jdlough
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2006
- Messages
- 824
Just a bit of advice for noob boat buyers...
You really need to boat in your area with different types of boats before you know what you really want.
I wasted a year looking for that "Perfect Deck Boat" that I was positive that I wanted.
I was convinced that a deck boat was the best all-around type of boat.
I couldn't find a deck boat, so I 'settled' for a Dual Console Bay Boat as a starter boat.
Turns out that I use the boat more for fishing than I thought I would, so that extra deck space up next to the gunnels really comes in handy. I also realize that cushy vinyl seats are not for me. I need a low maintenance boat that I could just hose off, and let the self-bailing deck deal with the overflow. Also, storms and big water. I needed a more serious boat than I thought. I was often glad of the high freeboard of the DC.
So, it was a big surprise to me, but it turns out that my "perfect" boat is a no-frills high-freeboard Center Console bay boat.
Not the cushy swim-platform party deck boat.
If I went back in time two years and told my younger self this, my younger self would not have believed it.
The point is, now's the time to get the good deals on end-of-season used boat sales. Don't waste it. If you find a great deal on a boat that's 'close enough', buy it. Use it for a year or two. By then, you'll know what's the perfect boat for you.
For me, I'm now looking for a nice Center Console outboard powered bay boat, with bow seating, and maybe with a small outboard kicker.
I also now know that I'd really like a smaller center console shallows boat as my number 2 boat, like an older Boston Whaler with a decent 2 stroke outboard.
Makes craigslist searches much easier to know exactly what ads to jump on.
You really need to boat in your area with different types of boats before you know what you really want.
I wasted a year looking for that "Perfect Deck Boat" that I was positive that I wanted.
I was convinced that a deck boat was the best all-around type of boat.
I couldn't find a deck boat, so I 'settled' for a Dual Console Bay Boat as a starter boat.
Turns out that I use the boat more for fishing than I thought I would, so that extra deck space up next to the gunnels really comes in handy. I also realize that cushy vinyl seats are not for me. I need a low maintenance boat that I could just hose off, and let the self-bailing deck deal with the overflow. Also, storms and big water. I needed a more serious boat than I thought. I was often glad of the high freeboard of the DC.
So, it was a big surprise to me, but it turns out that my "perfect" boat is a no-frills high-freeboard Center Console bay boat.
Not the cushy swim-platform party deck boat.
If I went back in time two years and told my younger self this, my younger self would not have believed it.
The point is, now's the time to get the good deals on end-of-season used boat sales. Don't waste it. If you find a great deal on a boat that's 'close enough', buy it. Use it for a year or two. By then, you'll know what's the perfect boat for you.
For me, I'm now looking for a nice Center Console outboard powered bay boat, with bow seating, and maybe with a small outboard kicker.
I also now know that I'd really like a smaller center console shallows boat as my number 2 boat, like an older Boston Whaler with a decent 2 stroke outboard.
Makes craigslist searches much easier to know exactly what ads to jump on.
.
