FTB - Need Direction

[subkron]

Trying to get as much info as possible for a boat, so here are my requirements:<br />Main usage is for knee/wakeboarding, skiing and family pleasure ( 90% of time )- fishing 10% of time.<br />Looking for something in the 19-22 ft range<br />Wife leans toward cuddy for head, I lean towards walkaround or bowrider<br />Family of 5 plus some friends<br />Lake/River usage 90%, bay/ocean 10%<br />Used, mid '90s or later<br />Good reliability<br /><br />In advance...Thanks

 

[Spidybot]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

Hmmm. You need to do some homework. First figure your budget (purchase & running). Next, look around within your budget to get an idea. Then try to decide, based on your options.<br /><br />At that point, when you have actual offers and know more about what you want/can get, folks here will be able to give advice.<br /><br />There are so many combinations that going into detail at this point becomes overwhelming.<br /><br />PS! Keep the wife and kids happy. If they are not, you'll never be.<br /><br />Get back under the same thread once you know a little more...

 

[BigBabyLou]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

Subkron, three of the items you listed cannot be well combined, I'm afraid. It's the:<br />1. Looking for something in the 19-22 ft range<br />2. Wife leans toward cuddy for head<br />3. Family of 5 plus some friends<br /><br />20ft cuddy would not give you enough space for 5 family members and friends. You'd need open bow for that. I've been on the lake with friends (6 people) in their decent size bowrider (22') and it already felt very tight. Just my 2c.<br /><br />What you can do is take your family to a boat place and y'all get into different boats (cuddy, bowrider, smaller, bigger) and see what would suit you best.<br /><br />Good luck picking your new boat!<br />Lou

 

[Hooty]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

Howdy subkron,<br />There are several sites, this one, boattrader etc. that have a world of boats to look at and price.<br />Hang around the marinas and launching ramps and look around to see what might fit your needs, then go to the web sites for prices and avilability.<br /><br />g'luck & c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[thornious]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

I gotta agree with Lou go for a bow rider at that size cuddys are way too small. I have 18ft bow and I ride 4 very comfy. It will seat 8 but only 6 legally . Depending on your price range if you can would say go with a v8 it will cover all uses. But I have 90hp outboard on mine and I get 40 mph with 4 people and I mainly pull a tube. I dont know about pulling a skier or wakeboard though. <br /><br />just some thoughts...

 

[KCook]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

^

 

[mattttt25]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

kcook- guess you're interested in the topic since you bumped.<br /><br />i would have recommended that subkron look at stingray's 22' deck boat. holds 11 people, plenty of room and storage, big engine for watersports (260hp merc), and comes at a great price.<br /><br /> http://www.stingrayboats.com/products/models03/models.php?model=220dr

 

[KCook]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

mattttt25 - I bumped this thread up because I thought it had info that might help out AJ (see his "Buying a new boat" thread). I agree that deckboats are great for carrying a lot of people. Sorry to say, my town has no Stingray dealer. So I have not had a chance to examine their 22' deckboat.<br /><br />Kelly

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

From life experience: If you want your wife and other females to actually keep going out in the boat, no matter what else you do, get one with an enclosed head. Trust me on this.

 

[Franki]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

Yeah, I'll go along with that.. my boat is too small for a head.. so I have to stay on the river here where there are toilets very 300 meters..<br /><br />I have convinced her to jump in the water to relieve a couple of times.. but she aint real happy with that..<br /><br />Once women learn that you don't have a toilet they begin needing one....<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Frank

 

[KCook]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

"Once women learn that you don't have a toilet they begin needing one...." - Good one Frank <br /><br />Folks new to boating often believe a head compartment is a "must-have". But far more boats are sold without this than with it. So an awful lot of boaters have found that they can "cope". On popular lakes every campground, launch ramp, and marina will have a facility. Remote waters would be a different story. I always ask our newbie, "so is the head compartment a must-have for your car too"?<br /><br />Oh well,<br />Kelly

 

[mattttt25]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

my "new" boat has a baitwell that is in the stern area, below deck, accessed by a hatch. i'm thinking of bringing a toilet seat out when the ladies come. should fit over the baitwell just fine. when they're done, all i need to do is turn the aerator on and flush!!! of course, no #2's allowed.

 

[flashback]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

subkron, I have an old 79 chris craft scorpion 210 with a cuddy cabin that has a sliding hatch. the hatch allows me to be able to walk from the stern, almost to the bow. great feature for fishing. it has the old fashion seating arangement. 2 back to back seats and 2 jump seats on either side of the engine. 6 seats in all. the boat is also good for wake boarding as it is a deep v hull, rather heavy and puts out a nice wake at 16-18 mph. a good speed for boarding unless your a pro. the boat is capable of about 48 mph so you can ski with it also. we have a small port a potti in the cuddy and the cuddy is great for storing all the day's toys. guess you can tell I like the boat but its be good to me..

 

[wvit100]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

I have a 18'10" cuddy. It has been a good boat for about 4 people, 5 and it starts to get crowded. I always told people that if you use the toilet you clean it, so far I can't remember it ever being used. Most everyone just jumps into the lake or holds it for a minute til we get to somewhere with a bathroom. The cuddy is nice but it mostly ends up being a catchall for all the towls, toys, and stuff.<br /><br />I'm trading it in this summer for a 21'6" Stingray bowrider. I think the bowrider will be a nicer boat for everyday use in that it will have more room to move around.<br /><br />The cuddy was a good boat but if you planning on having more that 4 or 5 people you need to get a bowrider.

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: FTB - Need Direction

I have a 23' cuddy with sport seating and six people is too many...by the time you get coolers, tote bags, food, life jackets and all the other stuff everyone wants to bring there is no room left in the boat. This boat has a large cuddy and therefore a smaller cockpit, both full of "stuff". I have a port a pottie but refuse to bring it on the boat. A confined cuddy in the middle of the summer is no place for sewage. The ladies can use the lake...if anyone just has to have a regular bathroom we take a break and head for the nearest marina...no big deal.