The difficult choices in Boating

[salmonee]

Finding a boat can be frustrated. I've been looking for a year and my choices has jumped from aluminum to fiberglass, outboard to inboards due to fiberglass craft options. I'm pulling my hair out trying to decide. I find many rigs that only half satisfy my requirements or something is a miss about it. I think that in order to have a boat that meets 95% of my requirement it would cost me big $$ because I would literally have to buy a new rig. A very good rig that has been well taken care of not asking new price is 1% of listing. I have missed 2 of these posts in the past before. Both times the boat was sold in less than 8 hours after post. Someone at work gave me the warning that if you see a good boat, get off work and buy it right away. I've made mistake in the past rushing to deals like these. Now I'm second guessing my decision.

The hard choice for what's available now. I can wait but these two may slip off the market. Both are the same price. Though, I've been negotiating with the wellcraft since 10/08.

1. '05 wellcraft 180 center console. 115 yamaha 4 stroke.
Pros: All fiberglass rig including transom and stringers. low hours <50. Condition is that of a new boat, I'd say 9.5 on a scale of 1 to 10. one owner.
Cons: Center console and therefore no protection from the element, seating is not ideal for a family outing (two corner kiddie seat at the rear, one bench seat in front of the console and one behind the console). Requires modification to windshield to fit in my garage, remove grab bar and install windshield quick snap.

3. '02 Seaswirl Striper open bow. 115 yamaha 4 stroke.
Pros: better seating arrangement than the CC, element protection.
Cons: transom and stringers are most likely wood. Condition is 7/10. 200 hours. 2nd or 3rd owner.

This boat is suppose to serve the following requirements listed in most importance to least.

1. Fishing 75% of the time. Most of the time it will probably be me and my son and once in a while with the wife and daughter (2yr) and occasional outings with as many friends that i can fit in the boat at one time, maybe 5 adult tops.

2. 25% of the time will be pleasure, tubing, etc.

I'm leaning towards outboards for a good reason. If I'm spending this much $ I want the thing to last a long time. I leaning towards to wellcraft now due to condition, hours, one owner, no rot possibilities. I can have some kind of top added on if weather becomes an issue. The wellcraft is a better buy as well in my opinion. I'm getting this for NADA.

What do you experience boaters think? I especially like to hear from people who owns CC and what the pros/cons are? Other good points are welcome as well...

 

[superpop]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

You have a PM Salmonee

 

[superpop]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

I am biased towards the Wellcraft as that is what I have, and they are great boats. CC's are great for fishing because you can move around the whole boat and not be tripping over seats ect. My only concern with both of these boats is the HP rating. While 115HP is great for a fishing boat, it may be a bit weak when pulling tubers or skiers. Not sure if you plan on doing much of that but sounds like you are mainly looking for a fishing rig that can do double duty as a runabout once in a while. Outboards are nice because they tend to be easier to winterize so you can use them longer in the season. The only other comment I would make about the CC layout is the fact that you do not have a lot of protection from the elements so your boating experience is different. A full windshield with Bimini top and the ability to throw a cover on the bow of an open bow boat make a huge difference on the cold factor when you are out at the end or beginning of the season.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

Salmonee,

I haven't read all of your posts on every thread that you have had recently. However, I am pretty sure this will be your first boat.

My recomendation is to just buy a cheap boat and try it out. You won't know what all you NEED in a boat until you have tried one for at least a season. No boat is perfect. Until you know what you are willing to compromise on don't spend a lot of money on a boat.

I have been around boats my entire life. I thought I knew what I wanted in a boat now that I have my own family. Even then I bought a cheap boat at an auction just to try it out with my family. We loved it. However, now I know that a cuddy cabin may not fit out boating style like I thought it would.

I would say why not buy a boat that is less than half your budget to try out a certain style. If you don't like it hopefully you can sell it and move on to another type of boat.

 

[salmonee]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

Salmonee,

I haven't read all of your posts on every thread that you have had recently. However, I am pretty sure this will be your first boat.

My recomendation is to just buy a cheap boat and try it out. You won't know what all you NEED in a boat until you have tried one for at least a season. No boat is perfect. Until you know what you are willing to compromise on don't spend a lot of money on a boat.

I have been around boats my entire life. I thought I knew what I wanted in a boat now that I have my own family. Even then I bought a cheap boat at an auction just to try it out with my family. We loved it. However, now I know that a cuddy cabin may not fit out boating style like I thought it would.

I would say why not buy a boat that is less than half your budget to try out a certain style. If you don't like it hopefully you can sell it and move on to another type of boat.

What you recommend sounds very logical. The only problem is that when I look at a 5k boat, it looks like it should only be worth 2k. If you look at a 10k, it starts to look more like it's worth 10k. I don't want to take a 3k hit just to test and feel. If that's the case, I would just rent one for the day. Seattle has a huge problem of over inflation, which I hope will correct itself this summer when the economy reality hits the folks up here.

 

[superpop]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

The two best times to buy a boat are in the Winter and in the late Summer. In the Winter inventories typically go up and pricing comes down. In the spring, pricing typically goes up believe it or not. In the late summer you get folks that are faced with the prospect of winterizing and storing the boat for another year. They sell it then rather than deal with another year of storage. Finding the right boat is frustrating at times but the good news is there are a lot of boats for sale even in the PNW and you should be able to find something that will work for you. Hang in there, you still have 3 months before panic will start to set in I hope the economy up here does not tank but if it does then pricing will come down as well.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

Check with some marinas that rent different types of boats. Might give you more of an idea of what you want. Sometimes when my kids come into town and want to do water sports, we rent the marinas ski boat. Its easier to handle and cheaper on gas. Also it is nice not having a monthly payment for a one type of use boat. Then when the fish are hitting in the shallow areas, I rent one of the small fishing boats. I use my big boat just to spend the whole weekend at the lake. Sometimes you got to learn how to adapt to your needs. This way was best for me. With renting you don't have to worry about upkeep and that big monthly payment.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

I have a 19' CC and I think they're a poor choice for a fishing boat in PNW, the lack of protecton from the weather and limited seating make boating in anything but the best weather uncomfortable. The family won't enjoy boating with you when there's no way to stay warm even during much of the summer.

Most of the fishing in the salt (other waters too) here is trolling, CC's don't have a good layout for this type of fishing, the console and the seating for it get in the way. I wouldn't have purchased this boat if it hadn't been at a very low price from a customer.

 

[dave11]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

Salmonee,

I haven't read all of your posts on every thread that you have had recently. However, I am pretty sure this will be your first boat.

My recomendation is to just buy a cheap boat and try it out. You won't know what all you NEED in a boat until you have tried one for at least a season. No boat is perfect. Until you know what you are willing to compromise on don't spend a lot of money on a boat.

I have been around boats my entire life. I thought I knew what I wanted in a boat now that I have my own family. Even then I bought a cheap boat at an auction just to try it out with my family. We loved it. However, now I know that a cuddy cabin may not fit out boating style like I thought it would.

I would say why not buy a boat that is less than half your budget to try out a certain style. If you don't like it hopefully you can sell it and move on to another type of boat.

I agree. Buy an inexpensive boat to start. My suggestion would be a dual console or bowrider with an outboard motor. That style is very versatile. Use it for a season or two. Decide if boating is for you before you spend a lot of money. If you like it after a year or so, by then you will have a much better idea of what YOU want in a boat.

 

[crashnburn63]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

I gather you are located here in the PNW, in which case I would second and third the notion of not getting an open boat, particularly with family. I've got all of one season under my belt with an open boat, and am now looking for something like a used Arima with a windshield and canvas and protection from the weather. It just isn't that warm here in the summer, the effective temp drops by 5 or 10 degrees when you are out on the water, and prime salmon trolling time is early AM or dusk to boot.

My $.02,

-dm

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

SS MAYFLOAT's idea is very good, and much cheaper than what i do. i have 4 boats one for each occasion.

 

[salmonee]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

I gather you are located here in the PNW, in which case I would second and third the notion of not getting an open boat, particularly with family. I've got all of one season under my belt with an open boat, and am now looking for something like a used Arima with a windshield and canvas and protection from the weather. It just isn't that warm here in the summer, the effective temp drops by 5 or 10 degrees when you are out on the water, and prime salmon trolling time is early AM or dusk to boot.

My $.02,

-dm

I saw a real nice 17' arima with a 90honda and a kicker. Real nice setup. I think new, the guy paid 45k and he is wanting 30k. Let me know if your interested and I can point you to see the pics. It's one nice setup.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

i have never paid more than $5,000 for a boat. but, i do the restorations. my last new boat was 1969.

 

[H8tank]

Re: The difficult choices in Boating

I've been looking for a year

Yeah, buy a boat.

Decide on one, then look. Expand your viewing area. I drove 9 hours to pick my last one up, we drove 12 hours to Michigan to pick up my brothers, and it was a 1991 Hydra-Sport fishing machine, walk-around, full cuddy, dual 140hp, hey, in fact, you should buy it! $12K.