Fist time boat buying advice

[Sholo]

Hi, looking for advice for first time boat purchase. We are inexperienced boaters who are willing to take all safety classes, etc to get up and running. Boat will be on a very calm, 10 mile lake in upstate NY. Have teenagers interested in tubing and fishing from the boat. We have settled on a deck boat or bow rider. Since we are just starting out, I’d love to pay around or less than $20,000 if I can, and would definitely like a smaller model. Just looking for any recommendations. Thanks.

 

[roscoe]

Welcome to iboats.

How many people aboard will be determining factor on size of boat, along with your tow vehicles capacity and your storage area limitations.

Looking to buy new or used?
Condition is much more important than model year.
No problem getting a 25 year old boat if the hull and engine are in great condition.

I would suggest used for a first boat.
Boats take a huge hit in depreciation the first 2 years, worse than a car.
18-20' long.
Aluminum hull, much less forgiving when learning to handle it, bumping docks and such.
Also aluminum means lighter, so towing won't require a huge truck.
Lighter also means less HP needed, so it can save you $$.
Preferably and outboard model.

Since you will be doing the sports stuff, make fir the motor is at or near the max allowed for the particular boat.

Alumacraft, Lund, Starcraft, Crestliner, Sylvan, and even Tracker all make boats that will fit the need.

If you go with a deck boat, then it will be glass.

Something like this for $9000 would be a great boat to get some experience on.

https://fingerlakes.craigslist.org/boa/d/webster-g3-boat/6904170287.html

 

[tpenfield]

:welcome: to iBoats. . .

There is a buyer's checklist at the top of the forum. Here is a link to it >>> https://forums.iboats.com/forum/gen...eeding-help-buying-a-boat-a-buyer-s-checklist

I think you are in the right category as far as getting a bowrider or deck boat. Get a decent sized boat, because they will seem smaller than you initially think once you put it in the water and start to use it. Also as far as engines, bigger is better. Don't worry about fuel economy, because there is no such thing when it comes to boats.

Get to know brand reputation a bit, but as mentioned the actual condition of the boat is what will be the priority. I always like to start off with the better brands and then find the one in better condition (just my preference).

Your budget will put you in the used category most likely. You will be balancing imperfections when shopping used, so you will ultimately have to decide what is best for you.

Many new boaters start off with something and then upgrade to another boat once they gain some experience, so don't think that you have to make a lifetime decision. You just want to avoid buying a boat that turns out to be a project.

Expect maintenance and fix-its . . . usually something will go wrong, that just seems to be they way with boats. Also, boating is dangerous, so pay attention in the boater safety class. :thumb:

 

[southkogs]

If it's convenient - rent a couple of times. A couple afternoons on the water packed into an 18' bowrider together can show you some likes and dislikes about boats and help you look for the right thing.

Welcome aboard.

 

[roffey]

I would also chirp or cheep in with get as inexpensive a boat as you can. The 'first' boat is the learner boat, the one that gets pranged into the dock, the one you sit back and think of the boat you should have got. Some folks just want to putt around the lake others want to spend the day on the water while others fish or pull up at the local beach and do water sports all day. What you think you want is not necessarily what you get the first boat out. Renting is expensive but way cheaper than purchasing,,

Have fun and enjoy and be sure to come back and tell us what you got. Boaters live vicariously through others, lol.

 

[David Hard]

i am also looking to buy my first boat. i can tell you this its a process. i have been looking on fb and let go. most of what i have found is trash but every so often i have found great running and good condition boats. again weed out the bs ones. for my first boat im looking for something that runs and gets me on the water asap. i made a mistake earlyer this season and boght a boat with out stering or know if she runs. also when i did my resurch and called the mechanic he told me to run away from the i/o. so luckley i got a refund. i now know im looking for a boat that runs and the hull and transum re in excellent shape, also i have decided on an out board bow rider. easyer to maintain. in a few years i would like and in board to crues the intercoastal water way and take a trip from long island ny to lake erie via the hudson river. but these guys on ere have a realy good handle on the does and donts. good luck buying your first boat, mabey one day on the way to saranac inn our boats will pass one another. good hungting.

 

[southkogs]

Had to look up "pranged". Figures it's British!

Used by USAF quite a bit for aircraft "mishaps."

 

[bobeast]

One thing to keep in mind that applies to all boats, regardless of hull material. Boats shrink when wet. As big as any given boat may seem, it will seem much smaller in a season or two. Get the biggest boat you can afford/store/tow. You WILL grow into it.

Second, one of the best investments you can make is to hire a captain for a day, who can show you the rodes (see what I did there?) They should be able to instruct you in safety, docking, anchoring and the proper technique for partying.

 

[Texasmark]

Easy as pie. Take a Sunday afternoon and go to where you want to boat. Usually there is a waiting line at the launching ramp so it's a piece of cake. Go up to the folks in line with kids, wifie, tubes, skis, maybe a couple of fishing rods
and all, and ask the owners/users, what and why. Ask several, get several opinions, think about it and go for it!

Boats depreciate big time, new ones especially. Craig's List Boats, selectable for your area....just start out with your location in the query, has lots of boats and you can pick up a great, well cared for boat to suit you for a LOT less than a new rig. If nothing local, look up in the top left corner of the listing and where your location is listed there is a drop down window where you can select nearby areas to shop.

Boats stored in the owner's garage, and nice and neat in appearance and wear and tear, including what ELSE you see in the pictures of the boats gives you an indication of what kind of personal habits the owner possesses and THAT is your clue as to whether or not you can expect to have a boat that has been cared for, translating to minimum damage to be replaced by you the (potential) purchaser.

 

[jkust]

We started with an 18 foot bowrider when my two boys were very small. It was ok until they started the pre teen years into their very early teens and it quickly became too small. You are already in those later years it sounds like. Where fishing is concerned, some bowriders are just far too luxurious upholstery wise to want to fish from. That was the case with our 18 foot Chaparral. Seats get hooked, other upholstery catches a hook or treble hooks and now you have expensive damage. We only ever fished off of our bowrider maybe twice because of that. I'd be interested in a boat more meant for fishing than just cruising if you intend to do an abundance of fishing. Plus a standard bowrider has no fishing accouterments like a fishing boat will making it that much less practical to fish from. As for new versus used, for sure slightly used if you can find it. The owner takes a huge depreciation hit and many times you will get thousands of dollars of equipment with the boat if they are exiting boating all together which was the case with my 18 footer that had only 20 hours on the clock. Both of my boats so far got sold because of kids sports got in the way and my waverunner that had 20 hours on it as well got sold because the owner piloted jets and liked speed but found out quickly he had no time to use it. Their loss, my gain.

 

[briangcc]

You might look at a Ski & Fish model. Kind of SUV of boats - does alot of things, not as well as a single purpose boat, but does them.

I have one, ask away...

Ohh...and define upstate NY. It varies upon region as to what qualifies as upstate...some say anything north of NYC, others Capital region (Adirondacks), etc...

 

[Texasmark]

Welcome to iboats.

How many people aboard will be determining factor on size of boat, along with your tow vehicles capacity and your storage area limitations.

Looking to buy new or used?
Condition is much more important than model year.
No problem getting a 25 year old boat if the hull and engine are in great condition.

I would suggest used for a first boat.
Boats take a huge hit in depreciation the first 2 years, worse than a car.
18-20' long.
Aluminum hull, much less forgiving when learning to handle it, bumping docks and such.
Also aluminum means lighter, so towing won't require a huge truck.
Lighter also means less HP needed, so it can save you $$.
Preferably and outboard model.

Since you will be doing the sports stuff, make fir the motor is at or near the max allowed for the particular boat.

Alumacraft, Lund, Starcraft, Crestliner, Sylvan, and even Tracker all make boats that will fit the need.

If you go with a deck boat, then it will be glass.

Something like this for $9000 would be a great boat to get some experience on.

https://fingerlakes.craigslist.org/b...904170287.html

After 50+ years of boating and raising 4 kids and spending every weekend (possible) on the water where the wind blows constantly (Dallas, Tx.) in 18-20' length, max rated HP, this suggestion is a real winner and reasons very valid. Lund or Tracker deep sided, deep Vs would be my choice, one being riveted and the other welded......have had both, no problems with rivets nor welds type construction. I had an 18' Starcraft Holiday, Alum. I/O that was a super family boat for use in rough water.....but with today's outboards, that's my choice for ease/economy of ownership.

I have been surfing Craig's list for the last several months just to stay in touch with boating and some super buys are there on boats that are well cared for and around 10 years old.....note the well cared for part. Seems it's a little late in the season this year for the good deals as some I would have bought, were I buying, are gone to new owners. "Slim Pickins" for the most part left for now......but things can change on a daily basis.

So there you have 2 comments from me......hope I told the same story.......didn't go back and fact check. Grin.

 

[Starcraft5834]

I've owned a 15ft trihull, a 20 foot cuddy... if you want maximum space, tube fish, ski.. get a Toon with at least a 90 on it... a 20 foot cuddy you can fit 3 on it comfortably, on a 20 foot toon, you can fit lots more comfortably and not step on each other... my 2 c

 

[Texasmark]

I've owned a 15ft trihull, a 20 foot cuddy... if you want maximum space, tube fish, ski.. get a Toon with at least a 90 on it... a 20 foot cuddy you can fit 3 on it comfortably, on a 20 foot toon, you can fit lots more comfortably and not step on each other... my 2 c

Speaking of toons, I was CL surfing today around Alabama-Georgia area and there was a TRI-toon kicking up some kind of rooster, had to be running over 40 and was over on one toon in a really tight, banked turn; center tank was just barely touching the water. I didn't know TRI-toons were that well put together....I have seen them planing at maybe 25ish, but nothing like what I saw there.