How long did you search for your perfect boat?

[cube21]

Just wondering.
How long did it take you all to find the boat you really wanted?

We got the idea of wanting a boat in June of last summer. Narrowed down our specs by August. And now we are into our 6th month for finding what we want.
Starting to think our needs are too specific.. But were still looking!

-CUBE-

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

What are your needs?

Maybe we can help you broaden your search to other boats that may be close that you just haven't found yet. There are all sorts of different boats out there. I don't think any single person can know about all of them.

Give us a chance to help you.

 

[cbavier]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

Well it took me four almost five months to find the one I have now. I've been looking 43 years for the perfect one but I haven't found it yet. I think after having four different boats and one Pontoon over about 46 years that I have learned a few things to look for if I should ever think about buying another boat. Like stated above determine what your needs are now and will be in say ten years. Write them down. Then list/post them and perhaps we can steer you or at least give you our ideas and opinions.

 

[642mx]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

We looked for about a month and found what we thought was the perfect boat for us.... now, after owning it a year we've decided we need something bigger (which I hear is very common with boat ownership )

 

[Floatsum]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

44 years and still looking!:redface:
My taste / wants / needs keep changing.

 

[Chiliando]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

I started looking for my fisrt boat last June also. Bought my current one in August. I did not want to start with a new or very large ride as my first so I could make sure boating was for the famlily and so we could learn as we went along. We have done few things to the boat since we got it so it just right for us before the summer.

I have allready had great and memorable times in the short time we have had her.

Don't take toooo much time as the experiences are what matter the most.

This is a great time to buy a boat and there are many, many great boats available at very reasonable prices.

Just my $.02

 

[capt sam]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

me too, still always looking.

 

[mthieme]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

It took me 2-3 months to find my 'Ray. I scanned countless ads...looked at many boats...spent a lot of time. When I was almost ready to give up, not even out looking one day and there she was, perched majestically in someone's front lawn. One of my better purchases.
I had been looking for a 13' Whaler for two years when I did give up as a 14' McKee presented itself for cheap. Close enough!
I'm always on the lookout though, usually just casually.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

Mine was sitting in somebody's back yard and when he was out one day I asked him to wash my boat and he said "you want to buy the boat" I said sure do got a sweet deal and it has been loads of fun

 

[salmonee]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

Doesn't exist. I looked nearly every day for a year.

 

[lowkee]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

The perfect boat for me:

Never finished
Always runs
Floats
Fits everyone

..Luckily only one item changes over time

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

9 months. Needed to wait until November to get a good deal.

 

[cadunkle]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

I was checking Craigslist a couple times a week for a few weeks before I found mine. Found a few that kinda interested me but woulda been a compromise, so didn't buy any. But finally saw it listed in the barter/trade section (first time I checked there). Guy mentioned whatever price he wanted, which was more than I had to spend on a boat, but also mentioned a possible trade for a classic convertible. Just so happens I decided to sell my '66 Galaxie convertible which had been listed on Craigslist for some time. Got a bunch of calls about it but no one had cash, and any partial trade I was offered weren't up my alley.

So, long story short, I traded this:

For this:

I'd like a more go-fast type boat, but I got this primarily for kneeboarding and wakeboarding. It serves it's purpose just fine. It's only got a 260 HP Mercruiser/Chevy 350 (I'm a Ford guy, it kills me). Of course after I got this I found the same boat on Craigslist with a 460/King Cobra. I would have loved to have that boat but the price was too high unless I could sell my Galaxie outright for cash, and then the other problem was that it was 3000 miles away on the opposite coast. For days I'm just out on the water chilling it would be nice to have a larger boat, I like older Liberators, but a larger boat isn't feasible for me at the moment and something like a Liberator wouldn't be nearly so practical for boarding.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

four years and three boats
spent 10 months looking to find the last one. looked at a bunch befor we found it. after we found it i think it was another 2 months by the time we worked a deal.

 

[cube21]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

Nice replys guys. Maybe Ill post a "wanted" thread about exactly what we want. We have 'looked at' at least 10 boats now, and for some reason or another none of them have been everything we want. I have spent AT LEAST 30 min a day 7 days a week on the internet since november.

Basic details:
19-21 ft Bowrider
Capacity of at least 9
Back to back seating (not sport seating with rear bench)
2000 or newer
5.0L in/out
hoping for 15k or less.

So....we have just not had any luck. Gotten reeeaaaal close once or twice. But something is always against us. Hoping to snatch one before summer when prices go up again, IF we find it.

-CUBE-

 

[lowkee]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

19-21 ft Bowrider
Capacity of at least 9

Geez, I think those are pretty much mutually exclusive. I have a 20' and I think it'd be a tight squeeze with six *maybe* seven. I went with a 20' and It's only my wife and I with 2 dogs. You may outgrow a 21' the first time you take it out.

Something to think about.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

i now have 3, each one a different use. quit looking for perfect boat.

the closest i have come is the deckboat style boats.

 

[cube21]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

Geez, I think those are pretty much mutually exclusive. I have a 20' and I think it'd be a tight squeeze with six *maybe* seven. I went with a 20' and It's only my wife and I with 2 dogs. You may outgrow a 21' the first time you take it out.

Something to think about.

Its not that we want to cram 9 people into the boat at one time. 90% of its use will be with 4-5 people. We want the extra capacity for the weight of gear and items that will be brought along. Most 8-seaters have a weight capacity that we would reach nearly everytime on the water (I expect). So going with a 9-rated boat will allow us to bring that extra cooler...etc.

Don't want to swing this thread too far to MY personal needs. Just wanted to hear about your stories. Ill post a wanted ad to get more in depth.

Thanks guys,
keep 'em coming
-CUBE-

 

[idrownworms]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

Still trying to find Hermione Granger and make friends with her, the perfect boat for me would involve a lot of magic

My current boat though doesn't do a lot of things I'd like but does enough of them to keep me happy and that boat took me just over a summer to find. The main problem I found was rotting transoms
Whenever I'd go and look at a boat I'd tell myself to - endeavor to persevere- and to just walk away if something was wrong or the seller was to pushy or (you get the idea)

 

[mattttt25]

Re: How long did you search for your perfect boat?

First of all, there is no perfect boat. A boat purchase is a compromise at best. None can provide everything you want. With that said...

I knew what I wanted in my next boat roughly 2 years ago. I started shopping and searching. I thought I wanted something in the 30-32' range, fishy yet family friendly.

Actually put a few offers on some boats and they all fell through. Thought they were the right boat at the time and was a little upset.

Then one day, about a year ago, I decided to open my search criteria and included 29' boats. Suddenly, I started finding Wellcraft Coastal 290's. I went and looked at a few and then found one at the right price.

After a full season of ownership, this is the "perfect" boat for me right now. Moral of story? I don't know, but think about it. It took me one year to find the right boat. Open your search a bit and you may shorten that timeframe. Good look.