Need advice for a boating beginner

[j.jcampbell]

Hello all,

I am looking to purchase my first boat, however, after looking around for a while I realized the more I look, the more confused I am getting. I want a decent boat for my family, definitely used for budget constraints. I live in Tacoma, WA and the Puget Sound is 5 minutes down the road. I'd like to be able to do some exploring, fishing, and skiing/wakeboard/tubing w/ the family. I found a few Bayliners, 1989-1991 era, that are priced affordably and look to be able to accomplish all I need.

My main concerns are:

Is there a certain boat I should narrow my search for that can be used in saltwater and freshwater?

There is quite a few affordably priced boats I've found on craigslist, mostly Bayliners. I've found that certain years don't have a great reputation, but if I find that is mechanically sound and was taken care of, is there still concern?

Thanks for any info and advice, I could use any and all!

Joshua

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

You need to find a friend who knows boats because it is very easy to put "lipstick on a pig" and sell it ! Even an experienced boaters can be stung ! Just read the opening of this thread - FriscoBoater 1995 SeaRay Bow Rider.

Most fiberglass boats rot from the inside out. Rain water/snow melt get into the bilge over time and rots the floor and structural pieces. Aluminum boats still have wood floors and transom and can also rot. Proper dry storage is the only way to prevent this.

All of these can be fixed, but will take a lot of time, effort and $$$ !

 

[cr2k]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

The early Bayliners had very thin hulls.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

How many in your family? Going on big water vs. being on the inland or protected waters is a big factor in one boat vs. another. How often would you be doing water sports vs. cruising or fishing?

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

What you really need to do is check out the thread at the top. It will tell you exactly how to find a good boat.

Late 80's to early 90's model bayliners were not known for quality.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

you're in coastal water. you do not want an i/o and you do not want an unseaworthy bayliner-type bowrider. Rain much there? you do not want a sofa boat. Self bailing deck, no carpet, minimal built-in upholsterly. The kind that doesn't rot out.

Look at a center console OB with built-in bow seating, like a sea hunt, 19-21'. Best all around design for family boating and general recreation on the coast.

 

[j.jcampbell]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

Thanks for the advice so far everyone!

Southkogs, it would mostly be my wife and I plus 3 children. Maybe enough room for the occasional visits from parents.
We would do more cruising and fishing mostly and tubing/sporting less often. Like I said, the Puget Sound is 5 minutes down the road and I would like to be able to cruise around there, not anywhere near the pacific ocean although. I figured for water sports I would take it to lakes around here.

I see quite a few boats always out on the sound (big and small) so I'm assuming that it would be considered more protected waters than being really choppy.

Thanks again for the help everyone!

 

[southkogs]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

My suggestion would be to look for a dual console around 20' or so. Generally, those will be outboard boats - but an I/O wouldn't freak me out. That style boat will give you a little better hull for bigger water, room for cruising with people on board, good utility for fishing ... and it'll drag a tube well enough. If you get into skiing, you won't like that boat as much. But for tubing and general fun it'll be fine.

Center console would work too, but wouldn't have the same type of seating. Walk Around would be an okay choice, but would be a bigger boat and tough for tubing.

A bow rider may work fine (I see people in 'em all over the place), but I think you may want the dual console type in the sound.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

it would mostly be my wife and I plus 3 children. Maybe enough room for the occasional visits from parents.

you can pack a lot of children in the front of a center console, and that is where they will always ride.

Also for coastal boating you have to have one that you can stand up to drive. They aren't cars and the water isn't like a road. Forget the pictures in the ads; ask any boater.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

You do not want a center console, they just don't work out that well around here.

You also don't want an old Bayliner, or most any of the older boats you see for a good price, for the most part they will all need to be totally rebuilt before you can use it, the transom stringers and floors will need to be replaced. This normally takes a couple thousand bucks and great deal of time.

Read threads in the restoration forum about people buying older boats with "just a small soft spot", it's a nightmare journey.

If you want trouble-free, look at an aluminum boat, there are many in the size range you need. If you can't afford one of these boats...save until you can.

 

[saumon]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

For 5, including 3 childrens (and those things grow!), you'll need to look at least in the 19'-20' range. Either aluminum or high quality fiberglass, not the usual Bayliner-type. If you give an approx. budget, people here will find some suitable boats around you: we always love to shop with someone else money! :joyous:

 

[j.jcampbell]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

Thanks for the continued advice.. sorry for the delay in response; been quite busy. I'm still looking but this has helped me narrow my search. I've seen byliner's a dime a dozen around here but I'm hesitant from reviews.. as some of you have pointed out.

Well I guess for a budget, I don't want to go over $3,000. I know that isn't much, but if I could get something that would last, or a used boat that needs a little work (that an amateur with a lot of time and hard work can do) I would probably pay up to $5,000.

If that is an unrealistic number, then I may consider waiting a few years and buying a newer boat for more money, of course I want to get out on the water now though.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

When looking at a Boat, look past the boat.
The key to an older boat is how well it was maintained.
If the yard and house need work, the boat is going to need much more.
The owner should either pull it out of the garage or uncover it when you arrive.
If the Boat was not covered at all times, walk away quickly.
Look under the engine, Leaves, Dirt, Water? Deal Breaker!
He is showing it for sale. It should be as clean as can be!
If he was not even willing to put "Lipstick on the Pig" for the sale, don't expect that anything else was fixed either. The floor of the boat should be as solid as a floor in a house. One very slightly soft spot? No sale!
There are many gems out there at discount prices. The trick is in recognizing the valuable ones.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

If looking at a Bayliner ask if they will give you $5K to take it away. The best boat in your situation would be a Lund Baron. There are a lot of tin boats that are good, but that is best. They only build it in the sizes you need. Just about any Lund 19 - 22' will do. Sylvan, StarCraft, and some others are also OK. As mentioned, take someone with years of boating that has purchased many boats before opening your checkbook.

 

[LilRedNeckGirl]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

before laying your money down..... you want a buddy that boats to go along on a TEST RUN. Sans a boater friend, pay a mechanic to go on the run and look it over afterwards. New gear oil in the drive hides bad seals. a rag hides leaks, get someone that knows boats to be there. be willing to invest an hour or two in checking the mechanics of the boat and engine.
that time can save you tons of time and money later.
your buying to take your family out. it has to be right. a knowledgeable boater will look ....... under the hull for impact damage & repairs. are there hairline cracks around the transom indicating a issue there? is the engine matching the HP rateing on the hull? Did you check the compression on the engine? do you know what year the engine is? are there any maintanace records with the engine? Is the electrical wireing factory and color coded or is it a mass of red wires & electrical tape, piled and tangled under the dash, that someone replaced and never marked? is the trailer road worthey?
Remember, A blown / worn out engine will often run great when started on a garden hose setup in the driveway. no load allows it to pur like a kitten, and water flows to cool it because its forced through under garden hose pressure. load up with people and its a different game on the water. a water trial is the only way to know for sure.
so if its a $600.00 boat, its what you see is what you get.... but if your dropping a few grand, dot your "i's" and cross your "t's" before you lay the money down...

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

If looking at a Bayliner ask if they will give you $5K to take it away.

Why bother looking at it if that is your attitude... Seriously though, there ARE bayliners of the 'bad' years that have been perfectly maintained and are excellent boats. Said it a hundred times, once a boat is a couple years old, the brand name on the plate means nothing, its all maintenance. I'd much rather take a bayliner that has spent every night in the garage and the owner cared about maintenance, than the high end boat that sat outside, without a cover and the plug in, for a couple years straight.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

There are some old boats of every brand that may be in good shape, it's not just an issue with Bayliner, they just happen to be the most common brand in North America, other brands may be more regional.

Due to some of the build methods the early Bayiners may have succumbed to wet wood and rot sooner than others, but at this age there aren't many of these old boats of any brand that aren't totally rotten. Finding a garage queen would be great, but even these (if you can find one) have problems because whenever water found its way into the boat there was enough exposed wood that it soon began to decay.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: Need advice for a boating beginner

JJ lots of good advice here.......dont forget to inspect the trailer your boat is sitting on... ie-- make sure the GTW (gross trailer weight) on the trailer registration paperwork can safely carry the boat you decide on.. ie- some boats are sitting on trailers with to low a GTW rating, that can cause constant bearing blow outs... is the boat your going to buy weigh around 2500-3000 lbs? does the trailer have breaks? should you put breaks on? this can all be accomplished buy you... nothing worse than heading out for a fun day, get on the interstate and bearings blow out, or tires........ inspection, inspection, inspection.... before you head out is key to a good day..