Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

[mothradave]

Can you help a novice (with a capital N) decide which boat to rent. This is for a family reunion of 10 down to Canyon Lake (near New Braunfels, TX) so it has to hold several people and be nice to just cruise in (shade cover would be nice), but also I want something that we can step on the gas and have some fun with, such as tubing behind it or knee boarding, etc. <br /><br />I know NOTHING about boats so just pick for me and I'll take that one. Here are my options, exactly as presented to me:<br /><br />1. Have a 21ft. Pontoon>>Tracker>75hp.>excellent shape! We have a "pulling" inner-tube that 2 can sit in, knee board and a 16ft. sunfish that is optional (xtratrailer). (less folks you have on the boat>>more umf for the tuber/kneeboarder. On Saturday, I had 9 of us on the boat and did some tubing, but it was much faster/"crazier" when we dropped 5 folks off and went out with 4 of us to do the knee boarding and tubing........... Would rent the entire deal for $300 for the day.<br /><br />2. I have a 21’ 300hp Wellcraft Bowrider I may be willing to let you use. It will come with skis, knee board and a tow tube if you wish to use them. I’ll let you rent it for $250 for the day.<br /><br />3. How about an 2003 18.5 Bayliner runabout boat? JVC CD/FM stereo, life jackets and a knee board. [This guy didn't offer price but the ad he's responding to was for $150 for the day.]<br /><br />4. The boat is a 1999 Larson -- 18.5 I/O -- in great condition. $150 for the day.<br /><br />Again, you'd know better than I would what is best. We're going for easy to handle, fast enough for fun, not outrageously loud, and, between similarly performing boats, a good value for the price.<br /><br />Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[KCook]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

10 people will be the pontoon, period. Unless you split your party in two and run them on the lake in shifts. Best of the bowriders would easily be the 21' Wellcraft. The 18 footers will be cramped and not feel as secure at speed.<br /><br />Kelly

 

[mothradave]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

To clarify, it would be more accurate to say there are 9 of us (Grandma won't be boating) and having everyone ride at once is not necessary, though it would be nice around sunset, for instance.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

pontoon. Foolproof

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

I have to say, I've never seen anyone ski, tube, or board behind a pontoon. The 21'er seems like the best choice to me.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

there are several toons here that i see tubing.

 

[KCook]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

SLOOPY makes a good point. If you have absolutely zero experience operating boats, then the 'toon will be quicker to learn and less likely to get you into trouble.<br /><br />Kelly

 

[sloopy]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

Every time someone rented a pontoon and tube from me they would enjoy it. Water-skiing requires some boating skill anyway, and if you are truly new to boating you will not be able to get anyone (especially family) up on a ski no matter how hard you try. It takes a good bit of practice to learn how to add power, turn, recover a skier. I am not saying it can't be done (I taught myself) but you will put undo stress and possible danger to yourself if you try to ski. <br /><br />Go with the pontoon and whip that tube around! you and your family will have a great time.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

One more suggestion would be to do a solo or take a buddy with that has some boating experience. You are a novice. A novice can put a whole bunch of people in danger. Like running a good clip with a pontoon and having everyone dash to the front. You now have a xx foot submarine. A runabout can be dangerous just because of the potential speeds. A family event is not a good time to be a first-time boater much less a first time boater towing anything. This is a recipe for disaster.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

Originally posted by Upinsmoke:<br /> One more suggestion would be to do a solo or take a buddy with that has some boating experience. You are a novice. A novice can put a whole bunch of people in danger. Like running a good clip with a pontoon and having everyone dash to the front. You now have a xx foot submarine. A runabout can be dangerous just because of the potential speeds. A family event is not a good time to be a first-time boater much less a first time boater towing anything. This is a recipe for disaster.

I would not say that. I think if he sticks to the pontoon he will be fine. Manny people rent for there first time with friends and family.

 

[Purduebarry]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

Pontoon...gets you on the water and minimizes the risk. Just make sure EVERYONE wears lifejackets, putt around and have a good time. Runabouts are risky until you know what you are doing! We rented them often growing up and never had a problem, great to swim off of, have room for coolers, the tube comes with it and you have shade (assuming a bimi top).

 

[mothradave]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

Thanks for all the responses. Exactly the kind of insights I was looking for. Looks like the pontoon is near consensus. My concern is that it's not that fast and won't be as fun. But I suppose if we dumped off the old folks to lighten it up we might be able to pull some tubers pretty fast. Is that a fair assumption? <br /><br />Also to clarify,<br />1. My uncle used to own a boat and he would do most of the driving. If I drove I would definately get faster only as I felt comfortable with it and under his supervision. I'm pretty cautious and I would err on the side of caution with family aboard.<br />2. There will be no skiing, only tubing.

 

[KCook]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

Speed is not needed for tubing. Can even frighten the younger kids. 'Toon will fill this mission fine. Rent a speed boat with your uncle some other day when all the kin are not along.<br /><br />Kelly

 

[sloopy]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

trust me, even 15mph on some pontoons is enough to scare you

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

A boat full of relatives would scare the $#!t out of me anyway!!! One or two at a time is about all I can stand.

 

[KCook]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

Either that or one or two is all I have enough anchor chain for

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

Upinsmoke, I'm a little offended by your remark that it's not good to be a novice boater. Well you are certainly doing alot to help encourage novice boaters on the water. Most areas around here are plenty big enough for many boats, even ones controlled by novices. If I see someone having troubles with their boat (making novice mistakes) I just give a little bit more room for him, and say a silent prayer that the Lord keeps him safe until his abilities increase. We were all novice boaters at one point in time. We should be encouraging him to be safe, not to not go out. Your method is the best way ensure our sport loses popularity, something I would hope never happens.<br /><br />Go with the pontoon. No doubt.

 

[woodduck17]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

Go with the pontoon--you won't regret it.

 

[Gfriedman]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

toon, easy to handle for beginers and fits the most people on it.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Know-nothing needs help deciding on boat rental for weekend

Originally posted by waterinthefuel:<br /> Upinsmoke, I'm a little offended by your remark that it's not good to be a novice boater. Well you are certainly doing alot to help encourage novice boaters on the water. Most areas around here are plenty big enough for many boats, even ones controlled by novices. If I see someone having troubles with their boat (making novice mistakes) I just give a little bit more room for him, and say a silent prayer that the Lord keeps him safe until his abilities increase. We were all novice boaters at one point in time. We should be encouraging him to be safe, not to not go out. Your method is the best way ensure our sport loses popularity, something I would hope never happens.<br /><br />Go with the pontoon. No doubt.

Maybe I read him wron, but I don't think he was being all that harsh to the novice boater. I happen to agree - If I were a novice boater and was looking forward to a fun day with a BUNCH of family members depending on me for their fun - I'd invest in a rental before hand, go out with an experienced friend and get the routine down. Figure out basic starting, operation, etc. Maybe make a day of it with a couple of adult, experienced friends and even do some tubing, docking, maneuvering, to figure that out. Not only will it be safer, but much more fun - less chance of problems - and having problems with 8 other people hanging around is a real drag. Im an experienced boater and I usually do the season's first shake down run either by myself or with a helpful/experienced buddy. I like the first trip with the family to be care free. <br /><br />A pontoon is a pretty safe rig, and most likely the guy will have an easy and fun day of it - but not fool proof. The point about keeping the load in a safe place is important. I'm speaking from experience when I say that the front can be submerged while underway if the passengers overload to the front. This can be downright dangerous.