[vznevada60]

We are first time boat buyers and we are also close to retirement age. We are so novice that it's horrible. We've spent a week looking at new and used boats all over Virginia Beach Marinas, and in Norfolk marinas as well. Natuarlly every salesman is happy to assist us in buying HIS stock...ugh.

We aren't rich. We want a boat for four adults and two children. Six people in total. We would require a place for a toilet...privacy would be nice. LOL!

We want a deep boat for the safety of the six and one year olds aboard. We don't want them to be able to look over and fall off. LOL! We saw the Bayline 195 discovery. It's nice and deep... 19 feet... it has a nice awning... lots of seating and no carpet...so we wouldn't have to worry about fish on the carpet or kids spilling things and smelling it up :-) It's a new boat and the price is in our range... 21K

But...NO place for a toilet. Any suggestions?? PLEASE?? Thank you so much in advance for your help.

[ezmobee]

I just Googled to see what a Bayliner Discovery is and I see that it's just your typical bowrider. Great first boat, however yeah no place for a potty and I'm not seeing how you could really rig something for that. You really need a cuddy cabin boat for that. A cuddy would also give the kids a nice place to get out of the sun for a while. Some of the larger deck boats have heads onboard also.

My recommendation would be to buy used. Nothing depreciates quite like a boat and I'd let someone else take that hit. However, since you're a complete newbie I wouldn't go back more than 3 years or so without enlisting the help of a surveyor.

[180shabah]

If you like the open deckplan, but need a porta-pottie, I agree with the suggestion above - look at some deckboats. Or possibly some larger bowriders, they often have a pottie under one of the consoles, not alot of space in there, but does give privacy.

[BLDFW]

You might also consider a pontoon boat. Light, easily manueverable, lots of open deck space and a good railing around the perimeter to keep the kids in check. You can also get one that has a space for a portapotty with tent like privacy curtains....Not much can go wrong with them.

[Home Cookin']

Good idea to walk around the docks and look; good way to learn about design options.
Check craigslist in yours and adjoining cities if nothing else but to check the market.
I would not recomment a pontoon boat for your area, esp. if you are boating out of Lynnhaven or Rudee. Current can be tricky. Also avoid aluminum due to salt.
It will be hard to fit an enclosed head on a 19' boat. Those bayliner types are nothing but cramped. But if you are new at it, you also don't want a big boat that may be harder to handle--regardless of motors there's a lot of physical exertion with docking and especially trailering (consider whether you will keep it in the water, boat hotel or you will be launching yourself). Consider the boat clubs since you are new at it.
Just take a serious realistic look at how often you will go out: will you go out without your adult children, or just on weekends with them? How many free weekends do you ALL have for the rest of the summer, and divide by 2 for weather.
You will probably want a small cuddy or walk-around. Look at Grady Whites for design but they are real expensive. Sea Chaser is a less expensive alternative.
Rather than wall the small children in, put them in PFD's and teach them how to be safe and to move around the boat. (Like "hands in your lap" at the dock.) They can then grow up to be boaters and not passengers, and you can have a better boat.

[180shabah]

I would not recomment a pontoon boat for your area, esp. if you are boating out of Lynnhaven or Rudee. Current can be tricky. Also avoid aluminum due to salt.

All good advice for that area.

Where exactly will the boat primarily be used?

[vznevada60]

Hi :-) Thank you all for replying. I just now found my post and all the replies. We are still looking. It's very difficult when you are new at this. We don't know many people here who can help us. We have a small family living in Hampton roads. We are from New Jersey.

A lot of people told us if we stay in Hampton, we can have a Pontoon, but to stay on the river. Hampton VA is also free of Boat taxes, and this is a good thing. We live in Newport News, so this is close to home too.

This is a major decision. I want to finalize it before I lose my entire summer. I think we'll make a decision within the next week. Thanks again to all for your help. And yes... I agree that a Pontoon does NOT belong on the ocean or bay. No way.

Carol