Re: Talk me out of... err, umm... or into this boat purchase...?
Update: I already have my new Hull Identification Number from Checkmate.
What good are you people? I mean, you can't stop me from buying a boat like this?
To all those who offered counterpoints: Thank you. Seriously... it made me take a deeper look at things. If she didn't have almost the same deadrise as the Scarab (22 vs. 23) and if I was really scared and knew I shouldn't be doing this, you would have made me realize this. Thankfully, you did slap me in the face with a wet fish, so I got down to details and logic and took emotion out of it.
We kept looking at how we boat, where we boat and what everyone wants to do on the boat. We considered the waters, and our experiences on smaller open bow boats. We discussed I/O versus outboards, and friends and relatives chimed in. We do get to have something that is flashy, because we also have a very utilitarian 17' Alumacraft that we fish and crab from. If the boys want to smell like fish, they can do it on the Alumacraft.
So, anyway, I will toss and turn over the money, but we've sacrificed a couple of vacations and I do all home improvements myself, to the tune of god-knows-how-much-money saved, and that is our justification for something new and shiny.
As for you Lake Meaders and other lakers: You got some nice looking boats. At 20? of deadrise, it just wouldn't work in these parts (some have more, but way too much $$$!). I was just looking over Essex boats for kicks. Darn... so nice. I Drool!
Happy Boating!
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