triplethreat

I am looking to buy a boat in the next few months (hopefully) I'm looking at a '97-'98 bowrider (mainly for cruising with the family) i'm looking in the 18-20' range with either a 4.3 or 5.0 i/o. would this be a sufficent boat for icw sounds and general area around swansboro morehead etc. I don't plan to do much fishing just faimly stuff. What particulars should i watch out for in this boating area with a boat af this style and size and what should I stay away from(obviously anything offshore is not a good idea with a boat of this style) Thanks in advance for any help

triplethreat

Also one of the boats I am looking at says that it has no bottom paint. Is that an issue?

jb2sea

Bottom paint is not desireable unless you plan to keep the boat in the water most of the time.
Shoot me an email if other questions. Happy to ehlp.

JB

Fisher-Price

I/O's in the sound can get tricky, they will draft more. If you are going to do a lot of the family thing you will probably be beaching the boat alot on the islands. An outboard can be tilted up out completely out of the water. Goose Creek near Emerald Isle is particularly difficult to get in and out with an I/O.

You will only need bottom paint if you plan to leave the boat in the water. If you are trailering it you will be fine.

You may want to check out Grady, Scout, Mckee Craft, Boston Whaler, Key West, Sea Pro, and Edgewater they make saltwater oriented outboard powered bow riders. Actually most of those manufacturers will call their boats dual console but it's the same thing as a bow rider.

Scott

Motivator

I have a 1998 Sea Ray 185BR with a 4.3 IO and could not agree more with what Scott has said. My boat drafts over 30" with the drive all the way down. I am extremely limited in where I can go and when I can go if I am not cruising in a marked channel.
When anchored out at the beach my boat is always out twice as far as my neighbors and in twice as deep water. This might not sound like much but when you are going to the beach for the day, I am always the last one unloaded, the first to start when we leave and the last back to the marina (no fun).
Also, the admiral complains about having to jump off of the boat and get wet, rather than just stepping off like our friends do.
With the outdrive in the trailering position I am still drawing more then my neighbors and their outboards on bigger boats.
With all of it's drawbacks I have thoroughly enjoyed this boat.
If I were in the market for a dual console, I would go with a Grady White Tournament, there are several for sale on Yachtworld.com check them out.
Good luck with your decision and let us know what you do.

Motivator