Bowrider Power

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cyn5351

Recruit
Joined
Aug 5, 2010
Messages
5
Hi Everyone
I have been scouting this forum for several days trying to find the answers to my questions without having to ask them all over again.
But I have one pretty important question that I can?t see to get the answer I am looking for. So I apologize for once again being one of the new people asking for help in determining what boat to purchase.
I think I have narrowed down my selection to a bowrider with a 4.3L or greater engine. I want to be able to have enough power to pull skiers, etc. But I have seen a few comments about waves and how they aren?t handled so well verses a cuddy cruiser.
I live in Texas (where it is going to be 110 degrees today, cuddy with small cabin would not be a good idea) and we would mostly be using a boat in fresh water lakes. But our lakes are pretty populated (yes, I plan to take a safety course) and they get very choppy??.sometimes 2 or 3 feet waves. I want a 19 ? 24 ft. boat that is going to cut through them like butter but meet my budget of $15k or less. Any suggestions?
It doesn?t have to be a brand new boat but I?m wondering, if a boats is taken care of what is the life expectancy? I?m seeing 15 year old boats online and wondering how long will they last.

I?ve got a list of features and suggestions that I?ve put together from searching this forum. I just haven?t seen anything about slicing through rough fresh water seas.


Thanks for your suggestions in advance.
 
642mx

642mx

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 19, 2008
Messages
1,588
Re: Bowrider Power

In rough sea's.... the bigger the better, 20 foot plus would be best. Trim tabs help a lot! A friend of mine has a 21 foot Sea Ray bowrider and he added an electric tab set-up. It does fine in the rough conditions. His Sea Ray is a big, heavy boat with a lot of dead-rise.

As far as age goes, get the newest you can afford... but don't be afraid of a well kept older boat either. Have a marine survey done before you buy. The surveyors know what to look for and will give you honest feedback.

I'm a Baja fan, but other brands are nice too. Crownline, Chapparal, and Sea Ray make some nice quality boats that last a long time.
 
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haulnazz15

Captain
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
3,720
Re: Bowrider Power

In general, the longer/heavier the boat, the better it will handle the chop given the same general V hull. Just find a 20-23 ft bowrider that you like the layout of and is in good shape.
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Bowrider Power

If you look for "dual console" boats, you'll find boats that are still technically bowriders but are built more for big water.

like this:
Mako-195-Dual-Console.jpg
 
youmansjason

youmansjason

Seaman
Joined
Jun 3, 2005
Messages
73
Re: Bowrider Power

cyn5351 said:
http://http://houston.craigslist.org/boa/1880319094.html
I looked this boat up and it's 19.8 feet. Is this kinda of what you're talking about?
Click to expand...

According to SeaRay's website, this boat is only 18'6". The 19'8" may be with an optional swim platform. For rough water, you need something that is 22'-24' (without the swim platform).

Another thing to consider is the weight of the boat. The heavier the boat, the better it's going to handle the rough chop.

I have a 23' boat that weighs about 4000 lbs. It does pretty good in 2' chop.
 
45Auto

45Auto

Commander
Joined
May 31, 2002
Messages
2,842
Re: Bowrider Power

sometimes 2 or 3 feet waves. I want a 19 ? 24 ft. boat that is going to cut through them like butter
Click to expand...

Not going to happen. 2 to 3 foot waves are BIG waves and will throw a 24 foot boat all over the water, a 19' will be even worse. It'll handle them if you drive it right, but it won't be fun. Imagine driving your car over 3 foot bumps about the length of the car apart at 20-25 MPH.

You're talking about a Sea State 3. You may be interested in reading "Coping with Rough Seas":

"It all comes down to common sense," Figular says. "The most important thing is to recognize the limitations of the boat and of the skipper. It's not uncommon to see someone coming out of an inlet in a 19-foot boat and facing three- and four-foot seas. A boat that size doesn't belong in that kind of water. The skipper ought to stay home."
Click to expand...

http://madmariner.com/seamanship/weather/story/SAFELY_HANDLING_SEA_STATE_ROUGH_SEAS_WAVES_022310_SW
 
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wildspeed

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 13, 2005
Messages
177
Re: Bowrider Power

ezmobee said:
If you look for "dual console" boats, you'll find boats that are still technically bowriders but are built more for big water.
Click to expand...


like ezmobee suggested

Dual console (center console hull, fitted for more friendly family use), harder to find with inboard engine, mostly outboard. But much more seaworthy than a conventional bowrider

IMG_0067.jpg
 
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security6

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 21, 2008
Messages
191
Re: Bowrider Power

To echo another post, are you sure that 2' to 3' waves are common on the lake you're going to? I have a 23' deck boat and it did ok on 2' to 3' waves (we were on Lake Michigan), but it wasn't much fun. It might be worth it to take an hour or two and go to the lake to see what other people are using.

Not a put down the dual console boats, but I would be surprised if you see very many of those on inland fresh water lakes. I'd wager that most people are using normal/standard bowriders and do just fine in normal weather.
 
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Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,108
Re: Bowrider Power

Gee, I took my 19' SR bowrider in the ocean all the time. I now take my 21' SeaSwirl D/C into the ocean. Who knew they were not even suitable for lakes.

Seriously, a 19 or 21 footer are plenty large enough and seaworthy enough for lakes other than the Great ones. The only time you want to boat on 3 footers, is when you need to go thru them to get home in suddenly rough water.

Having a larger boat is no excuse for not watching or checking the weather. Don't go out in killer waves.....
 
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ebkolove

Cadet
Joined
Aug 5, 2010
Messages
29
Re: Bowrider Power

I have an older trihull that seems to do ok in texas chop...but Lake waco really isn't all that big
 
dirtdiver

dirtdiver

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 9, 2010
Messages
118
Re: Bowrider Power

My 3.7 puts out 190 and is enough to pull a skier...
 
45Auto

45Auto

Commander
Joined
May 31, 2002
Messages
2,842
Re: Bowrider Power

You'll find that most people have no concept what a 3' wave is. That dual-console in wildspeed's post #9 has about a 3' freeboard. You're talking about waves that are level with the base of the windshield.

To get 3' waves on an inland lake you'll find that it takes a lot of wind and a period of 2 or 3 seconds between waves. They'll be less than half the hull length apart on your 19'-24' boat. Try to plane in them and you'll bury the nose of the boat.

There's a big difference between 3' waves with a period of a couple of seconds and 3' swells with a period of 10-15 seconds between them on the ocean. If you're talking gentle, smooth swells far enough apart, it doesn't matter how tall they are. They can be 50' tall, any boat will ride over them.
 
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cyn5351

Recruit
Joined
Aug 5, 2010
Messages
5
Re: Bowrider Power

Thanks for all the replies. The lake we were on last week was Lake Travis north of Austin Texas and there are some really BIG boats on that lake. There are 7 or 8 lakes within a couple hours drive so they may not be so bad.
I guess with the boat size and price range I am looking at I?ll have to stay off that lake when its so choppy. My biggest problem seems to be that I have champagne taste and a beer budget.
I?ve found several boats on the web that are interesting would it be too much to ask to have some of you take a look at them?
 
45Auto

45Auto

Commander
Joined
May 31, 2002
Messages
2,842
Re: Bowrider Power

Post them up here, you'll get plenty of comments, some of which you MAY find useful and relevent if you're lucky! :)
 
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dsiekman

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
798
Re: Bowrider Power

Just my two cents, but if the chop is that bad i'd lean toward the DC or CC suggested above. I had a 25' bowrider that was pushing 5000# with a big block. However, I'd rather take my buddy's 20' center console with a 115 out on the Chesapeake Bay in rough weather. Not that my boat wouldn't handle it, his just took it better and we took less of a beating. We upsized to a 29' cuddy this year, and ride quality on the bay was a big determining factor.
 
Summer Fun

Summer Fun

Banned
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
2,251
Re: Bowrider Power

cyn, When I click on the links you posted. :(
It wants me to download Roadrunner toolbar ??.
Download the Free Road Runner Toolbar Now!
Click to expand...
No THANKS !!. :eek:
 
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Chaparralboater

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
151
Re: Bowrider Power

The one with the deck boat if you look closely at the corner of the leather seat it looks like he photo shopped to blend out a tear or something like that along the sown seams..be careful of people like that as they might be hiding other things..p.s it's in the picture of the port a potty..last pic I think.. I wouldn't think the 18 foot bow rider would work, either would the deck boat..the welcraft I think is what it is might work as the big block would keep the front up..
 
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