Help me choose our first boat... PLEASE

[scooper77515]

Re: Help me choose our first boat... PLEASE

Don't pass up looking at the Crownline 185. That is what we were looking at before we found this used Glastron 185GX on Craigslist.

Half the price, twice as nice!

We decided slightly used was better for us, financially.

 

[mschmidt33]

Re: Help me choose our first boat... PLEASE

Wish I had room for 2 boats... can'r park it outside in our sub, so it needs to fit in the garage... Comprimise it is.

Hiya & welcome,

I'd agree about all the towing comments you've heard. Last year I bought an older 4x4 expedition to replace one of our family's vans. It makes retrieving my 17' searay I/O on our cottage lake's steep launch a non-issue. I was only successful about 1/4 of the time in pulling out my 16' aluminum tinny on that ramp with my FWD van. I wouldn't have even tried retrieving the I/O with the van on that ramp... (although on a gentler sloped and nice dry/paved ramp I was able to retrieve it) Is there any chance you could keep it on a shore lift or keep it moored to avoid having to launch/retrieve whenever you want to use it?

I also agree about it seeming like there might to be some re-thinking or a larger need for compromise.. At our cottage, I have had only fleeting thoughts of a "do it all" boat... I have the 16' aluminum with 25 hp 4 stroke set up for fishing, and the I/O as a tubing / water sports boat. I've never been fishing in it (who wants fish goo on the nice carpet?). Drop the worm tub or spill my thermos of coffee in the fishing boat? No carpet.. no problem...

It doesn't sound like price is a major factor, so how about 2 gently used boats rather than one new "do it all" boat. You could stagger 'em. Get the family/tubing bowrider first. And then year 2, get a used rig more suited to fishing and getting in the shallows. It's actually quite fun to "raft up" and you'd have the smaller boat as the "tender" for the watersports boat. It's also good if you have guests that you have some of the gang fishing while some are tubing and then swap. Of course if you'd have to always launch retrieve, that would be a drag, doubly so with 2 boats. I'm lucky to have boat house and sheltered dock that I can moor to if I want to leave a boat in the water.

Sounds like you've got some more research to do! (which is fun to a point) But be warned, I don't think I know anybody who has what they consider the "perfect" boat. Instead they either have more than one, or they sell every year or two to try a different style for a while (until the grass looks greener on the other side again).

 

[rw99]

Re: Help me choose our first boat... PLEASE

One thing that I found that was surpisingly different on competing fish/ski boats: front fishing seat position. The Tahoes, for some reason, push the seat post fitting way up in the bow and leave little room for you to operate a standard footpedal. Really crowded. Glastron, on the other hand, center the seat post and provide you with a real nice forward deck in the fishing configuration. It's worth checking out on the makes/models you mentioned. I think I have a thread on this subject here on iboats somewhere...

As for the length of the boat, I have a good friend with a Glastron 185 ski/fish. Both of us by far prefer the 205 ski/fish; once you have six or more people on the boat you're going to crave the extra room. Save yourself the upgrade cost in a couple of years and buy a 20' boat...

 

[mschmidt33]

Re: Help me choose our first boat... PLEASE

Looked at the Bayliner 184... very nice. Though, the 185 was almost 7K cheaper and essentially the same boat without the all the fish upgrades... maybe a couple grand worth.

I think the Q4SF is another nice option, it is a really sharp looking boat with the integrated swim platform.

Thinking of picking up something a few years old as well to save a few bucks. Also I think I'm set on the 4.3MPI. In a little boat like this 17 to 19 ft it should be plenty with the right prop.

The Starcraft 1700 Limited Ski and Fish might work as well. Only 17ft though.

 

[Lucky Dogs 2]

Re: Help me choose our first boat... PLEASE

We have a 2008 sea ray 185 sport, I/O 4.3 at 190 hp. open bow.
We never towed a skiier, but with 4 big men in it we can plain really fast with top end around 42 mph or so. In 2' to 3' waves or less. That should be just fine for you and your family. Most I/O's are around 34" draft, give or take a couple inches on this size boat. The newer boats have drive shafts with universial joints in them. I tilt the outdrive up a 1/4 of the way when in shallow water, fast or slow it seems to do great.

We tow it with our 2008 Town & Country about 15 miles or so to ramp now and then. Long distances we use my truck. With the van, You can tell that something is big and heavy being towed, but it does ok for that short of distance. Pulls the boat up on ramps without spinning wheels. My wife says she uses low gear and little gas while on ramp.

I don't do the car / truck / ramp stuff. My wife does that stuff while I sit in the boat and do everything there once in the water. She will be learning more boat stuff next year.

For the short distance your van should be ok. Not sure of the ramp slope through. If you are buying from a dealer, ask if he can go with you and try towing the boat to the ramp and launch and retrive it. While it is in the water, do a sea trial run with it.

All the dealers I know, will give you a free test run of the boat in the water before you buy it. Just ask.

Let us all know what you end up getting, happy buying.

Lucky Dogs 2 - EDIT

 

[mj05]

Re: Help me choose our first boat... PLEASE

I'd at least look at a Starcraft Islander..... it's a cuddy not an open bow but they do everything and well! The cuddy would be a nice place for the kids to get out of the sun and some have a porta potty. Also they're aluminum so it's much lighter than the glass counterparts.

 

[2ndtry]

Re: Help me choose our first boat... PLEASE

Wish I had room for 2 boats... can'r park it outside in our sub, so it needs to fit in the garage... Comprimise it is.

If you can squeeze a 19' hurricane into your garage you can get one with a windshield (the "sundeck"). They have a nice big front deck that works great for fishing, and it also has a front boarding ladder so the kids can dive, swim and re-enter from the front, away from the motor.

Issues you may have: our boat (hurricane SD195) is almost 8 feet high on the trailer, it just makes under the 8' garage entry (most are 7'), and the boat itself is 8.5 feet wide. I don't think I have the skill to back it up through a single door. We also do not have a folding tongue, so all told its over 22' long.