Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

[ajgraz]

Bunch of my wife's relatives are coming into town, and there's talk of a Bay cruise, maybe a quick run to the ocean, for 8-10 folks. My boat can't handle that many. So I'm looking at this local San Diego rental place for a bowrider:

http://www.seaforthboatrental.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=166&Itemid=91

I'm not particularly familiar with any of these boat models, maybe you are. Which should I be looking at for 8 people? 10 people? Which if any should I avoid?

I have exactly zero experience with any i/o configuration, should I weigh that in and skip the i/o models?

Can I really expect these boats to comfortably seat the number of people stated? (Probably two out of the group will be children 8-10 years old)

I'm thinking 3 or 4 hours; can I expect that many people to go without a cabin/head for that long? Should I be looking at a cabin cruiser instead?
http://www.seaforthboatrental.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=167&Itemid=92

Brother-in-Law's picking up the tab, so cost not an overriding issue.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

Get the biggest one doesn't seem to be a lot of choice for 8 plus

 

[180shabah]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

I don't think any of those choices wil be comfortable for 10 people. They might fit, but they will be elbow to naval for 3-4 hours.

Is it feasable to do two boats? yours plus a rental?

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

Probably be easier and cheaper to get a 1/2 day charter. Then you don't have to deal with any boat issues. Just get in and go and step off and leave when your done.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

OK, I'm not looking for alternatives to renting a boat, and I'm not looking to take more than one boat out. But I can see that if the group is more than 8 people, this will require re-thinking.

So let me simplify this:

1) Can I expect a group of 8 people (half/half males/females, a couple being kids; many NOT boaters, BTW) to go 3-4 hours on the water without a cabin/head? In other words, should I go bowrider (Hurricane 20 looks to have the most seating/deckspace) or spring for cabin cruiser (SeaRay 260 looks nice)?

2) Considering I have no experience with i/o (but would not have to launch or retrieve), should I be concerned about renting an i/o boat?

Thanks.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

if you can handle a small runabout OB just take it slow and be cautious docking and you will be fine-surely they give you operating instructions before they cut you loose with a boat.call up the rental place and talk to them- the Hurricane deck boat sounds good- nobody likes riding in the cabin on a sight seeing trip.
good luck-

 

[180shabah]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

Can I expect a group of 8 people...to go 3-4 hours on the water without a cabin/head?

I certainly hope the adults can handle it. The kids....50/50.

Contact the rental company, that hurricane might have a porti-potty under the console.

The Searay, is a nice boat and has a full head, but the arraingement will force several of your guests to either stand or go below where they can't see anything.

I/O vs OB - for one day? Nothing to be concerned about except the blower, you MUST run it before startup, hate to see you explode the family.

No matter which one you chose, be prepared for it to handle like a drunk pig, with that many onboard.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

I would bet 3 hours would be tops for women and children and that would be pushing it. Unless they are not adverse to just hanging on the ladder and peeing in the water I'd get a porta jon.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

we're talkin' about a harbor cruise, right? Anyplace to stop halfway for a potty/ice cream break?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

we're talkin' about a harbor cruise, right? Anyplace to stop halfway for a potty/ice cream break?

Now that you mention it, yes, we could tie off at the dock on Shelter Island public pier for potty and snack bar. And that would be just about halfway through our "circuit of the bay" trip.

Starting to look like that Hurricane deckboat might be the winner here. I expect it to handle like my Mother-in-Law's Oldsmobile

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

Without even looking, a 20' deck boat sounds a lot more comfy than a 26' Sea Ray, when we're talking 8-10 people out for the day.

 

[hubbard53]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

if it was my choice, I'd choose the Hurricane. My neighbor has one and its pretty comfortable.

 

[mjgates]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

OK, I'm not looking for alternatives to renting a boat, and I'm not looking to take more than one boat out. But I can see that if the group is more than 8 people, this will require re-thinking.

So let me simplify this:

1) Can I expect a group of 8 people (half/half males/females, a couple being kids; many NOT boaters, BTW) to go 3-4 hours on the water without a cabin/head? In other words, should I go bowrider (Hurricane 20 looks to have the most seating/deckspace) or spring for cabin cruiser (SeaRay 260 looks nice)?

2) Considering I have no experience with i/o (but would not have to launch or retrieve), should I be concerned about renting an i/o boat?

Thanks.

If you were looking at the 260, the Formula 40 is less than $200 more with plenty of room and a cabin. If price is an issue then I agree with the Thunderbird or the 210. I wouldn't worry at all about an I/O. Like someone previously said, just run the blower before cranking it up.

 

[convergent]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

One thing to check ahead of time is if they have any requirements on who they will rent a boat too. My wife and I were on vacation in Sanibel, FL with another couple and wanted to rent a boat for the afternoon to cruise around and they would not rent it to me because I didn't have some specific training that they wanted me to have. It was very frustrating because we had planned our day around it. In the end, we bought tickets for an afternoon cruise on a small yacht and had a wonderful time. Coincidentally, the same company that rented the boats did the cruise.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

One thing to check ahead of time is if they have any requirements on who they will rent a boat too.

Good advice.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Want to rent a boat; help me pick from these...

deck boat