please help what boat to invest in?

[dingodan]

I'm trying to find my new boat after my last one (15' fiberglass lund) had to go due to rotten floor and transom. so i guess ill upgrade. I'm looking for something not too big (18' max) but preferably a 17'. Something good in ocean for it's size will be used for salmon fishing and pleasure cruising. will be leaving it moored at my dock throughout the summer months. Don't want centre console or bowrider I will be spending the night in it once and a while but don't mind sleeping on fold out sleeper seats. also dont want to spend more on gas than necessary so lighter is better. my budget is about 9 or 10 grand so am definitely looking in the used classifieds given my criteria. does anyone have experience with boats of this size and purpose and knows what the good buys are? been looking at brands like campion and hourston glascraft. are these quality fiberglass boats? what are some others? please help i don't want to buy something ill regret. thanks

 

[sam60]

Re: please help what boat to invest in?

Mine, of course! I will send you a wish list and my address.

Sorry, I'm no help here.

 

[CPTom21]

Re: please help what boat to invest in?

Around here(Syracuse, NY) you could find a 17' ten year old boat in perfect shape at a marina for your price range. It sounds like you live near the ocean, so I'm guessing used boats go for a bit more. Where do u live? Maybe search a bit farther inland. Never know you may find the boat of your dreams.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: please help what boat to invest in?

"What boat to invest in?"

Yowser! I didn't know that small privately owned pleasure boats were investments.

B.O.A.T. = Bust Out Another Thousand

Just kidding...about the investment part.

 

[JoLin]

Re: please help what boat to invest in?

I'm at a loss. You have contradictory requirements-

1. Small, light 17'

2. Good in the ocean and for fishing

3. Enough room to sleep on

I can't think of anything that fits. Add 4-5' to that length and there're a bunch of walkaround cuddies that would fit the bill.

My .02

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: please help what boat to invest in?

^+1. your going to be bigger than 17 or 18'

Boats are the opposite of an investment. investments make money, a boat is a hole in the water to pour money into.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: please help what boat to invest in?

I'm at a loss. You have contradictory requirements-

1. Small, light 17'

2. Good in the ocean and for fishing

3. Enough room to sleep on

I can't think of anything that fits. Add 4-5' to that length and there're a bunch of walkaround cuddies that would fit the bill.

My .02

agreed. However he says he'll sleep on the fold outs. When I was in high school we'd have overnight boat parties, and slept on the fold-out seats in a 16' starcraft. Woke up soaked from dew, but back then who cares? Also used the boat fishing in the Chesapeake Bay so if you pick your days and either know what you're doing or have "the lord looks out for fools and drunkards" can do OK in coastal waters. An 18' would be even better. My friend's dad would take his 18' starcraft out Rudee Inlet into the ocean.

Even though those old Starcrafts were called bow riders, they didn't have that scooped bow like the others and really were like a dual console, in that they had a seaworthy hull. Good approach into waves; good splash rails. Everyone here knows how I feel about bowrider sofaboats but my old starcrafts were an exception.

I know the OP said fiberglass but this is just a suggestion. You may find back to back seats in a fiberglass bowrider/dual console with a seaworthy hull, but it will take some doing.

You could also rig a center console with the console off center and sleep on the deck. We riggeda 19' Carolina Skiff that way to have more room for hauling stuff and it works well having a wide aisle.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: please help what boat to invest in?

Look for an 18 or 19 foot Trophy walk around. I believe they made 18' versions with a small cuddy. Should be fairly light, and would most likely fit your criteria.