Newb from Dallas, Tx

[mrj]

whats up guys, thinking of getting my first boat ever this winter, i have never owned a boat but recently have really really wanted to get one, i am thinking of getting a 18-22ft runabout boat. i will mainly be using this boat to tube/ski and maybe learn to wakeboard, seeing as i am a family guy and like spending time with my entire family i would like something that holds about 7 to 8 people with enough hp to carry them all and still tube and all that, i have heard that i should stay away from tahoes but i was reading on here that it all depends how you take care of it, are there any other brands i should look at?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Newb from Dallas, Tx

Get on I 35 and head north to Lewisville. Couple of boat dealers there (Phil Dill for one) that have been there for 35 years that I know of.....have survived the test of time. Talk to their sales staff. Then get on here and read up on buying and owning a boat...maybe take a boating coarse.

With that much boat you are going to wind up on Texoma sooner or later and that lake can get dangerous at times, both from the weather and the occupancy. Also, when in and about the docks and boat ramps, a little courtesy goes a long way in ensuring a pleasant trip.

Good luck,

Mark

 

[southkogs]

Re: Newb from Dallas, Tx

There are as many opinions on brands as there are brands. When it comes to buying a used boat, it's literally matching your budget to something that fits your needs and is in good shape.

18-22' with 8 people on board pulling a skiier is going to be a LOT of power and consequently fuel. I have an 18' that we mostly have 5 people on (+2 dogs), and that is comfortable for us. We have loaded up with 8 people before, but no way we'll pull a skiier like that. With 8 on board, we putt around and swim. We can do everything except a bunch of towing (skiier/tuber/etc.) for rather little fuel expense.

Consider towing - what will your vehicle be able to handle. Not so much just in terms of going down the road, but also in yanking something big and wet up a steep incline out of the water.
Consider storage - where are you gonna' keep it
Consider power - a 4cyl. will pull a skiier, but will struggle with that many people on board. A 6cyl. will give you some better fuel economy and be a little easier to get to the engine. 8cyl gives you lots of available power, but chews through more fuel.
Look at interior layouts - what FEELS most comfortable to you.

Find a couple of boats on CL that you think might fit the bill and post the link on the forums. There's no lack of opinions here, and many of them are backed with years of experience that are invaluable in bringing out thoughts you wouldn't have come up with on your own.

Welcome to the forums, and best wishes finding the right boat.

 

[FlashJim]

Re: Newb from Dallas, Tx

I'm in Houston, TX.

1. What tow vehicle do you have?
2. Where will you store the boat?
3. What's your budget?

I'd look in the 18' - 20' range. Bigger than that gets heavy and more difficult to tow/store/afford etc. If you get a used boat, take someone that at least owns a boat with you to check it out. They'll have a better understanding of what to look for and what to stay away from.

If you go with a new boat, research dealers as well as manufacturers. Sea Ray, Bayliner, Bryant, Chaparral, etc. all make nice boats at different price points. You just need to find one with the features and layout within your budget.

 

[mrj]

Re: Newb from Dallas, Tx

Get on I 35 and head north to Lewisville. Couple of boat dealers there (Phil Dill for one) that have been there for 35 years that I know of.....have survived the test of time. Talk to their sales staff. Then get on here and read up on buying and owning a boat...maybe take a boating coarse.

With that much boat you are going to wind up on Texoma sooner or later and that lake can get dangerous at times, both from the weather and the occupancy. Also, when in and about the docks and boat ramps, a little courtesy goes a long way in ensuring a pleasant trip.

Good luck,

Mark

thanks for responding Mark, yeah i am trying to get as much info on boats as i can before i make a purchase, i have hit up the bass pro shop and asked some questions but all they carried was tahoe boats, do u really think that i am going too big for my first boat? i would like to stay local as in Joe pool lake or Lake Ray Hubbard, i just want to be able to fit about 6 or more people comfortably and still be able to pull and handle all the weight

 

[mrj]

Re: Newb from Dallas, Tx

There are as many opinions on brands as there are brands. When it comes to buying a used boat, it's literally matching your budget to something that fits your needs and is in good shape.

18-22' with 8 people on board pulling a skiier is going to be a LOT of power and consequently fuel. I have an 18' that we mostly have 5 people on (+2 dogs), and that is comfortable for us. We have loaded up with 8 people before, but no way we'll pull a skiier like that. With 8 on board, we putt around and swim. We can do everything except a bunch of towing (skiier/tuber/etc.) for rather little fuel expense.

Consider towing - what will your vehicle be able to handle. Not so much just in terms of going down the road, but also in yanking something big and wet up a steep incline out of the water.
Consider storage - where are you gonna' keep it
Consider power - a 4cyl. will pull a skiier, but will struggle with that many people on board. A 6cyl. will give you some better fuel economy and be a little easier to get to the engine. 8cyl gives you lots of available power, but chews through more fuel.
Look at interior layouts - what FEELS most comfortable to you.

Find a couple of boats on CL that you think might fit the bill and post the link on the forums. There's no lack of opinions here, and many of them are backed with years of experience that are invaluable in bringing out thoughts you wouldn't have come up with on your own.

Welcome to the forums, and best wishes finding the right boat.

see and thats what we would be doing, we would be doing more of tubing and skiing and trying to wakeboard than just hanging out, i have a big family so im sure everytime we want to cook out or hang out they would want to hit up the lake and have some fun, thats why i say i would need a 22 ft boat but not dead set on one

 

[mrj]

Re: Newb from Dallas, Tx

I'm in Houston, TX.

1. What tow vehicle do you have?
2. Where will you store the boat?
3. What's your budget?

I'd look in the 18' - 20' range. Bigger than that gets heavy and more difficult to tow/store/afford etc. If you get a used boat, take someone that at least owns a boat with you to check it out. They'll have a better understanding of what to look for and what to stay away from.

If you go with a new boat, research dealers as well as manufacturers. Sea Ray, Bayliner, Bryant, Chaparral, etc. all make nice boats at different price points. You just need to find one with the features and layout within your budget.

i will be pulling it with a 4x4 f150, storing it in my backyard which has plenty of space for a boat (might also add an awning to cover it more) and my budget would like to be under 15k, seeing as it will be my first boat i will be going used more than likely. And when buying one i am going to tell the seller that the sell will be based on getting checked at a local marina before all sale is final.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Newb from Dallas, Tx

thanks for responding Mark, yeah i am trying to get as much info on boats as i can before i make a purchase, i have hit up the bass pro shop and asked some questions but all they carried was tahoe boats, do u really think that i am going too big for my first boat? i would like to stay local as in Joe pool lake or Lake Ray Hubbard, i just want to be able to fit about 6 or more people comfortably and still be able to pull and handle all the weight

Off the water the boat is always too big. On it is always too small....unless the engine quits and you have to paddle back to dock. Grin.

I had a large family and an 18' was ok; compromise between the things I mentioned above. Main thing is know your boat and know your water. Know what it can and can't do and ALWAYS keep an eye on the weather and if it looks like it's going to get bad, get back to the dock or find shelter and ride it out.....lot better to be inconvenienced than to loose it all.

My pet pieve was to go out with the family and have weather suddenly kick up and make getting home a problem some times. That is one of the drivers to a larger boat with a soft riding hull...deep V with lifting strakes (can't over emphasize the soft ride of a deep v with lifting strakes. Bow rider on the lakes you mentioned with an 18' or so and a 150 hp outboard could give you a lot of fun, not be too expensive, be safe and not require a lot of gas nor a large towing vehicle. Loop charged 2 stroke OB is my choice, say '95 or later.....and Merc (Mariner) isn't perfect, but having had a lot of engines, Merc has given me the most fun and fewest problems.

HTH,

Mark