Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

[_chris_]

I have always had boats from the 70's and they always had alot of floor space but a small frame to them like my 18 Glastron. It would fit in my garage nicely and I could easily climb in it and store more gear than I owned. Now I picked up this 93 Four Winns and granted its 2 feet longer but it's huge, it sits almost twice as tall and on the inside there is very minimal floor space and storage but seats the same amount and hauls roughly the same weight, and it takes up most of my three car garage. Why is this?

 

[22E6441]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

I don't know. Bigger is not always better.

That's why I'm willing to put some work into my boat.

14.5 feet with an open bow, large passenger area...and a 60 inch beam. That seems like you must be rubbing shoulders compared to the huge wide new boats, but it feels plenty big enough.

It fits in my garage perfectly and still had room to walk around it and even have a work bench. I have a small single car garage.....

My boat is the perfect size, but I'd love to have something pretty much just like it, but new. Oh, and aluminum. But nobody makes it. (plus my wife won't let me)

 

[_chris_]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

I don't know. Bigger is not always better.

That's why I'm willing to put some work into my boat.

14.5 feet with an open bow, large passenger area...and a 60 inch beam. That seems like you must be rubbing shoulders compared to the huge wide new boats, but it feels plenty big enough.

It fits in my garage perfectly and still had room to walk around it and even have a work bench. I have a small single car garage.....

My boat is the perfect size, but I'd love to have something pretty much just like it, but new. Oh, and aluminum. But nobody makes it. (plus my wife won't let me)

Your 60" beam probably has more shouler room that my 87", they just don't make the interiors like they used to.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

I have always had boats from the 70's and they always had alot of floor space but a small frame to them like my 18 Glastron. It would fit in my garage nicely and I could easily climb in it and store more gear than I owned. Now I picked up this 93 Four Winns and granted its 2 feet longer but it's huge, it sits almost twice as tall and on the inside there is very minimal floor space and storage but seats the same amount and hauls roughly the same weight, and it takes up most of my three car garage. Why is this?

They had to use some of the room for the airbags...?

 

[skargo]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

My boat is a 78 and people with newer boats are always commenting on how much room I have.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

My boat is a 78 and people with newer boats are always commenting on how much room I have.

i've had that commented to me too. mines a 75 closed bow though.. myself, i do think it's roomy too considering it's only a 19' boat.. loss of bow seating helps me too for more room in back. but still, i feel roomy comparatively speaking..

 

[22E6441]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

Boat sizes are funny. My old boat was a 1971 14 foot something closed bow runabout. it felt very, very small.

My new old boat is only 14.5 as per my sig, but open bow and slightly wider. Looking at the old pics, it seems like my new boat is 5 feet longer.

Yeah, I love posting pics of my boat!

 

[Begester]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

Could it have to do with styling? Newer boats tend to be more round, just a thought. I do like my older boat for these reasons though...it doesnt look brand new but its definitely got a lot of room, and utilizes space better than some of the newer ones I've been on

 

[_chris_]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

I am tempted to keep my Glastron now and rebuild it for fishing and keep the Four Winns for playing in.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

The newer sofa boats are all puffy and full of padding, rounded-off gunwales for styling, etc. Not nearly as practical and while they are comfortable if everyone is sitting down, you can't move around in them.
22E your first boat has inefficient seating. If you want to make your new boat even roomier for fishing and stuff replace the back to backs with one pair of non-padded single seats, and leave the stern area open. No one sits back there.

 

[22E6441]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

If I would have kept the first boat I would have removed the back seats. It wouldn't have been too bad that way.

I just put the lounges in my new boat....not cheap either....but need the seats for cruisin the river with a couple friends, letting the kids ski / tube, etc.

My new boat is the perfect size for me. I could do with a few more HP though....

 

[werthert]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

The newer sofa boats are all puffy and full of padding, rounded-off gunwales for styling, etc. Not nearly as practical and while they are comfortable if everyone is sitting down, you can't move around in them.
22E your first boat has inefficient seating. If you want to make your new boat even roomier for fishing and stuff replace the back to backs with one pair of non-padded single seats, and leave the stern area open. No one sits back there.

Sofa boats, lol.... but yeah they are all puff and round and twisty and take TONS of room... Not to be funny but are boat buyers mostly men or mostly women??? I do not see these designs inspired by men. What I see is the purchase 'blessed' after the better half checks it out.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

Two reasons: changing consumer tastes/preferences, technology in boat building...wonder what the norm will be 20 years from now? Solar power? greener motors? more PWC's? Hovercraft? I think a 69 Cadillac Eldorado aqua-boat would be a gas...cruise down to the boat ramp, pull the prop cover, and glide off into the water...no longer just a land yacht.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

Probably the same reason we dont have fins on cars or green counter tops and shag carpet anymore.
the times they are a changin.
I wonder why my truck is not getting 100 MPG. I got better mpg with my 79 than my 02, way better.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

well changing color or cosmetic style (fins) is one thing, but making them less useful by overcrowding with padding and such is going backwards. I think the target market for those boats are not the same kind of boater as before. The outdoorsman/waterman isn't going to want that stuff (except to lure female passengers) which addresses the male/female comments above. But there is a new market, not criticizing anyone here who enjoys this, who trailer the boat to the lake on weekends, ride around and picnic, and go home, and aren't hauling gear to the hunt club, running out an inlet or in front of a storm, catching large fish and lots of them, and using live or cut bait. They don't break down and paddle home; they call tow boat on the cell phone. Think about how driving a car from St Louis to Chicago used to be like a major 4WD excursion, and cars and their equipment, and drivers, had to be ready for anything. Anyone patch tires or fill the radiator regularly any more?

 

[rbh]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

10 foot on beam is great, you can actually have a waltz with the wife if theres no waves! (or get your freak on)
rob

 

[Thad]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

Sofa boats, lol.... but yeah they are all puff and round and twisty and take TONS of room... Not to be funny but are boat buyers mostly men or mostly women??? I do not see these designs inspired by men. What I see is the purchase 'blessed' after the better half checks it out.

That is why I have 2 boats.

Hers (insert sofa boat here) and my 14' xtra wide, xtra deep, flat bottom. 9.5hp Evinrude, troller, elec. anchor, and of course, stereo and BIG cooler.

 

[steam_mill]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

This is very true. However, some manufacturers do have more open layout than others.

For example, I have a 17' Bowrider by Cutter (Grew) boats. At first, I thought the bow rider part was small, which it actually is. However, there is room for 2 adults and 1 child. The small bow, creates a very spacious area behind the boat. I ordered it with a captains chair for me and a sleeper for the passenger seat. I like to put the sleeper down and I gen an L-shaped spacious seating area.

Also, my sides are low, creating a more roomy feeling. Neighbour just got a 19' Chaparral. His boat weighs 700 lbs more than mine yet he has less interior space than me.

 

[_chris_]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

Also my new boat is a pain to climb into especially when it is on the trailer, the window comes back way to far and then the side drops down but it is where the rear seat is, I don't climb on my seats to get out I would like to step from floor to trailer or dock. I am 6'2 and have problems with this.

 

[jkust]

Re: Why are newer boats bigger than older boats.

Guys, I am not seeing it in my old/newer boat comparison. The space on my Chaparral is just better laid out and planned out than on my 84 Bayliner and they are about the same length. The only space hog is the rear bench seat on the chap vs the sun lounge seats on the BL but then there is more storage under the bench. It is hard to seriously compare these two boats but they both work fine for a family of 4. The horsepower however has really gone up a lot. The 85hp BL was a lot of power back in the day.