New member- any ideas for a first boat

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Tony_1979

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Hello I'm tony

I'm looking for a speed boat around 18-22"' my parents had a four winns speedboat when I was a teenager, now I have my own family I'm looking to getting a boat for days out and water skiing.

My budget is around 10k for my first boat wih the view of upgrading after a year or so.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tony
 
Hi Tony and welcome.

Are you looking for something you can trailer?

Where do you live/want to use your boat? That may influence your choice.

I don't know much about family friendly boats in that size. I assume you'd want a cabin/cuddy, though. Your budget should get something smart and ready for the barbecue summer!

The more info you can give the better folks here can help.
 
Welcome to the forum.

When I had four young children safety was my primary concern and I bought a Boston Whaler Montauk. 17 foot long and 90HP Yamaha outboard and road trailer. It did all the speed boating I could reasonably want and the children loved it.

It has a centre console so you can drive it from the middle while the youngsters "run" around the outside and don't interfere with your driving. Plenty of seats, anchor locker, boarding ladder and storage under the centre console.

It is also safe in both ride and very strong in construction and has strong stanchions and rails around it. It can even be cut in two with both halves floating (not that you want to try that experiment). But if something did happen to swamp/sink the vessel the instruction to my children was an easily remembered "stay with the boat until help comes" (I might be unconscious or worse!!).

Depending on how old you go and age of motor you should be able to get one for under £10k. I still have mine at the moment though I didn't use it last year.

If you are anywhere near Weymouth I could show you mine to give you some ideas...

PS We never sank or got swamped... :)
 
hartcjhart said:
something like this would do you
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fletcher-...7491566?pt=UK_Power_Boats&hash=item3a8f9c596e

the Fletcher hulls handle fantastically
Click to expand...

2nd the Fletcher - they do an outboard version too, 19GTO (the GTS is inboard). They do offer quite a lot for the size - full 'camper' type cover and tonneau cover, stove, porta loo and sink, plus a high freeboard and good social space. Although not typical 'speedboat' lines, they're surprisingly agile and sporty and still easy to enough to haul around on a trailer!
 
inception said:
Get a rib!
Click to expand...

O/P mentions family etc - ribs may be great utilitarian, practical craft, but I personally wouldn't want for a family/fun boat. Too exposed and wet for anything other than hot sunny days - which most UK boating isn't! Depending on age of the kids, oilskins and wet weather gear don't exactly shout family fun to me... :D
 
rbcoomer said:
O/P mentions family etc - ribs may be great utilitarian, practical craft, but I personally wouldn't want for a family/fun boat. Too exposed and wet for anything other than hot sunny days - which most UK boating isn't! Depending on age of the kids, oilskins and wet weather gear don't exactly shout family fun to me... :D
Click to expand...

I know what your saying but having owned many outboard powered speedboats I have to say that ribs will do everything and more that a hard hulled boat will do
Many modern ribs have full seating and sun loungers & are capable watersports platforms
We are lucky enough to own 3 boats a 38'cruiser a21'cuddy cabin sports boat & a 4m rib & id say the kids (11 & 14) get most fun from the 4m rib
The 21'cuddy cabin boat regal 2150 lsc is nice but the cabin gets used as a junk store for spare clothes skis wakeboards etc and if the weather is bad you dont want to go out in it either
id say look at both consider what you want it for and look at as many as possible
even if your going to buy private go to dealers and look at different things
I also think ribs sell easier when you want to trade up
 
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Hi Tony,
I have a Four Winns Horizon QX, 17ft 3ins long speed boat which I used as my first boat. I've just bought a Sea Ray 250 Sun Dancer and am looking to sell My Horizon QX for £6,000 if you're interested. The boat was anti fouled last year, was winterised and stored in a dry stack and has been serviced ready for the new season. 20130727_094008.jpg
 
I'd suggest you make up your requirements and see which boats qualify with usable features to meet your needs. Features that are not really usable does not count (eg. the cuddy used as junk storage).

My preference in this budget frame is outboard above i/o simply because of accessibility and service/repair costs. If your parent's boat seemed good to you start in that direction, then view as many as you can - also some that appear not to fit the bill. If not for anything else, then for comparison.
 
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Hi Tony,
Have you had any luck in your quest or are you still looking?
I would second an outboard for simplicity but do try to find a newish one with good history. I started with a 15' and found that too small, so you're certainly looking in the right size area. One thing I would mention is that my children found having a cuddy very useful for changing/toilet etc, my daughter especially hated having to get changed in the cockpit. And having a bolt hole for when the weather changed did prove useful. I know cuddys are often used to just throw everything out of site, but is that actually such a bad thing if it helps to keep the cockpit clear of obstacles - it only needs a little discipline to keep it tidy and usable. A friend of mine has a super bowrider style boat but he simply has nowhere to store the kind of stuff you need to take when out with children. I also had a Fletcher 19 Sportcruiser with an outboard, an excellent boat.
Anyway, good luck and maybe let us all know what you're looking at, or have purchased.
 
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