..Sorry, off topic but I've got the boat bug. Started looking and I've got a ton to learn before I spend $20k to $30k.

I'm looking at Bow Runners 20'-23'. I'm liking the idea of having the extra room for stowing coolers, skis and boards etc. that an 18'-19' can't quite fit. Crownline, Four Winns and Cobalt so far. Any advise?

Anyone know of any boat forums? A place like f150online for boats would be great!!!!

:EDIT: I need to add, don't go looking for a boat! I'm now closer to buying and I'm NO LONGER in that price range. I'm a lot higher. No more Expy mods now.

 

Have you thought of a deck boat? They have the hull and power of a regular boat but room of a pontoon boat.

www.godfreymarine.com
www.searay.com
www.bayliner.com
www.glastron.com

 

V 10 Man,

I have to admit, after seeing the Crownline Decks I hadn't considered them. The Crown's are really flat fronted, but I then again, I was shocked to fiond out that Crownline only has a 21 and 23 foot deck. One I was on I would have swore was 25-26. They've just got a lot of room.

I'm pretty intruiged by the Searay Sundeck 210 and 240. I'm trying to find one I can see. I'd bet the 210 is pretty good size. And they look great! I found a dealer that first quote is at $34k for one pretty well "decked" so to speak. It's a 2001 so I'm sure they'd gladly take a beating to get rid of it soon.

Thanks for the tip.

So, anyone know of any boat forums?

 

I don't know much about pleasure or freshwater boats since most of my boating is on the Chesespeake fishing but I can tell you the below site has lots of info and I know someone there can point you to a better site if needed.

http://www.wmi.org/www/boating/boatboard/index.html

BTW, I'd recommand getting the biggest boat you can afford because you'll get 2 foot-i-tus. That is unless you plan on doing mostly water skiing.

Good Luck with you new boat purchase and enjoy.

- Dae

 

Dae/MD

I know what you mean. I've already "2 footed" myself up about 4 feet and climbing. And I'm with you on getting the biggest. There are to many people that buy a new boat as a "starter" and in 2-3 years realize it's not big enough an trade up. You loose too much to do that. I'm glad I've realized that up front.

 

I think the best way to pick a boat is to go to as many boat shows as you can before you buy. Seeing them online is not the same as actually being able to get in them and get a feel for them. I spent a year and a half giong to boat shows before I bought my 19 ft Sea Pro center console. I mostly fish in the sounds and rivers of NC, and its about perfect for that. I could have gone bigger, but to me anything much larger starts to get unwieldy. Just my opinion!

 

Whatever you do, don't take a "party barge" into rough water. Seen too many pictures of these types of boats swamping when the bow digs into an oncoming wave. Their bows turn into big scoops and once you bury it in a good sized wave, you'll swamp.

Same thing with bow riders, but not as bad.

Don't expect to store all your stuff up front. Can make for squirrely handling if you have too much weight up forward especially in following seas where you want more weight towards the stern.

Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here. What kind of place are you planning to run this new boat? On a lake? On the ocean? River?

 

Dennis

We'll be on lakes mostly. Recreation, towing fin stuff like tubes and ski's etc. I hadn't thought about swamping in a bow runner but that could be an issue, but hopfully I'd never run onto water like that on a lake. Ans the party barge isn't realy what we want so that's not a problem. Not fast enough

I need to post to see if Superchips makes a chip for Merc or Volvo. (just kidding)

 

Find a good broker thats sells boats in that size range. he will have ran and used these type of boats. search on yachtworld.com

 

On some lakes, even logs lashed together into a raft can be safe.

Actually, you really don't need a chip for a boat engine. Recreational engines are pretty much tweaked out.

I think what you're really looking for is a 41' Velocity with enough power to run pretty darned close to triple digit speeds.

 

Well, I did "by mistake" while inquiring on a few boat slip in a Baja Hammer. Actually got quoted a pretty sweet deal, but of course I didn't even attempt to pass that by the boss.

 

FamilyRide--

Try BoaterEd.com It's the best boating site on the 'net, IMHO. I'm on there as JK TN.



Good luck,

 

JK_TN

Fantastic! Thanks for the tip. I'm itchen bad for a boat and am about 80% set on one but I want more info! Thanks again.

 

Family Man,
I have just read through these threads and wanted add some.
I have a 2000 EB 4x4 same coor as yours. I have bee soooo happy with it that I just bought a 2001 Super Crew.

I also have a 20 ft Weelcraft Ellite Bow rider. The boat and trailer combined are about 4400 lbs and the trailer does not have brakes.
The Expi does great pulling this rig never had any problems at all.
My boat is an 84 model that we have hade for 11 years, I have replaced everything in it at least once, so it seems. We have looked at both the Crown and the Cobalt for a replacement. Very few first time buyers will pay this kind of price for a boat. I have found the web is an excellent place to find a boat, and would recomend searching for a used boat first. Unfortunetly you have selected a mfg that is hard to find used. When I say used I mean less than five years, and low hours. I have gone to boattraders.com and found several dealers willing to work with me, including taking my trade. I live in NC but that makes no difference to the dealers. One of the best I found was in TX .

Billy Brewster

The Slalom Shop Brokerage
972.221.9091
www.slalomshop.com
He is a crown and Cobalt dealer don't get gouged buy new unless they really give it to you!

sread

 

I posted a reply (I thought)... Anyway, I said that Cobalt and Chris Craft are considered the upper end of runabouts.... I bought a Chris Craft 2 years ago and have been extreemly happy with it, although it is for sale. I looked at the Cobalt boats a few weeks ago and was impressed.