To Freedom (boat club) or not to Freedom that is my question....

[mrdad990]

Fix Attempt

Can anyone help me out? I don't have alot of time to research like I usually would pre baby but me and my wife both need a boat! We have been looking at small aluminum boats and also 20ft bayliners with cuddy. The more we search and research the more confusing and lost we get. We find great looking, and running big boats (20 ft+) with full on engines for the same price as smaller ones with the outboard motor on the back. Its so confusing and being my first time I want this to be a good experience. I have a family of 5 any suggestions on what type of boat would be cost efficient in gas to take out in the ocean to put around and fish? -local dad

 

[tpenfield]

:welcome: to iBoats . . .

There is nothing cost efficient about boats, so be ready.

With a family you will want a bathroom on board, what we call the 'head' or the 'can'.

Are you planning on buying new or used ? :noidea:

Do you know boating in general? safety, navigation, seamanship, knots? :noidea:

The 2 (or 3) basic combinations you will see in the boat market . . .

1) Outboards

2) Inboard/outboards . . . aka 'sterndrive'

(3) Inboards . . . these tend to be larger boats (30 ft +), or special purpose (wakeboard) boats, so probably not part of the discussion for now

Outboard engines tend to be expensive (don't ask me why) :noidea: So, a 20 foot boat with an outboard is probably going to be more $$$ than a similar sized boat with a sterndrive, as you are seeing.

The trend has been to outboards over the past 5-10 years. They do better in salt water, because you can tilt the engine/propeller up out of the water when not in use. (which is a good thing) Metals in water tend to lead to all kinds of maintenance challenges.

Many outboard boats are 'center consoles' . . . basically designed for fishing.

Many sterndrive boats are for general boating, hanging out at sandbars, and water sports (tubing, water skiing,etc). Many of the boat brands that were sterndrive are now switching to outboards.

Things to consider are . . .

How much money you have to buy a boat, and to maintain it (lots of folks here on the forum are of the 'DIY' crowd). This will determine what size/age/brand/features. All boats are not created equal, so there are economy brands (Bayliner) and top-shelf brands . . . . (Cobalt, Chris-craft, Formula, Intrepid, Grady-White, Southport, Boston Whaler . . . to name a few)

Style of boat you want . . . Center console, dual console, bow rider, deck boat, cuddy cabin, cruiser. The waters in which you plan to boat will have a bearing on what type of boat would be better than others.

Boats with a 'head' are usually around 22 feet in length and up. Smaller boats . . . well you are left to your own resources. 20 feet may sound big to some, but I have a saying that "boats shrink when you put them in the water".. . what may seem big when buying will be small when using.

Ask questions, go look at boats, leave you checkbook home for now. The folks here can offer their knowledge and experience, but in the end we each have to do what is best for our own situation.

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, welcome aboard.

Ted brings up a good point, new or used.

if you are looking used, remember, a fiberglass boat was designed to last 15 years or so (design life). with proper maintenance, they may last up to about 25 years (service life).

you mentioned bayliners. avoid bayliners that are older than about 2005 if looking used. especially being a new dad, avoid any 80's or 90's boats unless it was recently restored.

if you want efficiency in a boat, get one with sails or oars.

basic rule of thumb is you will burn about a gallon every 1-2 miles

for a family of 5, you will be in the 18 foot range or larger.

you also need to look at a tow vehicle.

one thing to consider. especially if you dont know what you want would be something like freedom boat club. that way you could try a variety of boats out by renting and figure what you and the family enjoy most.

 

[mrdad990]

Ted, Scott Thank you for the early reply! I'll do my best to answer briefly since you have both been so helpful...

Ted to answer your questions, I am looking for a used boat since our budget is around 5k for boat and trailer. I took

into account gas and storage fees, have no clue as to what maintenance fees will look like which i can imagine will

vary greatly depending on boat. Ideally i'd like a boat that i can store (out of water) to avoid Southern California slip

fees which are around 600 + monthly. As far as general boating i don't know all that much, I know alot about knots

from a stint in a survival wilderness camp that i went to as a kid for 2 months also learned navigation however

being on land is much different than on the open ocean i can imagine. I am very surprised to see that outboards

are more expensive to be honest. My idea was go that route as i can just swap out an engine if it goes bad... After

hearing what you have to say maybe not the best thinking lol. I think since i was 2 years old i would take apart my

toys and putting them back together, still do it at 34 :laugh:. that being said i feel comfortable following someones directions to

repair most things with general tools but i am intimidated with boat engines more so than cars mostly because i've never

worked on them or even seen many. My ideal goal is to boat over to Catalina island which is 22 miiles away or so

but not regularly. i just want to say that i did it lol. mostly this boat is for hanging close to the shore maybe a half mile

to a mile out and also for fishing at Catalina where the tuna, salmon and hali hang out.

Scott i have looked at freedom boat club... the prices seemed a little high at first, now after researching boats and

having one seems like a good option however i do want the freedom of taking my boat when i want where i want

without having to come back at a certain time. I guess i want my cake and eat it too lol.

Again guys you have both been immensely helpful and especially with the bayliner and age of boats because we

were about to pull the trigger on one that was in the 80's because the price was so good.

 

[flyingscott]

Where are you going to boat ocean or lake? An I/O is more expensive to insure than an outboard.

 

[Starcraft5834]

your price point of $5k will likely land you in the 80s-90s... 20ft boat with a deep V hull for ocean on a nice day imho.........have a local marine shop test out the engine and survey the boat first... if the seller balks at that, move on..

 

[mrdad990]

Hey Scott, I am going to be in southern california ocean water. being that i grew up and currently live 10 min from the ocean i am partial to ocean waters. I will take it to the lake as well when we go camping but the general use will be in a marina and along the coast. Ideally i would love a boat that can handle open waters as well if possible as there is a island Santa catalina only 22 miles away, but if cost doesn't work in my favor for upfront costs than i can wait on this dream of boating out that far.

 

[mrdad990]

Thanks Starcraft5834! our budget can be increased a little more for the right boat. My thinking is spend a little more and worry less (right now at least lol) about repairs and maintenance. but max budget would be 6-7k at the very very max. especially taking into consideration all the costs with owning a boat that i am finding out.

 

[mrdad990]

But you are right on with that. I have been finding most boats that type in our price range however they ALL having something going on with them which is a little unnerving to be honest.

 

[Starcraft5834]

yup... been there spent that.......$$ started off with 15 footer.. then to a 20 ft mid 80's cuddy.. always stressed if it was going to die on the water, or if the bearings would blow trailering it. done both... bought new 20ft toon/ 115 outboard/m tandem trailer last year........stress free now........for a while anyway

 

[mrdad990]

Do you think freedom boat club is a better buy than owner for the first time having a family that all wants to go to the water? with my budget being only 5k for a boat?

 

[mrdad990]

Hey guys i need help deciding on freedom boat club or buying a used boat. My budget is 5k for upfront costs and around 150 per month for storage (already found). freedom is the same upfront cost and the monthly is a little more than the storage fee i would be paying. i have a family of 5 that want to cruise and fish on the open ocean waters of southern California. Ideally i would like to go to the local island that is 22 miles away to fish for salmon, tuna and hali's. any ideas?

 

[tpenfield]

A $5K budget is really scant . . . it will put you into 1980's or early 1990's boats . . . probably an I/O (sterndrive) and a boat that is at or nearing is intended life cycle.

I put your spec's into boat trader and not much comes up in CA except small, older boats . . . Not what you'd take 22 miles offshore to Catalina Island.

Are you sure your budget isn't $25K ?

FWIW - I bought my first powerboat with a $10K budget in mind . . . $23K later I had a boat. :thumb: 24 foot cuddy cabin, 13 years old.

I got to fix some rotting stringers after a few years, replaced the fuel tank, and did a whole bunch of engine work. Sold it after 7 years in non-working condition for $7K (hydro-locked the engine and bent a few internal parts). Afterwards, I went and bought my 33 footer that I have now.

$5K will get you a decent sailboat, but sailing is more of a challenge than motor boating . . .

 

[cptbill]

I haven't done any research but I can tell you that the boats my local marina has for freedom boat club a constantly being beet up. they center consoles, toons and a couple of deck boats and they are constantly towing them in or over to the marina for props, lower units and other repairs. For my money I'd rather put that monthly fee into fixing up my own boat. At lest I would know what I have instead for sharing with a bunch of other people who may or may not give a crap about the next guy

 

[briangcc]

My advice....

1. Slow down. Do not rush into a decision as you WILL regret it.

2. When looking at a boat, take the entire family. There's an old saying....if the Admiral (momma, wife, SWIMBO [she who must be obeyed] ) ain't happy, you ain't happy.

3. Take whatever you decide on out for a ride on the water. It will very quickly tell you if its for you or not.

4. You said Ocean....have you boated there and dealt with things such as tides/currents? If not, get yourself a boating course asap.


And that's not even a comprehensive list...

 

[tpenfield]

$5K is not much of a budget for buying a boat that you will take the family out in the ocean and potentially go 20+ miles offshore to Catalina Is.

Better try the boat club and learn more before you think about buying. Your budget is off by about 5-10 X (should be thinking $25-50K)

 

[ahicks]

$5K is not much of a budget for buying a boat that you will take the family out in the ocean and potentially go 20+ miles offshore to Catalina Is.

Better try the boat club and learn more before you think about buying. You budget is off by about 5-10 X (should be thinking $25-50K)

^^ I agree ^^

 

[tpenfield]

here are a couple of videos to see what boating out in the ocean is really like BTDT . . .

Enjoy . . .

I do like the Haulover Inlet videos the best though . . .

 

[dingbat]

Fortunately.... these far out number those above

 

[ahicks]

I would not venture much past about 5 miles without a good chart plotter - something you can plan on for about 1000. taking your budget down to 4k.....