Considering moving and changing my type of boat(ing) and want opinions

[SkaterRace]

I am looking at moving cities/provinces and the areas I am looking don't exactly have much for inland lakes like I am used to. I'm hoping to get some different opinions on what kind of boating I would be looking at for a mix of enjoyment (cruising, tubing, skiing, etc) and fishing on either the great lakes or the Atlantic ocean. I am sure I will need to go bigger than what I have now (2018 Glastron GT 185) and that I would be investing a ton of money into a boat.

What kind of boat would be a good fit for the types of activities mentioned above and what other things should I know about considering boating on larger lakes/oceans?

 

[Starcraft5834]

Big water needs big V hull.. 22ft min I would think.. if you spend more time on ocean, bigger yet.. w 20hp kicker motor to get u home, incase the big dog dies...

 

[SkaterRace]

Big water needs big V hull.. 22ft min I would think.. if you spend more time on ocean, bigger yet.. w 20hp kicker motor to get u home, incase the big dog dies...

I have been looking at some ~25-30ft and they seem not bad, though I do worry that a windy day is a no boating day compared to where I am now it is just a crappy day on the water.

 

[JimS123]

I have been a boater since age 5. I bought my first boat at age 19 and have been an avid "boatman" now for 53 years. A recent Bassmasters article indicated that my waters were in the top 5 in the world. My vacation spot (4 hours away) is what I consider the best fresh water boater's paradise anywhere.

When I was 54 years old (and a 30 year veteran with the company) they relocated to freakin @#$%. (I wont say where so as to not offend anyone). The local waters were a crappy big lake, or trailer to the ocean (freaking salt water).

I quit and went off on my own. I lost half of my pension (compared to if I had stayed), but was able to get back on my feet and actually do quite well. I found out that indeed there was life after ****).

Now I'm retired, have adequate funds to finance my lifestyle, and I am quite happy with my decisions. No need to worry about equipment for other venues.

My advice is to pick your lake, pick your boat and if you have wherewithal, everything will work out.

 

[dingbat]

I have been looking at some ~25-30ft and they seem not bad, though I do worry that a windy day is a no boating day compared to where I am now it is just a crappy day on the water.

If you have never boated in tidal water your in for a rude awakening......lol

Doesn’t have to be windy to keep you at the dock. Wind speed, tides, moon phase and wind direction all have to be factored in.

Even the battles cruisers (60-70’ offshore fishing boats) are forced to wait out conditions on a fairly regular basis.

Oh ya... leave the tubes and skis at home. Anything dragging, skiing or skipping behind a boat out front is considered “bait”........you are not the top of the food chain out here.

In all seriousness, a 25’ boat for out front is bare bones, entry level for the conditions.

Really need 40’+ for “family” level comfort

 

[racerone]

Go to your local marina and see what style of boat ventures out on the rough days.----See / ask how long they stay out.

 

[SkaterRace]

I have been a boater since age 5. I bought my first boat at age 19 and have been an avid "boatman" now for 53 years. A recent Bassmasters article indicated that my waters were in the top 5 in the world. My vacation spot (4 hours away) is what I consider the best fresh water boater's paradise anywhere.

When I was 54 years old (and a 30 year veteran with the company) they relocated to freakin @#$%. (I wont say where so as to not offend anyone). The local waters were a crappy big lake, or trailer to the ocean (freaking salt water).

I quit and went off on my own. I lost half of my pension (compared to if I had stayed), but was able to get back on my feet and actually do quite well. I found out that indeed there was life after ****).

Now I'm retired, have adequate funds to finance my lifestyle, and I am quite happy with my decisions. No need to worry about equipment for other venues.

My advice is to pick your lake, pick your boat and if you have wherewithal, everything will work out.

Interesting about the job switch and how that worked out. For me I'm remote so thankfully I will never have to deal with location changes so I'm trying to find a spot that is a good one long term and settle down there instead of my last few years of moving every 12 months (or less).

Picking the lakes is hard, where I live now has awesome lakes and everything I want but the housing costs are huge - 1M to buy what I'd want compared to ~150-200k where I'm considering. I really love my current boat the only gripe is it handles rough water terrible - sorta expected it to but was shocked at just how bad it is.

 

[SkaterRace]

Go to your local marina and see what style of boat ventures out on the rough days.----See / ask how long they stay out.

That's not really an option for me, the main place I am looking at moving to is a 17-hour drive away so taking a day trip isn't possible so just trying to figure out how much boat I need before I spend too much money traveling to check out the area more. I'm still in the idea phase of things.

 

[jhande]

I'm hoping to get some different opinions on what kind of boating I would be looking at for a mix of enjoyment (cruising, tubing, skiing, etc) and fishing on either the great lakes or the Atlantic ocean. I am sure I will need to go bigger than what I have now (2018 Glastron GT 185) and that I would be investing a ton of money into a boat.

What kind of boat would be a good fit for the types of activities mentioned above and what other things should I know about considering boating on larger lakes/oceans?

The Great Lakes and ocean are one heck of a haul from each other. If you're moving closer to the Great Lakes why not take your boat with you? Sure there will be days that the water might be to rough but at least you'll have something while you see what others are using.

I spent most of my life in CT on Long Island Sound. Some people used your size boat while staying in the sound. Those heading out past Long Island into the actual ocean always had much bigger boats, well except the fisherman.

 

[Starcraft5834]

I have been looking at some ~25-30ft and they seem not bad, though I do worry that a windy day is a no boating day compared to where I am now it is just a crappy day on the water.

your brave to boat the ocean.. hell, any of the great lakes are no joke on "breezy days". I'll stick to NYS Finger Lakes, and local smaller bodies near me

 

[ahicks]

Fair share of protected inland, Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico in my history. Given my 'druthers, I think fresh water wins hands down, and protected inland likely edges out Great Lakes most of the time....

 

[JimS123]

Forget about what what others say about politics and taxes. NY state has some of the finest FRESH waters anywhere. The Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers, the Finger Lakes, and of course the Great Lakes.

We have a 13.5' Tinny with a 9.5 OB and with 4 of us on board we never feared going anywhere. If we wanted to go to Lake Erie or Ontario we took the 19 footer.

I live here because its a boater's paradise. You get what you pay for.

(The NY State promotional literature has a bulletin called "I LUV NY" Of course the pictures are hand picked to make you want to come here. Well, that picture looks like my back yard, and it doesn't even hold a candle to my mountain cabin.....

I am an anomaly - I am happy and satisfied with my life. I feel sad for those that are always looking for the greener pastures, that always have some underlying problem)

 

[SkaterRace]

The Great Lakes and ocean are one heck of a haul from each other. If you're moving closer to the Great Lakes why not take your boat with you? Sure there will be days that the water might be to rough but at least you'll have something while you see what others are using.

I spent most of my life in CT on Long Island Sound. Some people used your size boat while staying in the sound. Those heading out past Long Island into the actual ocean always had much bigger boats, well except the fisherman.

The great lakes and the ocean bay I am looking at are pretty similar waters from what I have read. As for moving closer to the great lakes and being more lakes... right now I have tons of lakes near me and I live in a city on the great lakes, the city/area I am looking at has only the great lakes within a 3-hour drive.

I don't want to move then figure out boating, part of the idea of this post is to work out if what I want is even reasonable before I do an expensive move and sell my boat. I am not in a position where I am forced to move, I am now remote only now so I am looking for places to live that meet a bunch of criteria, and having good boating that is affordable is something high on that list. The area I live now is good for boating and one other sport I like but not great for housing and crowded-ness

 

[SkaterRace]

Forget about what what others say about politics and taxes. NY state has some of the finest FRESH waters anywhere. The Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers, the Finger Lakes, and of course the Great Lakes.

We have a 13.5' Tinny with a 9.5 OB and with 4 of us on board we never feared going anywhere. If we wanted to go to Lake Erie or Ontario we took the 19 footer.

I live here because its a boater's paradise. You get what you pay for.

(The NY State promotional literature has a bulletin called "I LUV NY" Of course the pictures are hand picked to make you want to come here. Well, that picture looks like my back yard, and it doesn't even hold a candle to my mountain cabin.....

I am an anomaly - I am happy and satisfied with my life. I feel sad for those that are always looking for the greener pastures, that always have some underlying problem)

I live in Canada so NY is out plus there are just some things that make NY not attractive to me that are outside boating forum topics.

I'd be worried about going out on Lake Ontario with just a 19 footer, I've done some bays and hiding behind islands on it and while not terrible it definitely was a shakey ride some days. Granted I did that in a 15.5 ft but it rode better than the 18.5 ft I have now. Different hull types/shapes.

I would say not that I am looking for greener pastures more that covid has opened up options to me since I am remote only now. Lots of tech jobs are going that way which means I can move anywhere now and I can look at buying a property with a lot of land and somewhat close to a lake that I like. The idea of moving from where I am now was never a consideration because of job prospects and now a few coworkers have moved it has prompted the idea in my head. If I find nothing better than a few hours away (where I normally boat), then I doubt I will ever consider moving again unless I have a reason to which I don't see one but never know what life will throw at me.

 

[SkaterRace]

your brave to boat the ocean.. hell, any of the great lakes are no joke on "breezy days". I'll stick to NYS Finger Lakes, and local smaller bodies near me

I don't think I would go far though I do enjoy sitting out on the water on a windy day (inland lakes) and reading and just enjoying the day alone since no one else wants to come out with me.

 

[Grub54891]

I live in the apostle Islands area, lake superior. On a good day I'll take out the 17' bowrider and go for a cruise. Have to be careful as the weather can change up here in a heartbeat. I use that boat on smaller lakes also. Other days I take out the 21' deep v and it is still rough at times but at least it cuts the waves so I can get behind an island and enjoy the view. Gives me a bit of flexibility as to what to do. If all else fails I go to the cabin on a 340 acre lake and relax on the pontoon. All within around 25 miles from home.

 

[Commander_47]

My dad had a 28 foot Chris Craft on the Great Lakes for decades.

We all loved it. Even his grands got to go on trips to Canada for the flat track races and to Kings Island. Great fun and fond memories. Many nights and days on the Chris fishing, sleeping on the water, towed in tubes etc etc.

I now have a 26 footer for my grands!

You cannot put a price on those memories.

 

[jhande]

The great lakes and the ocean bay I am looking at are pretty similar waters from what I have read. As for moving closer to the great lakes and being more lakes... right now I have tons of lakes near me and I live in a city on the great lakes, the city/area I am looking at has only the great lakes within a 3-hour drive.

I don't want to move then figure out boating, part of the idea of this post is to work out if what I want is even reasonable before I do an expensive move and sell my boat. I am not in a position where I am forced to move, I am now remote only now so I am looking for places to live that meet a bunch of criteria, and having good boating that is affordable is something high on that list. The area I live now is good for boating and one other sport I like but not great for housing and crowded-ness

I live in New Hampshire and have run into and talked with some people that regularly visit the Great Lakes. Yes they can get quiet choppy and windy, but not as bad as an ocean.

If one of your interest as in the original post suggested was water skiing and tubing, how big of a boat can you go with?

Will you stay or leave if the waves reach high rough waters no matter how big the boat?

Would I feel comfortable driving 3 hours, finding really choppy water and launch an 18'-19' boat? No so I see your point about going bigger. How big to go? Sorry I have no idea.

 

[SkaterRace]

I live in the apostle Islands area, lake superior. On a good day I'll take out the 17' bowrider and go for a cruise. Have to be careful as the weather can change up here in a heartbeat. I use that boat on smaller lakes also. Other days I take out the 21' deep v and it is still rough at times but at least it cuts the waves so I can get behind an island and enjoy the view. Gives me a bit of flexibility as to what to do. If all else fails I go to the cabin on a 340 acre lake and relax on the pontoon. All within around 25 miles from home.

Sounds like you have it made

 

[Grub54891]

Sounds like you have it made

Well you could to if you lived here. It's not all fun and games but close. enough for me. National forest for atv, snowmobiling, hunting/fishing, hiking, ect...