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Random Quote: Ever got lost at sea? No but I've been blown ashore a few times.
I am looking to purchase a new DC in the Southern NJ area and would like some advice on what to buy. This would be my first owned boat, but I have vast experience on my fathers boats. I am looking at spending less than $80,000 and in the 22' - 25' arena. I would be using it for cruising the back bays, fishing in the ocean and water sports. I have a young family who like some of the creature comforts (bathroom, bow area lounging etc.), I think the DC would serve me best for what I am looking for.
I have already looked at the Scout Dorado, Robalo 227 and 242 I am planning on looking at the Century 2350. Any experience with those or others that I should take a closer look at? I am heading to the Annapolis boat show in October and the NY Boat show in January and just want to make sure that I do the right research before I get there.
These are all nice boats, you might want to add Sea Hunt into the mix.
"I have a young family who like some of the creature comforts (bathroom, bow area lounging etc.), I think the DC would serve me best for what I am looking for."
That is what we wanted in a boat and ended up with a DC.
I have the Robalo R227 and it has been a great boat. I do all sorts of water sports as well as do a fair amount of offshore fishing. I've had no major problems with my boat at all even after two years. Robalo now makes a R247 that's a bit bigger and can hold twins or an F350 and a hard top. I think that's a nice boat package and solves a few of my complaints which are the lack of a top (I just have a bimini which bugs me) and I would like the head to be a little bigger for adults who really need to use it. I looked at the GW225 and loved it as well but my wife didn't like that it had a solid transom and of course the fact that it was 10K more for a very equivalent boat to the Robalo in my mind. The Robalo has a transom door which makes it really easy to get in and out of the boat when doing water sports for my young daughters and also for my parents who have a hard time throwing legs over a huge transom. Good luck with your search, I think the dual console style are great family boats that are active and do many different things.
__________________ -Kurt
"Happy Hour"
2005 Sea Fox 257WA w/ 275 Verado (2.5mpg at 36mph and topping out at 50mph)
1994 Yamaha Waveblaster
1996 Yamaha Waveblaster
I looked at all the attached links. I would like to see some of these boats with a enclosure on them, thats one of the times the DC thing really shines. You can have a cabin for fall and winter fishing... The windshield is so raked in the picts on the boats in the links, I don't know if a enclosure would work...
I looked at all the attached links. I would like to see some of these boats with a enclosure on them, thats one of the times the DC thing really shines. You can have a cabin for fall and winter fishing... The windshield is so raked in the picts on the boats in the links, I don't know if a enclosure would work...
Our BW 210 Ventura fits our needs well. My aftermarket Strataglas enclosure fits very well, as does those I've seen on GW Tournament 225s. Makes for pleasant rides to and from the fishing grounds, whether it be cold, windy or both.
I think the Edgewater would be tough to enclose from the pics.
__________________
Boston Whaler 210 Ventura, 225 Verado
whichever ones you decide to look at more closely, just make sure you can stand in a comfortable position behind the helm. many DCs are really only set up for you to be seated at the helm. depending on the way the boat runs, you may not have very good visibilty over the bow from a seated position.
my first boat was a hydra-sports DC and i had to stand while running, however, because i'm 6'1'' i had to hunch over to reach the wheel...no fun if i was running for any distance. i was just on a friend's BW ventura 21 this weekend and it was the same way...i could not stand comfortably at the helm.
that edgewater is sweet...and at least from the photogallery, it looks like you can stand comfortably at the helm.
ASIDE: i can't believe we're less than a month from the annapolis boat...WTF happened to the summer?!?!?
Hydra Sports Vector Series also has a nice 22 foot DC worth looking at. Grady White takes honors in this particular space and has developed a very well designed series of DC models. BTW for $80K you can nail down a used Grady White 275 DC which is a very nice vessel - super coastal family cruiser and a fishing boat as well with an enclosed head, wet bar, plenty of storage and cockpit space. Baert Marine had a NEW 275 DC Grady White in June for $88K.
You probably have more feedback than you need. Your best bet is to get the in water demo. If a dealer won't let you test drive ask them for a name of someone they sold to
that may allow you a ride. Just because the boat looks good or solid doesn't mean it's going to ride the way you would like it to. For instance we purchased a Grady White Tournament 225 for the same reasons you are looking to buy. My thoughts were on low maintainance (not a lot of wood and limited or no color in the apolstry) and a solid tank like ride.
If you are planning on using the boat for primarily skiing family tubing etc., you may want to look at the Robalo 227 247 or a Scout and stay away from the heavier riding Grady.
Just some food for thought.
Good luck and have fun. Researching and looking is part of the fun of boat ownership.
I just bought a world cat. They make a really nice 25' dc. Get a ride on one before you make your decision. Try to get a ride on a rough day, and also get a ride on a monohull the same day so you can compare.
I had a Seaswirl Striper 2101 DC (Dual Console) that I bought three years ago and was a good boat for the money (the boat met my every expectation). It had a single Yamaha 150 4 Stroke and it was a terrific setup and well laid out. I just traded it in on a 2010 Grady White Tournament 275 with twin Yamaha 150's. Although the Grady is only 6' longer, that represents almost a 30% increase in length. My Striper was around 3,000 lbs while the Grady is almost 6,000 lbs. That said, the Grady (new) is more than twice the price (and then some).
I looked at (and liked) the Robalo 247 and think it's a terrific boat. I also just saw the Edgewater 245 at the Newport Boat Show and was very impressed. For me I didn't want to go from a 21' to a 24' to a 27' and was fortunate to be able to make the jump all at once.
The main reason for me buying the Grady White was actually to make my wife happy (I know a lot of guys say that - but I really mean it). My wife didn't like the Striper in heavier weather and wanted more room for friends.
I think that the Dual Console is a great design for doing a lot with one boat (although I'm ashamed to admit that I don't fish - so for me it's only about pleasure cruising). What I like most is that I single hand a lot and it's an easy boat to get around (and I don't need a cabin as I don't plan to sleep on it).
I just bought a world cat. They make a really nice 25' dc. Get a ride on one before you make your decision. Try to get a ride on a rough day, and also get a ride on a monohull the same day so you can compare.
Jrock;
I also just bought a WC 250DC. I picked up this 2003 model with '04 Honda 150s with 430hrs from Naples, FL for $40k including transport to Southern Louisiana. I was looking for a boat for the same reasons you are. No shame in not really being a dedicated fisher. The head definitely has some good headroom and I'm 6'2". The hard top is a lifesaver. The wife is happier with it than I am because of how plush the ride is.
You might also want to look at the Glacier Bay Renegade 2640. It's a little more plush for cruising and has a thru-transom midship that makes boarding very easy. That is the only gripe I have about my WC is that I have to step over the solid transom but I have to admit the fishbox and livewell is very nice.
Looking for a New Dual Console 
