"New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

[KYLakeBoys]

We bought a 99 VIP18' vision bow rider this year to see if we would like boating. Well we love it. I have a family of 4 two young children and my wife. We want more room and really like the looks of the Tahoe bc of the larger built in swim deck and the way the layout is. We mainly just cruise around, tube, and anchor to swim. We live by the KY lake n Barkley but don't get out in the channel much. Is there a big difference in size between the Q5, Q6- if they make this still, and the Q7. We just want a better ride and a bigger boat for room. Any help is appreciated.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

If you are going to upgrade, you better get the 21' or larger. Tons of boats have the extended swim platform, and most share the same interior layout design/options. I wouldn't limit myself to just a Tahoe brand. I think the 20'+ bowriders are a great size for 4-6, but it gets cramped with more people/gear than that.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Get the biggest that you can afford and get something with a head in it.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Get the biggest that you can afford and get something with a head in it.

Most boats don't have a head until you get to the 23'+ range, and I disagree with needing one. Most of those I boat with who have runabouts with heads have never used the head, because then they have to clean it. If they need to use the restroom, find a marina nearby. YMMV

 

[carey965]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Tahoes are nice. I have a 19 ft q5 and it has been great. I had 5 adults and 3 kids in it on labor day weekend and it was actually not too bad. Still managed to get people up on skis I was quite impressed

But Ya my next boat is going to have a head. Then my wife may actually enjoy being on the boat

 

[KYLakeBoys]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not limiting myself to a Tahoe I just like em. For the price everything close by a new Tahoe is the least expensive. Sea Ray, Rinker, and Crownline dealers are close by along with Tahoe.

 

[KYLakeBoys]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Carey 965. So would you say that a 19' Q5 is a good size for a family of 4 and maybe a couple of their friends? Our current boat has a beam width less than 6' I definitely want a wider boat.

 

[DB Cooper]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Go for the largest boat you can tow and afford. The extra space and weight will be appreciated, while you will not notice it while maneuvering, docking, etc...

 

[jkust]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Tahoe's 'look' nice and there isn't a good bowrider competitor with the fishing heritage especially for their ultra low end pricing. I'd take a Tahoe over a Sea Ray however...that is how overprice and underbuilt the small Sea Rays are.. In all my years of boating, the need for a head has almost never happened. I'm sure my wife would have appreciated it a time or two more than I realize though. A boat with a head requires massively more space to store than a 19 foot boat.

 

[Rentaltux]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

We have a Q6 and love the extra space. We looked at 18-19 foot boats and am so glad we saw this one... We are also a family of 4 (2 small kids). We quite often have 4 adults and 4 kids that all want to tube. We find it fine, love the extra width. I think if we had a 30 footer we would still find a way to fill it up ; - ). The Tahoes are great boats for the money. We haven't had any issues in the 3-4 years we have had it. I think I cry less rubbing up against the dock than I would if I had a Cobalt.

 

[canyonken]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

230 Regal SE VERY VERY CLEAN

Something like this might be worth looking into. As long as there is no rot and it is mechanically sound - could be a good buy.
Road trip

 

[agallant80]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Go for the 21. I almost bought the 19 and I changed to the 21 at the last moment. I was glad that I did. The extra space was great.

 

[jkust]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

We have a Q6 and love the extra space. We looked at 18-19 foot boats and am so glad we saw this one... We are also a family of 4 (2 small kids). We quite often have 4 adults and 4 kids that all want to tube. We find it fine, love the extra width. I think if we had a 30 footer we would still find a way to fill it up ; - ). The Tahoes are great boats for the money. We haven't had any issues in the 3-4 years we have had it. I think I cry less rubbing up against the dock than I would if I had a Cobalt.

I've certainly seen it both ways with Tahoes, from significant fiberglass issues that are almost hard to believe to satisfied people. My issue with a new Tahoe or any budget new boat is for the money you can get a nearly new but substantially better built brand B. Those first few years are just horrible for depreciation but then the other side is trying to find someone who didn't finance it that isn't underwater to buy from. Back in the day when I sought out a nearly new but used boat, everyone and their mother financed them making them unable to negotiate the price any meaningful amount.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

I have a 21' and would not want any bigger or smaller. It is the perfect size for what we do.

 

[carey965]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Ya I think mine is a 7-7.5 ft beam. It's cosy but comfortable and with the smart tabs she handles the chop really nice. But like everyone has said get the biggest you can afford and tow. Mines an older one but not much different than the newer ones hull wise. I bought mine cause it was the best thing in my price range and I couldn't pass on the deal. Paid 5 grand for an 7500$ boat. Really happy with it
Just wish it wasn't brown and beige

 

[JayHertz]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

I have a 2008 Tahoe 215 deck boat and love it. We have had as many as 6 adults and 4 kids and still had enough power to pull people on a 70" tube. We love the space on the boat as we like to share with friends and family (at least for now). Make sure whatever you drive can pull the bigger boat.

 

[Chief9]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

As was said earlier, just don't limit yourself. There are a lot of boats out there, with similar layouts in the same price range. Research the manufacturers, there is so much good information on here. It helped us to make our decision.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

I boat on Kentucky Lake. Go for at least a 21'. Those kids are going to get bigger and they'll start to bring their friends. And consider a boat with a small head. A previous poster said to forget about a head and just drop by a marina. On some lakes that may work, but on Kentucky and Barkley, if you're on the LBL side (as most people are), it's a long way to a marina. We use the porta pottie on our Four Winns 214 Funship. It takes only a few minutes to dump and clean. No big deal at all. Also, I suggest a boat with an extended swim platform. Ours is a favorite place to hang out while on the hook.

When shopping, you'll find late model used boats will get you a lot more for your money vs. new. My boat was five years old when I bought it. It had about 50 hours on it. The cockpit table had not even been taken out of the plastic wrapper. I have had zero unscheduled maintenance issues in six years of ownership.

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Re: "New Boaters" Tahoe 19' or 21'

Go for the largest boat you can tow and afford. The extra space and weight will be appreciated, while you will not notice it while maneuvering, docking, etc...

Absolutely. We bought an 18' Tahoe Q4 as a first boat at the beginning of last year, now I'm shopping for at least a 21'. Our Tahoe is perfectly fine, but I won't be buying another one. The quality inside and out pales in comparison to many other makes that you can get for the same money in a slightly older boat. I've helped a friend work on his Crownline and the quality of assembly and materials is noticeable. The molded in "swim deck" is better than nothing but sits too high above the water line to be a true swim deck, I prefer other models with an added water level swim deck. It's a good starter boat, but not one I would keep. On the upside it has been reliable and a lot of fun.