Bowrider With an Outboard

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

94-96 didn't have fiberglass floors. That started in 1997. I own a 95 Freedom Fish and Ski. If (when) the floor goes bad I will be replacing mine and adding a fiberglass top and snap in carpet. I use mine for fishing occasionally and it would be so nicer to clean the floor if there was no carpet in it when fishing.

To be clear, the 17 foot (170 Freedom, FREEDOM, 170 Horizon) boats from that era were NOT avaialable with a fiberglass cockpit liner.

The boats designated as 180, 190 or 200/203 WERE available with fiberglass liners.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

I'm no expert,but I thought center consoles were designed for function and fishing first.You stand as you fly through chop or worse and use your knees to absorb pounding.The console allows you to work or fight fish all the way around the boat.You can put curtains on a T-topped CC boat and stay dry in a hailstorm or spray.Pleasure boats are fancy and comfortable w lots of features for swimming,skiing,sunbatheing etc.Open bows are great for both,they make tops and rain/spray gear for them also.But i'm no expert.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

Mommicked, lots of people think that way, too. Somehow the differences, to the uninformed, are seen to mean that activities or features for one do not exist on the other. It's just not so. Like one guy said "All CC's have to be driven standing up; there's no seat." That's as ignorant as saying "all convertibles are stick-shift."
Really, you can do almost anything in, on, around or behind any boat. There's no law of man, nature or physics that says you can't land fish on carpet or sun bathe on a bass boat. Now, there are special or limited purpose boats; a CC is not one.
The OP wants recommendations for a first boat for Long Island Sound. he initially said he wanted a bow rider but now he knows, there are viable and perhaps better options. Like me, he keeps the boat in the water and deals with low tide. I'd hate to see him buy into the lake boat perspective, only to find, when he looks around his cove, that the experienced and long time coastal boaters know what works better there.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

Home cookin,I must agree.A boat that is used often in salt water/or on a sandy beach should be easy to clean and somewhat simple inside.Without alot of frills I guess you get more/bigger boat for the money.I like the view from a high riding CC in big water.you can see the next roller better!I do think the first CCs were built for fishing and commercial use.I think recently they've become more luxury equiped.but again im no expert!

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

Homecookin,have you seen the new Scout 345xsf?

 

[mgmidget72]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

Well, I've done it!

Finally bought my first boat (kayaks aside). I found a 1999 Sea Ray 180 with a 115 o/b in great shape right in my area. The seller even delivered it for me. It looks like the previous owners (2 of them) took really good care of it. For how I'm planning on using it, I think it will really work out well. Good outboard, light enough that I can tow short distances, plenty of comfortable seating, easy to walk around in the cockpit, convenient storage, and no complexities that I won't be using that could just cause problems.

Thanks for all your help in this thread! I'm sure I'll be seeking much more help down the road as I prepare the boat to be launched.

Thanks!
Scott

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

Being an outboard fan....that sounds like a GREAT rig to me!! Pics are now required.

 

[mgmidget72]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

Here are a few from the seller. Also one that I took 2 days after it was delivered. That's not what I want to see after buying a boat!

A little dirty, but that'll clean right up.

 

[QC]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

Cool!!

Do some searching here for Hydrofoil, Trim tabs ad Smart Tabs. Good luck with your new ride!!

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

Congrats on the "new" boat.

Sea Ray has a good reputation.

 

[mgmidget72]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

QC - thanks for the suggestion. It's hidden in the pictures, but it already has a foil on the outboard. Glad to hear that it'll be beneficial.

For now, I think I'll leave it at that and avoid any tabs on the transom. Being an outboard and not having and extended swim platform, I'd like to avoid anything sticking off the transom that could cut someone climbing back on.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

Glad to hear that it'll be beneficial.

I doubt that was QC's meaning (if you catch my drift)

 

[mgmidget72]

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

oh no... hmmm... thanks for pointing that out.

Well, it's on there now so I'll probably just run it like that for now until I get a better feel for the boat.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bowrider With an Outboard

That's a perfect sized boat and trailer for a first boat, and an outboard is the way to go.
You don't need tabs on a boat that size. Some find them nice to have, but not necessary.
Neither is the hyrofoil.