Toying With Making a Big Change

copb8tx said:
I guess I need to just go and observe the facility closely and ask a lot questions. It's the only facility close enough to me to make this thing work.
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Yep, if you can, roll in there a couple times when you know they are going to be busy. Weekend, morning - late afternoons. There are, fork truck "Artist" I've seen their work...
 
Pm me before you do anything. This is my home area and let's talk it over before you make a decision. It may help to talk it over and I would be glad to help.
 
I had a 2017 Formula 350CBR, and it was an incredibly seaworthy boat.

The build quality was a step above Sea Ray, although it did have its problems (because it's a boat).

Given your intended use, have you explored the 330 or 350 CBR? They have a small sleeping cabin + head, but also make full use of the bow with seating.
 
FastMarkA said:
I had a 2017 Formula 350CBR, and it was an incredibly seaworthy boat.

The build quality was a step above Sea Ray, although it did have its problems (because it's a boat).

Given your intended use, have you explored the 330 or 350 CBR? They have a small sleeping cabin + head, but also make full use of the bow with seating.
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That 350CBR is a beautiful boat! I've always heard Formula quality was very good. Why did you get rid of it so soon?

I have looked into both the 330 and 350 CBR's. There are things a like about the open bow but I think with as big as the cockpits and the swim platform areas are I'd prefer that space to be a more usable cabin.
 
bracketracer said:
Funny...in 10-12 years, I'm going the other direction. Nordhavn 43 or 47, single diesel, 150-175hp, see the world slowly.
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Working on this plan now...love our sea ray...really do but we are looking for the live aboard life (Nordhaven 43/47 are on the short list)
 
Ididntdoit said:
Yes - some offer flush service - if, or how well it gets done depends on your reputaion (tips) at the dry stack and whos working.....despite being a good tipper, I always flushed the boat myself, while still in the water - very easy with seacocks and eddie marine flush kits - if you get back after hours, your boat stays in the water until the next morning - if you anticipate taking off early in the am, launch at the end of the previous day - some dry stacks have a few slips you can use as available if you will be using the boat multiple days - If you get a boat that does not have bottom paint on it DON'T PAINT IT! Bottom Paint on any trailer or rackable boat in fla KILLS the value - If you buy a boat with paint, pay 1/2-2/3 what it would otherwise be worth.......as far as your coice of boat - yes, it will do what you want it to
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Speaking of tipping, all of this is obviously very new to me, what's the tipping protocol? I assume you tip for putting the boat in and again when taking it out? What amount would be customary for this? Then there's other services such as flushing the motors, refueling, washdown....

I wonder why these facilities don't have a big swimming pool sized bay of freshwater they could drop a boat into, run the motors, spray it of and put it away. Seems that would be pretty efficient if the cost of the freshwater bay wasn't too nuts.
 
copb8tx said:
I guess I need to just go and observe the facility closely and ask a lot questions. It's the only facility close enough to me to make this thing work.
Click to expand...
I would go and inspect as many boats as I could see on the racks and see what if any "Hangar Rash" they have and make my decision from there.
Carpe Diem
 
I want to move to an outboard boat, but one that has nearly all the creature comforts of the Sundancer 360 we have.

The best match, even better really, is the Grady-White 360. Modern interior, airconditioned helm, unsinkable, significant refrigeration options in cockpit.

Fewer cruising amenities is the Intrepid 377.

I'd take either. Twin or triple outboards. Both handle ocean waters well, Grady-White perhaps better than Intrepid.

grady.GIF
Grady-White

INtrepid.GIF
Intrepidr
 
3rd Edition, those are both great boats but they're just too much 'fish' for us. We don't fish so much of their amenities would be wasted on us and many of the things we'd want like comfortable cockpit seating and sunpad would be missed. I do like the cabin space though.
 
One thing really irks me is that there are no good Sea Ray options. I can't believe what a shell of their former self they've become.
 
copb8tx said:
Speaking of tipping, all of this is obviously very new to me, what's the tipping protocol? I assume you tip for putting the boat in and again when taking it out? What amount would be customary for this? Then there's other services such as flushing the motors, refueling, washdown....

I wonder why these facilities don't have a big swimming pool sized bay of freshwater they could drop a boat into, run the motors, spray it of and put it away. Seems that would be pretty efficient if the cost of the freshwater bay wasn't too nuts.[/QUOTE
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copb8tx said:
Speaking of tipping, all of this is obviously very new to me, what's the tipping protocol? I assume you tip for putting the boat in and again when taking it out? What amount would be customary for this? Then there's other services such as flushing the motors, refueling, washdown....

I wonder why these facilities don't have a big swimming pool sized bay of freshwater they could drop a boat into, run the motors, spray it of and put it away. Seems that would be pretty efficient if the cost of the freshwater bay wasn't too nuts.
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I was not using the boat daily - I typically would give $20 in and out to the fork lift driver - as for fuel - you will find most is self service at the dry stacks
 
We have a 2003 Sundancer 280 and use it about the way you describe in the original post. I went with the 280, as it was the largest boat my marina could put in the high and dry. We usually use it for day trips around Tampa Bay, but we have the option of going to, Sarasota, Bradenton etc, and having a comfortable ride. My marina takes excellent care of my boat. Pressure washes the hull and flushes the drive before putting it back in storage. Also a certified Merc facility for maintenance and repair. They stop lifting boats at 5, but have plenty of dock space for the boat to stay in the water until the next morning. Also we have a great restaurant and tiki bar on site if we want to have dinner or drinks after we get back.
 
PeteL said:
We have a 2003 Sundancer 280 and use it about the way you describe in the original post. I went with the 280, as it was the largest boat my marina could put in the high and dry. We usually use it for day trips around Tampa Bay, but we have the option of going to, Sarasota, Bradenton etc, and having a comfortable ride. My marina takes excellent care of my boat. Pressure washes the hull and flushes the drive before putting it back in storage. Also a certified Merc facility for maintenance and repair. They stop lifting boats at 5, but have plenty of dock space for the boat to stay in the water until the next morning. Also we have a great restaurant and tiki bar on site if we want to have dinner or drinks after we get back.
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First off, I'm SUPER jealous of your facility. Sounds awesome.

I was hoping to keep a small older 16' center-console outboard as a 'tender' that would stay tied to our dock in the complex and use it to ferry over to the storage facility and leave it there while we take out the bigger boat. I don't see that being possible given their limited wet dock space. It sure would be convenient to put the 1/3 mile by water instead of loading up the car and driving 3.5 miles around the bay.

I guess I'll learn a lot more in December when we head back out there and I can inspect the property.
 
You jest but I've been surfing that as well. Which is crazy considering we owned the condo just over 4 months. But realistically we love the condo and the view of all the activity going by so it'd be a couple years before that would happen.
 
Why don't you keep the Sea Ray? This area has so much to offer for that size boat. I would miss my Tiara but I also don't use it as a day boat most of the time. Nothing like traveling down the coast and overnighting anchored out after the idiots have gone home. Move the SR here! PM me and I can give you some good info.

To all other that may want to consider moving here its really not very good here. Lots of boats and not very good. Shallow and lots of rocks! Beaches are dirty and fishing used to be much better. Water quality is less than desired with all the new boaters. :D the mosquitoe fleet!:cool:
 
kevin27 said:
To all other that may want to consider moving here its really not very good here. Lots of boats and not very good. Shallow and lots of rocks! Beaches are dirty and fishing used to be much better. Water quality is less than desired with all the new boaters. :D the mosquitoe fleet!:cool:
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You left out all the new Yorkers :).... now that‘s a deterrent
 
Blueone thats not even funny! That is no joke!
‍lol
 
My 420 is a gasser and not ideal for ocean use. As a freshwater boat and with gassers it actually demands a premium on inland lakes. I'd be better off financially selling it here, saving the moving expenses and buying a saltwater diesel boat locally. That said, I really don't want another big slow boat. I want something I can jump in and go. Easy to anchor up on an island, pull up to a restaurant or hammer it down to Clearwater.

Funny about the comments about New Yorkers. I guess, coming from Texas, I hadn't thought about it at all but almost everyone I've met within the complex are NY snowbirds and escapees. Several are ex-LEO.
 
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