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Random Quote: Until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore, you will not know the terror of being forever lost at sea
..... and I'm ok with that - but this time I want to make sure its the RIGHT boat. He's not very good with research and is happy to trust the salesmen (HA !).
I'm here counting on the kindness of strangers to try and help me help him pick the right boat.
Here are the relevant points:
* Tampa Bay area
* Looking at something in the 25 ft range
* He wants a Walkaround - fine with me. we have 16 ft cc now and there's no way I'd trust it outside the intracoastal (I'm a scardy cat ! LOL)
* I want to be able to go Grouper fishing ! Which means 15 miles offshore (approx - I'm guessing)
* I want to feel safe and secure - I don't like getting beaten up by a boat or seas !
* I want something that will handle 3 - 5 ft seas with stability - I really hate getting beaten up (oh, did I mention that already LOL)
* I'd like something that won't break the bank -- in all honesty I don't know what we can expect to pay
He's been looking at the 23 ft Seafox Walkaround - its around $50K. I'm not sure if this boat will meet MY criteria for 3 - 5 ft seas an hour offshore.
If there is anything else you need to know, please just ask - he wants this boat for Christmas (not happening but I haven't told him that yet ! I think it's going to take me alot longer than that to do the needed research).
I'm sure this question has been asked a gazillion times before so please don't feel the need to repeat information. Just give me the right keywords and I'll do a search, or if you have links for me to read that would be great.
Look at the sea hunt walkaround, its a nice ride and a good value, I don't remember the model number. Just to be honest you won't be real comfortable in any boat in that size range in a tight 3-5's.
Check out the boats for sale here on THT. You 'll get much more boat for your money and will not suffer the initial depreciation of a new boat purchase. Besides, if they hang around THT, you can bet they took care of their boat. There's a nice Wellcraft with a 225 optimax engine that would be a great boat. Like new boat for a used price. I think his screen name is FishermanWinner or something like that. Check the ads.
Here is the issue. Your want list needs to give something.
Just like a lady huh - wants it ALL -- but doesn't want to spend the bucks LOL
I'd say 50 - 60K. And if I need to stay out of 5 ft seas, then so be it, but I think I can reasonably expect 3 ft seas on a regular basis, especially if I want grouper.
We've had the current boat for about 18 months - I don't want to be here in another 18 months asking for thoughts on yet another boat ! I'd much rather spend that time on the fishing parts of the forum sharing my fishing experiences !
So lets say 3 ft seas instead of 3 - 5.
I appreciate that a 30' would be better, but thats a little much to trailer - and I'm sure alot more expensive.
I'll do the searches suggested and look at the other manufacturers mentioned so far - appreciate the help !
(I also need to look up GWT and the relevance of that ! I just learned a little about deadrise today reading some past posts ... need to learn more about that also .... but at least I'm willing ! LOL)
If $50K is your budget I would not even think about the Sea Fox. As it was indicated earlier flip through the trading dock and see what is there. Also do a search for 24' to 27' boats in your area on boattrader and see what is available in your price range. This is a good time to be a buyer so smack your husband around and tell him you are going to test ride some real boats this weekend.
Well, I'll be the first to say it .... in that size range, get a catamaran hull. It may be a hard sell for hubby but I think you mentioned you don't like getting beat up in rough seas.
We love our Glacier Bay and Worldcat makes a fine boat as well. I also can second the suggestion of Pursuit. My husband was very much in love with the Pursuit 2670 Denail. It's a bit wider so you have some additional stability. Unfortunatley for him, the headsea ride was nowhere near as good as the cats. It was very nice in a rough following sea.
Feel free to send me a PM if you have any specific questions. We've had our cat for 2 years now and the motors just turned over 550 hours - by the way, did I mention, I hate getting pounded around in rough seas.
__________________
Bold Adventure - 2006 Glacier Bay 2670 Dare Signature Series in Carolina Blue w/Twin Yamaha F150's
He's been looking at the 23 ft Seafox Walkaround - its around $50K. I'm not sure if this boat will meet MY criteria for 3 - 5 ft seas an hour offshore.
I am not a boat snob - I believe there are lots of "cheaper" boats that are great. But if there is one brand you DON'T want, you named it. Do some research on SF and see what you find.
For the size you're talking, new, you may end up spending $10-25k more than that - which will be money well spent in quality and resale value.
You did not mention a number of other important things though -
Where are you storing the boat? Do you intend to trailer it? Do you own a vehicle that can tow it?
Are you 100% on a new boat? What are the driving factors for that - reliability, financing, etc?
Are you okay with a single engine or would you rather have twins?
What makes you lean towards walkarounds vs another style?
Is the 16cc the first boat you two have owned?
There are lots of things to think about. Boat #1 is never the right boat for you. Boat #2 is sometimes the right boat. Usually it seems like it is boat #3 or #4 before you really figure it out... so don't be afraid to let boat #2 be a bit of an experiment as well.
As others pointed out (and will continue to do so) there are some great values in the used market, especially this time of year. However they may be overlooking a lot of things that are nice about a new boat, such as having someone specific to yell at, a warranty, that new boat smell, etc.
At the same time you should not rule used out if you are still not sure what you want - it is easy to spend $30k on a used boat and sell it a year later for $25k. Try the same with a new boat and you will lose 20-35% - if not more.
You can get a 23' boat with a motor bracket and enclosed transom that will give you the interior space of any 25' boat. Dusky and seaking/kencraft both make 23's with enclosed transoms that will take 3'ers nicely.
__________________ 2006 Skeeter ZX24 Bay
2006 Yamaha 300 HPDI
2010 Ford F-150 FX4 5.4
Team: EAT-SLEEP-FISH---~ <)))))<
Trying hard to become a 1%er www.ramseydoor.com www.raynoroverheaddoor.com
Where are you storing the boat? Do you intend to trailer it? Do you own a vehicle that can tow it?
We put a boatpad on the side of the house - way oversized for the boat we have now (guess I should have seen the "need a bigger boat" thing coming .... but deNile is more than a river - I thought maybe he just wanted some "wiggle room" backing it in LOL. We do have a truck capable of pulling the weight (although I suspect that the "we need a bigger truck" is going to end up on the table for discussion within a year regardless !).
Are you 100% on a new boat? What are the driving factors for that - reliability, financing, etc?
Him, yes ... Me, no, I think a used boat makes MUCH more sense. With gas prices as they are people are selling their boats simply because they can't afford to run them anymore. Your point about the resale value is a good one - I'll definitely be working on that one with him !
Are you okay with a single engine or would you rather have twins?
Good question ! He thinks a single is fine .... I'm ok with it as long as we have seatow to come and get us if we get stranded LOL
What makes you lean towards walkarounds vs another style?
His idea - he wants to be able to stay out overnight or dock on one of the spoil islands for a few days (he'll be doing that by himself ! definitely not my cup of tea) but I'm thinking it would give us a bit of protection for those fast squalls so I'm good with the walkaround choice; at the very least I could use it to spray on sunscreen without getting it all over the place LOL
Is the 16cc the first boat you two have owned?
Does a 12 ft jonboat count ?
I did the search on SeaFox and honestly, I'm not happy with it either - but I need to get my ammo together to discuss this all in more detail with him.
I'll take a look at the cats - but I have a feeling they're going to end up well out of my pricerange.
The more deadrise, the better it will cut through the waves. However, you said grouper fishing, which means drift or at anchor fishing . If you go with a high deadrise boat(23-24.5), that boat will roll a lot grouper fishing. You probally want a 21 degree deadrise or a variable degree like a sailfish.
Just so you know, a WA is typically much more expensive that a center console. if you're only going 15 miles, stick with a single outboard and a seatow membership.Personally, I'd probally buy used, but then again if you find the right deal, who knows. Whatever else you do, stay away from seafox. they have a very thin hull, not well made at all. Sea Hunt, sailfish, wellcraft, Hydrasports would probally be my top choices for a Wa. Good luck with your choice. Your husband is very lucky!
If 23 ft is what you are looking for, I would suggest looking hard for a World Cat 230sf. This boat will give you the following over most of the 23 footers (except the ones way above your price range):
Twin engines- you need that for the offshore trips you plan to do
Stability - more than a monohull
Ride - better ride in the rough stuff than the typical 23 footer. Dont kid yourself, a 23 footer will not be comfortable in anything more than 3' seas, but the cat will be better than most monohulls.
Fishing space - the 230sf has more fishing space than the typical 23 footer
Head - portable head in the CC cabin
The summer of 2006 I sold a 2004 WC 230sf I had for 550 hrs for $55k. The boat had twin Yamaha F150s, aluminum trailer and was fully equipped with electronics.
Look for one like that and I dont think you will do wrong if 23 ft is what you are looking for.
BTW you will find many more 25' cats than 23s. There is a reason for that; stick with the 23 and try to find one with the F150s not the F115s.
Good luck and tell your hubby he is lucky his wife is into this sport as much as you seem to be.
1. Let him buy any boat he wants.
2. Get a second job to make the payments for him.
3. Make sure there is plenty of beer in the fridge.
4. Keep all honey-dos small jobs that can be done on a weekday.
5. Learn to love all his fishing buddies.
6. Let him fish anytime he wants whether you want to or not.
7. Give him BPS gift cards often.
8. Make sure there is plenty of storage places around the house for extra tackle.
9. Give him back and foot rubs when he puts in a long day of fishing.
10. Clean the boat, clean the fish, and cook the fish even if you don't get to go fishing.
1. Let him buy any boat he wants.
2. Get a second job to make the payments for him.
3. Make sure there is plenty of beer in the fridge.
4. Keep all honey-dos small jobs that can be done on a weekday.
5. Learn to love all his fishing buddies.
6. Let him fish anytime he wants whether you want to or not.
7. Give him BPS gift cards often.
8. Make sure there is plenty of storage places around the house for extra tackle.
9. Give him back and foot rubs when he puts in a long day of fishing.
10. Clean the boat, clean the fish, and cook the fish even if you don't get to go fishing.
::: sigh ::: hubby wants a bigger boat 
and tell him you are going to test ride some real boats this weekend.
It may be a hard sell for hubby but I think you mentioned you don't like getting beat up in rough seas. 
