BoatBanter.com - Need Help w/ First Boat Purchase

Hello Greg,
If you are rushing headlong into buying a boat. let me say STOP! HALT!
CEASE AND DESIST!

You should spend a lot of time doing the research, and a little bit of
time buying. There are a number of things to take into consideration besides
price and footage.

You mentioned it will be a family boat used to pull skiers. Perhaps you
should look at some alternatives. Deckboats are well suited for skiing,
fishing and cruising. You will still get 40-50 mph in comfort and have
access to a sink, grill and potty. The wife will love the potty and changing
room.

Catamarans handle rough water very well and need less horsepower to get
about. Therefore use less fuel. Not as fast as a paining hull but way more
efficient miles per gallon wise. With enough horsepower, will pull
water-skis without issue.

Then there are pocket cruisers. (my favorite) A pocket cruiser is like a
home that cruises at 40 mph. They also qualify as a second home, so interest
is tax deductible. If you use it to "entertain for business" you will get
even bigger tax breaks. (Thanks Mr. Bush!)

Some boats hold their value longer than others.

Bayliners will depreciate very fast. Glastron's hold their value better.
Searay, Formula (Thunderbird) and Larson hold their value well. Formula's
boats hold value best of all.

Cruisers and trawlers do not depreciate as fast as open boats.

Consider and evaluate your options before purchasing. Remember, you will
have this boat for a long time. Make sure it is what you want, not what the
salesman wants to sell.

Please PLEASE do yourself and family a favor. Take the USCG Auxiliary Safe
Boating Course.

http://www.cgaux.org/

You may find some useful information on my personal website. See
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks/solas.html and read about
children's and pet's lifejackets, abandon ship info and other safety related
items.
--
Capt. Frank

__c
\ _ | \_
__\_| oooo \_____
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www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks

"G Evans" wrote in message
...
I have been doing a goof bit of research on boats. I am looking for a
boat
that my family and I can use on weekends during the summer...2 adults
and 2
teenagers.

An ad by Stingray for an 18' boat for $9999 started my interest. I have
since determined that this is probably not what I would like to own.

I have narrowed my choices to:

Stingray 180LX (18' Long 7' wide) w/ 3.0 Merc; Power Steering; CD;
Bimini
top; and a top speed of about 49MPH that I can get for about $13K

Bayliner 205 (20' Long 8' Wide) w/5.0 merc; Power Steering; Bimini Top;
CD
Player; and a 50MPH Top Speed that I can get for about $19K.

Glastron SX195 (18' 7" long 7'6" Wide) w/ 4.3L Merc; Power Steering;
bimini
top; cd player; No Wood construction; and a top speed of about 50 MPH
that I
can get for about 19.5K

I like the price of the Stingray, but am afraid it will not be big
enough
and that it might be difficult to pull a slalom skier with the driver
and 2
others in the boat. The Stingray also looks good, but the stringers
(???)
are wood encapsulated in fiberglass, which I understand to be less
desirable
that an all composite construction.

For the money, the Bayliner looks like a good value. I am unsure if its
production includes wood or if it is all composite, but the warranty is
strong - lifetime to the original buyer on the hull, and 10 years from
date
of purchase is transferable.

Glastron is touting a new "VEC" construction process that is said to be
light and rigid. They offer a lifetime warranty. I don't really care
for
the look of this boat, and it doesn't appear as "plush" as the other
two,
but I like the idea of an all composite boat.

Any input on theses boats and recommendations for which to purchase
would be
appreciated. Any recommendations against a particular boat would be
helpful
also. I'm ready to pull the trigger, but thought I'd reach out to this
group for some last minute advice.

Greg