Re: Boat Purchase Advice Needed
You are looking at some good boat mfg's, I like the FourWinns but this is what I presently own!!! Would I buy another... only if I could get a Mercruiser I/O but if I remember from last boat show/brochure... nothing but Volvo/Penta's in them now!!! Mine is an 86 18 ft Open-Bow Runabout that I purchased from a friend of mine in Ashland, KY... Thank goodness, his wife had a baby & thier time became limited & his decision to sell was my gain... great boat, great price, very well maintained... this is what mattered!!!<br /><br />As for Boat Locker in Franklin, I have heard nothing but good comments from others & have used him on occasion when needing some things but I do my own maintenance & repairs. There was an article in Franklin paper a while back that explained the family philosophy regarding operation of boat dealership & it was cool plus the nearest water is 15-20 miles away & in downtown Franklin... local people! I see thier products when I drive by & like what I see but other than that... you need to visit & ask about thier service policies, etc..<br /><br />OK... now I know what section of town you are in... West Nashville. <br /><br />You have some options here & this is the way I look at it but you might not agree but here goes...<br /><br />I look at my travel time... to ramp or dock... from Franklin to Percy Priest equals 45 to 55 minutes via interstate or back roads doesn't matter depending on traffic. To TN River (Cuba Landing) 50-60 minutes... straight down I-40 to off-ramp & couple miles too dock all interstate!!!<br /><br />The marinas in both areas are comparable.<br /><br /> The folks who have purchased the dock at Cuba Landing have fixed it up & have great facilities & are open pretty much all the time due to river traffic from TN River & you would not believe the amount of people from Nashville area who dock their boats there. I like TN River for it's proximity to Nashville plus I can cruise for hours & I grew up on KY lake/Paris Landing while in High School. I have friends up & down lake & try to stop in to visit when I go. Plus, I can cruise for a few hours, pull into marina, pay 5 dollars for the night to park boat, get a room in cabin plus some good places to eat & party right on the water.<br /><br />Percy Priest has 4-Corners which I like but they get a lot of traffic of people coming to fish who do not have boats but I have had the opportunity to keep my boats there & have some friends still there. Good little restaurant... luv the CATFISH on Friday nites!!! So as docks go... It would be up to you & your friends to determine which is more convenient for yourselves. I am not down on Priest but I feel that the amount of traffic it receives from Nashville area sometimes can be overwhelming. Plus it is "land locked"... & I like to cruise as I mentioned earlier.<br /><br />Center Hill... I luv the deep water, I luv the coves, my trip usually includes cruise up to the water falls then back to coves to chill out & relax... I have spent many a night on lake... there is nothing like it!!! I use Hurricane Creek dock because of its central location from interstate plus the lake. The docks near the dam include State Park plus I cannot remember the name of the other one but I know how to get there via water or land... both places have plenty of people that are from Nashville area & they come for the solitude of the lake. It is also, is "land locked" but you can make plenty of day trips to keep it interesting & even though it may have the same amount of boats on it as Priest... being so large & deep... it doesn't seem that crowded!!!<br /><br /><br />As for buying new & used, that decision is left up to you but I do know in today's market here in Nashville people will buy a boat then want to unload it before winter because they thought it would be fun & they really are not people that are in tune with the water or they didn't get to use it as much as they thought... so they are some good deals out there & you do not take depreciation... they have!!!<br /><br />I would recommend that you & your family take a few trips to the various lakes & look at docks... because they are a little like neighborhoods & you might want to check out thier ammenties, etc.. While you are there rent a pontoon or deckboat... The State Park @ Center Hill has some nice boat rentals available for the day. This way you know how each one operates & it will be easier after that small investment to determine what you like about both types of vessels. Cheaper than buying boat and deciding that the other was more suited to your lifestyle & needs.<br /><br />DRAFT: The depth of vessel's "keel" below water line.<br /><br />KEEL: The principal structural member of ship/boat running lengthwise along centerline from bow (front) to stern (back), to which frames are attached.<br /><br />I didn't know answer to DEADRISE, so I researched it for you & I and this is what I came up with...<br /><br />DEADRISE: Describes the dihedral angle in a Vee-bottom hull form. The sum of the dihedral angles always equals 180 degrees. <br /><br />"In simple terms, the deadrise is the angle between the horizontal and the "vee" of the boat measured at the transom. The higher the number of degrees, the deeper the vee and the smoother the ride in choppy water. Your 16 degree deadrise hull would be described as a Medium Vee. You do not say what your current boat is or what type of boat you are looking to buy as there are many considerations in a new boat as well as its deadrise; ie; space, speed, stability, size, etc. However, if you are after peak performance and handling then a deeper vee (say around 22 degrees) will be superb. This would however, affect the shape of the boat and you may have to give up some interior space to achieve a more "dart-like" style. (Jaykay Marine Sales Ltd)"<br /><br />What type of tow vehicle to you have??? <br /><br />In conclusion, the best advise I can give you is visit the areas/lakes/water that you are considering, rent a pontoon or deck boat to determine your want & needs (plus your family's... which one is wife/children most comfortable in operating should they need to in certain situations!!!), visit docks in these areas & ask about there products & services, make sure whatever you buy that it comes with a trailer... the boat will have to come out of the water/dock for certain things (cleaning bottom, warranty issues, etc.) or if you decide boat is not your cup of tea... it is easier to sell a boat with trailer than without, cheaper is not always the best solution in trailers (research needs & capacities just as you do your boat choices, you need a tow vehicle or access to one should it require removal from water. I can go on & on... and this is getting lengthy enough.<br /><br />I hope I have answered some of your questions, please feel free to contact me via email for a quicker response to certain items.... <br /><br />fone_man@bellsouth.net<br /><br />
