BOWRIDERS

[graduc]

We really like the idea of a bowrider for Florida inter coastal waters and after reading articles and getting questions answerd by you guys about inboard verses outboard i would like outboard. The only Problem I do not see many bowriders with outboards, so what do you recommend want to do some fishing but mainly just cruising around I really appreciate your help as a beginner

Graham

 

[Chris1956]

There are lots of bowriders with OB power. There are lots of brands to look at, and many manufacturers make both styles. You might investigate Dual Console boats. DC boats are bowriders, with a more modern and trendy name.

For shallow waters, you really want OB power, as it will plane with much less water depth, due to the weight differential to an I/O.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Where in Florida are you boating from?

SeaRay has a few bow riders with outboards. there are a few others.

I loved my SeaRay 190 for pulling up on the beach (I installed a keel guard). on one particular beach, it would be bow on the beach, prop in 11' of water

however having lived in Florida and boated the ICW for the past few years, I can tell you first hand, I/O or outboard doesnt matter. your going to hit something and your going to run aground and your going to need to be towed. the red and yellow boats are all over the ICW pulling folk out. I use the red guys (Tow Boat US).

I have even towed a few stranded boaters myself

there are three types of boaters on the ICW, those that have run aground, those that will run aground, and those that lied about not running aground.

the ICW channels will move up to 20' over a period of a few days. I was following my GPS tracks and ran aground as the channel had moved about 30' from the channel marker. granted this was after a storm

nearly every boater in the ICW will have some sort of trouble sooner or later. a few of them are dead batteries from leaving the radio on all day

remember, if the bird looks like its standing on the water, dont go over there, thats a shoal just inches under the water. wear a good set of polarized sun glasses. it helps differentiate the deeper water. watch out for manatees

 

[Scott Danforth]

I noticed from your profile info your from La Farge WI, if your moving down here to FL, feel free to PM me. always willing to help a fellow cheesehead in paradise

 

[graduc]

We are in south Pasadena FL live here 6 to 7 months don't have boat slips at the condo so will be taking boat out the water after each use and storing. My wife is the cheese Head i am from England although Moved to Minnesota to be near grand children

 

[JASinIL2006]

If you're thinking of new boats, I just saw a number of Larson bowriders with outboards on their website. Looked interesting.

 

[KD4UPL]

Are you looking at new, used, really old? Back in the '80s and '90s many smaller bowriders had outboards but the larger ones usually had a sterndrive. In the last 15 to 20 years or so almost all have a sterndrive. It's only been in the last 3 to 5 years that more and more outboards are being used again. Right now, if you're looking for a new boat the outboard is the popular way to go. Almost every company is introducing an outboard powered model now.

 

[graduc]

For our first boat i want to buy used looking at 2004 to 2007

 

[ezmobee]

No Title

Yes during that time bowriders were still mostly I/O. However in the past couple years especially in salty areas outboards are absolutely dominating. I went to the Baltimore boat show last year and there was a big ol 4 stroke outboard hanging on the back of everything. Even sleek bowriders you would NEVER have seen an outboard on in years past. I personally have a saltwater dual console. We love it. The all fiberglass self bailing deck is great.

This is mine

 

[JASinIL2006]

For our first boat i want to buy used looking at 2004 to 2007

I am no expert, but it seems the outboard powered bowriders are mostly newer than that.

 

[Texasmark]

Definitely bow rider unless you are anticipating off shore fishing in big water. Mono-deep V hull to go with it. Will take more power than a semiV but the soft ride will well pay for the extra gas. Having had both, I too would opt for OB. You aren't looking in the right places if you can't find a nice OB as I mentioned.

Also, for me a boat was never big enough ON the water, and most always too big OFF the water. Keep that in mind when considering where you will boat and how and where you will transport and store it off.

 

[southkogs]

A couple of years ago we stayed down in Naples and had a boat with the rental we used. It was a 20' Hurricane deck boat with a Yamaha Outboard. On the intercostal, I really liked how the boat handled. It could have gone out into the Gulf a little bit but probably not too much comfortably.

If I were to re-do that trip, and could pick any boat I wanted - it would be a dual console about 24' with an outboard. The dual console would have made me a bit more comfortable in some of the gulf and inlet waters just breaking down wakes and swells.

But for fishing and cruising on the ICW, that Hurricane was a gem.

 

[JLK62]

I have found you will get more outboard hits searching for "fish and ski" rather than "bowrider".

 

[jkust]

Once the governent started deciding for you that you have to buy a Cat on your i/o, the outboards started making a resurgance or so goes the logic that I have read. I don't know if you can ge a 300hp outboard for anywhere in the same stratosphere as a 300hp i/o but whatever or so goes what I see on ebay for new crate i/o;s versus the much more expensive new outboards.
In that mid 2000's era I tended to see the freshwater bowriders only offering of an outboard was either on a ski and fish or a fish and ski and the rest of that manufacturers boats would have various i/o options. I think of outboards for salt and i/o's for fresh where by my friends with i/o's that are in salt remind me of why i/o's require much, much more maintenance. Don't think i've ever known a person on my lake to ever replace their risers and manifolds on their lake boat versu salt where you don't get to make that choice.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Graham, since your in South Pasadena if you want to discuss various locations of boating, etc as well as different boats, let me know. we can do breakfast at Stella's Just PM me. I live in Bradenton, work in Largo. give me some advance notice and I can get a few of my buddies to join. one lived in S. Pasadena aboard his 37' for a few years, the other is a long time member of BCYC. then again, may be easier to get them to show up some afternoon for bloody marys at O'Maddy's

will you be slip keeping your boat, or will it be trailered?

 

[graduc]

That would be great to get together, going to the UK for a couple of weeks, will contact you when i get back. The boat will be trailered