which boat do I *need*??
 

I already have a little 18' pleasure boat;1970 sea ray.
Now looking to get something with a kitchen, toilet and shower.
Something my growing family can spend the night on.
Would love a house boat, but my lot is on seasonal water.
So need something that can be grounded, or that I can pull out of the water for the winter.
Small houseboat?
Pontoon?
Cabin cruiser type?
Looking to spend around $10k.

A 22 ' - 24 ' cuddy cabin would fit your needs. Toilet might be on the tiny side but usable. Back in the day I had a Four Winns 22.5 ' cuddy cabin with a 5.7 I/O it was a nice boat. Had a porta potty but that gave a larger sleep area. The one thing that is a pain while sleeping on a boat is the heat. When you camp in July/August the heat and humidity is a killer. Add to that generally poor ventilation in the cabin can equal a long miserable night of sleeping. If you decide to sleep on deck in the convertible seats you now have air movement ( that's good ) but now every mosquito within 50 miles jumps you like your a blood donor ! Enjoy :D

^^ Exactly our experience. A modern 24' deck boat rigged with mosquito netting might be another option. More open and comfortable but less sea worthy in rough weather. We prefer the smaller boat/larger hotel room these days ;)

A neighbor/friend with a 24" footer.

I don't know how small of a boat can come equipped with the screen camper top, but it attaches to the hardtop on a 25-26' boat, and would make a much nicer night of sleeping on deck. I see many of these tops in the local yacht clubs on even the smaller boats.

A pontoon can be equipped with a similar camper top, and if it is a molded hull, or a triple tube, you can run some serious HP, for a much more interesting boat than the standard 50 HP outboard.

How big are you looking for? Do you plan on overnighting a lot with it? How many people to stay on it, adults, kids? what will you mainly use it for?
Lots of variables to be specified to just recommend one boat.


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Thanks guys.
Nothing too big, need to be able to pull it out of the water.
Speed isn't important.
Mainly use it as a swim platform and mobile hotel.
Rough weather isn't a problem either.
If it gets rough will head back and tie up to the dock.
This will be for my family of 4 to camp out at various places on norris lake.
I don't have any friends. :D

You'll have all kinds of new ones, when you get a new boat! :p

Google 23' or 26' Chris Craft Crowne. I think something in this style might work for ya.

sleeps 4-5 has a galley, head with a shower. Great family overnighter.


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