New and not sure where to start

[AirKevan]

Greetings to all and thanks in advance for your time.

I'm considering a new assignment down in the Panama City area and if I take this assignment, I will defintely want to do some fishing in that area.

1. I'm looking to use the boat for recreation, (just time out on the water with the family) and fishing. I'd like the boat to be able to hold 8 adults without standing on top of each other.

2. I've got a young family and the boat has to be safe. This is my number one priority.

3. I'd like to be able to stay out on the water at night without coming back to the mainland, but I am not looking to take it so far offshore that I'm planning a trip to only God knows where, though that would be awesome.

4. It would need to sleep my wife and I and our 2 young kids.

5. Talking about offshore, I'm not sure how far off shore I'd need to go to catch any particular fish, but it would seem that I would want 2 engines for redundancy if nothing else... What is an F-16 Fighter (one engine) when it's engine goes out? A lawn dart...I don't want to be stuck in the middle of the ocean...not if I can help it.

I've done a little river fishing when I was a kid on a bass boat, but that is the extent of my experience fishing on the water other than a charter or two...at a minimum I'd be taken the USCG Auxilary classes and would defintely want to be better informed.

From reading the forum, I realize that buying a used boat, it is a must to get a survey as well as go out and give the boat a workout before buying.

Some of the stuff I'm not sure on is where I should start looking...especially regarding size and price...how old is too old and what brands should I just completely steer clear of. Besides these message boards, where and what should I be reading to try and decrease my knowledge gap, as it is obviously quite large.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

-Kevan

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New and not sure where to start

sounds like you are looking for a fairly large boat, i would recommend a cuddy cabin, or small crusier. if open water, i agree twins, either I/O's or Outboards.

Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame. You walk all over the deck, that a mallot, or hammer with wooden handle, using handle, tap all over the transom, a shape rap is good solid base, a thud, is questionable base.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. (This part for outboard motors Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,)
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.
boat motor combo, A 30 year old may be in better condition, than a 3 year old.

 

[AirKevan]

Re: New and not sure where to start

I'd like to pay 30k, but I think I should be willing to go to 50k...however is this the appropriate amount? I know that new boats lose their value faster than anything else and would definitely be looking at used...but how old? and what should I expect?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New and not sure where to start

how old are your children? what boating experience do you have?

 

[pipes0000]

Re: New and not sure where to start

This is a 26' custom weld twin O/B great all around boat for all your needs

good luck finding your boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New and not sure where to start

pipes0000, looks like you are hijacking AirKevan thread. please start your own.

 

[AirKevan]

Re: New and not sure where to start

My kids will be 4-5 years old...as this is not an "I'm going to buy a boat next week" but rather in the next year or two.

As for my own boating experience, next to none really....but I'm a quick learner...especially when I do something stupid...haha

I'm attempting to start looking in the right places to get the information and knowledge that can help me make better decisions.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New and not sure where to start

My kids will be 4-5 years old...as this is not an "I'm going to buy a boat next week" but rather in the next year or two.

As for my own boating experience, next to none really....but I'm a quick learner...especially when I do something stupid...haha

I'm attempting to start looking in the right places to get the information and knowledge that can help me make better decisions.

Welcome to iboats.

Read....read.... read and you will pick up quite a bit of information on what is good and what to avoid.

The single word you need to remember due to the money and your level of experiance would be SURVEY. If you find that boat that will fit your wants and needs please to avoid heartache and keep people honest have a SURVEY performed. It will give you piece of mind and is well worth the investment

 

[AirKevan]

Re: New and not sure where to start

Yeah, a survey will basically be on the top of my list of things to get done when I get serious about a particular boat.

Any brands to stay away from? Looking at some of the boats out there, Sea Ray's have a pretty good layout for what I'm looking for...what is their reputation? Any good boats that always hold up well, assuming they were taken care of? Any brands to stay away from?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New and not sure where to start

seeing you are not rushing. my suggestion is to take the boating courses, and to start renting several different types of boats. this will give you experience, and knowledge of what you like and dislike about certain styles. here is a good read. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=300510

 

[AirKevan]

Re: New and not sure where to start

Ok, so I've been looking at a few different models of boats and brands.

Models

Cuddy Cabins--seems to have more seating, how suitable are they for fishing?
Convertible--seem to be great for fishing, but not for taking many folks on them?
Cruiser--Seems more so to be for entertaining and less for fishing?

***Are these assumptions correct???

Brands

Sea Ray seems to be decent, but seen some pretty negative reviews as well?
Regal seems to be the BMW of the boat world, am I correct?
Others. Etc.... I'm looking for something like a Toyota, but in a boat form...you know...not all the luxary but very reliable?

Anyways, the brands...there's so many. If I could get some input of which brands to stay away from, that would be great.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: New and not sure where to start

The brand of the boat isn't really the same as the brand of a car.

The mechanical systems are all pretty much the same in the boat world.

In the size range you are going to be looking for (25'-30', which is a huge range) you will likely find an I/O to be the most affordable. The engines/drives will likely either be Mercruiser or Volvo Penta.

Beyond that the rest of the mechanical systems will be from various suppliers all of which are about equal.

There are as you observe various levels in the boat ranging from budget minded to premium.

What matters is condition first. Then you need to look at the design elements and how the layout and functionality of the boat will fit your needs.

Looking at the brand of the boat isn't all that important unless you have significant brand loyalty (or disloyalty) towards a particular brand.

 

[AirKevan]

Re: New and not sure where to start

RotaryRacer,

Thanks for that response...this defintely helps me out alot. I'm currently deployed so it's not very easy to go 'climb around' on some boats...just lots of pictures to look at about a ton of different models.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: New and not sure where to start

My brother-in-law is currently stationed at Eglin AFB. I haven't been there myself but it is apparantly a boating paradise. He and my sister both grew up on and around boats and they are satisfied with a 20' bowrider for the type of boating they do there.

Thank you for your service and good luck with the boat hunt.

 

[Lady Litigation]

Re: New and not sure where to start

If you have small children, obviously you'll want at least a cuddy cabin. We have a 23' foot Sea Pro and the cuddy is nice and roomy for a fishing boat. Big enough my husband and I can stretch out and nap and put our one-year-old in between us.

We have a 250 Mercury saltwater series motor...just one though. While a second motor would be nice, they are not cheap. We just keep our Sea Tow membership active for emergencies. Have only had one in the years we have owned the boat. They towed us in free of charge.

BTW, I too live on the gulf, up the coast from where you are moving.