new to boats, what should i get?

[3hog]

im looking for something that i can hotrod around in, wakeboard, tube, knee board, party and attrack some girls. whats junk and what will last? im lookin at getting a used boat. cheaper the better but def dont want something that is gonna break. less than 10k sounds good but 2k sounds better. i like power. in or outboard? opinions please

 

[kyle f]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

LOL, a $2000 boat will break down all the time and will already look like crap.

Inboards are not for hot rodding and will not be fast boats, even if you find an older one with a 454, their hull is not a performance hull.

I/Os or Outboards will not be great for boarding, but can be hot rodded.

If I were you, I would suggest getting your $10,000 together and finding an older I/O with a V8 for around $6000, add a tower and a nice stereo and enjoy. You will be under your 10K budget and have a decent boat. Once you see what you use it for the most, you should be able to re-coup most of your money and get a boat that is more dedicated to your usage.

 

[tgell001]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

You can get a WAY newer and more sporty I/O for your money. But, like Kyle said, its all about what your primary use is going to be for. I'd say for an "all around" boat I'd go I/O, you'll have no problem wakeboarding behind it for fun and you'll be able to buy something newer then 1999 for sure for 8-10K. For that budget youll be in the early 90's if you go Inboard, and a 2003 I/O will look a lot nicer and attract the ladies haha (but all boats do).

 

[WildH2Oskier]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

Get the I/O play with it and when you know a little more about what you want pass it on and get something else. I'm a straight inboard man. I've had the I/Os and an outboard or two but when I decided it was time to get serious I got a serious boat. But now we ski and board hard from early season till after other folks have put up their Christmas lights.

Chicks are gonna party in any boat their bikinis land in.

As far as performance goes well that depends on what your definition of performance is. I'll take on most any I/O out of the hole to 40 mph. I'll also take them on in a handling and turning contest. True I'm not going to hit 60 mph but then again who really needs to? If there are white caps on the water an I/O is a better choice but then again if its like that I'm going to do something else.
My boat doesn't have a grill or seat 13 like a pontoon.
Just remember when Chevrolet wanted to put the Corvette on the water They chose to do it with an inboard.
http://www.malibuboats.com/boats/corvette

And no I can't afford one of these but a man can dream can't he.

 

[TMoNeE]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

my inboard does about 50 and gets there with a quickness, and will pull a 300 lb guy out of the water with ease, looks great with the tower and stuff... i dunno, im kind of an inboard guy also

 

[SeanT]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

I'm definitely an inboard guy too. I likely won't ever buy another I/O.

 

[tgell001]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

but you also i'm sure have stepped up you budget since you purchased an I/O. Any boat hes going to get for his budget that is inboard is going to be junk

 

[SeanT]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

Agreed.

Though I have seen at least one Supra Comp, model year 1984 for under 10k. It was such a nice boat that I definitely would have given it a serious look if I didn't already have one.

 

[WildH2Oskier]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

but you also i'm sure have stepped up you budget since you purchased an I/O. Any boat hes going to get for his budget that is inboard is going to be junk

Thats why I said for him to initially buy an I/O. If he decides boating is really not the thing for him he won't be out a pile of money. If he decided he really likes it then spending the money for the ease of use and quality of of an inboard will be a no brainer.
Either way...he wins!!
Now I don't know about where you live but around here you can get a mid-80's to early mid 90's Nautique, Mastercraft etc. for less than 10K. For that get to not have hassles of having 1/2 an outboard hanging off the back in the way of skiers/boaders/swimmers, having to teach new drivers how to handle a tilt/trim unit, a big swim platform on the back for putting gear on and off, the ability to pull any and everybody up on anything at any time.

 

[WildH2Oskier]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

I'm definitely an inboard guy too. I likely won't ever buy another I/O.

That is what at least 9 out of 10 former I/O owners say.

 

[kyle f]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

Get the I/O play with it and when you know a little more about what you want pass it on and get something else. I'm a straight inboard man. I've had the I/Os and an outboard or two but when I decided it was time to get serious I got a serious boat. But now we ski and board hard from early season till after other folks have put up their Christmas lights.

Chicks are gonna party in any boat their bikinis land in.

As far as performance goes well that depends on what your definition of performance is. I'll take on most any I/O out of the hole to 40 mph. I'll also take them on in a handling and turning contest. True I'm not going to hit 60 mph but then again who really needs to? If there are white caps on the water an I/O is a better choice but then again if its like that I'm going to do something else.
My boat doesn't have a grill or seat 13 like a pontoon.
Just remember when Chevrolet wanted to put the Corvette on the water They chose to do it with an inboard.
http://www.malibuboats.com/boats/corvette

And no I can't afford one of these but a man can dream can't he.

Im definately an inboard guy to. My boat tops off at 43mph... and it can do it empty really quick, and still get there with the bimini top up and 10 adults on board.

However, no matter what kind of engine we use, it would not be smart to be running our hulls at 60+mph. They are just not made for it, and a perfromance hull (Baja, Checkmate etc.) will do it with less engine. That is a hot rod boat to me. The ones with the loud thru hull exhaust and what not.

The Corvette boat is certainly an interesting boat, but I am not sure of the concept other than to sell ot Corvette owners.

 

[WildH2Oskier]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

I don't have a vette but I would buy oone of these in a heartbeat. Actually I would step back a few years and buy one of the straight inboard models. I don't really like the way a V drive handles.

 

[kyle f]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

Its a nice touch that they have power windows on the sides

 

[skibrain]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

Deleted

 

[dailygrind]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

I would say most any Malibu from 93 - present.

We have had a 93 and a buddy has an 04 LSV and has done nothing to the LSV for the 5 years he has had it. (except normal maint).

 

[WildH2Oskier]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

When you stop and think about it there is a lot less to break and need maint, on an inboard than on an I/O or an outboard. Its a pure boat.

 

[SeanT]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

I've been thinking pretty much the same thing, but sort of afraid to say it thinking I might get jumped on. I agree, it feels "pure", though I willingly admit that I lose out on some features like trim/depth adjustment. Thing is, I don't miss those.

 

[kyle f]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

I've been thinking pretty much the same thing, but sort of afraid to say it thinking I might get jumped on. I agree, it feels "pure", though I willingly admit that I lose out on some features like trim/depth adjustment. Thing is, I don't miss those.

Me either, guess thats what you get boating on a deep lake.

 

[WildH2Oskier]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

Well if they want to jump on me.....it happened when I expressed my belief when I first joined on here. Anything that an I/O can do better than an inboard can be done even better still with a pontoon.

 

[skibrain]

Re: new to boats, what should i get?

What's with people start a thread with a question or ask for an opinion and then never show up again?