Looking to get back into boating

[Noob82]

Hi: I'm new here. I've been out of boating for about 35 years d/t job/moving, etc., but I'm back in sunny Melbourne Beach, FL after a 25 year absence. I swore I'd get a boat again once I moved back down here.

My last boat was a 18' Larson tri-hull with an Evinrude 115 2-stroke. For a new boat, I'm going to look at something 20'-25', trailerable, and will be used for recreation (we have 10 year old twins we adopted a 4 years ago) on the intercoastal waterway and close to shore.

While fishing the Sebastian inlet, I get to see boats heading out to sea and back in. It seems like the catamarans move through the water more smoothly than typical v-hulls. But cats weren't very popular 35 years ago. What is the opinion of them these days?

I've been out of the boating loop and would greatly appreciate your comments.

Thanks in advance.

 

[INJUN]

Re: Looking to get back into boating

I'm sure that owners of cats will pipe in with more info.

I hear that they are alot more stable or don't rock as much and they usually require twin engines.

Check out a boat show for a wealth of info (show season is just about here).

I'm not sure about Florida, but most states require you to take a safe boating course to get a certificate before you can operate a boat.

Welcome back.

 

[Noob82]

Re: Looking to get back into boating

Thanks. I've taken the boating safety course already. It was a good review of stuff that I had forgotten.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: Looking to get back into boating

I'm a parent of twins as well (6 year old boy and girl). I just recently got back into boating, and my kids LOVE it. The best investment I've made in quite a while was in an old 19 foot bowrider. My kids now love doing stuff WITH me... as long as it involves our boat.

I have no idea what kind of boat you need, but whatever kind you get, I'm sure ya'll will enjoy it.