I read quite a bit about boats, and get the BoatTest newsletter, which
comes out every week or so. Most of what's in there is not what I
want. Mostly big gas-guzzlers.
They had an article in the most recent about Whalers 13-footer.
Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport
Comes with a 40 Merc for $9995. Boat's too small for me.
There's a vid review of the American Angler 1866 Bass & Bay CC.
And the Tracker Pro Team 170 TX.
Both aluminum.
And a vid review for the JC Pontoon Neptoon 21 TT, and the
Ranger Boats 208VX.
Lots of smaller boats today. Many times they're reviewing power
yachts that run big bucks and use big fuel.
Anyway, it's been a couple years since I wanted any boat but what I
first decided on. Three I'd like are the Carolina Skiff 24 DLX, Mac
26X or M, and the Corsair F-24 or F-27 tri.
All are good on fuel, and the Mac and Corsair can sail besides.
They're within my budget, but until I move to the water and try them I
won't know which one I want. Maybe I'll change my mind then and go
with something else.
Thing is, it seems that once you like a certain type boat, you tend to
stick with it.
Some here might have the money to own many different boats, but those
are more rare birds.
They say a boat is always a compromise, and that's true.
Seems there's always something that steers an individual toward a
particular boat.
Wouldn't mind hearing what steered you to yours.
For me, I give the most weight to meager fuel consumption, then
shallow draft and fishability and overnighting.
Close in there is trailerabilty, though I might be able to work around
that with a dock or lift. Depends. Have to be able to ride 4-6
people safely minimum, and sleep at least 4.
Don't care about speed much at all.
Because I just don't want an expensive boat, I don't worry about cost
hindering me.
That's about it.

--Vic

On 12/16/09 5:07 PM, Vic Smith wrote:
I read quite a bit about boats, and get the BoatTest newsletter, which
comes out every week or so. Most of what's in there is not what I
want. Mostly big gas-guzzlers.
They had an article in the most recent about Whalers 13-footer.
Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport
Comes with a 40 Merc for $9995. Boat's too small for me.
There's a vid review of the American Angler 1866 Bass& Bay CC.
And the Tracker Pro Team 170 TX.
Both aluminum.
And a vid review for the JC Pontoon Neptoon 21 TT, and the
Ranger Boats 208VX.
Lots of smaller boats today. Many times they're reviewing power
yachts that run big bucks and use big fuel.
Anyway, it's been a couple years since I wanted any boat but what I
first decided on. Three I'd like are the Carolina Skiff 24 DLX, Mac
26X or M, and the Corsair F-24 or F-27 tri.
All are good on fuel, and the Mac and Corsair can sail besides.
They're within my budget, but until I move to the water and try them I
won't know which one I want. Maybe I'll change my mind then and go
with something else.
Thing is, it seems that once you like a certain type boat, you tend to
stick with it.
Some here might have the money to own many different boats, but those
are more rare birds.
They say a boat is always a compromise, and that's true.
Seems there's always something that steers an individual toward a
particular boat.
Wouldn't mind hearing what steered you to yours.
For me, I give the most weight to meager fuel consumption, then
shallow draft and fishability and overnighting.
Close in there is trailerabilty, though I might be able to work around
that with a dock or lift. Depends. Have to be able to ride 4-6
people safely minimum, and sleep at least 4.
Don't care about speed much at all.
Because I just don't want an expensive boat, I don't worry about cost
hindering me.
That's about it.

--Vic


Well, unless you like sleeping in a tent, the Carolina Skiff isn't the
boat for overnighting! But it sure is a terrific in-shore fishing boat.
If I were moving back to Florida, I'd buy one for sure, probably that
model, for ICW, creek, lake, and near-shore fishing. You probably could
have a nice dodger made for the CS, though...there's lots of room
forward for a tent-like dodger and a couple of cots.

I know a guy who runs the 24-footer CS as a fishing charter captain out
of Jax, if you ever get there, or at least he had the 24-footer the last
time I checked.

Trailerboats magazine has some good reviews from time to time.

On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:16:07 -0500, Harry
wrote:


Well, unless you like sleeping in a tent, the Carolina Skiff isn't the
boat for overnighting! But it sure is a terrific in-shore fishing boat.
If I were moving back to Florida, I'd buy one for sure, probably that
model, for ICW, creek, lake, and near-shore fishing. You probably could
have a nice dodger made for the CS, though...there's lots of room
forward for a tent-like dodger and a couple of cots.

Some do just that.

I know a guy who runs the 24-footer CS as a fishing charter captain out
of Jax, if you ever get there, or at least he had the 24-footer the last
time I checked.

I had spotted a charter Captain running a 24 DLX about half a year
before I went to Florida (Punta Gorda) last time, and was going to
hire him. When I got ready to leave for Florida, he was gone.

--Vic

On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:07:01 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Thing is, it seems that once you like a certain type boat, you tend to
stick with it.

That's very true - I prefer center consoles over any other type of
boat I've owned over the years.

On Dec 16, 4:52*pm, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:
On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:07:01 -0600, Vic Smith

wrote:
Thing is, it seems that once you like a certain type boat, you tend to
stick with it.

That's very true - I prefer center consoles over any other type of
boat I've owned over the years.

Yes, outside of a small row boat, and a '27 ft. Chris Craft Cavalier,
I've had two other working boats. a Chris Craft Scorpion with 3.0 4
cyl GM, and a 23 ft. Marquis with 350 Chevy. Both with Mercruiser /
Alpha IO.

The 18' Scorpion will pull tubers and lap Carlyle lake fairly well as
much as you can stand on 10-12 gal of gas. Where the Marquis is a
bigger boat and a lot smoother and quieter ride, it's a heavy tub and
will show you quick a gas gauge
can drop if you feel like WFO is the only answer to boating.

If I have other boats in my future, I'll probably stick to the
Mercruisers, because they are basically an automotive engine with easy
parts availability. and I've bought some junk boats for the outdrives
and scrapped the rest, so I feel I'm fairly well set. and will
probably remain with what I have.

I tend to like the Mercruisers for the boating I do, and am not really
a fan of 2 cycles.

On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:07:01 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Have to be able to ride 4-6
people safely minimum, and sleep at least 4.
Don't care about speed much at all.

Have you ever seen an RF246 ??

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1998/Rosborough-Rf-246-1877979/Deale/MD/United-States

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/cache/searchResults.jsp?slim=quick&sm=3&luom=126&currenc yid=100&searchtype=searchbar&Ntk=boatsEN&Ntt=Rf-246

or

http://tinyurl.com/rf246trawler

All are trailerable, many engine options including small diesel, and
several different layouts.

On Dec 16, 7:11*pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:07:01 -0600, Vic Smith

wrote:
Have to be able to ride 4-6
people safely minimum, and sleep at least 4.
Don't care about speed much at all.

Have you ever seen an RF246 ??

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1998/Rosborough-Rf-246-1877979/Deale/...

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/cache/searchResults.jsp?slim=q....

or

http://tinyurl.com/rf246trawler

All are trailerable, many engine options including small diesel, and
several different layouts.

Now those ARE nice! Especially for a mere 25 ft'r. The only problem I
have with V-berths is they don't sleep two people that well, but I do
like it's lay out. I wonder if the cabin is air conditioned that is
with main engine running? I didn't look at the Volvo diesel that close
to see a compressor.

On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:08:14 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Now those ARE nice! Especially for a mere 25 ft'r. The only problem I
have with V-berths is they don't sleep two people that well, but I do
like it's lay out. I wonder if the cabin is air conditioned that is
with main engine running? I didn't look at the Volvo diesel that close
to see a compressor.

They really are nice little boats. I've talked to several owners and
they were all very enthusiastic and do some fairly ambitious cruising
with them. The biggest attraction is that you can put them on a
trailer and take them cruising somewhere way outside of your normal
range.

I don't think I've ever seen a boat with engine driven air
conditioning but I guess it could be done. An automotive type
compressor takes a lot of power however and would certainly impact on
performance and fuel economy.

On Dec 17, 6:50*am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:08:14 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Now those ARE nice! Especially for a mere 25 ft'r. *The only problem I
have with V-berths is they don't sleep two people that well, but I do
like it's lay out. I wonder if the cabin is air conditioned that is
with main engine running? I didn't look at the Volvo diesel that close
to see a compressor.

They really are nice little boats. *I've talked to several owners and
they were all very enthusiastic and do some fairly ambitious cruising
with them. * The biggest attraction is that you can put them on a
trailer and take them cruising somewhere way outside of your normal
range.

I don't think I've ever seen a boat with engine driven air
conditioning but I guess it could be done. * An automotive type
compressor takes a lot of power however and would certainly impact on
performance and fuel economy.

You're right, Wayne, it would suck up more fuel, but with a windowed
cabin and depending on where you're location is, that air conditioning
could make a difference on if going boating that day or not. I'd still
like the idea, though.

On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:11:37 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:07:01 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Have to be able to ride 4-6
people safely minimum, and sleep at least 4.
Don't care about speed much at all.

Have you ever seen an RF246 ??

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1998/Rosborough-Rf-246-1877979/Deale/MD/United-States

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/cache/searchResults.jsp?slim=quick&sm=3&luom=126&currenc yid=100&searchtype=searchbar&Ntk=boatsEN&Ntt=Rf-246

or

http://tinyurl.com/rf246trawler

All are trailerable, many engine options including small diesel, and
several different layouts.

You put me onto those before, and I really like them.
Personally, I would go for an outboard on it.
I forgot to put it on my list, maybe because the price is too steep
for me. Looks like prices have come down some though.
Draft is a bit deep. I'd still like to get back there to Estero for a
beer with gfretwell. Don't think this one will do it.
I really prefer not a single hole below the waterline, and the ease of
repair with the outboard.
Too bad, because a diesel would be sweet on a few scores - fuel
economy, longevity, and alt amps.
Might get almost as good economy with a smaller OB than most I see on
them, which I think are usually 150-250 HP.
A 115 might knock top speed down a few knots from the 150, but cruise
more economically at hull speed. I was surprised to see a top speed
of 26 kts on that first link, with a 150 HP Volvo.
Might be an exaggeration there. But I don't care about that anyway.
Tim mentioned A/C, and no doubt it could be done, but besides the
compressor, now you've got to squeeze a condenser in there and cool
it. Then you have to run your freon hoses of course.
It could be nice, but it all runs against my KISS instincts.
A 12V rooftop unit might work to take the edge off the heat.
BTW, I don't ever want to trailer a boat that heavy myself.
But if I don't have a dock, the barn marinas are cheaper than docks,
and collect less growth too. Need a trailer anyway.
Know anything about those barn marinas?
When I checked one out in Punta Gorda a couple years I recall storage
running about $10 a foot per month, 2 launchings a day included.
Cheaper if you store outside.
Anyway, I've added the Rosborough to my list of "Boats I want."
Thanks for reminding me.

--Vic