Re: How much do you use your cuddy for sleeping?
Buy what you think is best now, you will want something else in one to two years anyways.
In winter 2009 we bought a new untitled 2008 sea ray 185 sport bow rider. 4.3 V-6. We thought we would just putts around for a couple of hours here and there, now and then. We could pull and launch it with motor home also.
We could camp and boat at the same time in differnt locations.
In summer of 2010 we bought a 2004 Four Winns 248 pocket cruiser.
We had decided we needed something with a potty most of all. Also would be nice to get out of the sun and heat sometimes. It would be nice to spend nights at our dock and cruise to other locations, spend the night and come home the next day.
Yes, we did keep the "little Boat".
The little boat beheind the motor home went to the Ohio River for a weekend, and went to New Mexico for a two week trip.
The "big boat", we keep at a marina / campground where we have a 29' trailer at Port Clinton Ohio. That is at the West end of Lake Erie in Ohio.
We spend most week ends there and visit the Lake Erie Islands a lot. It is nice to come back the the boat and sit in the cabin and just relax with the AC going. We can clean up, change, eat if we want to. Oh yea, nap too.
We don't speed, just putts around with either boat. We can go five hours at 20 to 25 mph and hardly use more than a half tank of gas in either boat. Small boat tank is around 26 gals. and the big boat has around 70 gals of gas.
We like the big boat because we don't bounce around as much and we can go out on those "iffy" days it might rain. We can always put up the camper top enclosur, and not miss another day out on the lake. I can still stand up and drive with camper top on if need to.
We worry about brake downs and maintance and upkeep, so we went as new as possible. If you are handy or don't worry about older boat troubles I suggest getting two older boats at the same cost as one new boat. You will have the best of both worlds as we do. It is nice to have boating options.
If money is not an issue, get two new boats to cover all your boating needs.
What the heck, just have fun for awhile, while you can.
Our "big Boat" is still at the size we can tow it with our 2009 Chevy Siverado 2-wheel drive but with possi rearend and traileing package if we want to. We have not towed it with motor home yet, but have considered it in the future.
We have not decided to keep or sell the little boat. Two boats are nice for different types of boating, but we are thinking of getting a 26' cruiser and trade in both of these others. It can still be towed, not far maybe, but now and then, who knows.
It is a tuff decission, buying a boat. Big or small, new or used, one or two.
Take a few in water trials in a couple of sizes. Don't let the size of bigger boats scare you away. After a couple of trips out, you will be use to whatever you get. Think about all involved, kids, wife, friends, etc.
The next time your ready for another boat, maybe your kids will be old enough to buy the old one from you. Not only will the kids be hanging around forever,
, but you'll always have that first boat too.
Let us all know what you end up with.
Lucky Dogs 2 -
