Bigger boats ?

At our age, and with the kids (and us!) so into sports, and wakeboarding etc...and living on a lake, we have no plans for a bigger boat for a very long time. We like dropping it in, using for the day, then bringing it home.

Perhaps when we are older we will get something to cruise in. For now, we'll stay with the runabout.
 
Gunn said:
This is an issue we've been trying to deal with when we finally take the plunge and upgrade. Recently though with boat prices coming down, we may be able to afford a 260DA and keep our 175 bowrider. That would be ideal in my opinion. That way, we still have the economical fun in the bowrider for tubing and skiing and just plain fun up the river, or we can take the large one out for a cruise into the bigger water for fishing, overnighting, sightseeing, etc.

Plus, I'm not sure how much I can get out of a near mint condition 1995 anymore. And I'm sure I'd regret selling it. So...keeping it may just work out. Only problem is, I won't be able to keep it on a lift too!
Click to expand...

A 260 with a big block is a lot of fun.
 
mwph said:
Very little experience here but I cant imagine ever having a smaller boat. We've only had ours about 6 weeks and we've slept on the boat 5 weekends. If all goes well I see myself moving up sooner than later but never smaller.
Click to expand...

You got the fever in only 6 weeks...........
LOL
Glad you are enjoying it!
 
Have owned

24ft Four Winns
24Ft Bayliner
28ft Bayliner
34ft Searay - Currently

Thinking of actually downsizing to a 31 Dancer. Love all the room on a 34ft, but now that its mostly just my wife and I and the dog, might just be too much boat for us at this point.

I am sure there are pros and cons to moving up or down in size. I guess it mostly depends on the boating that you are doing. I can definitely see where having a bigger boat when you take trips for a week or more. If its just weekend trips then all that room may not be necessary (depending on how many people there are on the boat) Those with large families wife, three kids and two dogs, may need a huge boat to ensure everyone is comfortable.

Craig
 
Our first season in boating was a 240, by the end of that year we bought our 280. Used that the following season, then at the end of that year we bought the 320.

3 years and three boats. We do a lot of weekend trips and I do love the 320.... But I sure do miss the gas mileage of the 240. Biggest drawback with moving up is the kids can't wakeboard from the 320. They miss that. The plan to fix that will be to get a Jet Ski.
 
we went from a 250 to a 310 this year. We certainly don't regret the room, but we do gasp at the service prices sometimes and omg the fuel. But we didn't buy this boat because it was an economically sound investment:lol: And now that my kiddos are getting older they don't want to come with us any more. Well, that's all the more boat for us. Do I wish we could afford a bigger boat, hmmmm. Yes, I would love to have a more open feel in the cabin. But I am definately not complaining, I love our 310. It's easy to drive and dock, so much easier than our 250 (I never could back that thing in) Sometimes I miss the 250, but then I think about that porta potty pump out toilet or that carry on cruiseair and I don't miss her any more.
 
I love my Searay. i enjoy prepping it to go out cruising. It is exciting to set the anchor in a cove and kicking back.
 
I had a 41 sundancer and wanted a 44 Sedan Bridge, but could not afford it so went to the 36 Sedan.......So I down sized LOA but gained great open feel with the salon.....Would I still like the 44, sure......However, the 36 has been great, each area has a tad less space than the 44, but my docking fees, storage costs, etc. are much cheaper......On a price per LOA....the 36 was $11,000 per LOA and the 44 was $12,500 per LOA.......
 
Fetch ND said:
I can tell many have got bigger boats over the years.

Does anyone ever regret it or miss their smaller boats ?

I really like my SeaRay but even kinda miss my Jet boat

While some of your boats are Gorgeous - many seem to be too big to enjoy like a smaller open bow

& how many of you actually sleep in your boats (over night) Not just having some Nymph o that wears you out like some other guy here :smt043But if you want to discuss more of that :smt038
Click to expand...


I miss the 9 gallons per our our 2000 2400 SCR Maxum got, but that's it. Love our 330.
 
I have had the following:

14' Aluminum w/ 5 hp O/B (when I was a kid)
16' Glasstron w/ 65 hp O/B (heavy boat, underpowered)
18' Searay 180 Sport (awsome boat for a small inland lake, but too small for a family)
23' Searay 220 Sundeck (great entertaining day boat)

I would love to buy a bigger boat for weekends on the water, but can't justify the cost here in Michigan. We only have 4 months of 'real' boating time. If I had a bigger boat, we may be able to squeeze another month out of the year. I have also been thinking about getting a 24-26 DA that I can trailer. This would keep the cost down (ie no slip fee, less mechanical cost) but would be alot of boat to haul around.

What I like best about smaller boats is your ability to take them where you want to go. I took my 180 sport down to Florida and explored the inner costal waters. If the weather would have been nicer (60 and rainy is no fun in an open bow) we would have really enjoyed our time. I am thinking about taking my 220 Sundeck down next year. If I had a 24 or 26 DA this would not be possible.
 
I don't miss my 1975 16' Glastron bowrider that wouldn't start and stalled all the time. I don't miss my 1953 12' Starcraft aluminum tiller boat that leaked and had wood rot. I'm itching to upgrade to a 400DA or 36 DB with diesels. I don't know if I'll miss the 290 DA, but probably will. It has been 100% reliable and fun.
 
A big boat is relative. It's expensive but a whole lot cheaper than owning waterfront property and a cabin around here. When you look at it like that, it's seems fairly cheap and reasonable with the added benefit of being able to change scenery! We had a lot on a lake and ended up going to other lakes anyway. I NEED to explore and couldn't stand going to the same lake or worse yet the same DOCK all season long, season after season. We boat at Priest Lake, Lake Pend O'Reille, the San Juans, Flathead, the Columbia River, Snake River, Lake Chelan, Portland, Seattle, Lake Union, Lake Washington, Koocanusa and a whole bunch of other lakes as well. WHY would I want to limit myself to one lake? As long as it's trailerable, it's not too big! I can still go a little bigger if I need to and still be trailerable! :grin:
 
Fetch ND said:
I can tell many have got bigger boats over the years.

Does anyone ever regret it or miss their smaller boats ?

I really like my SeaRay but even kinda miss my Jet boat

While some of your boats are Gorgeous - many seem to be too big to enjoy like a smaller open bow

& how many of you actually sleep in your boats (over night) Not just having some Nymph o that wears you out like some other guy here :smt043But if you want to discuss more of that :smt038
Click to expand...

Our boat is a cheaper alternative to a waterfront property and I would add also a much more fun alternative.

We spend 75-80 days/nights on the boat during summer time. My dream would be to have a boat big enough so that the "jet boat" would be the dinghy...
 
Bigal said:
Our boat is a cheaper alternative to a waterfront property and I would add also a much more fun alternative.

We spend 75-80 days/nights on the boat during summer time. My dream would be to have a boat big enough so that the "jet boat" would be the dinghy...
Click to expand...

I want to find an old Duckworth jet boat, stuff a new motor and pump in it, re-upholster the seats and then go have some fun Threading the Needle on the Snake River!! :thumbsup:
 
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