still looking for my first...

[dalman]

I am still hunting and coming across some interesting options....and being careful to remember this will be my first so perhaps starting smaller then upgrading down the road is the way to go (once I get my sea legs...yes, the pun was intended).
anyway, I have come across a chris craft 17ft concept bowrider...and would be interested in how that boat would compare to the previously discussed stingray vs sea ray thread I started.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about what I am looking for and to be honest 9 times of 10 it will be me, my wife and 2 small kids in the boat, or pulling on a tube so in the short term, until the kids get bigger and start bringing their friends around I am thinking that as much as it would be "nice" to have something bigger and more powerful...I won't really "need"now but down the road...

now that's my theory is it that practical?
cheers,

 

[sickwilly]

Re: still looking for my first...

It sounds to me like you have decided on length and power train.

Also, I know you are looking at older boats.

Thus for me, it would not be about sea ray versus stingray, versus chris craft concept, versus >>insert boat name here<<, as it would just be about the best maintained and best conditioned of the used boats that meats your specs.

Perhaps you should call a couple of local boat mechanics and tell them what you are looking for and to keep an eye out on a great, well maintained boat that you hear someone is trying to dump quickly. Right now they should be backed up with a line of boats to winterize.

All that being said, if the Chris Craft is beautiful and looks like it was obsessively maintained, go for it.

 

[KCook]

Re: still looking for my first...

Boat size is not about the people load alone. A 17 footer is Ok for a mild lake or river. Lakes with a lot of big boat traffic (cruiser size wakes) will need a bigger boat for the better ride.

Kelly Cook

 

[orion25]

Re: still looking for my first...

I would say you need a 17' to 21' bowrider. It would last you into that time when your kids have boyfriends/girlfriends/just friends that want to enjoy the water. Keep in mind that they may like the tube now but they will want the wakeboard or skis in the future. If you will be keeping this boat thru that then you should play close attention to the engine. A 4 banger would be OK at best, a 6 cylinder would be better and a V8 would be perfect! If you are going with an OB I cannot help................ For sterndrives I would consider the Mercruiser 4.3 V6 as the minimum & a 4.3 MPI would be better.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: still looking for my first...

i have a 99 chris craft 230 deckboat, 5.7 VP. totally love it. what year and drive train is the concept. how old are the kids?

 

[Capt. Valk]

Re: still looking for my first...

I would ask a marine surveyer how much for a boat that small. If its only a few buck ya can't go wrong. Lots of wood on the old boats and lots of chances for rot.

 

[steelespike]

Re: still looking for my first...

This may have been discussed allrerady.I wonder why you are going with an I/O as a first boat.What with their heavier weight more complicated maintenance,limited performance tweaking and handling caracteristics.
You may want to look in the prop section for I/O Qs.Also look for planing Qs.
It appears to me that while all boats have similar performance problems the
I/O appears to have limited solutions.It seems to me that when considering a
boat in the 17-20 ft range an outboard would be the first consideration.
Any way good luck with your search.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: still looking for my first...

as i ask before what year and drive train is the concept. how old are the kids?

 

[sickwilly]

Re: still looking for my first...

Thinking about this further, when you ask about a boat, definitely say the drive train and hours. I think that is where you will get a lot of iboats experience.

For example, I think most here will warn you to stay away from an older boat with an OMC drive.

 

[dalman]

Re: still looking for my first...

the chris craft that caught my attention is as follows:
All fiberglass ski boat with fish package:
Model: 17 Concept Bowrider
Engine: Volvo Penta / 3.0 GS I/O 4-cylinder 135HP
Sterndrive: Volvo Cobra SX
Seats 7 adults
What it has:
1. New passenger & driver seats, new cushions/apholstery ($1500)
2. bow mounted, multi-speed, foot operated trolling motor
3. Depth finder/alarm/fish finder
4. Hydraulically controlled trim, trim indicator
5. Power Steering
6. 98 hours...yes...only 98 hours


so a couple things caught my eye, the hours on the engine, the shape (pics lookied really good) and the price is well within my range.

and in reply to tashasdaddy (I am Liv and Luke's daddy) they are 2 and 5 so still young.

cheers all and thanks again for the constructive feedback.

 

[amynbill]

Re: still looking for my first...

t

and in reply to tashasdaddy (I am Liv and Luke's daddy) they are 2 and 5 so still young.

.

My 12 and 7 year olds were 6 and 1 about 8 days ago

Goes quickly...plan ahead!

 

[dalman]

Re: still looking for my first...

tell me about it..my daughter started kindergarten this year and it was just a blink when....
which is to be honest why we are looking for a boat..we bought a trailer that sits on a nice little lot on a great lake...now we need the boat. We are both teachers (wife and I) so we are able to enjoy full summers and get tons of family time and seeing the way my kids love our friends boat it really is a no brainer to get one, now I just need to buy one!
cheers all.

 

[oops!]

Re: still looking for my first...

what type of lake is it?
big or small? long or wide?
storms come up on lakes so fast in canada that you dont have time to down you beer never mind pull the anchor.
make sure the hull can stand whatever the lake can throw at it, and then some. dont get crazy just make sure there is enough freeboard to be safe in larger waters.
tee hee, man when you get your boat your gonna have funnnnn!!!!

oh by the way, how much money do you make?

Bring Out Another Thousand!
no discouragement .we love this stuff or we wouldnt be on this site!

 

[dalman]

Re: still looking for my first...

it's nicola lake...

 

[oops!]

Re: still looking for my first...

good luck bud!
you need a boat if you live in this area!
have fun!

BTW rockets fan or blazers?

 

[dalman]

Re: still looking for my first...

neither really...played vs Blazers a lifetime ago and Kelowna wasn't around then so...I cheer for my wife's team...
P