What kind of Cruiser should I buy?

[dsataol]

I am looking to buy my first boat. I'm looking at about a 24 foot cabin cruiser, something used around 1995-1997 to keep the cost down as much as possible. It must be reliable and be able to be used for ski and tubing.(not into fishing) What kind of waves will it handle in the Atlantic Ocean off central Jersey? thanks, Dave

 

[Capt. Bob]

Re: What kind of Cruiser should I buy?

Dave,<br />A 24' enclosed boat will handle fine near shore NJ. Boats typically can handle more than the people aboard. Your experience and fear factor is the measure as to what the "boat can handle." I have been offshore NJ and the water was as flat as a lake, but it can change fast and there lies the reason for experience. Since it's your first boat, I would suggest you staying in protected waters until you have gained ample experience so as to be prepared for what could happen offshore. Boating courses offered buy the CGA and PS are great places to start but you should also get used to your new boat and hone your skills in handling her before increasing your risks by going offshore with your friends and family.<br />Good luck shopping for that first boat,

 

[Solittle]

Re: What kind of Cruiser should I buy?

Dave - Capt Bob has some good ideas. I do my boating in south Florida in a 23' center console and am quite coomfortable in going off shore once in a while. <br /><br />On the boat itself - You did not tell us if you plan to trailer it and what you were thinking about for power. You can ski and tube behind most anything. Having said that - A 24' cabin boat is a lot of boat if ski/tube is your main thing. They are heavy and do not turn very quickly due to size and weight. Most 24' are not especially fast so keep that in mind if you intend on doing a lot of skiing. Pulling a tube dosen't require a lot of speed. Boats of this size also tend to want to go either slow slow or well up on the step. They do not "mush" well which is the speed that wakeboarders like. My kids bit$h all the time - go faster - go slower.<br /><br />I run a 23' now and have had a 27 1/2' trailerable flybridge cruiser. It was a nightmare to pull down the road and was a real job to launch and retrieve. Definately required two or more heafty folks to do it.<br /><br />If I were you I would go to the busiest ramp around that you can find. When you see boats that strike your fancy mosey up to the owner and chat some. Most owners will willingly bend your ear. Take your time in deciding. A hasty purchase could fulfill all of your dreams or wind up being an expensive nightmare.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: What kind of Cruiser should I buy?

SoLittle,so true. Sound like a lot of boat for what you want to do. Towing is a bi#$h with any big load,then you have launch and retrieve too. Think marina. Then there is going off shore with no experience. I don't know. That the nice about having the biggest land locked bay in the country. You are always in sight of land. It may be far off but its there.