Re: Looking for Runabout 16-17 ft Max.
I just had a few more comments.
The small jetboats that were mentioned don't really fit the bill for big water. My experience has been that they have low freeboard and very low bows that would like to cause the boat to submarine under waves.
Thanks, RotaryRacer. I guess I didn't make myself clear. We've got a small jetboat, as do a couple of friends. We would never consider taking ours onto Lake Michigan (closest to us) unless it was a very rare dead-calm day -- and even then I don't think I would. However, that type of boat does meet a couple of his objectives.
As I understand atengnr, he's got 3 objectives:
1) Boat and trailer have to be short enough to fit in his garage, so probably 16' - 18' max.
2) Boat and trailer must be light enough (< 2500#) so he doesn't have to upgrade his tow vehicle.
3) Boat should be ok on big water (Lake Huron or Lake Sinclair).
Goals 1 and 2 are quite compatible.
Goals (1+2) are not very compatible with goal # 3. The best compromise might be a Whaler type of boat.
atengnr may need to weigh his objectives and see just what trade-offs or compromises he's willing to take. As I recall, there hasn't been much said yet on costs, and that could be a big factor, too.
atengnr, not sure where in Detroit area you are, but you might look around marinas in the NW metro area west of Pontiac, between Keego Harbor and Sylvan Lake to Waterford and west to Hartland. Because there are lots of small inland lakes around there, they would more likely have something along the lines you're looking for. (It's been over 33 years since we lived in that area, but I can't think they've changed that much).
