ski/family boats?

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

I did a search, but perhaps my search parameters weren't too good.

Looking for something in an 18 to 21 ft ski/family boat for lake use. We have an Arima for salt water and fishing...so this is going to be something dedicated to summer lake fun.

We don't really want a tournament boat, I'm thinking more something to tow the kids on a tube, ski/wakeboard behind, and just generally kick back in with family and friends.

I've looked at a few boats (Reinell, Regal, Tahoe), spent hours online....but would like to get some real world feedback.

Can we ski/wakeboard behind a 6? I'm thinking fuel use would be better w/ a 6 vs an 8 particularly w/ a smaller boat.

Budget is up to $25K, new or used. Though I would love a Cobalt, it's not in the budget (don't want to use up too much P car $$

).

thanks in advance for any help.

Eric

mattdavis11 · 07-23-2008, 09:24 PM

You can ski behind a 12ft jon boat if you want. Do you want a heavy boat like a Sea Ray? A Tige might suit your fancy. There are so many boat mfg's. Have you ever been behind a Mowdy?

Danny_Ocean · 07-23-2008, 09:43 PM

Boats don't get MPG, they get HPG (hours per gallon). I believe a V8 would be turning less rpm's at cruising speed than a 6 (given they're both installed in a boat of the same weight). The 6 would be huffing to push the load, while the 8 would be purring. I had a 26' Cigarette with a 454. As long as I didn't run it WOT all day, I could cruise several weekends on one (90 gal.) tank.

That being said, when someone says "lake boat", this is all that comes to mind:

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

That's awful purdy! I looked at a "newer" Chris Craft Launch, but it was just too much "boat" (heavy).

I always though it was GPH, gallons per hour....

Regarding the 6 vs the 8, that's the input I'm looking for....lot's of boats with lots of engine choices in the size range I'm looking at. If the gas usage is close, I'd rather have an 8 cyl.

Matt, Mowdy's probably aren't the type of boat that's appropriate here, never seen a boat like it in our waters in Washington. A Tige is a stunning boat, but those are too many $$ for me, and I'm guessing that a direct drive "tournament" type of boat is going to use a lot more fuel than I want to (?).

Boats that we are looking for are I/O, and manufacturers include: Larson, SeaRay, Maxum, Reinell, Bayliner, Regal, Tahoe, Crownline, Four Winns, etc. etc. Hoping to get a transom shower and fresh water cooling (so we can get heat in the boat).

thanks,
Eric

Mo_Gearhead · 06:24 AM

You might as well ask which caliber handgun is the best.

You will get MANY opinions on boats.

We've had 2 Regals and now have a Sea Ray. Each were in the class you are looking at (19-21 ft., ski/water fun). Both Regals (19 footers) had MerCruiser V6 IOs. I put S.S. 19 pitch props on both. Both were excellent boats for water fun (tubing, wake boarding, skiing).

The Sea Ray is a 21ft with V8 (5.0) MerCruiser and Bravo Twin Screw props. I haven't skied behind it yet, but it is a noticeably heavier boat and I can tell the gas usage is going to be more $$. I can also tell it may need the lower pitched props for the out-of-the-hole shot.

I have looked at the build quality of many boats over the years and some I would NOT own are Maxum, Tahoe, Bayliner, but just like guns/ammo ...opinions will vary!

EDIT TRIVIA: That first Regal (1985 model) could pull a 200 lb male slalom skier up easily...with FOUR other adults in the boat! Best boat for skiing I have owned!

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo_Gearhead

You might as well ask which caliber handgun is the best.

You will get MANY opinions on boats.

EDIT TRIVIA: That first Regal (1985 model) could pull a 200 lb male slalom skier up easily...with FOUR other adults in the boat! Best boat for skiing I have owned!

I know, I know..... but I had to start somewhere! Wayyyy to many boats out there.

I appreciate the info on Regal, they are on my short list. I had heard that SeaRays are heavy. Bayliner is a local company, and not really on my list.

What was you fuel consumption on a day of skiing with the Regals?.

thanks,
Eric

Danny_Ocean · 07-24-2008, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soterik

I always though it was GPH, gallons per hour....

Oops...that's what I get for posting @ 3am!

mattdavis11 · 07-24-2008, 06:57 AM

People will be laughing at you if you buy a Bayliner, or at least I will. I was trying to think of another boat that was comparable to a Bayliner, but couldn't think of one that sucked that bad.

Mo_Gearhead · 07-24-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote: "What was you fuel consumption on a day of skiing with the Regals?."
_______________

Both had 20 gal tanks. We trailered them and filled-up on the way to the lake (gasoline at marinas here is 50-90 cents a gallon higher than on road!).

With (4-5) people skiing/wake boarding till they dropped from fatigue and the attending sitting in a cove (swimming/resting/drinking beer) I never recall burning an entire tank of gas in one, long day.

V6's in mid-weight boats (correctly propped) rule, for this application.

Chas911 · 07-24-2008, 09:15 AM

IMHO, my experience with more than a few boats is that you will be fine with a V6 up to about 19'. More than fine actually, V6s work great in lighter boats and will be the most fuel efficient. If you start going up in length, the 21 footers can start to get fairly heavy and you will probably want at least a 350. 21 footers usually have quite a bit more room in them but are also a little harder to get on and off the trailer and back around. Not a lot of difference but you need to determine what fits your needs.

cairns · 07-24-2008, 11:09 AM

Cobalt.

The sine que non IMO. At least in the US.

Of course there is the Riva Aquarama.....

Vipergrün · 07-24-2008, 11:40 AM

Chaparrals are great boats as well. Use to have an 1830SS with 4.3 V6. I bought a Stainless 19" pitch prop to help with hole shot. It was plenty fast and plenty powerful.

vmax · 07-24-2008, 02:05 PM

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/boat/products/modelhome/422/0/home.aspx

I have a YAMAHA SX230 HO and love it. The link I provide is for the AR 230 HO, and has the tower. It is a really nice boat with a ton of features. I have a 2005 and it has the two captains chairs. In 2006 they changed the design to include a head/changing area so the passenger seat is modular. The rear swim deck is really cool with built in seats and stereo remote. The 230 uses twin 1050 cc yamaha 4 cyl engines--very powerful and fuel effecient. It has twin throttle and tachs nice for low speed control. It is really cool to wind it out with both motors singing at 10,000 rpm. It is a "jet" boat so it is very easy to maintain.

Here is a great forum with tons of info.
http://yamahajetboaters.com/forum/index.php

CarreraDan · 07-24-2008, 05:39 PM

I have an 2004 Sea Ray 185 Sport with the 4.3L, has been a great boat for the last four seasons. I change the oil, drive lube, and fuel filters every spring and that is it (sits in a heated garage in the winter so no winterizing). Plus, it is fun to wakeboard in January and see the look on people's faces when you get out your ski gear and it is 40 degrees.

Anyway, I looked at all the major brands and at that time Sea Ray was the best boat for the money. No wood in the boat, nice stainless steel trim, heavy snap in carpet, and a hull that is bonded/glued to the topdeck (fiberglass weld). Other brands had wood floors which can rot, cheap (thin) carpet and the top decks were just screwed to the hull--can have leaks and feel loose in heavy chop. I got a good deal with the options I wanted ($5000 off sticker) and got a trailer with brakes. This spring the oil pressure sender crapped out and $100 later the boat is back to being trouble free as always. The 4.3L goes all day pulling adults on one tank of gas which now is about $100, I was told not to run any ethanol blends as Mercruiser has had some fuel injection problems which it can be hard to find gas here without 10% ethanol. I weigh 205 and I can get up on a single ski no problem. My only problem is I don't have time to use it as much as I want and wish we could make the lake every weekend like we used to. I am just under 200 hours now and we put 110 on it the first season.

Good luck hunting as there are some great deals on lightly used boats now as people are bailing or moving up. The only thing I messed up on was not getting a tower as now I wish I had one for wakeboarding--yes I could add it but it is $2k for a factory tower and I would have to change my bimini top. Here is a picture from the winter when I decided to wakeboard during every month.

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

All:

Ok, I wish a Cobalt was in the budget..., well I guess it is, but only if it's 10+ years old

I've seen the Yamaha's but I have a concern on fuel consumption, how many gallons in a typical full day? Any issues with the engines?

Dan, regarding the SeaRay, is the 185 big enough for the family? There's a nice looking one locally, 2004, looks identical to yours, asking price is $16,500, less than 50 hours on it.

thanks for all the help!! Anybody had Reinells or Montereys?

Eric

gprsh924 · 07-24-2008, 11:49 PM

We've got a 2003 Crownline 180BR. It has been trouble free for over 150 hours. Goes pretty light on gas. Great boat for general lake use. The 6 cylinder could use a little bit more low end grunt when it pulls me (5'10", 195lbs) out of the water on the slalom ski, although I think a more acceleration oriented prop might do the trick. You can probably find a great deal on a used one. We bought ours with 25 hours on it for about $16K. Brand new they run between $25-$30K depending on options.

TerryBPP · 07-25-2008, 03:49 AM

I have a 02' 21.5' Seadoo Utopia w/ the 240hp Merc I wouldn't mind selling. The perfect ski boat and will run about 60 mph.

Shoot me a pm if you're interested.

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

Does anyone with an 18 to 18.5' wish they had a 20'??

The 18's to 18.5's are certainly significantly less money up here in the NW than their 20' siblings....particlarly at this time of year on clearance sales.

thanks,
Eric

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

I had a 16' larson, and my next ski boat lake boat would be a 20' bow rider with an outboard.

I/O's are just too heavy and an outboard has wayyyyy better power to weight ratio.

CarreraDan · 07-25-2008, 02:09 PM

Eric,
The Sea Ray is fine with four full sized adults and gear--pre 2006 models of the 185 have lots of storage. When we do have 5-6 adults and gear I do wish we had more room but we make do as most of the time we have 3 people. My main complaint is kneeboards don't fit in the ski locker and it gets tight down there with a wakeboard, skis, and wet life vests. Adding a tower would solve the the wakeboard issue but overall I have been very happy with the layout/design of the boat.

I would recommend trying before you buy, take the boat out with all your family and gear and see how it works. The dealer let me demo the boat for a day and we were sold after the first 30 minutes. My g/f likes the large sunpad for laying out and the bimini top covers the interior of the boat very well on hot days. Good luck and let us know what you go with. If I get another Sea Ray I think it will be a 280 Sundancer with twin 4.3L's and a/c but that will be a few more years.