Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

[bracso]

So if my wife and i were to buy a brand new 18ft ski/fish boat,then who are some good brands or does that even matter?Plus what are some key features and facts to know about and look for in a new 18ft boat,I know always get a more powerful engine than what it comes with,but what else because we plan on going around the lake norman area this sat to look and i would def like to have a little knowledge and be a little prepared,because i dont know if these salesman for boats are sharks just like car salesmen,lol,any helpful information again would be greatly appreciated.....Thanks Again

 

[Samvq1]

Re: Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

The fist step, before you even look at boats or brands, is to determine exactly how you are going to use the boat. How much fishing or how much skiing are you going to do. That will also help determine what features are important to you. I can tell you that an 18 footer gets pretty crowded very quickly if bringing a lot of gear and passengers. As far as salesmen, there are good and bad but if you go in without researching the products enter at your own risk.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

So if my wife and i were to buy a brand new 18ft ski/fish boat,then who are some good brands or does that even matter?Plus what are some key features and facts to know about and look for in a new 18ft boat,I know always get a more powerful engine than what it comes with,but what else because we plan on going around the lake norman area this sat to look and i would def like to have a little knowledge and be a little prepared,because i dont know if these salesman for boats are sharks just like car salesmen,lol,any helpful information again would be greatly appreciated.....Thanks Again

You are not going to find the Cadallac of boats in an 18 footer, so most of the brands that you will be looking at are about the same. So, it will be like comparing Fords and Chevy's.

My suggestion is to leave your checkbook at home, but bring your note pad when you go to look at boats initially. Then let us know what brands you have in your area.

Also you can go to www.nada.com and go to the consumer section and then boats. You will see listings of the popular brands and you can do some web searching, etc.

 

[bracso]

Re: Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

You are not going to find the Cadallac of boats in an 18 footer, so most of the brands that you will be looking at are about the same. So, it will be like comparing Fords and Chevy's.

My suggestion is to leave your checkbook at home, but bring your note pad when you go to look at boats initially. Then let us know what brands you have in your area.

Also you can go to www.nada.com and go to the consumer section and then boats. You will see listings of the popular brands and you can do some web searching, etc.

Great thank you,I will definitely look at that website.We dont have family here in north carolina so much of the time it will just be my wife and i going out to the lake for pleasure rides and me fishing every once in awhile.Wont do much skiing from the boat mostly tubing.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

Great thank you,I will definitely look at that website.We dont have family here in north carolina so much of the time it will just be my wife and i going out to the lake for pleasure rides and me fishing every once in awhile.Wont do much skiing from the boat mostly tubing.

uuuummmm.....you're probably going to make some news friends

 

[roscoe]

Re: Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

How you use it, and under what conditions, are very important.

Rough choppy waters, heavier is better. But that requires a bigger motor, tow vehicle, and more gas for both.


A really nice fish and ski, that does both real well, in comfort and style, is a Ranger Reata.

Handles the rough water well too.

But I would look at the 20' just for the layout.

They've got 5 or 6 different configurations of the Reata to choose from.


If you want something a little lighter, look at the Crestliner aluminum Sportfish, or the SuperHawk..

 

[Ernest T]

Re: Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

How you use it, and under what conditions, are very important.

Rough choppy waters, heavier is better. But that requires a bigger motor, tow vehicle, and more gas for both.


A really nice fish and ski, that does both real well, in comfort and style, is a Ranger Reata.

Handles the rough water well too.

But I would look at the 20' just for the layout.

They've got 5 or 6 different configurations of the Reata to choose from.


If you want something a little lighter, look at the Crestliner aluminum Sportfish, or the SuperHawk..

+1 If you are on the south end of Norman, it can get pretty rough. You get beat up down there in a small boat. You may want to look a little bigger. It's not so bad north of Highway 150.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

It sounds like fishing is a lower priority than having a comfortable riding/cruising boat and a good place to lounge.

Fish & Ski boats come in 4 basic categories:

Bowriders with a trolling motor and pedestal seats
Bass boats with a windshield
Aluminum fishing boats with a windshield
Dual console salt water fishing boats

You didn't mention what your budget is. I would, however, assume that price is a concern and that based on your "fishing every once and a while" comment that a bowrider with a trolling motor is what you are looking for.

Here are some options:

http://www.glastron.com/ModelPage.aspx?ModelRef=203
http://www.larsonboats.com/lx860-sf.php#
http://www.tahoeboats.com/boat/?boat=3455

I would also say that Four Winns is probably worth looking at. They offer a fish/ski package on their H180 and the H180 OB.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

Since this is the 2nd thread the OP started with the same subject, here is the first thread so as not to repeat what was already recommended.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=539029

 

[jkust]

Re: Ok So If Buying New??Then Who?

I could say a lot but I will say this given your use. Look for the heaviest dry weight 18 footer you can. NADA lists their dry weights. Generally with a few exceptions, the heavier the dry weight, the nicer a boat it is. In otherwords for an 18 footer with the same exact engine, some weigh 2100lbs and some weigh 3000lbs. Along with that then the heavier the boat, the more expensive it will be and the larger the gas tank it will have for your big water boating. I could pick out the nicest boats from a spreadsheet with nothing but a list of dry weights generally speaking. That is slightly changing with the newest boats as the higher end boats are being dumbed down and the cheapest boats are starting to get it together.