Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

I am thinking of buying a boat with 2 or 3 partners. At most, I'd use the
boat twice a week next summer (and same with the other partners) So
there's plenty of time for 3 or 4 people to share the boat.... And, of
course, this will spread docking, insurance, repair and storage costs 4
ways..... Any comments on this approach? Any hidden caveats? I am
carefully choosing the partners....(responsible, working friends w/ spare
money)

For now, we are looking at 19-22 foot Bowrider. Basically to lounge
around on for a few hours at a time...Maybe try some water-skiing.

Also, we aren't that boat savvy, and all fairly busy with careers, so we
don't want a repair lemon... Is it better to pay more up front, and get a
nicer, newer boat, rather than find a perceived deal, and start pouring
money into some old boat (and end up spending just as much , if not more)

To avoid "hidden startup charges", what are the most common "freebie"
accessories I should look for? (That aren't really factored into the
price) Stuff that I'd have to buy regardless.... Trailer, Cover,
lifejackets, marine radios?

I was told by an avid boatman to avoid mass produced boats, such as
Bayliner, SeaRay, Maxum, etc...He said these boats are not well built, and
the mechanics he spoke to are always fixing these.... Instead , he said to
find a boat like: Grady White, Boston Whaler, Pursuit, HydraSport, ProSport,
Edgewater.... What do you think of this? Also, he said it is MUCH better
to get a fully outboard motor. Much easier to service. Do not get I/O or
inboard. They are much more troublesome....He also said try to get a Jap.
motor, like Yamaha, Honda, Nissan....

What are your thoughts on these suggestions ? THANKS

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

I am not a small boat guy so I will leave those questions to someone who
knows something.

I do however have a good bit of partnership experience.

First decide how the partnership ends. How many partners to end it and how
to do it...Get that in place before you buy anything.

Second decide how a partner leaves. Do he sell his share or simply walk
or...

Third decide how costs are divided up and paid. Note that this is related
to prior and next item. Have clear plans for repairs and maintenance.
Unless someone is well suited to the role pay an outsider to do them. More
expensive but it vastly limits partnership friction.

Fourth decide how the boat is scheduled. I recommend a regular schedule of
"ownership" with the owner allowing other partner usage as he sees fit.

Fifth - Write it all down. You will be sorry if you don't...and it may well
cost you a friend or a lot of money.

Jim
"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
. net...

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

I think Jim made some very good points. I wanted to add that I bought my
boat with my father in law thinking I will only take it out a few hours a
week, as it turns out I got addicted to wakeboarding and now take it out
2 -3 times a week. Luckily, he never wents to to take it out, but if he did
i would be screwed. be careful, boats are addictive
"Jim Donohue" wrote in message
news:7FQ%a.1103$n94.336@fed1read04...
I am not a small boat guy so I will leave those questions to someone who
knows something.

I do however have a good bit of partnership experience.

First decide how the partnership ends. How many partners to end it and
how
to do it...Get that in place before you buy anything.

Second decide how a partner leaves. Do he sell his share or simply walk
or...

Third decide how costs are divided up and paid. Note that this is related
to prior and next item. Have clear plans for repairs and maintenance.
Unless someone is well suited to the role pay an outsider to do them.
More
expensive but it vastly limits partnership friction.

Fourth decide how the boat is scheduled. I recommend a regular schedule
of
"ownership" with the owner allowing other partner usage as he sees fit.

Fifth - Write it all down. You will be sorry if you don't...and it may
well
cost you a friend or a lot of money.

Jim
"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
. net...

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Have a good lawyer and bail bondsman to help you out when you shoot one or
both of them.

Too many problems. Go it alone.

--


Keith
__
If you turn the wheel towards shore, the houses get bigger. If you turn the
wheel away from shore, they get smaller. That is, unless you keep turning
the wheel, then they get bigger again.
"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
. net...
I am thinking of buying a boat with 2 or 3 partners. At most, I'd use
the
boat twice a week next summer (and same with the other partners) So
there's plenty of time for 3 or 4 people to share the boat.... And, of
course, this will spread docking, insurance, repair and storage costs 4
ways..... Any comments on this approach? Any hidden caveats? I am
carefully choosing the partners....(responsible, working friends w/ spare
money)

For now, we are looking at 19-22 foot Bowrider. Basically to lounge
around on for a few hours at a time...Maybe try some water-skiing.

Also, we aren't that boat savvy, and all fairly busy with careers, so we
don't want a repair lemon... Is it better to pay more up front, and get a
nicer, newer boat, rather than find a perceived deal, and start pouring
money into some old boat (and end up spending just as much , if not more)

To avoid "hidden startup charges", what are the most common "freebie"
accessories I should look for? (That aren't really factored into the
price) Stuff that I'd have to buy regardless.... Trailer, Cover,
lifejackets, marine radios?

I was told by an avid boatman to avoid mass produced boats, such as
Bayliner, SeaRay, Maxum, etc...He said these boats are not well built, and
the mechanics he spoke to are always fixing these.... Instead , he said
to
find a boat like: Grady White, Boston Whaler, Pursuit, HydraSport,
ProSport,
Edgewater.... What do you think of this? Also, he said it is MUCH
better
to get a fully outboard motor. Much easier to service. Do not get I/O or
inboard. They are much more troublesome....He also said try to get a
Jap.
motor, like Yamaha, Honda, Nissan....

What are your thoughts on these suggestions ? THANKS

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Don't do it. Someone will tear the prop up and not tell anyone and the next
time you go to take it out, you can't because the prop is messed up and
noone will take responsiblity for it.
Who gets it on the 4th of July weekend, Labor day weekend, etc. My guess is
everyone will want it for the holidays.
What happens when you go to get in the boat and there are potatoe chip
crumbs everywhere and ants crawling around.

Don't do it.

As for the brands, all the brands your friend recommended don't make (or
speciallize) in bowriders. They make great fishing boats. Don't get hung
up on brand. Find a boat you like that has been took care of and put your
money into a used boat for yourself. Use the boat and if you find you don't
use it enough to justify then sell it.


--
Tony
My boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com



"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
. net...
I am thinking of buying a boat with 2 or 3 partners. At most, I'd use
the
boat twice a week next summer (and same with the other partners) So
there's plenty of time for 3 or 4 people to share the boat.... And, of
course, this will spread docking, insurance, repair and storage costs 4
ways..... Any comments on this approach? Any hidden caveats? I am
carefully choosing the partners....(responsible, working friends w/ spare
money)

For now, we are looking at 19-22 foot Bowrider. Basically to lounge
around on for a few hours at a time...Maybe try some water-skiing.

Also, we aren't that boat savvy, and all fairly busy with careers, so we
don't want a repair lemon... Is it better to pay more up front, and get a
nicer, newer boat, rather than find a perceived deal, and start pouring
money into some old boat (and end up spending just as much , if not more)

To avoid "hidden startup charges", what are the most common "freebie"
accessories I should look for? (That aren't really factored into the
price) Stuff that I'd have to buy regardless.... Trailer, Cover,
lifejackets, marine radios?

I was told by an avid boatman to avoid mass produced boats, such as
Bayliner, SeaRay, Maxum, etc...He said these boats are not well built, and
the mechanics he spoke to are always fixing these.... Instead , he said
to
find a boat like: Grady White, Boston Whaler, Pursuit, HydraSport,
ProSport,
Edgewater.... What do you think of this? Also, he said it is MUCH
better
to get a fully outboard motor. Much easier to service. Do not get I/O or
inboard. They are much more troublesome....He also said try to get a
Jap.
motor, like Yamaha, Honda, Nissan....

What are your thoughts on these suggestions ? THANKS

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Excellent points. Thank you.


Are you and all your partners able to boat on weekdays as easily as
weekends? Consider schedule snafus oriented around weekends.

I will be taking the summer off, so I'll have all the weekday time I want.
During summer, one could theoretically break each evening into 2
shifts....5-7pm & 7-9pm.
So 10 weekday shifts, and maybe 10 more on the weekend...
With some scheduling, I think there's plenty of time for every to use the
boat.
Besides, the partners are personal friends, and we would be boating together
often.

Water skiing implies at least two other persons along with you. Are your
friends and family able to boat on weekdays as easily as weekends?
Consider
schedule snafus oriented around weekends.

Can't you do it with one other person? Yes, I can find people to go with.
Recall, the partners are personal friends, and we would be boating together
often.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Good points, Tony.

There is no way I am absorbing all the costs of ownership alone.
So, it's either get annoyed at the partners, or get no boat at all.
B/c the price of the boat is not the issue, its all the other costs that
worry me.




"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:zQ20b.179356$o%2.87150@sccrnsc02...
Don't do it. Someone will tear the prop up and not tell anyone and the
next
time you go to take it out, you can't because the prop is messed up and
noone will take responsiblity for it.
Who gets it on the 4th of July weekend, Labor day weekend, etc. My guess
is
everyone will want it for the holidays.
What happens when you go to get in the boat and there are potatoe chip
crumbs everywhere and ants crawling around.

Don't do it.

As for the brands, all the brands your friend recommended don't make (or
speciallize) in bowriders. They make great fishing boats. Don't get hung
up on brand. Find a boat you like that has been took care of and put your
money into a used boat for yourself. Use the boat and if you find you
don't
use it enough to justify then sell it.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

The devil's dictionary entry for "advice" is: "Asking for someone's approval
of a course of action you've already decided upon."

Looks like that pretty much sums up your original post. Go ahead and report
back if you're all still friends in a year. Doubtful. Just remember, the
**** will hit the fan for whoever has the boat registered in their name.

--


Keith
__
You can sleep in a trawler; you can't cruise in a house.
"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
.net...
Good points, Tony.

There is no way I am absorbing all the costs of ownership alone.
So, it's either get annoyed at the partners, or get no boat at all.
B/c the price of the boat is not the issue, its all the other costs that
worry me.




"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:zQ20b.179356$o%2.87150@sccrnsc02...
Don't do it. Someone will tear the prop up and not tell anyone and the
next
time you go to take it out, you can't because the prop is messed up and
noone will take responsiblity for it.
Who gets it on the 4th of July weekend, Labor day weekend, etc. My
guess
is
everyone will want it for the holidays.
What happens when you go to get in the boat and there are potatoe chip
crumbs everywhere and ants crawling around.

Don't do it.

As for the brands, all the brands your friend recommended don't make (or
speciallize) in bowriders. They make great fishing boats. Don't get
hung
up on brand. Find a boat you like that has been took care of and put
your
money into a used boat for yourself. Use the boat and if you find you
don't
use it enough to justify then sell it.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 21:01:41 GMT, "BooBoo12321"
wrote:
There is no way I am absorbing all the costs of ownership alone.
So, it's either get annoyed at the partners, or get no boat at all.
B/c the price of the boat is not the issue, its all the other costs that
worry me.
==================================================

There's an old saying about boats, usually attributed to J.P. Morgan,
that goes something like: "If you have to ask, then you can't afford
it."

There's a lot of truth to that unfortunately. My advice is to buy
what you can afford and enjoy it for what it is. You'll keep your
friends as friends, have a boat to use when ever you want, and
maintain it (or not), as you see fit.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

On Sun, 17 Aug 2003 18:32:22 GMT, "BooBoo12321"
wrote:

I am thinking of buying a boat with 2 or 3 partners. At most, I'd use the
boat twice a week next summer (and same with the other partners) So
there's plenty of time for 3 or 4 people to share the boat.... And, of
course, this will spread docking, insurance, repair and storage costs 4
ways..... Any comments on this approach? Any hidden caveats? I am
carefully choosing the partners....(responsible, working friends w/ spare
money)

For now, we are looking at 19-22 foot Bowrider. Basically to lounge
around on for a few hours at a time...Maybe try some water-skiing.

Also, we aren't that boat savvy, and all fairly busy with careers, so we
don't want a repair lemon... Is it better to pay more up front, and get a
nicer, newer boat, rather than find a perceived deal, and start pouring
money into some old boat (and end up spending just as much , if not more)

To avoid "hidden startup charges", what are the most common "freebie"
accessories I should look for? (That aren't really factored into the
price) Stuff that I'd have to buy regardless.... Trailer, Cover,
lifejackets, marine radios?

I was told by an avid boatman to avoid mass produced boats, such as
Bayliner, SeaRay, Maxum, etc...He said these boats are not well built, and
the mechanics he spoke to are always fixing these.... Instead , he said to
find a boat like: Grady White, Boston Whaler, Pursuit, HydraSport, ProSport,
Edgewater.... What do you think of this? Also, he said it is MUCH better
to get a fully outboard motor. Much easier to service. Do not get I/O or
inboard. They are much more troublesome....He also said try to get a Jap.
motor, like Yamaha, Honda, Nissan....

What are your thoughts on these suggestions ? THANKS


I have to agree with Tony. For this size boat, buy your own. You
will have the luxury of using it whenever you want, and you won't have
to alienate friends trying to find out who dinged the prop, or left
the gas tank empty.

Good friends are more important than a boat, and there *will* be
conflicts.

My brother-in-law and I bought a small boat, many years ago, and got
along fine with it. My ex-wife, however, had a major problem
everytime my brother-in-law took the boat. "Why does he get it so
many weekends?", etc. The killer was that she hated boating, and
wouldn't go with me when she had the chance. I dumped the wife and
kept the boat.

Get a boat trailer combo, do your homework, and enjoy your boat.
noah

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

"BooBoo12321" wrote in message

Water skiing implies at least two other persons along with you.

Can't you do it with one other person?

WHOA!!!! We better clarify that one. When I said "...at least two other
persons along with you...", I meant you, as the driver, and one skier and
one observer -- two others.

When you said "...Can't you do it with one other person?...", what, exactly
are you meaning? Just driver and skier?

JG

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

The originator of this thread clearly has very little to no knowledge of
boating. He has decided to do something and seeks approval here. It's an
absolute waste of time to attempt to change his mind. Like most of us he needs
to learn his own lessons.

I wish him luck as he will certainly need it and it's my wish that all folks on
the water enjoy the experience.

Butch

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

I've seen this done more than once and rarely has it worked out.
"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
.net...
Excellent points. Thank you.


Are you and all your partners able to boat on weekdays as easily as
weekends? Consider schedule snafus oriented around weekends.

I will be taking the summer off, so I'll have all the weekday time I want.
During summer, one could theoretically break each evening into 2
shifts....5-7pm & 7-9pm.
So 10 weekday shifts, and maybe 10 more on the weekend...
With some scheduling, I think there's plenty of time for every to use the
boat.
Besides, the partners are personal friends, and we would be boating
together
often.

Water skiing implies at least two other persons along with you. Are
your
friends and family able to boat on weekdays as easily as weekends?
Consider
schedule snafus oriented around weekends.

Can't you do it with one other person? Yes, I can find people to go with.
Recall, the partners are personal friends, and we would be boating
together
often.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

"L. A. Powell" wrote in message news:ugS%a.141187$Oz4.31995@rwcrnsc54...
Never partnered on a boat, though I did do so with a couple of
airplanes. These tips should work for boats as well.

Form a partnership - easy enough to do, with proper incorporation
papers, checking account, etc.

Agree on a "rental rate" and assess partners for usage hours. The
assessment should be enough to cover dockage or storage fees, usual and
ordinary maintenance, etc. An hour meter will give usage; a mandatory
log will let the treasurer know who and how much to bill each month.

Each partner should be assessed an equal amount to make the boat
payments, insurance, and other fixed costs. Anticipate building an
escrow for big expenses like a blown engine or other major repairs.

Sound like the right idea. We are already seeing the posts to this
thread about how partnerships never work. I grew up with airplanes in
my family. The first two planes were shared among three partners and
the last was shared by two. It is not uncommon for planes to be owned
by private partners - and it works fine for lots of them.

Why can't it work for boats? Maybe aircraft owners are generally
smarter than boaters and can make realistic agreements they can live
up to. I don't know... Maybe its that a lot of boaters are too
emotional about their boats ("It's my boat"). While pilots love their
planes, perhaps they are more able to separate the "emotion" of
ownership with the "business" of ownership.

Don't go into a partnership think that it will reduce the cost of
ownership to a small fraction of sole ownership. For exmaple - If I
bought a boat with two other parties, I would expect (off the top of
my head) to save 40% (maaaaybe 50%) off the total cost of owning the
boat alone.

As pointed out, certain maintenance items that many owners may do
themselves might be better "contracted" out in a partneship. Avoids
the problem of one or two partners feeling like they do all the work.
These are things that raise the overall ownership cost to the
partnerhip, but you still realize significant savings individually
when you divide the costs out. (I think I could quickly get past the
scheduling issue, if I could save a significant amount of money on the
boat ownership and not have do so much maintenance.)

"Jim Donohue" wrote in message
news:7FQ%a.1103$n94.336@fed1read04...
I am not a small boat guy so I will leave those questions to someone
who
knows something.

I do however have a good bit of partnership experience.

First decide how the partnership ends. How many partners to end it
and how
to do it...Get that in place before you buy anything.

Second decide how a partner leaves. Do he sell his share or simply
walk
or...

Third decide how costs are divided up and paid. Note that this is
related
to prior and next item. Have clear plans for repairs and maintenance.
Unless someone is well suited to the role pay an outsider to do them.
More
expensive but it vastly limits partnership friction.

Fourth decide how the boat is scheduled. I recommend a regular
schedule of
"ownership" with the owner allowing other partner usage as he sees
fit.

Fifth - Write it all down. You will be sorry if you don't...and it
may well
cost you a friend or a lot of money.

Jim
"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
. net...

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Please take a boating safety class.

There are a lot of safety items that probably won't occur to you, this is
one of them. You have to have an observer in the boat, watching the skier
(or tube or whatever watertoy you're towing). So, 3 people to ski.


"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
.net...
When you said "...Can't you do it with one other person?...", what,
exactly
are you meaning? Just driver and skier?

Yes.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
When you said "...Can't you do it with one other person?...", what,
exactly are you meaning? Just driver and skier?

Yes.

Bad plan. There are few things you can do with a boat that have more
potential for disaster.

Please -- you and your partners, take a boating safety class. Look in your
area for either the US Coast Guard Auxiliary or the US Power Squadron.
Their classes are basically the same, both are comprehensive, both are
inexpensive. And, you'll learn a few things. Good Luck!

JG

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Thanks for the tip.
I'll definately take a few classes if I ever get a boat.


Please -- you and your partners, take a boating safety class. Look in
your

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

On Sun, 17 Aug 2003 18:32:22 +0000, BooBoo12321 wrote:

(Donno about the partnership thing - sounds like a Bad Idea to me)

For now, we are looking at 19-22 foot Bowrider. Basically to lounge
around on for a few hours at a time...Maybe try some water-skiing.

Also, we aren't that boat savvy, and all fairly busy with careers, so we
don't want a repair lemon... Is it better to pay more up front, and get a
nicer, newer boat, rather than find a perceived deal, and start pouring
money into some old boat (and end up spending just as much , if not more)


New boats are rarely more reliable than older boats. You can get Nice ones
or Lemons both ways (older boats usually have the "bugs" worked out of
them. New boats have warranties, but you still have to get them towed in
and get them to the dealer)

I was told by an avid boatman to avoid mass produced boats, such as
Bayliner, SeaRay, Maxum, etc...

These are the style of boats you should be looking at.

He said these boats are not well built, and
the mechanics he spoke to are always fixing these.... Instead , he said to
find a boat like: Grady White, Boston Whaler, Pursuit, HydraSport, ProSport,
Edgewater.... What do you think of this?

Nice boats, but not for putting around a lake or water-skiing.

As someone else said, it's the engine, not the hull, that needs to be
reliable, and chances are these boats use the same engines as the
Bayliner/Searay/Maxxim

Also, he said it is MUCH better
to get a fully outboard motor. Much easier to service. Do not get I/O or
inboard. They are much more troublesome....He also said try to get a Jap.
motor, like Yamaha, Honda, Nissan....


Disagree. The actual I/O part (the "outdrive") can be troublesome, but I
feel the engines of an I/O are at least as reliable as an outboard,
probably more so. I have the same engine as the Mercruiser V6 in my van,
and it has 230,000 km and going strong. And they're easier to work on on
the water! Best option is a true inboard, but hard to find in a boat that
small.
Also, at 19-22ft you're getting to the upper limit of outboards. You'll
want close to 200hp, and the 200hp outboards are new, expensive and heavy.
I/O engines pretty much start at 200hp and go up from there. Get at least
a V6 (200-230hp) or a small V8 (around 250hp or so).

Lloyd

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Personal recommendation: Take the basic class before you buy the boat so
you'll at least have some idea of what you're in for ahead of time.

"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
.net...
Thanks for the tip.
I'll definately take a few classes if I ever get a boat.


Please -- you and your partners, take a boating safety class. Look in
your

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

"BooBoo12321" wrote in message v.net...
Don't go into a partnership think that it will reduce the cost of
ownership to a small fraction of sole ownership. For exmaple - If I
bought a boat with two other parties, I would expect (off the top of
my head) to save 40% (maaaaybe 50%) off the total cost of owning the
boat alone.

50% is a large fraction!!

But to save that 50% you are sharing with two other parties.

Some may go into a partnership with one other party and think their
cost will be cut in half. Or go in two other people and think that
their cost would be on third that of sole owner ship. A successful
partnership may have higher overall costs that need needed to be
divided - that was my point.



certain maintenance items that many owners may do
themselves might be better "contracted" out in a partneship.

ALL work would be contracted out, b/c we have no boat knowledge.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Thanks for the advice. Will do.....

Also, I've been on a friend's boat a lot this summer
And I've taken a basic sailing class in the past.
And I can swim 1 mile.


Personal recommendation: Take the basic class before you buy the boat so
you'll at least have some idea of what you're in for ahead of time.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

I know with a partnership, I will easily have as much time to use the boat
as I desire. (Realistically, 2x a week)
And there is a 100% chance my costs will be lower.....


What gameshow?
Lower, Bob!
Higher, Bob!!
LOWER, BOB!!!!
YAAAAAAAAH!!!



"Curtis CCR" wrote in message
om...
"BooBoo12321" wrote in message
v.net...
Don't go into a partnership think that it will reduce the cost of
ownership to a small fraction of sole ownership. For exmaple - If I
bought a boat with two other parties, I would expect (off the top of
my head) to save 40% (maaaaybe 50%) off the total cost of owning the
boat alone.

50% is a large fraction!!

But to save that 50% you are sharing with two other parties.

Some may go into a partnership with one other party and think their
cost will be cut in half. Or go in two other people and think that
their cost would be on third that of sole owner ship. A successful
partnership may have higher overall costs that need needed to be
divided - that was my point.



certain maintenance items that many owners may do
themselves might be better "contracted" out in a partneship.

ALL work would be contracted out, b/c we have no boat knowledge.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Thanks for the advice.

200hp ?! I saw a boat that had an I/O with only 115HP !
Most 19' boats I see (in the $5k range) do not have 200hp,
but more like 115-175hp.


eg:
1992 18FT STINGRAY BOWRIDER (model 556 )
Low hours, excellent condition, trailer, many extras. Must sell, $6,500
Merccruiser 2.0 115hp
108 hours
I/O (stern-drive)
EZ loader trailer (2" ball)

---

Also, at 19-22ft you're getting to the upper limit of outboards. You'll
want close to 200hp, and the 200hp outboards are new, expensive and heavy.
I/O engines pretty much start at 200hp and go up from there. Get at least
a V6 (200-230hp) or a small V8 (around 250hp or so).

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out...


There is an excellent article in the current issue of SAIL magazine about
boat
partnerships that will ask and answer a lot of questions that will not
even be
raised here. I strongly suggest that you read it.

Buying first boat w/ 3 partners ?
 

[snip excellent give and take on relative merits of large outboard vs. i/o]
ending with

Not saying you're wrong, just Personal
Preference: why competition and choice are Good Things. ;)

I won't argue with the points made by both posters, especially that
statement. (OK, I *might* argue a little on the relative costs, but close
enough for discussion purposes). I've owned and operated both and
understand the relative costs, benefits, etc.

A *very* important consideration not mentioned is the amount of room an I/O
or inboard takes up in a 19-22ft boat such as a bowrider or ski/fish type
boat. If you want room enough for passengers, gear, or just moving around
(e.g. fishing) in a 20 +/- foot boat, you'll probably be happier with the
outboard. That in itself is the reason I switched our shallow draft
aluminum river boat - went from V8 w/ jet to large outboard w/ jet. both
were similar 20 +/- foot hulls. The disadvantages of the outboard (for me,
higher replacement cost and pi$$ poor fuel economy - it's an older one, with
a jet, remember) were far outweighed by it's benefits - far less weight and
far greater interior space.

But I use my boat a lot for long range, multi-day family camping, as well as
group hunting or fishing trips, and large group picnicing. Interior space
is very important and it's *very* nice to have it after suffering through
the large dog house for several years. I don't use it for skiing or
lounging (very fine uses of a boat, I might add, just not on my menu these
days). As always,

FWIW,

DJ