may want to get a bigger boat- brand/type suggestions ?

[rfuerst911sc]

Some of you have followed my restoration of a early 70's 13 ' Boston Whaler. Had the boat out yesterday on Lake Lanier with my son and two grandchildren and had a ball. But my wife and DIL could not come due to boat size. So I am thinking about maybe looking for a 17 ' center console . My first choice would be a Whaler Montauk but would be open to more traditional V hulls. I really like the minimal maint. with a glass inner liner that's why I'm thinking center console. I know most 17 footers can seat 6 people no problem. I've looked online at Hydrosports, Wellcraft , Proline and a few others they seem to be available in my area. If I make the change it will be a used boat. This will be used just in freshwater on inland lakes with the rare occasion to go in the ocean. So what are you guys using in the 17 ' range and how do you like it ?

[Rot 911]

My advice, having run a 17 footer on Lake of the Ozarks for a couple of years, move up to a 19 footer. Small enough to be easy to maneuver, load and unload, big enough for 6 and much more wave friendly. For me that extra 2 feet, with the larger engine and weight, made a huge difference. If you can, wait another month and boat prices will be much lower. Then if you can, sell what you have in the spring.

[HardDrive]

Dad has a 21 foot Sea Ray center console. Loves it. Fishes in the Florida Keys with it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I have an 18' Tahoe bow rider that's adequate for my family of five. Today we had nine on the boat and it was pretty cozy. It's not so much the seating space, but the stuff that comes along with them. Coolers, tubes, and bags all take up a lot of space. It also doesn't handle the waves very well, small and light isn't a good combo. I'm looking to move up to at least a 21' over the winter, my goal is a 23'.

[Cajundaddy]

+1 on the Whaler 17'. They are built to take all weather and bring you home. Not so sure about the family seating for 6 though. Add up your expected payload with all people, motor, fuel and gear to see if it will be overloaded.

As a reference point:
I own a Ranger 17 that we bought new in 1976. Volvo I/O 170 with 36 gal tank and burns about 3gph at cruise. It will harbor cruise 8, open water cruise 6, ski 4, scuba dive 4, fish 4. She has pulled out skiers for 30 years, made a dozen dive trips 30 miles across the pacific to Catalina, and survived a lot of rough water along the way. A great old boat that doesn't see much water lately. They don't make them any more but a lot are still around and she is a sweetie.

Basic boating rules apply: Don't overload the boat. If it's really gonna blow, don't go. In a swell, keep your bow up. Don't get so busy that you can't sit out a T-storm in a quiet harbor.

If I were to buy another boat today it would probably be 17-20' with a modern 4 stroke outboard for less weight and more room in the boat.

[bodmin]

Without a shadow of doubt - buy a Chris Craft! Mine was a Speedster 20 Heritage Edition. Larger boats availalbe. Check out their website.

I owned it for four year - lost only 10% of its value over that period.

[onewhippedpuppy]

That is a beautiful boat bodmin.

[Chocaholic]

Lake Lanier can be pretty rough, especially on a holiday weekend. Drunks and inexperienced boaters on jet-skis,etc. in and out of Cocktail Cove...

Agree with comment above, spend a few extra bucks and get a boat that won't overload if you want to bring some extra folks and won't get tossed around quite so much.

[berettafan]

Would love a 17' for less windy days on the inshore waters here and would look for an older Mako 17, Whaler 17' or if newer maybe a Maycraft.

Not sure how these would apply to a freshwater life though.

Wouldn't take any of those into the ocean however. Not so much for the ocean but the inlet I'd have to go through to get to it.

[berettafan]

Oh the Parker 1801 would be choice number one in that size range.

[nota]

power cat
they ride better and go faster on less fuel

[dennis in se pa]

Pretty tough to beat a 17' Whaler. And they hold their value well.

[johnsjmc]

I have a 1987 17 whaler CC. ( Montauk justice model with extra glass) ,03 90 etec., 03 alum trailer. . I added some mahogany seats and hatch to help the vintage look , great boat on lake Erie where a squall can blow up fast , to a river or take out the cooler seat and go scuba diving . Really only seats 3 /4or 5 in a pinch. Could probably waterski with it too but I,ve never tried.

[matt711]

have a 22 foot NauticStar bay boat with a 250 Suzuki. Handles a decent amount of chop and with a full 8' beam it's plenty stable. Ride is way better than any Whaler I have been on and that inclused pretty much every model they make from 13' to 24'. I take this boat out on both lake and ocean, love it. With a half a tank of gas and just my wife I can hit just under 60mph. Sure resale may not be up there with a new Cris Craft but I paid less than 1/2 of the cost and I can fish out of it or pull the kids around on a tube.

[rfuerst911sc]

I do appreciate the feedback but boats like that Chris Craft are not what I'm interested in. I've had my share of big boats with I/O's my last was a 23 ' Four Winns cuddy cabin. Now I want a simple center console with an outboard and low maintenance. I am in no hurry but will pull the trigger if the right deal comes along. Thanks guys.

[JeremyD]

Look at Key West or Pioneer.

Great boats for what you are looking for.

I have a Key West 216 Bay Reef

[JeremyD]

BTW - the 17 whalers hold their value well - but they really don't ride that well in a chop - and like Rot said - I'd look more at the 19' range. if you are stuck on 17' I really like the 17 Makos and the Key West 189 - The 197 Pioneer is a great boat - but tough to find used.