bowrider vs a aft cab boat

[25thmustang]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

If you find you want to spend more time on the boat than just during a sunny day, a pocket express boat is a good start. I say start, because a lot of people get hooked on spending the weekends and step up later on.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

Bacon and Eggs on the hook is nice, until the gas bill, maintenance bill, storage bill hits. Moving from a small bowrider to a small express is a logical step, but today it does not make alot of sense financially. But it's your money to spend as you see fit. We have owned two cruisers 28ft and 31ft. Did the cruiser thing for 8 years, and went back to a bowrider this year. We are so glad we did, and will never look back. Much simpler to pack up and go whever you want, when you want, easier to tow, easier to maintain and store.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

One thing to keep in mind, do you cruise with other people often? A small (24ft) cruiser is good for 2 people + maybe 1 kid. Any more, and you have very little room. People don't want to be in the bow while cruising, and you have very little topside space.

But yeah, your ride quality is going to be in an entirely different planet. Much better wave handling capability. Of course, the fuel bill will also be on a different planet! A heavy 24ft cruiser with a v8 can burn about 6x the fuel you go through now.

We regulary have 6 people up top when cruising and do not feel cramped, I nice cockpit layout helps a lot. I looked at many different "pocket cruisers" and kept comming back to the Sundancer layout - I can not believe nobody copies this. The face to face seating over the table is awesome.

LK

 

[Thalasso]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

I think dealing with a trailer and ramp every time you want to go for a boat ride is crazy, with a boat that size. Leave it in the water where it belongs. Or dry stack and let someone else do the lifting. At least find a place where you can leave it in the water for a fews days or more.

going from a 16' outboard to a 24' cruiser is like going to the opera instead of the ball game. Totally different boating. Forget the fishing and watersports, but if you like sitting and looking it's great.




The one smart thing you can do is keep the 16' when you get the cruiser. Especially if you have children. You may find yourself using both at the same time.

I had a 2004 240 Dancer. It was ok but not enough beam. It's a little crowed down below, but you only sleep there. You can still use it for fishing and what not. I mounted rod holders on the gunnels and used them for down riggers for trolling in Lake Erie

 

[cyclops2]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

You MUST / HAVE to go out ON THE WATER in a COUPLE of boats that size. Period..........You can not treat a boat increase like a car increase.........Also need the family with you on a choppy test ride day.........You need to be a slight pain in the butt to a few dealers.
They will GLADLY accept the chance to let a boat sell itself.

Have to ride many different makes to have a smile on everyones face when you head back to the dock in your new boat.

No other way to do it right.

Good Luck

After you find a boat then run home & add up a bigger tow truck & the other expenses you will have.............Might take a year or 2 for the right boat to appear.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

this time, cyclops, I agree with you

 

[cyclops2]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

I am old, frail and taking my perscriptions as advised.

Better ?

 

[MarkSee]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

Also need the family with you on a choppy test ride day.........You need to be a slight pain in the butt to a few dealers. They will GLADLY accept the chance to let a boat sell itself.
Have to ride many different makes to have a smile on everyones face when you head back to the dock in your new boat.
Good Luck

I am curious though at your comments. Maybe I'm reading it different that you wrote it but it appears your suggesting to the OP that dealers will "gladly give test rides" if he's a pain in the butt? And for free just on the hopes the dealer will sell the boat?

Am I missing something there or not understanding what you wrote?

Mark

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

see, I look at these things different.... I'm in the "ohh shiny, I WANT it now" school.... I had a 12' tinny with a 7.5 outboard and one day on a whim I agreed to trade a car I was selling for a '78 arrowglass siesta 20' cuddy with a mercruiser 898 (198 hp) ... I knew nothing about it except that the interior was missing and he said it ran... LOL ... 2 weeks later after nearly sinking it in the Mississippi I learned how to change my own bellows after the dealer ridiculed me for even asking if it was a possible diy job..... took about an hour.

My next step up was a 26' carver santa cruz with a flying bridge... should have NEVER sold it.... DOH!

Now I'm in the montecarlo and looking to go bigger...... If you want to run all over all day then the lil runabout is the way to go but a 50 boat on anchor uses exactly the same amount of fuel as a 16' boat unless you fire up the genny for air conditioning.... yeah awful nice from 11-3 in july... won't get that with a bowrider..... In the end it's all about what you want to do.... relax or cruise.....

I have had lots of other boats but those where the major steps UP

 

[JoLin]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

I'm with you, Mark. Test rides on numerous boats? Doubtful.

You can browse to your heart's content and find the make/model with the cockpit and cabin layout that suits you. That's the only significant difference among boats in the 24-25' range.

At the end of the day, in terms of performance and handling, a 24' express cruiser is a 24' express cruiser. It's gonne be a single I/O with a 5.0 or 5.7 V-8. They'll all handle moderately sloppy conditions okay, and not a single one of them is a 'big water boat.' They're bay boats suitable for overnights and weekends.

My .02

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

I think dealing with a trailer and ramp every time you want to go for a boat ride is crazy, with a boat that size. Leave it in the water where it belongs. Or dry stack and let someone else do the lifting. At least find a place where you can leave it in the water for a fews days or more.

I trailer my 25 footer all the time. It's no big deal. Launching takes about 3 minutes, retrieval takes maybe 5 minutes. Just slightly more time than my 17 footer or 21 took to launch and retrieve.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

There are places that hand out test drives on multiple express cruiser boats?

Unlike a car, I highly doubt your going to take many test drives. A sea trial once an honest offer is placed can happen, but asking a dealer or broker (seller) to test drive the boat, just can't see many saying yes.

Spent some time on a 24' pocket cruiser. Wouldn't be bad for a weekend.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

Does every USED & NEW car dealer REFUSE to let you take a test ride ?

Never get many sales. The boat sells you on the ride. The salesman sells you on the price.

Not much difference in the ride of same sized boats ?.............You need to drive a lot more boats.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat

I'm not sure where the idea of car sale and boat sales being the same came from. Different worlds all together. Sea trials are one thing, test drives, as we are speaking of, are another. If you find a lot of boat sellers willing to hand out test drives, take advantage of that and let me know. I will gladly come and take a test drive of tons of different boats.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: bowrider vs a aft cab boat


I had a 26ft aft cabin for 3-4 years that I truly loved but would prove to be too costly to keep. it was too big to load / unload and keep at my house. I would run thru $150 gas per weelend the yearly slip with insurance was $4000. I would run 3200rpm -26mph to 4000 rpm - 38mph with a 454/BravoIII. It loved to flatten waves and rode like a dream. Only slept on her the 1 time when I bought it. Never used micro-stovetop or fridge. My buds caller it the " 26ft runabout"
Soo I sold her & bought this restored 19ft open bow runabout. It runs about $45 a weekend and park it on the side of my house.

both will cruise down the lake with about 7 or 8 people comfortably. I miss the aft cabin on ruff water & bad weather but like the speed of the runabout and for water sports.