First Boat

[cdnlngld]

My wife and I are considering buying a used boat.... We have never owned one before... What kinds of things do I need to look out for when buying a used boat? What kind of mileage(hours) should I consider to be "too many". What are the best brands out there? What is the best motor brand. I want to use for fishing, tubing, and skiing. Maybe the occasional day trip up the dsm river. What kind of HP should I bee looking for? Any input would be much appreciated.

[rebecacy]

Bought a boat once, it was the second happiest day of my boating life. The happiest day was the day I sold it. Much like my venture into american saddle bred horses. Think about this,...... hard.

[Acylum]

I'm not sure you'll be able to take a "Fish and Ski" type craft up the DM river. Not this year anyway.

[1100011CS]

The best boats are ones owned by other people.

[4429 mcc]

I disagree, but be ready to eat the cost on the boat after you buy it. How big of boat do you want? How many people will be going with you? Do you really want to pull people on a tube or a fishing boat...doing both is tough.

[Acylum]

Bought a boat once, it was the second happiest day of my boating life. The happiest day was the day I sold it. Much like my venture into american saddle bred horses. Think about this,...... hard.

It IS a lot of money to spend on something you won't be using that much.

[aauummm]

My wife and I are considering buying a used boat.... We have never owned one before... What kinds of things do I need to look out for when buying a used boat? What kind of mileage(hours) should I consider to be "too many". What are the best brands out there? What is the best motor brand. I want to use for fishing, tubing, and skiing. Maybe the occasional day trip up the dsm river. What kind of HP should I bee looking for? Any input would be much appreciated.

A boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money (and time). I agree with rebecacy, I was very happy to sell my boat (sailboat) and be done with them forever.

[Mr Janny]

Boat Salesman: Let me just see if i have this right here. It seems like what you guys are looking for P. Diddy style of shrimping boat.

Charlie: You're a really good listener and I didn't peg you for one when we came in here because of the pinky ring.

[BigBake]

First....don't listen to the naysayers. I've owned a boat for 5 years and loved every minute of it. That said, make sure it is something you want to use and enjoy up front. It can be a lot of money for some people and ends up being a driveway ornament.

Next, make sure your marriage can withstand the boat ramp loading unloading process.

PM me and I'll be happy to share what I know and help point you in the right direction on what to look for.

[klamath632]

Look for one that doesn't have a hole in it.

[4429 mcc]

First....don't listen to the naysayers. I've owned a boat for 5 years and loved every minute of it. That said, make sure it is something you want to use and enjoy up front. It can be a lot of money for some people and ends up being a driveway ornament.

Next, make sure your marriage can withstand the boat ramp loading unloading process.

PM me and I'll be happy to share what I know and help point you in the right direction on what to look for.

HA! Did you let her drive the boat or back the trailer up?

[twistedredbird]

Concur with others! One of my happiest memories was when someone let me give them my boat and took it off my property and I signed the papers over to them. :-) seriously....perennial head ache and money pit.

Unless you rack up over $2000 a year in boat rental fees, stop now.

However, if you are seriously going for it and will use it almost every other weekend or more, it might be okay to consider.

But, have to say, I am much happier now renting a fishing boat when I go fishing on fishing trip, a skiing boat when I go skiing, a sailboat when sailing, and a pontoon when with family.

No maintenance, no storage, no getting it ready to use, no winterizing, no hauling it, no loading it and unloading it, no insurance, no worrying about someone stealing it when its parked unhitched (lots of boats get stolen).

NOTHING is worse than that first planned boating trip of the year when something doesn't work, and something always doesn't work, and your boat ends up at the shop along with every other boat that weekend, and you end up renting a boat anyway.

Best yet, rent from the dock, and you don't even have to mess with loading and unloading.

Rent! Rent! Rent! Now again, if you have rented and are running up huge rental fees in the thousands, then buying might be an option, but know that a boat will cost you this every year in depreciation and repairs.

[twistedredbird]

First....don't listen to the naysayers. I've owned a boat for 5 years and loved every minute of it. That said, make sure it is something you want to use and enjoy up front. It can be a lot of money for some people and ends up being a driveway ornament.

Next, make sure your marriage can withstand the boat ramp loading unloading process.

PM me and I'll be happy to share what I know and help point you in the right direction on what to look for.

yeah, forgot, that too. If she is a back seat driver, or can't park a truck and trailer....

[ozzie8]

If you do go through with this, put it on a body of water where you can rent a slip. Beats taking the boat on and off the trailer and hauling it every single time. Also have a marina store it and winterize it for you so its not sitting in your driveway all winter.

[Knownothing]

Cobalt is the best. Basically like the Mercedes of Boats
Sea Ray is also a very good boat.

Bayliners are cheap. Made cheap. Look nice, and are usually a good first boat so you can figure out WTF you are doing.

If you have some good money though Cobalt is the way to go.