Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

[mf15]

Hi new here and need some advice.
Son is looking for used boat, he is new to boating
and I have not done much over the last 40 years.
Anyhow he is looking at bow riders for cruising the Jersey inland waters,skiing,tubing, and he also mentioned occasional trips just off shore.
I assume he would also like to take 6-8 friends along also.
I am not too sure about taking a bow rider into the ocean. I am thinking 21-23 ft is a good size.
So are bow riders Ok for close in ocean trips or is there another type of design that would work better for the above uses. It seems the other designs might be more seaworthy, cuddy, cruiser, but they also limit seating and I am not sure how they work out for skiing.
I also see that most of the used bow riders are I/O, better for water sports not so good for maintenance in salt water. Thanks Old Mike

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

Safest and best all around (JB will second this) is a Boston Whaler. Safe and sea worthy.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

Larger the better for off-shore -- and twin outboards for safety. If one dies the other will get you back to port.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

center console.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

I personally prefer a center console. To take along 6-8 friends, you're talking about a larger boat. He may want to look into deck boats as they have taken some hull design from sportier boats, with a layout that allows for maximum passenger space. Higher gunwales will give a drier, safer feeling ride. For comfort in chop, a higher degree of transom deadrise is in order.

 

[crunch]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

You can take any boat off shore, especially on the East coast where the waves on a bad day look like waves on a good day here on the left... you just have to use common sense and look at the marine forecast.

As for the rest of it?... make sure the capacity of the boat with his 6 or 8 friends is 20% or more than their weight, the rest is all seamanship.

I can't count the times I've been out in West swells running 8 to 10' with seas running 4 to 6' out of the NW. jigging for Lingcod on the reef 6 miles out of Brookings, OR. in a 16' tri-hull... no problem, just don't run WOT 8)

 

[crunch]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

Oh, as for the twin engine... if you are going to fish it, get a small kicker, then you don't need twins for safety.

 

[QC]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

IMHO the trick to taking a bow rider off shore is a snap in bow cover that secures to the windshield. I have poked one three times with open bow riders :% Me no likey. A decent cover and the majority of that water goes overboard . . . The downside to the cover is getting an anchor secured to the bow quickly. Maybe that's a procedure to be practiced.

 

[crunch]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

Never poked one, but then, I'm never in that much of a hurry... like there's only one fish in the sea?... you gotta get there first?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

especially on the East coast where the waves on a bad day look like waves on a good day here on the left... [\quote]

There's reasons why the Pacific the "passive" ocean. d

I'd take those big, long lazy waves on the left coast over the Atlantic's notourois "short chop" any day. Right now its at 9.2' at 5.6 sec. out front and that my friend will beat the day lights out of you.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

for what you are talking about, i vote Deckboat. as a Family we recently purchase a 1999 Chris Craft Deckboat 5.7 VolvoPenta, runs out at around 40mph,with 13 adults on board, great for tubing, water skiing, etc. as for waves over the bow the deck is almost flat, and 90% of the water runs right on thru. the deckboats are a combination of the room of a pontoon boat, stability of a tri hull, and speed and handling of a deep V. the best of the best. plus most have a head for the ladies.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

Mike, I have a 19' Bowrider that i use on the bays and ocean in NJ. It is excellent for that purpose. On the bay you can load it up with kids (in the bow where you can keep an eye on 'em) and tube, ski and fish. You can run it up on the beach or anchor out.

I take mine in the ocean from May until December. You will freeze your a** off in a center console on those December days. As long as there is a decent period between the rollers, you're fine. If the waves are significant and close together, you might want to skip the trip, as it will be no fun, in any small boat.

I have a 205HP sterndrive for power, and it's weight assists with stability and seaworthyness, but it does lead to some maintenance issues. An outboard would be better for maintence, but worse for fuel economy, your choice.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

Mike, One more thing. Although the bowrider part of the boat gives the appearance that it will take on water from waves over the bow, I have not found that to be the case. Of course, you would not want to load the bow with people under high wave conditions.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

IMHO the trick to taking a bow rider off shore is a snap in bow cover that secures to the windshield. I have poked one three times with open bow riders :% Me no likey. A decent cover and the majority of that water goes overboard . . . The downside to the cover is getting an anchor secured to the bow quickly. Maybe that's a procedure to be practiced.

Ive often wondered that, that is a bow cover being used to simply sluff off a sneaker or a series of bigun's. Next time out i will employe that, it certainly cannot hurt.

 

[QC]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

Modern OB's are exceeding I/Os in fuel efficiency, especially Etech's. Some of this is the weight benefit, but not all . . .

 

[mf15]

Re: Best tyoe of boat for multipurpose use

Thanks guys very helpfull.
As I was saying it seems that most of the used bowriders I see are I/O, if you want to go out front into the ocean
I like to have a kicker motor if something happens to the main drive. Is it easy to add a small hp outboard to one of these boats with a I/O,seems like the stern drive would be in the way.
Heck the reason I say this is that I was out fishing with my buddy in N.C back channels, and we lost the main outboard and then the kicker would not start, needed a tow. What a pain needed three engines that day.
Old Mike