Bigger boats ?

[Fetch ND]

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

 

[Still LauCo]

I don't have one of the "big boats" but our boating has changed... We started with an 19 foot boat, to our current 300... I used to miss the small boat feel every once in a while, but having a dinghy takes care of most of that...
We sleep on our boat almost every weekend, it's like a vacation home on the water 1/2 mile from the crib!

 

[Hampton]

We don't go romping around like we did in our 250. In the 250, once we got out, fuel consumption was rarely an issue. Granted, this year I am expanding into business and have other financial drains, but still, taking the boat to dinner was nothing, now, it's an extra $80 - now that I type it, it doesn't sound like too much.

 

[sbw1]

I've enjoyed the bigger boats. In many respects they are much easier to handle and maintain. Boats that are in a size range of 20-30 feet are difficult to polish and wax because the railings and small decks make walking around while you wash, polish and wax more difficult. The current boat has nice walk around decks with broad smooth areas of gel coat and no decals. This makes for lots of space for working. Adding 7,000 pounds greatly improves the ride and we can boat in weather that used to keep us in port. Still, at 38 feet overall, storage and slips are relatively inexpensive and widely available on Lakes Michigan and Huron. Bigger is better.

 

[Pirate]

meter disease aka foor -itis works in both directions. I've been up and down the scale a couple of times.... from 8' to 77'. The grass is always greener on the other side.

 

[Quint4]

went from 20 to 24 to 29...sleep on it every weekend...wouldn't go back but sometimes miss the feel of runnin' the old bowrider at 45mph !

 

[jrirvine1]

We have gone from 17’-19’-23’-30’-45’ (LOA) and have enjoyed each in different ways as they were each designed for various uses. Sure, at times I miss the smaller boats for the ease of use and smaller relative operating costs, but the 420 opened up a whole new level of enjoyment.

If there is a regret it is that we have not taken any trips this year over about 2 hrs from home port – due to fuel costs. So, we will throw caution and good sense out the window, say “damn the torpedoes” and are now planning at least one long trip next year to the manly part of the bay and beyond.

 

[Converse48]

My progression: 13', 14', 16', 16', 18', 24', 26', 27'*, 28'*, 36'*, 42'*, 36' and 44'. *= sailboat

Loved them all. Never would go back though, and yes we sleep on the boat about 60 nights a year.

I would like to have a small bow rider, but I can't figure out anywhere to put it!

 

[quality time]

We sold our 330 when we found out my wife was pregnant and bought a 21' trailerable boat a year later. I could only take that for one season so we bought the 380 three months later.

 

[Turtlesboat]

festivus has a serious case of itis. man that's a lot of boats.

 

[Skeetobite]

I'm in my first boat but do have a few thoughts on this.

The smaller boats can go a lot of places I can't get to on the beaches and around the islands we want to explore. Sometimes I wish the boat was just a little smaller. For now we just drop the hook and launch the dinghy.

Many bigger boats (bigger than mine) offer a third cabin. With a 13 yr old daughter and 9 yr old son, this would be ideal. Sometimes I wish the boat was a little bigger.

We stay one or two nights every week and manage a week about every other month so we're around 100 nights per year.

 

[dpvandy01]

230 to 250 to 280... I've spent 37 nights on board this year and looking forward to tomorrow night and the last 3 weeks of my season. I will miss my 250 tomorrow afternoon though since I'll spend about 6 hours cleaning the bottom with a pressure washer in preparation for the winter lay-up. And BTW I miss the smaller ones at the gas dock and when I pay my slip fee..

 

[mwph]

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.

 

[Loneranger]

I actually solved this problem by not getting rid of any boats. I still have the 20 foot Cobalt bow rider to ski on, run to eat, day trips, etc. We have just got the 28 foot Sea Ray this year. We probably 20 nights on her so far this year. I do not plan on getting rid of either one. These are both on Fort Loudon Lake about 45 miles from my current house. We used to put about 60-80 hours on the Cobalt per year but now we put about 25 hours or so on each boat. We seem to use all three about equally.

I also have a 25 foot pontoon that I keep on Cherokee Lake about 4 miles from my current house. I pay a slip fee for the pontoon. The pontoon is used for fishing mostly. I also use it to take out some large groups so that I do not mind if kids get on with muddy shoes or even if someone brings a pet. If that happened on the Sea Ray or Cobalt I would have people walking the plank.

If I was forced to only have one boat it would probably be a large bowrider but I change my mind on this all the time.

John

 

[tsandu]

I started years and years ago (about 20), with a small 14ft.. then slowly went up and up until a few years ago, where i got a 30ft boat (rinker).. there are some great things about a bigger boat.. however about 10 months ago, i downsized back down to a 18" bowrider boat.
Things i miss about the 30ft boat.. head, fridge, cabin so you can stay dry in bad weather. things i didnt like about the 30ft boat.. very hard to handle single handed, cost of fuel, cost of maintanance, tied to mechanics on water (ie $$$), not zippy. with the small boat, a service costs as much as the fuel for one outing on the bigger boat.. the smaller one i can take out of the water, service myself, or take to whatever mechanic i want. petrol is so cheap, i end up using it more.. i dont have a 2nd thought about going out on it.. even single handed. re the head.. just got a small potty for emergencies, and a bowtent, for a little privacy if needed. for the frige.. an electric portable one does the job fine.. only bad point is cant go out in badish weather with out getting drenched.. but i can live with that considering how much $$$ i am saving.. and also how much more use i get out of it because easy to handle single handed, and cheap fuel bills.

the smaller boat does not handle big chop as well (expected), but makes the journey a bit more fun.. if i had time to spend a few overnights on the boat, would have kept the 30fter.. however considering in the 3 years i owned her.. i only spend 3 night on her.. could not justify keeping her.. so traded down.. P.S. her ein australia, we dont get a tax advantage having a big boat.. as if this was the case, may have kept her..

 

[Against The Wind]

1st Boat 230 larson bowrider, - what a blast, tubeing, sking, fishing - miss that
2nd Boat 2400 Maxum Cruiser, *we wont talk about that one* dont miss that
3rd Boat 290 Dancer - slip boat, overnighters, new destinations, more room
4th Baot 330 Dancer - Every weekend camping on the water, lots of room for entertaining 60-70 nights a year and 2 - 10 day vacations Love this one....
" Friends Welcome Anytime, Family By Appointment Only ! "

 

[Michael]

I have owned a few different types of boats and now have the 400DB. Every time we go to the marina we spend the night on her, either on hook or at ours or a friends marina (where ever the best party is). The kids love it as do the dogs. As for missing speed, I accomplished this by having the hydraulic lift on the swim platform and put a turbo charged jet ski on her. Allows for speed, skiing, tubing, exploring shallow areas as well as a dingy (mostly to take the dogs to shore).

With all of the luxuries of home on her I would not want to trade her.

 

[tmhudson2]

For now, we've learned to live with the fact that our 290 is ... a compromise. Too small for a comfortable extended trip, but certainly suitable for the occasional overnight, and the cabin is a welcome retreat when the kids want separation. Too heavy for exhilaration, but fast enough to create a nice breeze when on plane. Too big to dock singlehandedly when the wind picks up, but fortunately there's usually a friend on the dock to lend a hand. Too thirsty to ignore the fuel cost, but ... you get the picture.

It would be nice to have a bow rider big enough to excite six at a time, and a sedan bridge or trawler with diesels for dockside entertaining and extended cruising.

Do any of y'all have any experience with boat sharing?

 

[skolbe]

I don't like putting fuel in the bigger boat, and the bigger boat is more to keep up with. But since we stay every weekend I like the space. It runs pretty good for cruising - but would be happy to run faster.

 

[Gunn]

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!