Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

[salmonee]

I'm looking for my first boat. I want an all fiberglass floor with composite stringers, nice strong outboard, and preferably dual console. I have been searching craigslist and boattrader every day for 6+months. I have a pretty good gauge on boat prices in the pacific northwest. Boats are more expensive up here compared to elsewhere in parts of the country. Which i don't really understand because our boating industry here is pretty big. Nonetheless, here is my question. Would you buy a boat even if it didn't meet all your needs and you could get it for a good deal. I think I have found such a boat, a 2005 Wellcraft 180 fisherman center console. It has less than 50 hours on a yamaha 115, boat hull seems to be in brand new conditions from pictures. Boat is 4 hours away. I have been communicating with the owner for weeks now on every important aspect of the boat. It doesn't offer the "protection" from the environment like a dual console. I may be able to somewhat remedy this, by putting some kind of collapsable top on. The center console has a plus in that it rides better (softer) than a dual console. I ridden in a maxum 17.5 dual console and the ride was really bad. I rode in several 17' center console and really enjoyed the ride. My biggest concern about this boat is the protection aspect. I guess I would just head in if the weather gets bad. My friend who owns a boat says that wouldn't be a good idea because it would suck to head in after trailering your boat 3 hours or so to a prime fishing spot just to turn around and go home. He also says that the weather can turn on you at the blink of an eye. First time boater here and I have never fished the bay/sound area of water before. Though my main fishing would be local lakes most of the time. Any thoughts?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

i disagree on the blank statement that dual and center console right differently. you obviously on 2 different type hulls, a maxum hull is a maxum hull, either console would ride the same.

from what i gather, people in your area prefer, dual console Aluminum boats, due to rock conditions in a lot of the water ways.

i live in Florida, and run center console boats. i will say a 35 degree morning, i wish i had some weather protection.

i suggest spending some time at the boat ramps, and see what is really being used in your area.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

They make custom canvas for anything. With the start of striper season here, most CCs have eisenglass enclosures (t-top required) for element protection. I have even used a gutted porta-potti enclosure before. Took the door off and put a lexan window in the front. Worked great and the dock cleared pretty quick when they saw the "dumper" coming in.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

I know what types of boats are used in my area. I would say most of the boats here are dual console. Either way, I wouldn't buy a dual console just because everyone else has a dual console. Many "fishing" boat are also aluminum here. I'm looking for a multipurpose boat though that fits my needs, which means fiberglass.

You don't think there is a difference between the ride of a center console and a dual console? In the center console, you sit way back near the stern as appose to the dual console where your further forward. You don't think the ride is affected by this? It's like night and day difference. Atleast for me anyways. If you place a ball at the bow of the boat and one at the stern, which would get bounced more, as your hitting waves?

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

The main difference I see between DC and CC is purpose driven, not ride quality. The DC is a multipurpose bowrider fishing boat whereas the CC is more fishing oriented. If you spend a good deal of time with water toys/sports, the DC is hard to beat. We have used a CC for years towing tubers and skiers and all was well. However, a DC would have been much more comfortable. $0.02

 

[ziggy]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

sounds like ya've done yer research. sounds like ya've found a boat ya like. see if ya can go test drive it. as for the weather. my guess would be that everyone here has been caught in bad weather. ya either put up with it, run from it, or hide underneath cover from it. it's not that many days ya'll need the cover, if you watch the weather. but rest assured, watching the weather aint fool proof either. like i said, we've all been caught in the weather. cover offers much relief from the weather. if having cover is part of decision making process. by all means. get a boat with cover. as stated before too. most boats can have cover custom fit to any particular boat.. pretty pricey from what i hear though... fwiw. my boat has full cover. a sliding hardtop + rear cover for full encloser. i used my full cover many times this last summer. i got caught in rain multiple times. horrible high winds once that beached me so bad i had to have help from others to get unbeached. i like cover. but that's me. others (you) may have a different view... also, i don't think there's any boat that is a do it all boat. most have some specific type of activity they lean towards. the boat i have comes closest of many i've seen at covering all the bases. but with that said. my boat does poorly going against the wind in large waves. rattled the filling out of my gf's tooth even... also, be aware that with your first boat, you will probably discover other things that you like or dislike about a boat. enough so that the first boat will soon be replaced with a second boat. one that covers (no pun intended) more of what you want to do with your boat.....

 

[haskindm]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

A huge part of a boat being a "good buy" is that it meets your needs. Unless you are buyingh it cheap enough that you KNOW you could sell it if it doesn't work out (and if you could, why isn't the present owner asking a higher price?) wait for the boat that meets your needs. Personally, I like a center console. When it rains or gets cold, I dress accordingly and do what I want to do. I may get drop curtains made to give some weather protection, or I may not - I am still deciding. Don't let a "good price" put you in a boat that you don't like. There are too many boats available to buy the wrong one.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

A huge part of a boat being a "good buy" is that it meets your needs. Unless you are buyingh it cheap enough that you KNOW you could sell it if it doesn't work out (and if you could, why isn't the present owner asking a higher price?) wait for the boat that meets your needs.

I looked at it the same way. If it doesn't meet my needs, I can get rid of it after a season with minimal loss. The low price is due to center console unpopularity in this area of the country as well as a bad economy. Also, he's not in a major metropolitan area. I watched the price drop on this thing from six months ago to now. It was 5k more 6 months ago.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

Still looking, eh? Haven't seen you around lately. The last time I remember, you have a boat you were just about to buy.

Buy a boat. You'll never find the "perfect" boat.

 

[Just for fun]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

I wouldn't buy a boat I didn't want just because it was a good buy. Wait to buy what you want, although sometimes deciding what you want is difficult. Your second boat will have those things you didn't know you wanted in your first boat. I agree with CATransplant, there is n perfect boat, you will want different things as time goes on.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

Still looking, eh? Haven't seen you around lately. The last time I remember, you have a boat you were just about to buy.

Buy a boat. You'll never find the "perfect" boat.

Still looking. I've been busy with normal life duties. I had to pass on that boat. Too many hours.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

I wouldn't buy a boat I didn't want just because it was a good buy. Wait to buy what you want, although sometimes deciding what you want is difficult. Your second boat will have those things you didn't know you wanted in your first boat. I agree with CATransplant, there is n perfect boat, you will want different things as time goes on.

I agree.
I just passed up an excellent deal on a boat that I just didn't see myself using.
I had contemplated buying just to turn it it around come spring.

 

[crashnburn63]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

I'm also new to all this but a lot of my neighbors have boats and fish either on the sound or on the Skykomish, Cowlitz, etc. Overwhelming consensus is in favor of aluminum hulls over fiberglass. I guess it is the durability thing. Weight is also an issue now with high gas prices, both for the boat and for your tow vehicle. And I've been assured that whatever premium I pay I will get back on resale.

We've got a little 14 foot Duroboat right now for crabbing and general "messing around". I've gotten a pretty strong feeling that whatever we move up to, it needs to offer some protection from the weather. A lot of the best fishing here is not when the weather is nice. And even last summer when I went out with the kids fishing in the evenings, they were always chilled by the time we got back at twilight. Early mornings would be equally cold. 70 degrees+25 mph wind = shivering for most folks.

My next boat will be a Alumaweld Stryker or similar - something with a full windshield and canvas.

YMMV,

-dm

 

[marine4003]

Re: Would you buy a boat if it was a good buy?

Still looking, eh? Haven't seen you around lately. The last time I remember, you have a boat you were just about to buy.

Buy a boat. You'll never find the "perfect" boat.

Yup....you can spend years looking for the "perfect boat" and as time goes by you either get less critical or even more demanding,soon many a season has passed and nothing you look at fits your need's, for a first boat,i suggest not being so demanding and critical, if its a learning situation, its better to lower your standards and buy something a tad cheaper that fits 1/2 your wants and needs,in this regard you wont get too attached to her,you can bang her up and learn what your needs are,when the learning curve has increased exponentially THEN ,get whatever it is your heart desires.To much information...sometimes is more of a hindrance that an asset.