Greetings, am considering a little 19ft stingray CS (2001) as starter
boat for use around NC coastline/intercoastal around Willmington. I
have avoided considering inboards focusing on outboards due to input
from all my hard core off shore fishing friends who swear by outboards,
but for a starter boat I hope to keep 1-2 years then trade up, will
this be a bad choice? Any input greatly appreciated.

Bigtwinhog

bigtwinhog wrote:
Greetings, am considering a little 19ft stingray CS (2001) as starter
boat for use around NC coastline/intercoastal around Willmington. I
have avoided considering inboards focusing on outboards due to input
from all my hard core off shore fishing friends who swear by outboards,
but for a starter boat I hope to keep 1-2 years then trade up, will
this be a bad choice? Any input greatly appreciated.

Bigtwinhog

Two comments:

1)
I doubt that 19 ft boat is a true inboard, (with a prop shaft)- it's
more likely a sterndrive (or "outdrive") configuration. Given the
amount of problems commonly associated with the drive units, I think
that an outboard might be a better choice for any very small boat
designed and configured to be rigged sensibly with an outboard.

2) How much of a stretch is it to get to the boat you really want? I
always get concerned when I hear a new boater talk about getting a boat
that he or she acknowledges doesn't fit their needs or desires on the
very first day of ownership. That's a lot like reasoning,
"I need a four door sedan to take my family on of five on vacation to
Yellowstone, but since we haven't owned a motor vehicle before I think
we should start with a Moped."

Even the math doesn't pencil, a lot of times. If you figure that you
are very likely to lose
at least a few thousand at resale or trade in time (even on an
inexpensive boat) and that you will be dumping money into the "wrong"
boat for maintenance, repairs, insurance, fuel, etc....

My advice would be:
Take the money you're going to lose buying and selling the "wrong" or
"get by" boat, add it to what you'd spend for the 19 footer that you
already know isn't the boat you ultimately want to own, and see if that
isn't enough to get something that you don't see yourself trying to
trade out of in 2007 or 2008.

Best of luck.

The most important thing is just being on the water. Just as there's no
single absolutely and exculsively "right" way to go boating, there are
darn few "wrong" ways to go about it as long as the vessel is safe,
seaworthy, and appropriately selected for conditions.

Hey- I'm in Wilm too, and I've got to ask if this boat belongs to the crazy
Russian on Carolina Beach Road. Carl at Carolina Discount Marine Service. He
had a Stingray for sale, and I've been out on it for the sea trial after he
repowered it. If it's the same boat, it's a good deal. I thought about
taking it myself, but it didn't really suit my typical boating needs.

As far as the difference in I/O(Inboard/Outboard) and Outboard in sal****er,
I don't think that makes a lot of difference, unless you are going to leave
her in the water full-time. But even then, salt is gonna eat either one.
Generally, a big outboard is going to be a bit more complicated piece of
machinery than an I/O motor, but it's a trade off for a bit more complicated
outdrive. either way, a boat is a money-pit most of the time, but it is
cheaper than Crack for the thrill return.

Moreover, make your choices less on the drive type, and more about the type
of boating you might do. Around here, we've got some great shallow water
opportunities, and a small outboard on a shallow draft boat will get you
places the sterndrive Stingray won't go. On the otherhand, she'll rip down
the River and ICW in more comfort and possibly style than a skiff, and if
you're pulling skiers and such, you'll have more fun. If you are looking at
offshore fishing, your gonna need a bigger boat, and a lot more money and
time. As a first boat experience, offshore isn't the brightest idea IMHO,
and it really is a quantum leap in cost.

So yeah, I wouldn't sweat the drive/salt issue much, if you are trailering
or dry-stacking it won't make any difference. And if that stingray is the
mad Russian's boat, I'd jump on it. If it isn't his, have him check it out
for you, he's a good guy, and entertaining as hell.

"bigtwinhog" wrote in message
oups.com...
Greetings, am considering a little 19ft stingray CS (2001) as starter
boat for use around NC coastline/intercoastal around Willmington. I
have avoided considering inboards focusing on outboards due to input
from all my hard core off shore fishing friends who swear by outboards,
but for a starter boat I hope to keep 1-2 years then trade up, will
this be a bad choice? Any input greatly appreciated.

Bigtwinhog