First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

[mikereno1]

I am have been looking around for my first power boat the last few weeks. I have seen a few but none that I was overly impressed with.

I have a general question about the size/type of boat I should go for.

I am questioning whether to get a smaller 18-19ft bowrider with a V6 or to get a slightly larger boat 21-22ft with a V8 that will allow more options for wakeboarding and longevity as my ids get bigger.

What are people's thought/experiences with getting into their first boat as far as how much boat and the need to upgrade in the future?

 

[salty87]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

other than the number of people you can take, the amount of gas you'll burn and a difference in price there really isn't much difference between operating an 18' and a 22'. if you think you'll need the extra room, can afford the extra gas and initial cost then go for it. buying a boat and getting it setup for your tastes/needs only to sell and start over is probably going to cost more than just doing it once...unless you can get a screaming deal and turn a profit but that's easier said than done.

 

[ErikF]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

How many people will be on the boat the majority of the time? Do you have much experience with boats, have you ridden in both smaller and larger boats?

My first boat was a 15' Starcraft, then I had an 18' Blue-Fin, now I have a 21' Starcraft. There are plenty of times I've gone to the lake with 1 or 2 other people and found myself missing the little 15' Starcraft I used to have. For 2 adults & 2 kids I think 18' is a good size. If you have 4 kids and plan on having 5-7 people on the boat 21-22' is probably better.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

Get the largest boat you can afford. If not, in a few years or less you will be getting twofootitis

 

[NYBo]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

Do you already own a tow vehicle suitable for the larger boat?

 

[ONJames]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

I was in your position a year ago with the same concerns. I ended up with a 21 ft bowrider with a 5.7 instead of the smaller boat and I'm glad I did. Sometimes it is a bit of a hassle to maneuver on the trailer and it takes up a lot of space in my driveway but I can easily take another family of four for a total of eight people with lots of room to move around the boat. Not crowded and that is important to me. At first I was concerned that it would be thirsty but it turns out fuel is the least of my expenses! LOL!

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

I started out with a 21' mid cabin cruiser (Sea Ray Seville 210MC) - First boat I ever drove and went bigger in two years, Get the biggest you can afford, I got out what I had into it as I bought a popular boat but it's easy to get upside down in a hurry if you want to keep upgrading.

LK

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

We had a 16.5 ft Doral closed bow for the entire time the children were growing up. Went up by 5ft last year and from outboard to V8 sterndrive. We have not regretted it and neither has the family. Mrs Ken I think is the happiest as she does not need her "OH S**t" handle anymore

 

[roscoe]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

Storage space,
tow vehicle,
your location,
seating capacity,
type and size of waters you will boat in,
activities, and you level of boating experience ,
all come into play.


So far all you have given us is that you might want to wakeboard someday, and that you have ids.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

Roscoe has a good list there. I think there is a big difference between single and double axle trailers, too.

you don't say where you are boating. The lake boaters around here like the i/o bowriders and the coastal boaters wouldn't own one.

There is a lot more to consider than simply length. A lot of coastal boaters want something fairly flat that doesn't draw much for use in shallow water/soft bottoms; not so with many lake boaters. Or we need a seaworthy hull for open water.

Also, for family boating, room in the interior is more important than just length. A 19' center console with built-in bow seating is way more comfortable and roomy--and therefore usable with more people--than a cramped over-stuffed bow rider. Kids don't need padded seats. Get the most room for your money rather than length.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

Now sit down 'cause I'm gonna share the painful truth with ya.......


It doesn't matter what size you choose, Most likely 3footitis will sit in and you will 'NEED' a bigger boat ...... might take a season or two or it MIGHT stike ya before you can even get her in the water...... I went fairly quickly from 20-26-28'ers and I swear they were shrinking faster than I could keep upgrading.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

Now sit down 'cause I'm gonna share the painful truth with ya.......


It doesn't matter what size you choose, Most likely 3footitis will sit in and you will 'NEED' a bigger boat ...... might take a season or two or it MIGHT stike ya before you can even get her in the water...... I went fairly quickly from 20-26-28'ers and I swear they were shrinking faster than I could keep upgrading.

again, depends on your waters and how you use them. I'd rather have 2 small boats than one big one; a 26-28 would not serve my boating needs at all. And big ones are even more work if you trailer them (yes I know a couple of you say it's nothing to launch/retrieve a cabin cruiser every time you want to go on a boat ride but that's not the typical opinion at all). Furthermore, it's better for a starting boater to work his way up, rather than start with a great big one that takes experience, skill and judgment to operate correctly.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

didn't tell him to get a big cruiser.... Just made the point that MOST people want to upsize from the first boat no matter what size they choose

If they pick up an 8' pond master they'll wish it had been 10' and if they pick up a 58' trawler they'll wish they had gone for the 65'er


Its off topic but since you brought it up: I'll point this out..... you regularly talk about how most people think cruisers are such a pain to trailer.... 98% of those people have never done it.... MOST of us that have actually trailered big boats agree that it's no big deal as long as you have the correct equipment and know what you're doing.

the trailering process is exactly the same for a 12'er as a 30'er... yes it's bigger but there is one coupler, one electrical plug, one jack, one winch, 1 drain plug, and two transom straps.

 

[ONEGA]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

I am have been looking around for my first power boat the last few weeks. I have seen a few but none that I was overly impressed with.

This make me believe that you have hardly ever been on a boat with somebody before. You might want to have some reading down this section. There are hundreds of threads with same question. You will learn a lot. Go rent a boat for a weekend and try to feel it.
Usually people get impressed first, then go buy a boat.

 

[mikereno1]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

I have a 26ft sailboat that I have had for years, but my 3 yr old gets bored very quickly on it and wants to go fast. We have a 3 seat waverunner as well but that isnt cutting it anymore as we would like to all be able to go out on a boat together. It would mostly be my family of four on the boat with occasional guests, I doubt we would need a capacity greater than 8. We have been able to borrow friends boats occasionally and have really enjoyed the options a power boat has. I have used a '95 ski nautique and a '06 25' Cobalt open bow, which was awesome but definitely out of my price range.

The boat would be used on Lake Tahoe primarily as we have a house up there with a buoy. The lake is at about 6000' elevation, fresh water, and can get choppy in the afternoons.

We have an older expedition that will tow anything in this size range, it pulls our sailboat twice a year and it is a tank.

 

[roscoe]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

21-22' v8

 

[mikereno1]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

This make me believe that you have hardly ever been on a boat with somebody before. You might want to have some reading down this section. There are hundreds of threads with same question. You will learn a lot. Go rent a boat for a weekend and try to feel it.
Usually people get impressed first, then go buy a boat.

I wasnt impressed with the condition of the few I have looked at, so didnt even bother with a test drive.

 

[bcbit01]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

I have a '78 Sea Ray SRV 185 closeed-bow with a Mercruiser 165 and I wish I had bought the Century 4500 LX or the Chaparral 2350SX with a 454 when I had the chance. We're always walking all over eachother and there is not enough room to stow everything. Bigger boats can be more versatile and handle a wider range of conditions. I've never been on Tahoe but it strikes me as big water. My Dad had the Sea Ray on Lake Huron before us and it was too rough much of the time. Now he has a 26 footer and he goes out a lot more often. You may run into the same scenario. If you can afford it (and that is different for everyone), get the bigger boat.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

Had a 27'er that never made the water, then a 29'er as my first real boat, now the 34'.

Loving this boat, but a two stateroom diesel sportfish is always on the radar.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: First boat - Get a starter boat or a larger one that I can grow into?

Started with a 24 foot cuddy with a 454/Bravo 1 . . . .

Then I went to a 33 footer . . .

A lot depends on your personal preferences as well as the water conditions and geography that you boat in.