New Guys needs help!

[jasonp]

I've been shopping for boats now for about 3 months looking for that GREAT deal. I have a wife and two daughters so I've compromised on a FS instead of my oft dreamed of bass boat. I've narrowed it down to Triton, Nitro, Skeeter, Ranger or less likely a procraft. I'm leaning towards four stroke but I guess a 2 stroke fuel injected wouldn;t be too bad. Today I thought I found a pretty good deal. I found a 03' Skeeter 190SL with a 150 Yamaha Vmax (not fuel injected) two fish graphs, 74 lb. motoguide 24 v troll, for 15K. Cosmetically, it's probably an 8 out of 10. I would probably jump on it if it were a 4 stroke or even a fuel injected motor. DO you guys think my hang up with carborators is dumb or should I wait? This is my first boat except for my kayak and I just want to make the right decision. Thanks for any advice...JP

 

[Boatist]

Re: New Guys needs help!

Hard to find the perfect boat. 4 stroke or fule injected is a good way to go but will make it much harder to find. People sho sent the extra money and got exactly what they wanted usually keep boat for a long time.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: New Guys needs help!

A whole lotta 4-strokes have carbs too. If you don't like 2-stroke carbs, you'll absolutely Hate 4-stroke carbs.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: New Guys needs help!

One other consideration regarding 2 vs 4-stroke and carbed vs FI is fuel economy. The boat category you indicate as your preference implies that you will be running WOT much of the time. Regardless what you hear and read, at WOT, FI engines VS carbed engines burn nearly the same amount of fuel. If you don't believe that, go to Yamaha's web site and view performance tests of identical boats with both FI and Carbed engines and 2 and 4 strokers. The economy comes at slower speeds. In simple terms, it takes so much fuel to make a given amount of horsepower at WOT and the technology doesn't matter. Pay particular attention to the burn rate (gallons/hr at WOT). You will note that number is generally close to 10% of the horsepower rating regardless of engine type. I run a fuel flow monitor on my two-stroke carbed engine and at WOT it is exactly 10% of HP.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New Guys needs help!

pesonally, you couldn't give my a stroke. and i prefer carbed over FI. seeing this is your 1st boat, take the safe boating course, and don't just join the idiots out there, that have no idea what they are doing.

 

[jasonp]

Re: New Guys needs help!

Thanks guys for the replies. It would be so much easier to just keep and use my tarpon 120 kayak. Unfortunately my wife and kids (claim) they want to go. As far as the WOT, I actually don't think they're brave enough to go WOT if we go tubing. I'm hoping I use it mainly for fishing with the occasional play trip. My friends and I are fishing fanatics and most are frowning on my idea of a fish and ski but I've gotta keep the wife happy right?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New Guys needs help!

you have two choices, sleep with the buddies, or keep the wife happy. Fishing with the kids, can be and should be very quality time. My son from 5 years old was my favorite fishing buddy. He would catch, when no one else could. my sister loves to fish. we were raised fishing, in the morning, skiing mid day, fish in the evening. we didn't have to go, but rarely did the boat go without us.

 

[roscoe]

Re: New Guys needs help!

That Yamaha is a fine motor, and the Skeeter is a fine boat.

BTW, all engines need maintenance, that carbed Yamaha is easier and cheaper to maintain than most.

 

[jasonp]

Re: New Guys needs help!

you have two choices, sleep with the buddies, or keep the wife happy. Fishing with the kids, can be and should be very quality time. My son from 5 years old was my favorite fishing buddy. He would catch, when no one else could. my sister loves to fish. we were raised fishing, in the morning, skiing mid day, fish in the evening. we didn't have to go, but rarely did the boat go without us.

Very well said. My thoughts exactly. Anyway I can get my daughters on the lake/outdoors, I'll take it.

 

[jasonp]

Re: New Guys needs help!

That Yamaha is a fine motor, and the Skeeter is a fine boat.

BTW, all engines need maintenance, that carbed Yamaha is easier and cheaper to maintain than most.

Thanks for the reply. Point well taken. Maybe if this gey give me a better price, I'll go with it. does 15K sound reasonable for a 2003 190sl with that motor?
Jason