First time boat purchase, please advise

[southkogs]

I like Four Winns boats, but honestly I think the Bayliner is a better deal. If the Four Winns came down a bit in price I would say it would be more in line.

The Mariah feels a bit overpriced too - but the extra space, nicer build and the extra power would make it a nice boat. It's a 2000 though, and $10k feels a bit much.

... I'm getting to be a real cheapskate!

 

[jkust]

Wow, that Four Winns I think is the cheapest looking contemporary boat I may have ever seen. I don't see any redeaming qualities in that one...maybe it has a glass floor with snap in carpet or at least I think it does but it's not expensive. The Mariah is about what I expect from them in that vintage.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Without going into my speech about how many people can really fit "comfortably" in a 20 foot Bowrider. All the boats you are looking at are too small for what you intend on using it for. Throw a few water toys in it and all the ladies luggage and you have room for 3. In order to ensure any boat is large enough ask all your guests to chip in for the real cost of running a boat not a few bucks for gas. I say that tongue in cheek because we never do. It's not often you are invited for dinner to friends places and are presented a bill for alla cart. That is unless you are my bro-in-law. He actually asked for cash to cover the Lobster he bought. 23 years and I have never been back. Digress much Johnny D?

Shop for a bigger boat which is tough on your budget, good luck.

 

[jkust]

10k in a boat that will fit the people you are suggesting suddenly becomes an inadequate budget for something turnkey. You are now back in the 90's with what was the state of the art meaning a lot more wood in the boat and more possible issues. The 2000's ushered in better materials that are impervious to water and don't rot but that each manufacturer adopted at a different speed. Wood is fine, actually its properties are good in the structure of the boat but it's prone to rot especially in the seat bases, floor, et (ignoring the stringers). Many manufacturers kept their wood and composite stringers but got rid of the rest of the wood In their boats. So now you are dealing with all the issues of locating that perfect boat and dealing with a much higher probability of rot you can't see.