Boating, sailing

15 Comments to “what is a good boat to buy for a first time boat owner?”

1. 

   By BearWhoWalksLikeaMan, November 29, 2009 @ 8:50 pm

   fresh or salt water boating+ ?????
2. 

   By clark6561, November 29, 2009 @ 9:24 pm

   Dang yall want a big boat…i live on the gulf of mexico Texas Coast but im having a brain fart on names right now….dang still cant think of names but my friend has one like you described he spent over $100,000 for it….i recomend go to a dealer and look around after you see prices you might decide on a dingy
3. 

   By gregory_dittman, November 29, 2009 @ 10:10 pm

   A used boat, probably 24′ with a motor (no sail). You can get one for probably under $4,000 depending on where you live. That size should have a flushing toliet. A boat with a bathroom, like on a RV will probably force you to get a larger boat.
4. 

   By Daniel T, November 29, 2009 @ 10:16 pm

   hello if your a 1st time boat owner i suggest a open boat around 17ft long is very manageable and a good size to learn how to operate on the water its easy to trailer and handle at the ramp.at 17 ft there will be no tolit or cabin but being new boat owners your daily trips will be only a few hours and if you like boating enough to upgrade you will know more about what your needs are 17ft=$15,000.00 /24 ft with tiny cabin $35,000.00
5. 

   By justanotherengine, November 29, 2009 @ 11:06 pm

   start small until you get the “Boating” thing down, less expensive as well, the initial cost is the cheapest part of owning a boat, it’s Maint. and storage that get’s pricey, Boats also Nickel & Dime you death, you should take a safe boating course given by the coast guard, at least then you’ll have some idea of the rules of the road, it’s a beginner’s course, and you get “certified”, as well as recieving a 20% discount on boating insurance. Boats use a large amount of fuel as well, a small boat uses less fuel, so it’s more affordable to operate, many people buy a boat TOO BIG, and it’s too much to handle, It’s the NO. # 1 mistake first time “boat buyers” make, you can’t store it in your driveway (SAVES BIG TIME $ on winter storage costs), you can paint the bottom of it yourself in the driveway (no boat yard will let you do that), and “Dockage” and “Dry Dockage” is charged per foot of the boat, so if you want to save even more, yu can trailer the boat, If it’s small “Dockage” is cheaper so you may not even need to trailer because now it is “Affordable”.
6. 

   By paultech6, November 29, 2009 @ 11:46 pm

   Everybody tells you start out small. Do not do this . Buy the biggest you can afford because no matter what boat you buy you will have to learn how it handles .Each boat has its own characteristics according to size .Being in the boating business for 20 years most people will start small and within two years are not happy because they wish they had bigger boat.by time you put gear on boat and friends and family you will see what I mean because something extra always gets taking along and you end up short on comfortably space.
7. 

   By ashlovesmotocross, November 29, 2009 @ 11:57 pm

   A nice large sized sea ray. My dad has had his for over 20 years and it still runs great!
8. 

   By MICK L, November 30, 2009 @ 12:00 am

   Look around and think what type of sailing you want to do. ?dinghy sailing, cruising.racing. My wife and I started with a 22′ Kestral a little cruising vessel with fin keel. For such a small boat she could sleep up to 4 (3 realistically). She only required 2 to sail her and some would sail her single handed. She was ideal as a learner boat whilst we did some of the RYA shorebased and practical courses. All this for an initial outlay of £4000. We are now hoping to upgrade to a 27′ Jaguar, and then who knows?????? Good luck!!!
9. 

   By ibeboatin, November 30, 2009 @ 12:29 am

   Move first, then observe the locals who are doing the activities you want to do. The big question about boat buying is: Is it , the activity or the object…I am seeking??
   Waterfront areas & environs are very different. Are you going to be into shelling, diving, sailing , fishing, skiing, cruising/racing , power or sail.???? Off-shore , estuary , bay ,or gunkholing…??? The ?? list could go on.
   Also another valuable boating statement: Eating , sleeping, getting lucky etc is always easier, cheaper & more comfortable done on DRY land.
10. 

    By Charles S, November 30, 2009 @ 1:13 am

    I agree that there is no sense in starting out small. We purchased a 1986 22′ Four Winns Cuddy Cabin about 8 years ago and after the first year we were wanting something bigger. Get something that you will want to keep for some time and something that your family will be comfortable and able to grow into. Buy as big as you can afford. Be careful if you are a first time buyer, GET A BOAT SURVEY done before buying anything. The survey will look over all aspects of the boat and give you a written report on all damage, improvements, and things that will need to be corrected in the future. Also have a engine survey completed with a compression test done! Depending on the size of the boat and size / number of motors this will cost you a couple of hundred dollars. A boat survey usually costs about $15 to $20 per foot of boat Length and the motor survey about $68 dollars per hour. It may seem like a lot of money but it can save you big time from buying lemon w/ blistered and cracked hulls or motor damage. Believe me there is plenty of things with boats that are much different from buying a house, cars, or RV. Just consider the environment they are used in. I would recommend somethingin the 28 to 30′ range. It would have been the perfect starting boat for me and my wife but we went small to start and shouldn’t have. Also look into USCG Aux Safe Boating Classes. You will learn allot from these classes and some states require that you have it. Visit my 360 page, I have several pictures of my boat on there. It is a 1997 Maxum 2800 SCR 29′9″ LOA (lenght over all). It sleeps 4 very well, but can sleep 6. Kitchenette, bathroom / shower, dinette, aft cabin double bed, forward Vee berth, a/c, heat, fridge, 2 burner stove, and most of the pleasures of home. I also have a Honda 2000 generator that is a carry aboard and used to keep the batteries charged on long weekends on the water and to run the a/c and heat. There is also plenty of room on the swim platform for me to mount a 10′ mercury inflatable so we can get back and forth to shore.
    Dont be scared to start with a larger boat. You will learn how to navagate / handle it in no time.
    You can check the following sites for boat sales new and used. I paid $35,000 for mine, $ 900 for generator, $1500 for inflatable, $1200 for outboard motor.
    Also be prepared for high fuel prices and high maintenance costs. Boating is not a cheap hobby. Once you get started there is no stopping. You will addicted for life.
    One more thing to look into is boating assistance w/ on water towing. Boat US has a great deal to check into.

    If you have any questions you can email me as well. I would be glad to help point you in the right direction.

    Happy boating!

    Charles S.
    USCG Master Captain 50 GT
11. 

    By sally, November 30, 2009 @ 1:42 am

    I know you want a bathroom and this boat doesn’t have one, but i say go 100% mako. get it around 20 or 22 feet and youll be happy. they handle waves great, unsinkable, and they arent cheap little lake boats they last forever.
12. 

    By Campo, November 30, 2009 @ 1:49 am

    On a boat, the “bathroom” is called a head. The smallest boats with a head are about 19′ long. This would be a very uncomfortable unit with very little privacy and headroom. A “stand-up” head with a sink can be found in some boats at about 23′ and up. If you want to trailer the boat then you should look for a boat less than 25′ long. If you are going to be aboard for several days and nights then a 26′ cruiser with a 9.5-10′ beam would be a starting point.
13. 

    By money role, November 30, 2009 @ 2:17 am

    a 21 foot Grady white the best damn reasonable boat ever made in my opinion
14. 

    By walleye99, November 30, 2009 @ 3:05 am

    these do not have a cabin but they are all great boats it all depends on how much or how little you want to send.
    here are a few boat companies they all have very nice boats.
    Lund, Skeeter, sylvan, ranger, tracker, polar craft, yarcraft, crestliner they are all priced at anywhere from $14,500 to $36,000, they all have a gas tank of 25 to 58 gallons and they are all from 16′-22′ with a 50hp-300hp hope this helps
15. 

    By sleepEp, November 30, 2009 @ 4:02 am

    I recommend a small sailboat. Because a smaller percentage of population sail, you will get more boat for your money. Additionally, the hull is not tweaked from engine torque. Pay attention to the sails, that they are crisp and watch for chafing points.
    The sailing community are a tight group, not snobs, but , I guess respectful of one another, as if learning equates to responsibility. Finally, it’s great fun.
    Most private owners should be willing to put in for you.(demonstration) Boating is a pass time, sailing is a sport
    Good Luck

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