Fresh Water Runabouts

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Trip

No boat is worth the money, just sayin'

You are better off digging a hole and throwing the money in that and walking away. Boats are the definition of disposable income.

Lee has the right idea to get something he doesn't mind spending cash on instead of wasting credit/interest payments on a pit of money.

Hey man, I don't ever endorse making payments on anything... not a boat, not a motorcycle, hell - not anything unless it can give a return on investment. He IS right to pay cash.

[Sixxxxer]

Originally Posted by Trip

No boat is worth the money, just sayin'

You are better off digging a hole and throwing the money in that and walking away. Boats are the definition of disposable income.

Lee has the right idea to get something he doesn't mind spending cash on instead of wasting credit/interest payments on a pit of money.

Why because you had a shitty experience with one? The same thing could be said for Motorcycles, Or Cars for that matter...Everything depreciates and tends to have issues. Boats take more care and Maintenance given the fact that the water itself eats away at everything on the damn thing.

Some people enjoy them, some people dont...Just like everything else in life.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Sixxxxer

Why because you had a shitty experience with one? The same thing could be said for Motorcycles, Or Cars for that matter...Everything depreciates and tends to have issues. Boats take more care and Maintenance given the fact that the water itself eats away at everything on the damn thing.

Some people enjoy them, some people dont...Just like everything else in life.

I have had good a bad experiences with them, just like anything else. A boat just consumes a much higher percentage of resources for cost than a motorcycle or a car.

Which is why it's a money pit. Yes, you can get enjoyment out of them, but just at a much higher rate of money than most other toys.

I grew up on the bayou, I spent more time in a boat than a car for most of my childhood. Trapper Joe on Swamp people is from my part of the world. Myrtle Grove where he fishes at is just north of the little town I am from.

[Sixxxxer]

It does depend on the boat/ Use of the Boat/ How much you use the boat

My uncle had a 16' Aluminum Starcraft he used for fishing/crabbing and outside of general maintenance on the motor and replacing the battery every couple years it ran without fail or issues. Motor still fires up first hit of the starter to this day.

With that being said...I want a boat

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Sixxxxer

It does depend on the boat/ Use of the Boat/ How much you use the boat

My uncle had a 16' Aluminum Starcraft he used for fishing/crabbing and outside of general maintenance on the motor and replacing the battery every couple years it ran without fail or issues. Motor still fires up first hit of the starter to this day.

With that being said...I want a boat

me too, catalina 22 with a folding keel would fit my desires quite nicely

Originally Posted by LeeNetworX

Thank you for your post; you have me sold. I just placed my order with my local Sea Ray dealer. He asked me what prompted me to choose Sea Ray over the others and I directed him to this post.

Penis

[Hydrant]

Originally Posted by Trip

No boat is worth the money, just sayin'

You are better off digging a hole and throwing the money in that and walking away. Boats are the definition of disposable income.

Lee has the right idea to get something he doesn't mind spending cash on instead of wasting credit/interest payments on a pit of money.

I'm with Trip.

I can say with about 95% honesty, that I'll never have another boat after this one goes.

Boats are just a hole, even though this one has the standard 350 cu in Chevy V8, they seem to be more finicky than it would be if it was in a car. So your always playing with tune-ups, winterization and other odds and ends. Most of the stuff you can do on your own, but if it has EFI, it is more of a PITA to play with, without the help of a laptop and the tuning programs. Nothing pisses me off more than laying in the engine hatch on a 95 degree day, floating in the middle of a lake trying to change the fuel / water seperator because the docks have shit for gas. When they run great they are a blast, when they don't there is no more pleasure than dreaming of pulling the plug in the middle of the water and let it sink.



As far as brands, I would recommend Rinker, Sea Ray, Crownline, Cobalt (but big $$$$) Chaparral and Four Winns. Watch the boats with the Volvo Penta outdrives. They are great outdrives, but when it comes to parts your local dock / marina on the lake might not stock parts for those whereas the MerCruiser stuff is very common around marinas.


Here is my 92 Sea Ray. It's in great shape for a 92, its a 22' Open Bow.

[LeeNetworX]

Originally Posted by Hydrant

I'm with Trip.

I can say with about 95% honesty, that I'll never have another boat after this one goes.

Boats are just a hole, even though this one has the standard 350 cu in Chevy V8, they seem to be more finicky than it would be if it was in a car. So your always playing with tune-ups, winterization and other odds and ends. Most of the stuff you can do on your own, but if it has EFI, it is more of a PITA to play with, without the help of a laptop and the tuning programs. Nothing pisses me off more than laying in the engine hatch on a 95 degree day, floating in the middle of a lake trying to change the fuel / water seperator because the docks have shit for gas. When they run great they are a blast, when they don't there is no more pleasure than dreaming of pulling the plug in the middle of the water and let it sink.



As far as brands, I would recommend Rinker, Sea Ray, Crownline, Cobalt (but big $$$$) Chaparral and Four Winns. Watch the boats with the Volvo Penta outdrives. They are great outdrives, but when it comes to parts your local dock / marina on the lake might not stock parts for those whereas the MerCruiser stuff is very common around marinas.


Here is my 92 Sea Ray. It's in great shape for a 92, its a 22' Open Bow.

Beautiful boat! Especially for being almost 20 years old.

Good point on the Penta; had not considered that. I've found myself leaning towards the 4.3 Penta - will have to keep that in mind when deciding. Thanks.

[goof2]

Any of them will probably be OK. They all do stupid things in their manufacturing but manufacturing has improved so those things are less likely to be dangerously stupid. As long as you aren't keeping it in the water, keep it clean, and keep it covered it should take at least a few years to turn in to the worthless piece of crap you will eventually grow to hate to your very core.

[TommyHotWheel]

Party barge..Had a 21 foot Four Winns, a Glastron and a Rinker and I am looking for a pontoon. It was a blast and carry more people and are just so much more useable. Look at one if its just a big lake toy.

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by TommyHotWheel

Party barge..Had a 21 foot Four Winns, a Glastron and a Rinker and I am looking for a pontoon. It was a blast and carry more people and are just so much more useable. Look at one if its just a big lake toy.

That's where my family ended up when we were growing up... way less maintenance and with a big enough motor, can pull a skier...