New Boat

[Jwers74]

Hi All,

I've boated only mildly for the past few years, and am in the market for a new boat. I would consider used, and I understand all of the risks that come with buying used. I also would consider a new boat for the right price.

I'm not looking for a "Low end" manufacturer, so to speak, and I understand that is subject to opinion.

But generally speaking, from all of the reputable and common brands, how do they rank? I'm not looking for anything crazy, just an affordable family boat that can take out the kids and grandparents. Bayliner? Larson? Four Winns? etc. I've done my research but there's so many brands and it's hard to distinguish.

Primarily looking for a bowrider/deckboat rated for 8-9 people, Outboard mounted (I live in minnesota, so winterization is an absolute must)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Starcraft5834]

Bayliner is a no...

Most major manufacturers make a good product or they'd be out of business. top of the line manufacturers = top price... all about your pocket book.... I would only offer this... most people who get into boating end up... up grading....... so... with that said.... get the most boat you can afford to keep............. you will save more $ in the long run doing that.... size matters in boating. 8-9 people?? get a 24 foot tritoon with a min 150 hp on it and ski tow... you can do everything a deck boat can do with a lot more room, and if you tow it... it weighs a hell of a lot less too............

 

[roscoe]

Deck boat or toon.


" I also would consider a new boat for the right price."


I think new will be in the 45-60k range.


Might want to rethink the outboard. Not many with outboards in this type of boat.

 

[wahlejim]

Start looking at large inventory dealers clearing away 2019 models. I saw a JC Sport toon (tritoon) the other day with wakeboard tower, clearance special with a 250 Merc Verado outboard and all of the bells and whistles (wake tower, power reclining seats, touch screen dash, etc. Dealer quoted me $65,000 out the door with trailer. I was very tempted as MSRP is $110k. They have been selling regularly at 80-85.

If that is way out of your price range, you can look at some 2009-2010 tritoons with trailers and 200HP around the 20-25 range.

I would 2nd the opinion that a tritoon is preferable over a deck boat for ease of maintenance and overall enjoyment. A LOT more room to move around in and they don't retain water. Also quieter and a much smoother ride. Will last longer too. Winterization is a breeze compared to my bowrder with an i/o.

 

[Blind Date]

I'd advise to forget the pontoon unless you own waterfront property. 99% of people that own pontoons in MN & WI have their own dock to tie it to....and there is a reason for that. They are a PITA to trailer. They may be light but towing one is the equivalent of dragging a billboard down the road. They don't load well, and are too big to store in most driveways or garages. Try pulling up to pump at a gas station with one hooked behind. Keeping them covered is another challenge, which is why most that are older than a few years have molded and mildewed seats and floors. My first one had a nice factory cover and keeping that thing from pooling during a rain was a tough.

I'll also add from experience they are absolutely horrible for watersports. They don't turn, get blown around with any wind, handle like a barge(which they are) and have terrible visibility when you have someone in the water that your picking up after they are done doing whatever it is they were doing.

Buy a real boat if you want to do watersports.

 

[Starcraft5834]

respond I must.. since I have a toon and tow it.. like a billboard? yes they are... spending an extra $10 in gas towing it rather than a $2000 yearly slip fee....no brainer.. that's why I got a tandom 13 inch wheel with breaks. tows easy.. getting gas is also no issue.. most gas stations on interstates or the like have tons of room to handle large rigs.. toons are easy to get in and out... get a good cover and during winter months, if that applies, shrink wrap.. nimble? no they are not.. what they do offer is room....... lots of it... if you have 6-8 on a deck boat with a dog or two, = no fun... the toon, no issue... my 2c

 

[jkust]

Low end isn't subjective. There is no free lunch. I'm in Minnesota as well and we (my wife and I) have owned a couple of lake homes now for several years and had been trailer boaters for years prior to that. Meaning we spend a lot of time on the water. 8-9 people in any sort of non jammed together comfort is a decent sized bowrider. Toss in a couple of kids and even more cramped. The bowrider is quickly dying out in favor of pontoons and tritoons. Wake boats are becoming very prevalent and fishing boats seem to be always around still. I don't know what your budget is but a new bowrider that isn't low end is very expensive for something that gets 3 months of use. My neighbor had a 24 foot brand new Glasstron bowrider which was 55k with trailer, which is not a decent sized boat for jamming 9 on board in comfort. I think it may be the 'lowest end' bowrider that it is possible to produce. Literally, the very definition of corner cutting, low end materials for the beginner boater to learn how to be a boater but with a nice engine/drive package. So then the upscale version of a 24 foot bowrider is double that price retail, not that things leave the dealer at retail.

Tritoons and pontoons have taken over our lake and almost all of them are property owners and not trailer boaters. Some 600hp models in there as well which is now low hp by some standards. Instead of having three boats like so many do/did with three lifts, large dock system, storage to accommodate, three trailers, three insurance policies, three sets of maintenance, three things to gas up, etc, people have been quickly migrating to the toons. Then people just have to own PWC's for their speed fix and some water sports. Pontoons don't work well for some watersports as compared to bowriders and of course wake boats not that PWC's are great either.

I'm a big proponent of used then keeping if for a number of years. The newest breed of nice used pontoons/tritoons, just 3 years old or so seem to not come up for sale in as large of quantities as I'd have expected however.