All,
I'm shopping for a 31 ft Cruiser, upgrading from a 270 Sundancer.
Goal is a good cruising boat for intercoastal, occasional out in the gulf, and trips in the ~50 mile or less range to neighboring towns. Need genset, AC, and twin engine. Will do occasional overnights with 2 to 4 people, hang on the hook, explore islands, stop at restaurants, marinas. Rarely out for more than 2 or 3 days at a time... usually day trips.
Also, want a port lounge/seat which eliminates the 310 SeaRay, so folks don't sit next to me. Like the walk thru windshield, large swim platform, open interior. Also, need IOs with shallow water nearby.
I've looked at the following and like them, just looking for "the best" or options I've missed:
Chapparal
Cruisers Yachts
Doral (nervous about the company in trouble, and a foreign one)
Maxum
Larson
A lot of the above come with 5.0 engines, which I think are too small for the above boats. Demo'd the 31 Chapparal with 5.0 and it was a pig.
Weight in the 10,000 to 13,000 is fine, so I could go up a ft or so.
Thoughts?
I'm shopping for a 31 ft Cruiser, upgrading from a 270 Sundancer.
Goal is a good cruising boat for intercoastal, occasional out in the gulf, and trips in the ~50 mile or less range to neighboring towns. Need genset, AC, and twin engine. Will do occasional overnights with 2 to 4 people, hang on the hook, explore islands, stop at restaurants, marinas. Rarely out for more than 2 or 3 days at a time... usually day trips.
Also, want a port lounge/seat which eliminates the 310 SeaRay, so folks don't sit next to me. Like the walk thru windshield, large swim platform, open interior. Also, need IOs with shallow water nearby.
I've looked at the following and like them, just looking for "the best" or options I've missed:
Chapparal
Cruisers Yachts
Doral (nervous about the company in trouble, and a foreign one)
Maxum
Larson
A lot of the above come with 5.0 engines, which I think are too small for the above boats. Demo'd the 31 Chapparal with 5.0 and it was a pig.
Weight in the 10,000 to 13,000 is fine, so I could go up a ft or so.
Thoughts?