment this last week when we had it on the lake that all these guys in their $30k boats aren't getting anymore enjoyment out on the water than we were as a family. In addition, our boat has been bought and paid for years as we paid cash for it... the same probably can't be said for a lot of folks with more expensive and newer boats.

In addition, my father has owned various Bayliners from the mid seventies on and has no real problems with them but he takes care of his stuff. Including his current Bayliner 28' Cierra which he has owned for 20+ years. He also, has a mid '90s Capri Cuddy. He has been boating all his life and I can all but guarantee he has done much more boating in his lifetime than most here.

So, entry level can mean different things depending on who you are talking to. I know around here when folks mention "entry level" you can expect to see Bayliner in the same sentence.:redface:

 

[bowler]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

en?try-lev?el (ntr-lvl)
adj.
Appropriate for or accessible to one who is inexperienced in a field or new to a market: an entry-level job in advertising; an entry-level computer.

The American Heritage? Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ?2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

I suppose with boats the difficulty is in defining the 'field'. A 14' boat and a 40' foot boat are very different things. Can they be compared? Am I making sense???!!!!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

From a manufacturer standpoint it would be how do I make a product that will gernerate the most new users. Some target new users by offering lines that are most affordable to a general public.

Autos: what does it take to put a 1st time New car buyer into my product. 1st time New car buyers usually have a more limited cash, credit. Kia or Honda?

Boats need to be classified by catagory. Sears 14' rowboat or a Lund 14' rowboat. 17' Bayliner Throphy Bass or a 17' Ranger or back in the day a 28' Plywood Owens Cruiser or a 28' Planked Chris Craft.

With boats it's also the product that is Entry Level and not neccesarily the user. Example, a person who just won the 50 million dollar lottery isn't going to go out and buy a low dollar 16' bow rider for their 1st boat.

 

[Robbabob]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

Entry lovel to boating is different than entry level to the next class of boat one might be interested in. Like many have stated, beginers at boating should look to the 17' range runabout to learn and understand charateristics of boating for at least a season. Else, if you have the money, buy larger and get on-the-water training for performance, capability, safety, docking, etc (not necessarily in that order).

For every increase in Class of boat, there is "entry" into that level and there is extravagant in that level. On a 30 footer, do you want a joystick for operating by two engines or want the single engine to jockey it around?

How many Levels might there be in a particular car or truck name/brand? Let's see, you got the L, the LT, the LS, the XLT.... all in the same name. The L might be the entry level and the XLT might have all the bells and whistles.

just my $0.02

 

[JoLin]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

Entry level should mean; easy to operate so that you can learn about boating; and cheap enough so that when you screw up you won't have to mortgage the wife and kids to pay for the repairs.

Yup. Along with...

The hit in resale value won't kill you when you gain experience and decide what kind of boat you really want, and it won't kill you if you decide that boating wasn't really for you.

My .02

 

[BTMCB]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

Learn something new every day. Here I always thought "entry level" meant a boat that had a level entry into it. Thanks IBoats.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

Way too much thought on this subject.

There's no such thing as an entry level boat. You should buy what you want and that's it...

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

Maybe compare it to a new driver [ automobile] You might not wanna give a 16 yr old kid a brand new Lexus.. Give em an... entry level....... vehicle... a used chevy to learn with. So when he/she hits curbs. backs into light poles. sideswipes the garage backing out. It doesnt mater so much. Its an entry level car.

Cuz if your a new boater, your gonna hit the dock to fast. your gonna forget to lift the drive when u pull the boat and trailer out of the water. You are gonna run your prop into something in shallow water. You gonna forget the plug.......
Get my point ?

Of course if your checkbook is fat enough.... go Lexus

 

['96 Charger]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

To me in the bass boat world "entry level" is the brand of boat that loses its value the quickest. This doesn't mean that the ones that lose their value faster are necessarily "bad" but if you don't see a certain brand all over the tournament trail such as Ranger or Triton people aren't going to look at it nearly as hard. I'll probably never own a Ranger because even ones that are 15 years old are still rediculously priced if in good shape. I'd rather get a lesser known brand that's still rock solid for a good price and run it til it's ready to be stripped of parts and burned. When I was looking for my first boat I was looking at a newer entry level Skeeter or Nitro but knew the quality wasn't there. Also wanted a bigger rig to handle rough water better and be a more stable fishing platform. I'm not very sure footed and have been nearly thrown out of smaller boats too many times. In my 19' Charger two fat boys can stand on one side and barely have an effect on how it sits. It's always best to get what you want even if it has a few years and miles on it and needs a little work. After working out the used boat kinks you're bound to be much happier than you would in a newer boat of lesser quality or size.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: What denotes an "Entry Level" boat

To me an "entry level" boat is pretty much a "starter" boat or beginner boat, same as a car.....get a used one, one you can afford, and one that if you ding it up while learning how the heck to use them.....kind of like we did. We knew didly squat about boats other than watch other people launch and retreive them for years until we worked up the nerve to buy one. Bought a 76' Starcraft, pretty well set up except for kicker motor and some upgrades that need done. Still learning, and would not have wanted to start out in a nice shiny new boat, that's for sure.