Boat Suggestions Please!

[sebber83]

Well here goes,

The family will be expanding in August with the birth of our first child.... so I am looking for a new to us boat. Looking for a sporty cuddy cabin, between 22 and 28 feet, years 2002-2008, with an arch or tower that can be used for some mild wakeboarding. Also a nice swim platform and plenty of power!

Any boats popping in your mind right now, send them over!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat Suggestions Please!

as a dad, and not a boater--defer the boat purchase. It's not that you can't take a one year old on a boat; you won't have the time a boat requires. And once you pack everyone and everything up to go out baoting with baby, you won't be so inclined to do it often. Yes I know there are a lot of people who take babies boating, and camping, and whatever. But babies, and boats, gobble up your time. And moreso if you have to trailer it.

Wakeboarding behind a large boat like a 28' cuddy is not a good fit. So since you won't likely find one with an arch (for obvious reasons), tow the wake board from the stern eyes. Or better, keep your 18' for those days.

 

[sebber83]

Re: Boat Suggestions Please!

Thanks for the advice... but time will not be an issue. My wife is a doctor and only works 3 days a week. I run my own business and usually only work 3 days a week except for the odd mornings when I have to measure jobs and get rush estimates done. We put over 400 hours on our bow rider last year, so even if we only get half that with a baby, it still becomes a good plan to swap boats.

My wife has been boating since she is 4 months old and we intend to instill that lifestyle for our kids too.

I realise that wakeboarding isnt ideal behind a bigger boat, but its just for fun and I definetly would want an arch or tower on the boat for looks alone as well as water sports.

So if anyone has good boat ideas that would fit the bill, let me know. I am very tempted by the 2010 Rinker 276 Captiva Cuddy but I still want opinions from people with boats in this range!

Thanks

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat Suggestions Please!

since you have the experience, you can better assess your use than I can. So many of the inquiries here are from inexperienced (or unexperienced) boaters, so our advice sometimes reaches down.

But I'd keep the old boat. A man can't have too many boats. You won't get much for a 15 year old boat. Some days you'll not want to mess with the big one. Or if one is broken down you have a spare. or with 2 experienced drivers, take them both and have one for sports and the other for a mother ship.

 

[87rocket455]

Re: Boat Suggestions Please!

IMO i love the stingray SX230. They have a decent cuddy with 2 jump seats inside, porta potty, and are a fast boat. They factory do not come with a wake board tower, but i am sure youi could get someone to install one.