Budget: $15000: Cuddy cabin vs bowrider vs aluminum fishing boat?

[mwang]

Hi
Usage of the boat:
I want to get into boating and is looking for something that can take the family (I, wife, two kids) out during the weekend. I live in Toronto so my boating destinations will be mostly rivers in southern Ontario, and maybe a little bit of lake Ontario (near shore, i.e. Toronto harbor front, center island) but mostly protected waters, rivers for sight seeing.
So I've been patiently browsing boat for sale in my area through out the summer and I think now and the next 2 month will be the best time to buy???
Anyway, here are the 3 directions that I'm interested to go and would really want to hear advice from you experienced folks.
(1). 1995 or later cuddy cabin that is 19' - 22'
some reference:
(a). 1995 20' doral cuddy boat: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-motorboat/sudbury/20-doral-cuddy-boat/1381853157?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true​​​​​​​
(b). 1998 Celebrity cuddy 220: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-m...20/1380632577?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
(c). 2000 Stingray: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-m...er/1377576268?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
Pros: bigger, able to over night, have porta potty just in case.
Cons: older, cost more to maintain/store

(2). 2000 or later bowrider that is 16' - 19'
some reference:
(a). 2004 18' Stingray: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-m...hp/1378701821?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
(b). 2006 Bayliner 175 BR: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-m...at/1380239324?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
​​​​​​​ Pros: Can store on my driverway. 17' or less can even fit into my garage. more fuel efficient.
Cons: No over night. no porta potty

(3). 2016 or later aluminum fishing boat that is 14' - 16'
Pros: Almost brandy new so much less maintenance and motor should be more reliable.
Cons: Small, no lake Ontario near shore trips.

I thank you all for take your time and get this far reading my post. lol.. Would really want to hear your advice. I'm pretty handy (not to the point to take engine apart though. lol) and always do preventive maintenance or even over maintenance on anything I've owned.
Thanks in advance.
​​​​​​​Mark

 

[JASinIL2006]

My question: how many overnights are you actually likely to do with 4 people on a 19’-22’ boat?

 

[tpenfield]

Those boats are all pretty small, except if you go to the 22 foot range. Also remember kids bring friends.

You will want a porta-pottie on the boat for wife & kids.

 

[Scott Danforth]

For a first boat, skip the cuddy as you most likely wont overnight in your first boat. 2 people in a 26' boat is cramped. You wont get 4 people sleeping in a 22' unless 2 are sleeping above deck.

Boating is usually a progression, normally starting out in a small aluminum boat and moving upward and larger with cuddys and pocket cruisers being the 3rd or 4th boat

I recommend taking the wife to boat shows, sitting in a variety of boats to find the layout that works. Then arange a few test rides
Then find the boat in the best condition

I would skip the bayliner
I would also skip any boat older that 2000 unless its been stored in doors, washed/dried after every use and meticulously maintained

 

[SkiGuy1980]

With 4 (plus friends) I'd be looking at a 19-22 foot bowrider. As Scott points out the 22 cuddy is too small for 4... may be okay for you and your wife... but tight. I'd also skip the small aluminum because it really doesn't fit any of your wants.

There are a lot of decent, newer 19-22 foot bowriders available in your price range. Check out some of the marinas in your area and get an idea what the different sizes feel like and what usage would be like (room, comfort, is the stearn walk thru or are you going to have everyone crawling across the sun cushions when getting in/out of the water). Most of the shows around here are in the spring, but a few dealers in Michigan and Ohio have be sending flyers about their fall end-of-season events. Just a thought... it might help you narrow your search a bit and will give you more focus.

Best of luck in your search. Dave

 

[Leardriver]

Bowrider all the way.
You can fish out of it just fine.
My cuddy cabin was the worst mistake I ever made. No where to sit compared to a bowrider. You never stay overnight in them except to prove to yourself that you can.

 

[mr 88]

The 98 Celebrity Cuddy would be my suggestion. Low low hours and the pictures make it out to be in excellent condition. The cuddy is nice to get out of the elements that you may encounter and gives the kids a place to nap.hangout ,change clothes and allows privacy for use of the port a potti . It's nice to have the protection of a real deck on the bow,a place to store items and keep them dry. Forget about anything smaller than 19 for your needs and budget. Your wife will enjoy the bigger ride a lot more when the waves are bigger than 1-2 foot. The problem with a bow rider in the spring when the water is cold is asking the Mrs to get in the water to relieve her self and it is a colder ride. You want to go out for about 4 hours and hear her say,lets go back,i am not getting in 55* water ,bc that's what's going to happen in most cases. Bigger is almost always better when it comes to boats and women.

 

[roscoe]

How about a larger aluminum boat, like a Starcraft 221 or Starcraft Islander?





Space to get out of the weather if needed, potty, some bed space if needed,
changing space, can handle the bigger water.


.

 

[mwang]

Thanks for your thought guys! And yes, I thought about it, cuddy for kids to take naps vs deck space... I guess it's always a tough question. As for the cuddy usage, I was thinking only taking my kids for over nighting, wife wasn't too much of a fun of out door activity anyway. And up here, it gets chilly at night, so the cuddy is more usable compare to down south.
And how do I go about hire a marine surveyor to help me look at a used boat? Most deals are private sellers and I don't know much about what to look for.

 

[Scott Danforth]

at the top of this forum is the sticky you should read when looking at a boat

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/gen...eeding-help-buying-a-boat-a-buyer-s-checklist

 

[tpenfield]

Thanks for your thought guys! And yes, I thought about it, cuddy for kids to take naps vs deck space... I guess it's always a tough question. As for the cuddy usage, I was thinking only taking my kids for over nighting, wife wasn't too much of a fun of out door activity anyway. And up here, it gets chilly at night, so the cuddy is more usable compare to down south.
And how do I go about hire a marine surveyor to help me look at a used boat? Most deals are private sellers and I don't know much about what to look for.

SAMS and NAMS are the 2 national associations of Marine Surveyors. Their web sites have listings of accredited surveyors near you.