First Boat - Dream or Folly??

[Bob3]

There are going to be a LOT of "used boats" coming on the market thanks to Katrina.
Keep an eye out, and verify the boat's past history.

 

[Rick Inman]

Well, I guess I (we) have made up our minds, due to the opinions of you boat owners, seen quoted here below:

You could get lucky for your 7000 but chances are you won't.

Boats can be a money pit if you are not able to maintain them yourself.

Once you pay for the boat, your spending has just begun. BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand.

I'd go with another trailer and an inflatable for $7000. You really don't want to start fixing a larger outboard, labor and parts are outrageous.

I think the original poster is not going to do well with only 7,000 dollars. He has had a great time with a travel trailer and maybe that is what he should continue with as a boat, especially a older used boat can be very costly.

…being a boat owner is like, take a new crisp $100 bill and go to your nearest marina, light it on fire and drop it in the water.

If you buy the low dollar machine prepare to pay big time, pay now or pay later.

To the original question - you would be hard pressed to fulfill your dream with $7G.

The two happiest days in a boat owner's life are: The day he buys his boat. The day he sells his boat. Stick with a camper.

FOLLY!!!

Pug,

Next spring when we come out, could you meet us at the Wal-mart parking lot?

 

[Uncle Pug]

Sure.

But I'd rather meet you at Saltwater State Park... how many will your new trailer sleep?

 

[Rick Inman]

Sure.

But I'd rather meet you at Saltwater State Park... how many will your new trailer sleep?

There'll be lots of room, of course, but from seeing your reports & photos on your Alaska trip, I know you prefer to be closer to the elements on the frozen, wet ground. No problem.

 

[CON8IV]

There'll be lots of room, of course

How about if I come up and hang w/ both of you, Ya know in Ricks nice new trailer and on Uncle Pugs boat?

Just kidding, but seriously, Rick you made the right decision.

 

[pescador775]

Rick, I own a boat exactly as you describe. It is a trailerable 27' boat with cuddy and flying bridge, twin Volvo 4 cyl gas. This is the minimum for occasional live aboard and the maximum for towing regularly. I tow it with a 1/2 ton Suburban, 4WD. It has been specially reinforced and the 350 engine has been modified. The trailer is very large, galvanized EZ loader and probably costs about what you want to spend for a boat.I do not recommend that you buy such a boat. It takes a tremendous amount of knowledge, effort, and no small amount of money to maintain and operate. This sort of thing can be done but only by an energetic, experienced operator/mechanic with a Capt Bligh attitude. It has to be that way, everything just so, just right, otherwise you can expect to run into various disappointments, towing, and perhaps, tragedy. The Pacific can be an unforgiving place.

 

[matt_unique]

As I say, I used to WORK for a boat shop here as a mechanic/fabricator. This was in the mid 90's. The Bayliners of that era and just a bit before usually ALWAYS had ruined seats/upholstry. The materials they were using, at least then, were absolute garbage. And, yeah, my Four Winns still had the original seats/upholstry at 19 yrs old when I sold it and looked very good.

My Bayliner knowledge begins with 2000. I can't comment on previous years. My current seats see nothing but 100lb sets of doubles and no tears. We set the doubles on the seats and mount up from there. I keep mine moored from mid April to end of October with full canvas enclosure.

The hull is probably as reliable, as are the other systems you mention. Note the first boat on my list of preferrd boats is in fact Sea-Ray. If you have a Bayliner with a Merc, great! You just need to take extra good care, preferrably indoor storage, of the "interior components" if it's vintage is late 80's to 90's.

They are cheaper because they use cheaper components in some cases. Go to a boat show and compare side by side. To be fair, I have not been to a show in a few years, so have not seen the absolute latest models.

I'll take your word for it relating to the older models. I have heard about the problems with the Force outboards. Force outboards were not exclusive to Bayliners of course. I don't know if the Bay's of the era you are talking about offered other power options or what. Clearly one would want to avoid Force engines considering their track record.

Ok, again it was back in the 90's that I was in the employ of the boat shop. And Bayliner has improved their quality control and overall quality as can be seen and felt in the NEWER ones. In order for Rick to stay within budget, he probably needs to look at boats made, well um, in the early 90's. MAN! I wish we could get away with motors that size here at altitude. You need way more power up here than at sea level, especially with a 2-cycle outboard, which of course equates to $$$ spent at the gas pump......

You definitely need more HP at higher altitudes. My 135 will push me 40 mph in calm seas/calm wind and two passengers. If I am loaded to the gunwales with dive gear it's a different story of course. My next boat will have the 5.0L or the 5.7L Merc depending upon the model I choose. I have 4' itus big time....

--Matt

 

[Nemrod]

I am not going to pick on Bayliner, have not looked at the latest models. I do know that some boat brands are built to become obsolete. The materials are very poor, wooden stringers, cheap vinyl and foam interiors applied over low grade CDX type plywood. Cheap carpet to cover up the ply deck and no inner liner---no inner liner!! Often these boats have minimal flotation and thin glass. Since I am most familiar with Whalers of recent---go hit the hull of a Whaler with the back of your fist and then go do the same thing to other brands---you will see and feel and hear the difference. One is as solid as concrete and many others will feel very flimsy. Look for a real fiberglass full liner, neat wiring, finsihed glass even in interior places, non skid instead of carpet, no wood or very little wood, stainless and brass fittings and neat workmanship. Look at how the liner and top deck are joined to the hull--are they screwed and nailed or clamped or are they bonded into one structural piece? When you really look you find that many boats are in fact subpar and the ones that aren't are usually fairly expensive but there are good deals out there in both new and used. For people on a budget or who must trailer long distances it is hard to beat a 20 foot--plus or minus--boat on a good trailer. Also, 20ish boats (17 to 22 feet) can generally be towed by normal vehicles like midsize trucks and medium SUV types and even some sedans and mini vans. A 17 foot Montauk is very capable and easily pulled by even some compact cars. No need for a gas sucking behemoth Suburbon. I get about 5 MPG with my Whaler at about 26ish MPH and it carries 60 gallons. The 150 Optimiax Merc has proven efficient and reliable and powerful. You can get good boats that will not put you in the poor house. N

 

[pescador775]

Nemrod, almost all older boats were built that way, except Whaler. My boat was built in 1978, in Miami. In it's day, it was well regarded. However, it would not stand up to time and the battering it got in the Chesapeake Bay and offshore. It spent 3 winters, '92-94, in the yard. New transom, new decks, thwarts, braces, engines and outdrives, @ $37,000. I'm still using the boat and it is reliable.

Our friend Rick is a babe in the woods. For example, Rick, did you know that women could sink a boat, just by combing their hair? The shed hairs wash into the bilge where they wind around the pump impeller. Rough seas, rogue wave, and torrential downpour turns from inconvenience into disaster. All liner type boats with bilge should have two pumps and be tested regularly. The Zodiac sounds OK but unless you have money, and the eye of the eagle, and just as tough, stay away from big boats, bigger than 20 feet. When I visit my boat I see a lot of idle boats. When you see a boater, 20% are heading out to sea, 80% are doing maintenance. Last week, my neighbor was removing the head from a Volvo diesel. Don't even think about it.

 

[dlndavid]

The two happiest days in a boat owner's life are:
The day he buys his boat.
The day he sells his boat.

As a former boat owner I have to agree with these statements, boats are kind of like a convertable, everyone should own one once. Right now for me, the best boat, is some else's. My taste for boats has gone way way way past my ability to to afford one.