Boat suggestions

[Mowens]

All right guys I've been looking to buy a new boat I keep looking at different ones and none of them are quite meeting the bill. So I was hoping to ask for some recommendations suggestions if anybody had some ideas what I should be looking for so I stop wasting time looking at all of them.

I'm looking for a boat that can do like near shore fishing in the 5 to 10 mile range, that my family can dive off of, and it's a family of five, we may occasionally bring a couple extra folks along but wouldn't be too many. My wife isn't a fan of the Cuddy cabin boats she thinks it's a waste of space and we're not going to be out overnight so I can understand her point of view.

So if anyone has any suggestions to help me narrow the field I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, 5-10 miles off shore on a 20 mile wide lake is different than 5-10 miles off-shore on the great lakes, which is different than 5-10 miles off shore in the Gulf of Mexico, which is different than 5-10 miles off shore on the Atlantic

Second, would help to know if this is a Brand New boat, or a new to you used boat

going to make assumptions
going to assume great lakes or gulf of mexico. so you are looking at 24 feet or larger
a good Center console with twin 150 outboards minimim. I like the Cuddy for the porta-john, not to mention a variety of utility reasons to have the room.

so you plan on bringing 5 people with up to an extra 4-6. that will push you into a much larger boat, in the 28 foot plus range

your going to need a porta-john on board

if you plan on diving off of it, you should have either an extended swim platform with a good set of folding step, or one of the many manual or powered swim platforms on the market.

at a minimum, a bulwark door, however a folding bulwark with a swim ladder would make a great dive boat.

 

[ahicks]

A deck boat with an open floor plan would work well if the weather is right. They don't like it when it gets too rough, will pound your brains out. The beauty is you can climb in and out both ends of many of them. I'm thinking a little smaller, maybe 20-22', with a single outboard so you can tow it easily. Most will be 8' wide, so they're really stable. I would go outboard, and most likely a 4 stroke outboard. Newer, with center console, look pretty attractive to me if your budget would support something like that.

 

[Mowens]

first, 5-10 miles off shore on a 20 mile wide lake is different than 5-10 miles off-shore on the great lakes, which is different than 5-10 miles off shore in the Gulf of Mexico, which is different than 5-10 miles off shore on the Atlantic

Second, would help to know if this is a Brand New boat, or a new to you used boat

going to make assumptions
going to assume great lakes or gulf of mexico. so you are looking at 24 feet or larger
a good Center console with twin 150 outboards minimim. I like the Cuddy for the porta-john, not to mention a variety of utility reasons to have the room.

so you plan on bringing 5 people with up to an extra 4-6. that will push you into a much larger boat, in the 28 foot plus range

your going to need a porta-john on board

if you plan on diving off of it, you should have either an extended swim platform with a good set of folding step, or one of the many manual or powered swim platforms on the market.

at a minimum, a bulwark door, however a folding bulwark with a swim ladder would make a great dive boat.

So yes should have clarified. Gulf I'm in Al right at the Fl panhandle. And absolutely used.

I would love a walk around cuddy with a large back area with a door on both sides and at the aft. A full swim platform would be ideal.

 

[Mowens]

A deck boat with an open floor plan would work well if the weather is right. They don't like it when it gets too rough, will pound your brains out. The beauty is you can climb in and out both ends of many of them. I'm thinking a little smaller, maybe 20-22', with a single outboard so you can tow it easily. Most will be 8' wide, so they're really stable. I would go outboard, and most likely a 4 stroke outboard. Newer, with center console, look pretty attractive to me if your budget would support something like that.

I looked at a deck boat a 23' sunesta seats 14. The dual swim platforms was cool. Had an i/o which also was nice and doors on 3 sides. Was a single console not center to lots of room. My issue was the concerns about taking it that far out.

 

[JimS123]

If you are going in the gulf you don't want an I/O unless you are fond of paying for a lot of maintenance costs.

That Sunesta has seats for 14 people, and has the weight capacity for 14, but in actuality any more than 6 would be uncomfortable.

Your requirements are more suited to a Boston Whaler or a Grady White outboard. And now you're in the $100,000 + range new; no telling what a used one would cost if one is even available.

You need to reduce the number of people requirement or eliminate a diving boat need. When you find one that is suitable, the sticker shock will be something else.

 

[ahicks]

Something else to consider for trips out into the Gulf is decent navigation equipment. A GOOD chart plotter, with a bigger is WAY better display that easily seen and able to be read while slogging it out in the rough crap (think 10" display here, but a 7" might work if your budget won't allow it), is a necessity. Plan on budgeting at least 700-1000 for something like that.

Outboard is the plan for salt water (and "brackish).

And boats costing what they do, buying a boat with a people capacity that you MIGHT need, is a luxury most of us can't afford. Room for 6 adults and a couple of kids is PLENTY. My opinion anyway, FWIW. -Al

 

[Scott Danforth]

I looked at a deck boat a 23' sunesta seats 14. The dual swim platforms was cool. Had an i/o which also was nice and doors on 3 sides. Was a single console not center to lots of room. My issue was the concerns about taking it that far out.

A deck boat isnt going to cut it in the gulf that far out on a rough day. Not enough deadrise.

Agreed, cut the number of people you want to bring.

with all your wants, you are looking at a $50k plus boat in the used market, and close to $200k new to have room for 9 plus people

 

[Mowens]

I like an outboard just seems to get In the way. I know a lot if large boats use an inboard of some sort.

curious just in general what additional maintenance would be for an i/o in salt vs an outboard.

i do like boston whalers.

 

[Mowens]

My family is 5 and I can't go smaller. Whole reason to buy is so we can all go.

found a 24' Sea Ray 240 that might work.

 

[southkogs]

How important is it to have "sofa" type seating on board? I would be looking at dual console outboards.

Good hull design for bigger water, decent seating for people. I've been out on the gulf quite a bit, and if I were to have a boat down there this would be what I would go for. In your case 24' or bigger.

 

[Mowens]

How important is it to have "sofa" type seating on board? I would be looking at dual console outboards. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"1335","width":"2000","src":"https:\/\/gradywhite.blob.core.windows.net\/media\/12501\/192_pg1_0378_2000.jpg"**[/IMG2]
Good hull design for bigger water, decent seating for people. I've been out on the gulf quite a bit, and if I were to have a boat down there this would be what I would go for. In your case 24' or bigger.

I like the Grady White. My family is pretty flexible on seating as long as there is enough. I think I am going to steer her towards a Cuddy cabin. I found several in the price range. The only real issue is doors, most dont have a good door on the transom to get to the swim platform. Only time that sucks willl be for diving.


Found
79 Trojan Express 25' - Like the cabin older then i want but nice size although the area behind the cabin is smallish
98 Sea-Ray 24' Cuddy - Better but the area over the cuddy is hardly usable
76 Sea-Ray 240 Weekender - More usable space but its so old

All older boats all claim to run with little to no issues. But obviously will take a deep look before decisions are made.

 

[southkogs]

Walkthrough transoms are not quite as easy to come by. I would look at what you can do with a swim deck, even if you have to add one on. Probably have to float your BC and yank the kit up after you get on the boat. Dunno' how hard that is in the Gulf.

 

[southkogs]

I prefer walk-arounds to cuddys:

Cuddy cabins don't quite make sense to me. It's nice to have a spot to change and store stuff, but they're not that functional for staying on board.

 

[Mowens]

So after much talk its looking like a 27' proline sportsman is going to be the ticket. Has ample room, bow seating, transom seating, transom door, swim platform, and the all important potti.

Most versatile boat we can find.

Anyone have an comments on them as boats?

 

[ahicks]

They seem to float well. Kidding, I don't know a thing about them.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Party of five divers fishing offshore ( the big fish are more than 10 miles offshore your buying a new boat to fit five divers you will be going more than 10 miles off shore and often I bet)

I was looking for a boat just like the boat your looking for. Looked at cats they get to fat to trailer by the time you get big enough, drove long distance to see several pro lines. To shallow for my taste until you get over 28 feet then you get to fat to trailer.

i bought a Wellcraft 262 sportsman Its a good fit for me still narrow enough to tow (9 feet beam ) lots of freeboard handles big waves well. Had six fishermen in it chasing salmon over the Columbia River bar last fall over some fairly rough water small craft restrictions in place not a problem we went way out for better fishing tuna is next has not been an option for me before.

im a diver am about to add a landing platform in the right rear more then a deck, exiting the boat from the side door is great it also makes loading gear heavy tanks and dive gear so much easier. The factory ladder is not meant for divers and it needs a few things for our diving needs but there going to happen. The toilet and side door was a must have for me.

as far as a pro line if you rode in my boat and a pro line before you buy you would not buy a pro line I got on three pro lines there is no comparison, a 27 foot pro line is a fine boat but not even in the same class as the Wellcraft 262 fact is if both of them were side by side no one would even get in the pro line.

grady whites double the money and that’s a chunk of change. Find a Wellcraft 262 before you buy.

here’s some real life figures I would love to have twin 225 or 250 but $35k more in costs. Twin 159 Yamahas It will run 51 mph with a fuel tank and two adults on a flat day at 25 to 35 it’s getting 2.5 to 3 mpg and planes well loaded.

things I like mine has three live wells two large fish boxes. Like who needs three live wells. Ok anchovies in one herring in another and the third has a faucet love keeping my rags soap etc in there. It loads well I can handle it in the wind I’m still afraid of some docks here there’s nails lug bolts crappy bumpers. Quite a bit of storage however I’m struggling to find a place for seven adult jackets if everyone’s gear is on the boat am tinkering with five inflatables one throwable and one regular jacket. Its really pretty. I did not need pretty but it is. You can’t take it anywhere without being seen. At least here in the world of aluminum boats.

things I don’t like are limited. The cup holders on the console suck there getting replaced, factory ladder I’m curing that the deep curved sides require large fenders which eat up a lot of space not much I can do here. Its heavy and tall 11.8” you’ll know it’s behind you. I tow a 19,000 pound trailer at times it’s less effort. I fixed this with a new dually and life is great again. My single wheel one ton was just barely what I’d want to be in traffic at speed in it’s fine but the dually is much better.

 

[Mowens]

Alright so the proline went bust. Bad floor and transom

Went back to the drawing board and now I'm looking at two boats.

1980 Grady White with 225 Mariner OB
1983 Wellcraft 240 Offshore w Mercruiser stern drive

Both seem in good shape for the age. The wellcraft was 1 owner since new an old man that took extreme care of it. The grady white has been a gom boat forever.

 

[mr 88]

Grady White is too old and will have bad stringers,transom and probably gas tank is shot. 83 Wellcraft won't be much better unless it was barn kept and every through hull fitting resealed, in both centuries. Stringers ,transom and fuel tank ,including access to it [ in both boats ] is critical . Unless your into cutting up the deck to remove it. In both cases the tanks are probably foamed in and or pretty much sitting on the hull's bottom. Which means no air movement and corrosion on the bottom along with everything else tank related. First you go through every nook and cranny looking for bulkhead separation and anything else that looks stress related. Then make a offer based on it passing a real survey . I would be looking into the late 90s early 2000s if my budget was limited.

 

[Mowens]

Grady White is too old and will have bad stringers,transom and probably gas tank is shot. 83 Wellcraft won't be much better unless it was barn kept and every through hull fitting resealed, in both centuries. Stringers ,transom and fuel tank ,including access to it [ in both boats ] is critical . Unless your into cutting up the deck to remove it. In both cases the tanks are probably foamed in and or pretty much sitting on the hull's bottom. Which means no air movement and corrosion on the bottom along with everything else tank related. First you go through every nook and cranny looking for bulkhead separation and anything else that looks stress related. Then make a offer based on it passing a real survey . I would be looking into the late 90s early 2000s if my budget was limited.

Did just come across a 2002 Bayliner Trophy 2302 with a 175hp OB

Age was my biggest issue for both boats. I was told wellcraft was garage kept. That being said I am confident it would still have issues.

So about the engines. I know i/o are problematic if living in salt but we would launch each time.