Advice on the boat purchase

[igurtin]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

Yes
Can you please let me know if those ones are good.
http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2907882648.html
http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2885653872.html

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

Here are a few . . . some might be a stretch, but you are going to talk 'em down to some extent . . .

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1989-Angler-20-Wa-99274964

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1992-Trophy-20-Dc-99861203

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1993-Wellcraft-216-Eclipse-101690188

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1987-Sea-Ray-200-W-Trailer-99929509

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1990-Wellcraft-210-Coastal-100126277

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1987-Cobalt-21-Br-99999585

A bowrider is not as good on the ocean 'cuz you can stuff the bow if the conditions get rough, as has been described. Not a show stopper, but something to consider; and bowriders with more 'freeboard' up front are better than other bowriders.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

Since we're spending your money, I vote that we push the budget and get that 17' Whaler Dauntless that Philster suggested in post #11. It's a Dual Console, so you don't have as much walking around room as a Center Console, but seating is a bit more family friendly.

It's only 17', but it is self-bailing and has no bilge (between the hull and the deck is completely foam filled), so it's more bay/ocean seaworthy than other boats this size.

When "2-foot-itus" kicks in (a horrible disease. The only cure is to buy a boat 2' longer than your current boat) you'll probably get most of your money back, since people don't seem to mind paying extra for the "Whaler" sticker on the side. So, even though it's a couple of thousand over your budget, you will get it back on resale.

Evinrude/Johnson outboards are great too.

For a first time boat owner, it's the least risky boat suggested. Use it for a year or two, til you figure what you really want/need.

That 19' Center Console 1998 looks nice, but a 115 HP is a bit on the small side.

Especially for the smaller boats, one thing to note is the Coast Guard Maximum Passenger # and weight plate. My 16' boat plate says, "Max Passengers - 5. Max passenger weight - 600 lbs."

All I can think is that the Coast Guard hangs out with skinny people. With my friends, 3 people puts us over the limit.

I don't know anybody who really likes cuddy cabins. The cabin is always too small, hot, and awkward, but it may be usefull to you to stash your scuba equipment.

Get Philster to keep searching Craigslist for you. He picks good ones.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

As you look at various boats and some appear to be promising . . . make sure to verify if the seller has clear title to the boat. They should be able to provide you a copy of the title for the boat and trailer (if applicable). A bill of sale won't cut the mustard when you go to register it, etc.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

"It’s just 20’ bowrider less expensive than 17’ center console."

that's because a 17' CC is better. And there's a reason they are hard to find used; people hang on to them.

You don't have to take scuba off the list completely; deciding on a boat begins with primary use and then looks to occassional use. If you get a 17' CC like the ones I suggested, as a starter, you and one other person should be able to do some diving (inshore). I didn't realize many people, other than police divers, did much scuba there.
But that size will be good for the family of three, easy to manage, economical, easy to maintain, can be stored anywhere, rides on a single axle.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

Even though I said that stuff about a Dual Console being better family seating than a Center Console, I have to agree with Home Cookin, all around a CC is a better, more useful boat. For fishing, deck space, family, tubing, whatever.

A really, really, really nicely designed Dual Console is almost there, but not quite. The absolute best design (for fishing and family) is something like a Sea Hunt CC with bow seating. The best of all worlds.

At a boat show, I can see a Center Console being off-putting to a wife. After all, they seem to offer the least for the most money. There's so much SPACE... You can't see the intelligent design put into all this space. A bowrider or DC has lot of 'lounge' cushions, must be better, right?

I've gone thru 3 or 4 family boats. NO ONE has ever 'lounged' on anything. Ever. At most, my wife and daughter might have sit in a normal seat for a bit, drinking coffee. But at fishing or crabbing time, everyone gets off their seat, and puts their butts down where it will do the most good, on the edge of a gunnel, not designed for their butt at all.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

Amen, brother!

 

[jdlough]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

Boat companies often make two versions of the same boat, one a bowrider, the other a cuddy cabin. They generally have plywood decks covered with carpet. The hull is exactly the same. And both boats are fine for folks who boat on small lakes and keep their boats in the garage.

Boat companies also make two versions of a much more serious boat, the Center Console and the Dual Console.

A Center Console is always a beefier boat, built for nastier conditions. At least at the bow, it has a much higher freeboard. So it takes a much bigger wave to crash over the bow. It generally has a fiberglass deck, which self-bails out thru scuppers at the transom. Don't expect lots of vinyl cushions or carpet.

A Dual Console looks alot like a bowrider, but don't be fooled. It has the exact hull as its CC counterpart, it has a fiberglass self-bailing deck, it has the same high freeboard.

 

[hostage]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

I wouldn't rule out cuddy cabins. As the person mentioned above many compaines make a cuddy and an open bow version. The cabin does add a LOT of storage on the boat. It also adds in a bathroom and a changing room. You can fish from any boat. A cuddy will offer better sea keep than an open bow version, though some of the open bow issues can be mitigated by a bow cover, though if it always is on it can defeat the purpose of the open bow.

I own a 19ft cuddy cabin and I don't regret getting it. Though my next boat might be a larger open bow as I will most likely have a family by then. We mostly hang out in our boat in the middle of a bay. We don't fish and tube as much as I like, but we do them about equally.

In any case, the more you search for a boat, research, check them out. The more you will answer exactly what you want. It is also good to question what exactly you are going to be doing on the boat. What you want to do is different than what you will do. Does your wife fish etc?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

JD's point is important in that you have to look at the hull design (outside) first. The "Standard" bow rider's hull is not seaworthy in open water/bad weather due to the way it drops, acts like a scoop, has no flare, and does not have rails designed to deflect water. But there are many seaworthy hulls that have lots of comfortable bow seating--the built-in seating in the typical family CC is often a lot roomier than an equivalent BR, and roominess is a top priority in design and selection for active boaters.

Hostage has good points about cuddy's, especially in the northern areas (I prefer having the room and less weight but that is merely a choice). But for this OP's question, with a budget of $5000, he may be hard pressed to find a small cuddy in good enough shape for a new boater; a larger cuddy in his price range would likely be too much of a project. A new boater has to pay for reliability.

 

[igurtin]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

Hi can you please let me know if this is a good option for me?
19' Center Console 1998 OMC Stratos - $5500
http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2907882648.html
Thank You

 

[Philster]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

It could be. Wouldn't rule it out.

Dover is about 25 mins from my front door.

 

[igurtin]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

Just want to say thank you to everyone for the great help.
Right now I’m looking for center console only.
May I ask you to help me pick the right boat?

Hi can you please let me know if this is a good option for me?

19' Center Console 1998 OMC Stratos - $5500
http://delaware.craigslist.org/boa/2907882648.html

18 ft Center console.. great shape - $3700
http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/boa/2882061770.html

1989 Wellcraft 20' Center Console with Trailer - $4500
http://hartford.craigslist.org/boa/2868764455.html

19' sailfish center console trade for camper - $5000
http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/2841810684.html

17' Center Console Mako - $3500
http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/2845542935.html

1990 20ft 203 sunbird center console - $3900
http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/2887034424.html

Thank you one more time

 

[southkogs]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

I kinda' like the size and power of the Welcraft.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Advice on the boat purchase

I'm thinking the wellcraft . . . but . . . condition is everything in a used boat and the pictures do not do that justice. So, you will have to look at them close up to really be sure.

FWIW - When I bought my first powerboat, I window shopped 100's of boats and went to see 7 (seven) of them after I had narrowed things down. It took about 4 months total.