Well ya see you are WAY AHEAD of me. I am really looking forward to my kids, wife and grandchildren getting on a taking a ride.
Plus 1 fish. So ya se you are blessed...and I'm not a religious guy. :faint2:
Last year I was just riding around alot. Never fished one time. More concerned with learning to boat and will it blow up again. This year we gonna fish alot. My wife rode one time the rest of the time it is me and my son.
My buddy with the bayliner he told me I was a rare boat owner. I lucked into the right boat the first time. He is the one who told me I wont ever get another boat.
He wanted my boat I have now as his first boat. But they wouldn't take the trade in vehicle he had and bayliner would. It was a 3 liter capri.
He learned the hard way. Left it out no cover in the rain to much. He said if he had taken care of it he would still have it.
Only reason I would get another is like I said ocean. And then it would have to be alot bigger Like Micky's boat. Bedroom kitchen camper on the water that could handle ocean storms.
But for here Ohio and Licking rivers. And lakes. It is as fast as conditions allow. Good mileage. It is the perfect boat for where I live and boat.
My brothers Baja is nasty fast but you can't use it in alot of lakes it is to fast. Other places flat wont let it in. River is the only place you can run it and that beats you to death. His cruise speed is 10 MPH faster than I do. It is a beautiful boat. Takes 2 at least to launch and retrieve.
I do everything by myself easy as pie. A boat this size has its points. Rides nice carries more people than I ever care to bring.
Alot of how you use a boat dictates what you need. I just cruise and look at the scenery. Listen to the stereo. This year we gonna go up stream and float where the fish are.
Other concern is like I told mickey. If it was 2 foot longer it would block the garage door. I couldn't have it. Boat is 17.7 foot with the swim deck it is 22 foot. Boathouse is 22 foot long and it is exactly as long bow to swim deck. Count the trailer tongue and it is getting kinda longish. Then the fact I got a tractor hooked to it to move it around. It is as long as the house.
So I guess this is my year one review of owning a boat. I am a satisfied customer. Many thanks to all the great people here who made it possible. (For me not to sink the first time I hit a barge wake.)
You go Kevin you will get there and be happy as a pig in slop once your there.