First time buyers in the Wash DC area - Thanks in advance for reading and chiming in.

[teacher_dan]

Hi,

My wife and I (and three (plus one on the way) kids) want to buy a wake boat. We live in Arlington, VA (outside of Wash DC). We plan to keep it in the water at a local marina. We're sticking with 20 - 21' so we can tow with our family car, a 2013 Honda Pilot. We've narrowed it down to a few models - in no particular order - Moomba Outback V, Axis A20, Nautique Super 200, Tige R20 or RZR. All look great and will easily meet our needs.

I'm "torn" between new and used. In car terms, new means everything works and you get the full warranty. To us, with no truly local dealer, new and warranty doesn't mean the same thing. And from what I have read on various blogs, having a new boat doesn't mean everything necessarily works.

I think we're leaning towards used, but you don't always get what you want. I realize I'm asking a very general question, but I'm looking for the thoughts/suggestions of more experienced boaters/wake boaters.

Thanks!

 

[phillyg]

I've sworn off new cars and boats because of significant depreciation, but you have to do your due diligence to minimize buying someone else's problems.

 

[moosehead]

All the boats you list are superb craft, and exceptionally high priced when new. Have you check out list pricing yet? +1, finding a low hours, well kept used boat can pay you back quickly, or at minimum, put you in a craft that you wouldn't otherwise be able to afford new. Which marina are you looking at? Potomac River or elsewhere? I'm a former Washingtonian and grew up boating both the Bay and the Youghiogheny and Deep Creek Lakes.

 

[teacher_dan]

moosehead - We're looking at Columbia Island to be close to home. We could afford new, though we're definitely not adverse to saving money. It's just a question of which way would be easier/more trouble free. Thanks to both of you for quick replies. I look forward to reading more.

 

[dingbat]

New = warrenty Used = out of pocket

Buying the boat is the cheap part. Maintaining one is expensive. Unless you know boats inside and out and have the ability to make the repairs yourself, the money you save buying used goes out the window fast.

A wake boat wouldn't be my first choice for the Potomac

 

[moosehead]

Columbia is a great hidden spot obviously convenient to Arlington. While many will not wakeboard on the Potomac either due to varying water quality conditions, no wake zones, and bigger boat traffic and waves, there are a handful of hardcores who target early morning and late afternoons similar to a slalom skier. The newer wakeboats also afford decent freeboards and can handle rougher water better than old school ski boats. Have you been out boarding/surfing frequently? Do you know the water there? Ask fellow watersport boaters for tips at Columbia Marina, though IIRC there were a ton of cabin cruisers. Let us know how it goes.

 

[moosehead]

Also suggest considering something other than carpet, such as Seadek, which can be found in many of the V-drives. SD can get wet, dries fast, cleans easily, and is comfy for barefeet. I've got it on the swim platform, and will be converting the interior cabin to SD this offseason.

 

[Idlespeedonly]

You may want to check on your towing capacities of your Pilot.

 

[smassey22180]

You may want to check on your towing capacities of your Pilot.

I was thinking the same thing but it looks like the newer ones can tow 4500 LBS with 4WD.

 

[ssobol]

I also gave up buying new. The premium is just not worth it to me. You can get a bigger boat for less money compared to buying a new one.

I also live in the DC area. If there is no service center that does warranty work nearby, the warranty does not mean a lot. I had one boat that needed to go to Winchester for engine warranty work and another that needed to go to Annapolis. Getting them there was a PITA. Even towing a boat around DC can be a big pain.

Buy a used boat that someone else has already sorted out the problems on. The money you save on the purchase can be used for any upgrades or future repairs. Make sure the trailer is on good repair as well as the boat.

There are times (according to the WA Post) that you should not even touch the water in the Potomac. Getting a wake boat implies water sports which might not be the best idea. The area around DC has a fair number of no wake zones (along Alex waterfront, above Memorial bridge, passing any bridge). A nicer place for water sports is the Pohick Bay/Mason Neck area. There is a park and a ramp there. You still have the same water quality issues though.

A slip can be expensive and there may be a waiting list. The VA regional parks (e.g. Pohick Bay) have dry storage lots, but the waiting list is years long. I would make sure I had a place to put a boat before I bought one. In some jurisdictions you are not allowed to leave a boat parked on the street. You HOA (if any) may object to having it in your yard or driveway.

 

[dingbat]

I had one boat that needed to go to Winchester for engine warranty work and another that needed to go to Annapolis.

What did you buy that had you going to Winchester for warranty work?

 

[roscoe]

I was thinking the same thing but it looks like the newer ones can tow 4500 LBS with 4WD.

Yes, some models will go 4500#, but even at that, you will be pushing the limits.

Dry weight, 3400-3500
plus fuel, batteries, gear, trailer. = 4500 +++


And, some manufacturers (most) will reduce the towing capacity by the weight of people and cargo in the tow vehicle.

 

[ssobol]

What did you buy that had you going to Winchester for warranty work?

Mercury outboard. At the time the closest place that was an authorized repair center was Winchester. From where I live that was closest and least hassle (no towing a boat through DC). I think the next place was Thurmont. MD. There are other places that will do the work. It depends on where you live. My point is that sometimes the warranty might not be worth the inconvenience to actually use it.

 

[dingbat]

Washington marina closed? Made many a trip down there in my Merc days.

Used to be three or four Merc dealers in Woodbridge as well. A couple in Rockville as well

 

[teacher_dan]

Thanks for all the great advice and information. To sort of address all the comments...

1 - There's a 20' slip for us at Columbia Island, which means the boat can be no bigger than 22'.

2 - According to the Pilot manual it can tow 5000 lbs. I was hoping to keep the dry weight somewhere between 3500 - 3800.

3 - I've never owned a boat, but my wife has (years ago and it was a sail boat). I've always wanted a wake boat, and at this time we can afford new or used and the slip.

4 - My kids and I would really like a wake boat. We would like to keep the boat at Columbia because it let's us be on the boat in 10 minutes door to deck.

My wife and I are teachers (my second career, hence the ability to afford the boat in the first place ) so we anticipate mid-morning weekday summer-time excursions. I want a wake boat to play, I really don't have much of an interest in buying a boat for cruising or fishing.

Does anyone know if one can make a wake/tow a boarder/tuber down river of the Memorial Bridge?

Once again I really do appreciate all of the suggestions and advice. You are all helping focus in on the important questions to ask/answer.

 

[dingbat]

Does anyone know if one can make a wake/tow a boarder/tuber down river of the Memorial Bridge?

Can tow or would tow are two different things....... between the bad under tow (current), pollution and boat traffic in that area, I wouldn't put anybody in the water.
stumps, hot water tanks, you name it. Ruff on props......even harder on people

 

[gtochris]

Since the topic of boating in/ around DC and the Potomac is on the table, what is recreational boating like in that area? Is the Potomac clean to swim in? I would consider moving there maybe but I've never seen much of a watersports presence- generally see alot of fishing type boats- correct me if I'm wrong?

 

[dingbat]

Since the topic of boating in/ around DC and the Potomac is on the table, what is recreational boating like in that area? Is the Potomac clean to swim in? I would consider moving there maybe but I've never seen much of a watersports presence- generally see alot of fishing type boats- correct me if I'm wrong?

"Water sports" in the DC area is for the most part limited to theme parks. Maryland has one "boating" size lake 3.5 hours from DC. Virgina has two. One 1.5 and the other 5 hours away.

95% of the boating opportunities relate to the Chesapeake Bay and it's tributaries (saltwater), thus the prevalence of "fishing" type boats. Saltwater fishing and destination cruising are very popular in the area. With over 10K miles of coast line (Chesapeake and it's tributaries), one could spend years on the water and never see/experience everything there is to see and do in the area.

The Potomac is tidal water up to Great Falls. Swimming is banned in the District of Columbia. Homeland Security restrictions above the Wilson Bridge limit a lot of activities. The channels are narrow with lots of spoils area on either side.

Below the Wilson bridge, there is a lot of open water to play, but access to the area is somewhat limitedd. The salt line is roughly 20 miles south of the bridge. Between wind, tide and sea nettles, not much in the way of water sports happen there.

 

[ssobol]

There is more watersport activity farther south on the river. Around Pohick Bay, Woodbridge, Mason Neck, Occaquan Bay. The river opens up and has bays that are away from the channel. Some places are quite shallow. Nearer DC most of the boating is just cruising. Above Memorial bridge there are rowers, kayaks, and canoes.

After a rain there is a lot of stuff in the river for 2 or 3 days. You have to keep an eye out. The water quality is iffy. I have been in areas that are like pea soup. Going in the water with any sort of open wound is probably a bad idea.

Eating the fish from the river is not recommended. But there seem to be a decent number of fishermen out in boats and on the shore.

It is a nice area for cruising though. You can go for hundreds of miles.

 

[oldjeep]

Thanks for all the great advice and information. To sort of address all the comments...
2 - According to the Pilot manual it can tow 5000 lbs. I was hoping to keep the dry weight somewhere between 3500 - 3800.

Keeping the dry weight 3500-3800 is going to be impossible with a wake style boat. Even my 20ft VTX is over 4650 dry including the trailer - if you believe the factory specs and nobody does . (Factory says 3500lbs for the boat dry and 1150lbs for the trailer), then add 40 gal of fuel, spare tire, batteries and all of the "stuff" in the compartments.

Moomba Outback V on a single trailer 4150lbs dry on the trailer
Axis A20 3500lbs not including trailer, which will be another 900-1200 lbs
Nautique Sport 200 (Nice boat, functionally very similar to my Malibu VTX) 3,250 lbs not including trailer, which will be another 900-1200 lbs

The weights above don't even include the 40+ gallons of fuel plus whatever "stuff" you carry in the boat.