|
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
OK, Let's get some serious boat discussion going (per Chuck's end of
year challenge). The time has come to replace our ancient 24 ft I/O cuddy. Here are the specs: Maximum 26 ft LOA (not counting the swim platform). Max beam of 8 1/2 feet. Must have an enclosed head and some minimal galley and sleeping space. Must have a better than average ride through a chop, preferably best of class for a 26 ft cabin boat. Must have reasonable speed, capable of cruising at 24 to 26 kts in good conditions. Must have a reputation for decent quality and resale value. Anchor windlass preferred. Our leading candidate so far is a Sea Ray 260 Sundancer. Being a bit of a traditionalist, I'm not particularly in love with Sea Ray's styling, but it's less offensive than some, and the boat seems to fit in most other respects. Suggestions? |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
Wayne.B wrote: OK, Let's get some serious boat discussion going (per Chuck's end of year challenge). The time has come to replace our ancient 24 ft I/O cuddy. Here are the specs: Maximum 26 ft LOA (not counting the swim platform). Max beam of 8 1/2 feet. Must have an enclosed head and some minimal galley and sleeping space. Must have a better than average ride through a chop, preferably best of class for a 26 ft cabin boat. Must have reasonable speed, capable of cruising at 24 to 26 kts in good conditions. Must have a reputation for decent quality and resale value. Anchor windlass preferred. Our leading candidate so far is a Sea Ray 260 Sundancer. Being a bit of a traditionalist, I'm not particularly in love with Sea Ray's styling, but it's less offensive than some, and the boat seems to fit in most other respects. Suggestions? Here's a boat that meets your general specs. It was featured in the "At the Ramp" column in our magazine recently. I posted the text elsewhere, but here's a link if you're interested in checking it out. People love these, or hate them, but the LOA, the beam, the performance in chop, the cabin accommodations, etc are a clear fit. :-) http://groups.google.com/group/Pacif...08ca499259ded5 |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
Wayne,
There is only ONE boat that will meet your needs. All the rest will just be a compromise. http://tinyurl.com/crcxa The builder has the ideal combination of quality and value. "Wayne.B" wrote in message ... OK, Let's get some serious boat discussion going (per Chuck's end of year challenge). The time has come to replace our ancient 24 ft I/O cuddy. Here are the specs: Maximum 26 ft LOA (not counting the swim platform). Max beam of 8 1/2 feet. Must have an enclosed head and some minimal galley and sleeping space. Must have a better than average ride through a chop, preferably best of class for a 26 ft cabin boat. Must have reasonable speed, capable of cruising at 24 to 26 kts in good conditions. Must have a reputation for decent quality and resale value. Anchor windlass preferred. Our leading candidate so far is a Sea Ray 260 Sundancer. Being a bit of a traditionalist, I'm not particularly in love with Sea Ray's styling, but it's less offensive than some, and the boat seems to fit in most other respects. Suggestions? |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
"Wayne.B" wrote in message ... OK, Let's get some serious boat discussion going (per Chuck's end of year challenge). The time has come to replace our ancient 24 ft I/O cuddy. Here are the specs: Maximum 26 ft LOA (not counting the swim platform). Max beam of 8 1/2 feet. Must have an enclosed head and some minimal galley and sleeping space. Must have a better than average ride through a chop, preferably best of class for a 26 ft cabin boat. Must have reasonable speed, capable of cruising at 24 to 26 kts in good conditions. Must have a reputation for decent quality and resale value. Anchor windlass preferred. Our leading candidate so far is a Sea Ray 260 Sundancer. Being a bit of a traditionalist, I'm not particularly in love with Sea Ray's styling, but it's less offensive than some, and the boat seems to fit in most other respects. Suggestions? The 260 SeaRay Sundancer, while meeting many of your needs, will not provide a nice ride nor will it be stable in even calm waters. Add to that the fact that it is a single I/O. Consider bumping up to the 270 Sundancer with twin V 6's, preferably 1986 through 1988 models. Engine access is tight but you get the bonus of an aft cabin and a more stable ride due partially to a wider beam (Sorry, but a bit wider than your 8'6" requirement). Regardless, both boats (1984-88 eras) offer solid glass construction and are stoutly built. Although SeaRay was purchased by Brunswick in the mid 1980's, their influence on design and construction was not apparent until 1989. Both the 260 and 270 come with Alpha 1 outdrives. Not especially great, especially in a salt water environment. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
Smithers one of 1000's wrote: Wayne, There is only ONE boat that will meet your needs. All the rest will just be a compromise. http://tinyurl.com/crcxa The builder has the ideal combination of quality and value. You're right about the "value" observation. At $53k it's relatively affordable, and for many weekend boaters it will prove to be as much boat as they will ever need. No, it won't blow away boats that sell for 30, 40, or 50% more in a tough head-to-head comparison test- but it remains true that you get a lot of bang for the buck with one of these. Philosophical question: Is a casual boating family as well or better off with a boat large enough to provide a comfortable (and adequately safe) cruising platform that may not be built to offshore standards as they would be with a "better boat" substantially smaller for the same money? Sometimes I think that a family is at least as well off in an "adequately built" 26-footer that meets their needs as they are in a bullet-proof 19-footer that doesn't. 75-90 percent of the boating done in the US is probably done in freshwater lakes. Is it the right boat for Wayne? Probably not fast enough or the best possible choice in choppy conditions. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
|
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 19:01:45 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:
Wayne.B wrote: OK, Let's get some serious boat discussion going (per Chuck's end of year challenge). The time has come to replace our ancient 24 ft I/O cuddy. Here are the specs: Maximum 26 ft LOA (not counting the swim platform). Max beam of 8 1/2 feet. Must have an enclosed head and some minimal galley and sleeping space. Must have a better than average ride through a chop, preferably best of class for a 26 ft cabin boat. Must have reasonable speed, capable of cruising at 24 to 26 kts in good conditions. Must have a reputation for decent quality and resale value. Anchor windlass preferred. Our leading candidate so far is a Sea Ray 260 Sundancer. Being a bit of a traditionalist, I'm not particularly in love with Sea Ray's styling, but it's less offensive than some, and the boat seems to fit in most other respects. Suggestions? You want to buy my lightly used Parker 2520XL. It easily meets and exceeds all of your stated specifications. You need to give him an idea of the cost! -- John H **** May your Christmas be Spectacular!**** *****...and your New Year even Better!***** |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
|
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 20:54:25 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote: Albemarles are okay boats, but woefully heavy and they roll a lot. Also, most of the smaller ones have that awful compromise, an I/O. ============================================ Rolling is the compromise you accept when you get a boat with a lot of deadrise. Weight and deadrise are what get you through rough water without pounding however. My old Bertram 33 had a wonderful ride, even on the open ocean, but it would roll your eyes out at anchor if you got caught sidways to the swell. I built a pair of west-coast type flopper stoppers for it and they helped quite a lot. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 06:36:09 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote: If you want to go really fast in a rough ocean, though, it's hard to beat a true deep vee and well-anchored fillings in your teeth. ================================ That is not the primary goal but if the boat *can* do that, it will have a really nice ride everywhere else. Best of all are the speedboat hulls but then you loose the cabin space and enclosed head. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 23:37:37 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote: Albemarles are okay boats, but woefully heavy and they roll a lot. Also, most of the smaller ones have that awful compromise, an I/O. ================================================== Forgot to mention that we will be keeping the boat in a lift so I/O is not as big an issue and actually has a few things to recommend it around here. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
Wayne,
I have owned I/O, inboard and outboard boats. The I/O and outboard definitely are easier to handle in close quarters. I did find it amazing that some people who had only owned inboards, found it very difficult to dock an I/O. So I guess it is whatever you get used to. "Wayne.B" wrote in message ... On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 23:37:37 -0500, Wayne.B wrote: Albemarles are okay boats, but woefully heavy and they roll a lot. Also, most of the smaller ones have that awful compromise, an I/O. ================================================== Forgot to mention that we will be keeping the boat in a lift so I/O is not as big an issue and actually has a few things to recommend it around here. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 10:13:16 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote: You know, you might be a candidate for one of the nice smaller boats coming out of Ray Hunt's studio: http://www.huntyachts.com/ There's a 25-footer with a speedboat hull, a cabin and in that cabin a head. Private enough. Downside is that it is an I/O, but it is jackshafted. Also, there are gas and diesel options. Doubt you'll find a better-riding boat with its amenities in that size range. =================================== Nice looking boats for sure. Unfortunately they have a 9 ft beam which is 6 inches wider than legally trailerable, and 6 inches wider than my dock and boat lift are presently built for. Wish he hadn't done that. On the other hand they are probably way outside the price range I'm shopping in, and probably very hard to find on the used boat market. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:58:02 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote: Actually, I think she's too beamy for your needs, but you can get a wide tow permit. Yo Ho is 9'6" at the hips. ================================ Yes. Rebuilding the dock and lift are the big issue although being able to legally tow (without permits) is a nice convenience also. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 20:40:51 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote: I'll be interested in what you finally get. I still think that the Albermarle is what you're looking for. =================================== It sure looks interesting, I'll have to find one we can look at. Things go better with these boat transactions if the admiral decides she likes it also. It's all in the marketing... :-) |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 16:25:59 -0500, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 20:40:51 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing wrote: I'll be interested in what you finally get. I still think that the Albermarle is what you're looking for. =================================== It sure looks interesting, I'll have to find one we can look at. Things go better with these boat transactions if the admiral decides she likes it also. It's all in the marketing... :-) This looks quite nice! Just got their weekly email today. http://ww2.boatus.com/classifieds/Ad...asp?Boat=14480 -- John H **** May your Christmas be Spectacular!**** *****...and your New Year even Better!***** |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message ... Heh - tell me about it. We're going through the throes of that decision at the moment and I blame you and your Grand Banks for that - thanks a lot pal. :) Hmmmmm....... You in the market for a GB maybe? ...... Eisboch |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:41:56 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote: You in the market for a GB maybe? ...... No, but thanks anyway. I'm not a Grand Banks kind of guy. =============================================== Nice big comfy boat that will take you just about anywhere you'd like to go... Slowly. :-) It's amazing how fast those miles slide by though when you start running for two straight days around the clock. And the best part is when you still have more than half a tank of fuel left and neither you or the boat are tired. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message ... On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 22:24:28 -0500, Wayne.B wrote: On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:41:56 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing wrote: You in the market for a GB maybe? ...... No, but thanks anyway. I'm not a Grand Banks kind of guy. ============================================== = Nice big comfy boat that will take you just about anywhere you'd like to go... Slowly. :-) It's amazing how fast those miles slide by though when you start running for two straight days around the clock. And the best part is when you still have more than half a tank of fuel left and neither you or the boat are tired. Your GB is gorgeous, but GB type boats just aren't my style. Unfortunately, I have a need for speed. But wive's are different. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message ... On Thu, 22 Dec 2005 04:23:37 GMT, "Bill McKee" wrote: "Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message . .. On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 22:24:28 -0500, Wayne.B wrote: On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:41:56 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing wrote: You in the market for a GB maybe? ...... No, but thanks anyway. I'm not a Grand Banks kind of guy. ============================================== = Nice big comfy boat that will take you just about anywhere you'd like to go... Slowly. :-) It's amazing how fast those miles slide by though when you start running for two straight days around the clock. And the best part is when you still have more than half a tank of fuel left and neither you or the boat are tired. Your GB is gorgeous, but GB type boats just aren't my style. Unfortunately, I have a need for speed. But wive's are different. Yes - yes that's very true. Unfortunate, but true. Maybe not so unfortunate for us. We may have enjoyed longer lives because of SWMBO's. I was thinking of building a jet dragster in my younger days. They were cheap, fast, and profitable for demo runs. First, the POTUS send me an invitation to a job I did not want. Got another job in a different complex, but still a very controlling job. Then University and marriage and children prevented the building of a jet car, while at the same time I was feeding an SCCA B-prod vette. 180 in the vette, was probably safer than 300 in a jet car. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Thu, 22 Dec 2005 04:01:07 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote: Your GB is gorgeous, but GB type boats just aren't my style. Unfortunately, I have a need for speed. =================================== I guess we could put in a turbo. :-) |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
"Wayne.B" wrote in message ... On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 02:27:59 GMT, "Bill McKee" wrote: the POTUS sent me an invitation to a job I did not want. ================================= I think a lot of us got that one. Christmas 1964. Went to the wrong address, mom had remarried and moved. I was working in another state. Gave me a lead time, to go see Sgt. Higham of the USAF. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:10:06 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote: Heh. I was reading one of my zillion magazines the other day about a 62' Hatteras that was being built with twin 1200 hp turbocharged MAN 12 cylinder diesels - supposedly, it was able to do something like 50 mph. I can't imagine what the fuel bill would be. =================================== It's fairly easy to make some estimates. 2400 total hp, typically 2/3 at full cruise = 1600. Figure about 1 gph for every 17 hp = approx 95 gph. Estimating 30 kts cruising speed, approx 3.2 gals per nautical mile. Those are pretty typical numbers for big planing sport fish and motor yachts. It would certainly add a few dinero to the fuel bill for our 5,000+ NM this year. But if you're paying something like $2M for a boat like that, what's another $50K/yr for fuel I suppose. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
Here's my advice, based on several decades of boating.
Stay away from Bayliners. They're attractively styled and low priced, but don't get suckered in. They tend to be cheaply built, as is evidenced in little details like joints and fasteners. BOATING magazine did a review of a Bayliner Trophy, which is advertised as a rugged, offshore blue water fishing boat, and described the construction as "flimsy." Sport Fishing magazine said they were "good for inshore and protected waters." I know major boat dealers all up and down the Texas coast, and almost all of them refuse to take Bayliners as tradeins. They make their lot look cheap (ever see used Yugos sitting on a Mercedes lot?), and later when they fall apart their owners get ****ed off and bring them back, etc. I live and boat at a large (30,000 acres) recreational lake in central Texas. Many times I've watched a Bayliner pull up to a gas dock, and the gas boys would just sit there talking and ignore it, although they'd jump to their feet if anything else pulled up. Really. I'm not making this up. Once I was looking at a 21' Trophy cuddy in a Bayliner showroom. The piece of crap came with a 175HP Force. It'd probably do 20mph. I pressed on the side of the hull with the tip of my finger, and the outer layer of fiberglass "popped" in and out slightly with the pressure. I thumped it with the heel of my hand, and it was like thumping a shoebox. What a piece of crap. Try thumping the hull on my 12 year old Robalo sometime. It feels like concrete slab. Literally. Well, I could go on. If K-Mart sold boats, they'd be Bayliners. There are quite a few good boats out there these days, with modern manufacturing technology. Look for little features and details, like storage, seating, instrument protection, etc. as well as seaworthiness. One boat I can recommend in your category that's been around for years is an old standard, the Wellcraft Coastal. It's a proven veteran, rugged and seaworthy, and is well known for making clever, efficient use of space. Here's a link: http://www.wellcraft.com/Boats/Boats....asp?c=1&b=220 Another one is this 26' Robalo, if you're REALLY serious: http://www.robalo.com/265.htm Good luck. I envy you, going shopping for a new 26 footer. Not something you do every day! Ron M. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message ... On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 09:57:38 -0500, Wayne.B wrote: On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:10:06 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing wrote: Heh. I was reading one of my zillion magazines the other day about a 62' Hatteras that was being built with twin 1200 hp turbocharged MAN 12 cylinder diesels - supposedly, it was able to do something like 50 mph. I can't imagine what the fuel bill would be. =================================== It's fairly easy to make some estimates. 2400 total hp, typically 2/3 at full cruise = 1600. Figure about 1 gph for every 17 hp = approx 95 gph. Estimating 30 kts cruising speed, approx 3.2 gals per nautical mile. Those are pretty typical numbers for big planing sport fish and motor yachts. It would certainly add a few dinero to the fuel bill for our 5,000+ NM this year. But if you're paying something like $2M for a boat like that, what's another $50K/yr for fuel I suppose. I wasn't that far off - I figured somewhere around 4/5 gpnm. Sure would be nice though. A while back on I think the Travel Channel, was a show on super yachts. Guy built one with twin diesels and twin turbines. Was in I think the 140' range and he got it up to maybe 72 knots. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 17:05:25 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote: I wasn't that far off - I figured somewhere around 4/5 gpnm. Sure would be nice though. ========================== Oh for sure. Before we got the GB, one of the boats on our short list was a Hatt 55 sportfish with tower, outriggers, fighting chair and all the trimmings. Mrs B really liked it a lot which is an important part of the equation of course. It had a pair of DD 12V71 turbos and would cruise in the mid 20s which would be kind of nice. When we started working the the fuel consumption numbers however and looking at the maintenance costs on the big turbo engines, it quickly became clear that the boat would own us and not the other way around. Too bad, it was a nice one. Most of the other sportfish we looked at in the 45 to 50 ft range were just not big enough to live on comfortably for months at a time the way we did this summer. The GB is just unbeatable in that respect, and fuel economy is much more reasonable at about 1 gpm average. |
On Topic: Looking for boat recommendations
On 23 Dec 2005 07:33:48 -0800, "Ron M."
wrote: Good luck. I envy you, going shopping for a new 26 footer. Not something you do every day! ========================== True. We got a 49 footer last year after selling a nice Bertram 33. We're working our way down now. :-) Thanks for the information, I'll follow up. I view Bayliners as a fresh water entry level boat, OK for the purpose they serve, but not the right boat for here. |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:31 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2014 BoatBanter.com