What Boat should I be looking at?
 

I'm getting ready to move to Florida, if the closing goes as planned. I'll most likely be buying something in the Punta Gorda area. The homes there have canals that feed to the Gulf, or Charlotte Harbor, then the Gulf.

I havn't had a boat in years, the last one was a 27' sailboat. I don't want another sailboat at this time. I'm looking for something that I can do a little fishing out of, but mainly to just cruise around in. Something that I can pull up to a beach, and still get out in the gulf with. The wife does require a bathroom, but we dont need a big cabin.

I'll be buying used, I don't really want to spend more than say $30,000 at this time. So what should I be looking for? Inboard, outboard, twin engine, single?

I havn't even bought a house yet, but most seem to come with 10,000 to 12,000 lbs lifts. Or I'll have one put in.

Any suggestions, or brands or types to stay away from?

I live up by Tampa and keep a deckboat in my slip on Tampa Bay. Most of our boating is cruising in the bay. I bought a deckboat for the cushy seats and outboard motor that mine has. Here are some things to consider:

If you want to spend some time in the gulf, I would consider something with a deeper V than my deckboat. Mine is kinda shallow and limits the comfort level in rougher seas. For this reason, I don't take mine in the Gulf. That and I don't feel I have enough engine.

If you get a big enough center console, you can fish, seat people and still have a small cabin with a restroom, however you will may exceed your budget unless you buy something older. You could also get a big bowrider as many of those now have a small head forward and below the helm. But this leads me to your next consideration...

Where are you going to keep it?

Many of the big bowriders have some derivation of a Chevy small block with an IO drive. If, like me, yours will sit in the water, I would avoid this for the simple reason that you can't get the IO out of the water. If you're high and dry or on a lift, this isn't as big a deal. For me, an outboard was the only way to go because all but the very bottom of the motor bracket can be lifted out of the water. I also think outboards are easier to work on (I DIY mine) and they are pretty fuel efficient. However, it is probably less expensive to get more hp out of an IO.

The serious fishermen that run 30, 40, 50 or miles out typically have more than one outboard hanging off the stern. Part of that is for speed, part of it is redundancy... something to consider if you're out of view of land.

I have a 4 stroke Yamaha and have been very happy with it. With people cruising in a canal, they are quieter and less smelly than a 2-stroke.

IMO wait until you've lived there a while and gone boating with new neighbors and friends.

I'm a center console guy and would be looking at 22-23' Sea Hunts as a compromise boat for someone not big time into fishing.

Do NOT buy an underpowered boat no matter what you do.

Oh, I missed your question about brands. There are a bunch of good names that are built right here on the gulf coast. Everyone knows their own best brand, so I won't start that p!$$ing match, but this is what I would look for:

Avoid chopper gun fiberglass hull construction (think Trashliner). Look for something with a nice hand laid hull construction.

In theory, it would be nice to have wood free construction, but many good brands have marine ply, so I wouldn't make that a deal breaker... just make sure that it is well incapsulated and look for evidence of delamination or separation of the deck to hull or transom. If water has penetrated and wood is decaying, it could spell the end of the boat, or at least a big repair bill.

This is very good advice.

I have some neighbors with a brand new Sea Hunt. It is beautiful. Ok, signing off now.

also missed the q on brands/types...

I would avoid ski boat types and bowriders. Neither are suited to what I understand the Gulf to be like.

Good brands include:
-Regulator - Bad ass fishing machines with family comforts but VERY expensive
-Contender - hardcore fishing...forget seats
-Grady White - Less deadrise than hardcore fishing boats but lots of cushy stuff and well built...VERY expensive new and hold value used. A great compromise if you can find one reasonably priced. $30k won't get you anything newer that is big enough for the Gulf.
-Hydra Sports -perfect compromise of heavy built boat that can handle the Gulf but family friendly. They offer center console and walk around models.
-Sea Hunt -very nice lines, great compromise between fishability and family friendliness
-Cape Horn - among the best reputations in the biz for hard core fishing, less expensive than some others but reportedly very, very well built.

I prefer outboards (all the above use them) and strongly prefer Yamaha 4 stroke for quiet operation and reliability. Not all of the above brands are of equal quality but all will serve well.

Quality is, as mentioned above, in fiberglass work (had laid is a very big plus), fittings (stainless vs coated or plastic, and layout of wiring, access to bilge, etc.

www.thehulltruth.com is a great place to read up on boats. lots of Florida people there who can tell you what works and what doesn't. A few polite inquiries will probably find you some new friends and offers to go boating.

Good advice. Alternately, there are lots of boat rental places along the coast. Try the different options to see what you like. There will be things you discover on the water that you wouldn't have ever thought of at the boat show.

I think you'd be ok with a bowrider or deck boat if you never went into the actual Gulf. I have a 23' Monterey for lake boating around KS, and have boated on a pontoon in the bays around Destin. The bay is like a big lake, the Gulf is a different story. If you get an I/O you need a lift, leaving an I/O in the salt water can be an expensive proposition. For a bowrider you'll probably have to go 24'+ to get a head, though some 23' have them as well. I just got done boat shopping, here's how I see the brands for bowriders:

Best - Cobalt
Upper Mid - Monterey, Crownline, Sea Ray, Regal, Four Winns, Chaparral
Mid - Glastron, Rinker, Yamaha (jet), Tahoe
Low - Bayliner

I'm probably forgetting a few.

There's 2 votes for Yamaha outboards. Berettafan is spot on with his comments. The only thing I'd add is that while the HullTruth is probably as close to the Pelican of boating forums as you can get, read into brand recommendations carefully. It seems like there is always a brand du jour that everyone is touting, and usually the brand du jour is the latest and greatest and not something that is close to $30k. I'd add Scout to berettafan's list above. And buy something with some freeboard if you're headed into the gulf.

Ooh Scouts are pretty also.

My list is certainly not all inclusive...plenty of great brands.

My favorite THT nonsense is when a guy asks for recommendations for a 23' cc and several people recommend a 23 'tournament' model (several have been the boat du jour) KNOWING the boat is actually a 27' boat weighing 50% more than real 23' boats and requiring nearly double the HP.

POWER CAT is the new style fast with a good ride and way better MPG/H then a deepV
lighter too so eazy to lift or beach or trailer

CENTER CONSOLE CAT W/ TWIN YAMAHA 4 STROKES, WARRANTY AND TRAILER

CATAMARAN SEACAT

26' TWIN VEE EXPRESS 2006 Best riding boat and value!!

Look into joining a local club and use their boats?

Here's my baby 26' Robalo

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396626761.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396626796.jpg

To me, its very tough to recommend a boat to someone. There are just so many brands , types variables, etc, etc... And of course everyone has their likes and prejudices, so that tosses in another sticking point. I've owned a number of different brands and types of boats over the past 30 yrs, and all have good and bad points.
The boat rental idea is a very good one. Gives you the option to try a few different ones. Also hit up some boat shows if there are any around.

Also a good reminder why you are buying used.:)

Exactly! lol

The good thing about a boat show is, you can look at a bunch of different setups, that can give you an idea what you want to look for, used.

My neighbor use to have a 22ish foot Robalo center console with a big Honda 4 on the back. It was a beautiful machine!

Thanks, I'll definitely try and get out as much as I can to get an idea first. I'm just curious at this point, have to buy the house first. I may not even be able to afford much after that. I'm sure the wife will want some things changed and new furniture first.

But we are looking at homes with canals in the backyard and it would seem a waist not to have a boat back there.:)

Is $30,000 a reasonable starting point? I don't care much about the age, but I do want something that is still reasonably reliable and looks OK.

And how much fuel does a couple of twin outboards use?

Good news is housing prices in FL, while recovering, have not reached pre-bubble levels again. Deals can still be found.

As for a $30k budget? That is a personal question... it all depends on how close to new and shiny you want, how big, what kind of power, what features? Unfortunately, there seem to be many more variables with boats than with cars, driving price. I could find a fantastic boat for $30k that would meet your requirements but YMMV. Start there and if you don't find what you want and you have the means, just revise your budget ;)

My single Yamaha F115 get great fuel economy. What exactly it is, I don't know but I only have to fill up a couple times a year. Fortunately, we can get ethanol free gas off the water here. That is all I use and I just fuel it with cans at the dock in its slip. Fuel economy will decrease with increase hp and quantity of engines (obviously).

Such a vague and general question................. Sport fish, Trawler / cruiser, go fast boat, bay boat, center consul ect....... These type of posts baffle me, good luck, sure these boys will sort you out......