Originally Posted by Zuzana Designs (Post 17280332)

It depends on where you live and what size boat I get :) But to stay optimistic I will say "yes let's fish"

Originally Posted by will76 (Post 17232899)

I have a center console fishing boat (23' hydra sport bay boat). Bought it 8 years ago slightly used and got a great deal on it, it is still worth about the same now as it was when I bought it. I don't need the cabins and shit, I just want something I can fish off of .

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/jpg...ay-bol-10w.jpg

Couple things you need to know about boats. Don't ever buy new. Pretty sure this is the same in all states, if you by used you just pay taxes on the trailer, if you buy new you pay taxes on the boat, motor and trailer. Also in this economy you can pick up steals on used boats from people who bought a boat that they really couldn't afford the payments on. Also when people buy boats new they usually spring f or all the extra's (gps, trolling motor, etc..) and you not only get a good deal on a used boat but you get all of the extras tossed in. So you don't have to pay thousands for all of that extra stuff like you do with a new one.

The other thing I would mention don't finance a boat. If you can't afford to pay cash then you don't need a boat. While I bought a boat, mine was under 20K you not talking a lot of money. If you going to drop 60 - 100K on a boat and then finance it that would be a huge mistake. You will wind up paying a ton of money on interest. Not to mention the bigger the boat the bigger the money pit it is. You need to pay for a slip, insurance, etc... In my case I don't need a slip as I can trailer it around easily, I don't need insurance as it isn't worth THAT much to make it worth it, and I didn't finance and I didn't pay a lot of money. I've been lucky and had no major repairs. I would never buy new or drop a lot of money on a boat unless I had millions in the bank and had a lot of money to blow.



LOL NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER buy New boats. ALWAYS buy USED. ALWAYS. Buy one that is 1-5 years old, I wouldn't go over 5 years and ALWAYS get it checked out from top to bottom.

Nothing deprecates faster than a new boat. Nothing. Not to mention there are MILLIONS of deals out there. People buy cars they can't afford all the time but they need transportation so most people find a way to make it work. The people who buy big ass expensive boats then lose their jobs, the boat is the first thing to go, not the house or the car. There is always steals out there on great used boats.

Not to mention the tax savings on used (if that is the same in all states - not 100% sure).

Originally Posted by Spunky (Post 17280326)

Can you take me on a fishing trip when you get one?

Originally Posted by Don Pueblo (Post 17299880)

if it flys, floats or fucks borrow it.

Originally Posted by Zuzana Designs (Post 17299877)

Will thanks for the input you are always very informative. The boat you have is almost identical to what my Dad is trying to convince me to buy. He says “you can piss off the side and don’t need a bathroom Sarah, it’s a boat. You fish from it. You have a house for cooking and taking dumps.” Everyone I talk to says get a used boat like you said Will. I’m off to see my parents again in Tennessee next month and will make my decision then. I lurk all the cities within 200 miles to see what deals I can find on boats. Lots of people have nice boats they can’t make afford anymore and will sell them for a great price.

Sucks to hear about you not being able to go out and fish cause of BP :( I hope it stays clear of NC.

Originally Posted by Zuzana Designs (Post 17229927)

Do you have a boat? If so what kind and why do you love it if you do have one? My dad and I are going looking tomorrow morning here in North Carolina as he's in town before my trip to Jamaica.

I have been hunting for almost a year and really want a Sea Ray Sundancer. My dad is here from California to help me shop. He has sailed and fished on the west coast and east coast for years as a pro fisherman. He likes the center console boats. If you have one let me know what type and why you like the model you have. I want a boat I can sleep on and fish off with plenty of room. It needs an onboard bathroom and small kitchen. If you have one what kind and what features do you recommend? If you have pics of it please post them.

Originally Posted by ArsewithClass (Post 17299989)

SeaRays are a fantastic boat....


I would recommend a few but all have pros & cons.

Birchwood, Fairline, Sunseeker, Searay & Astondoa. Maybe even add a Sealine to that collection.

Most of these are British boats but all have great sea going pros. The Sunseekers are slightly over rated for quality but have amazing looks & are very efficient.

Leave the Bayliners as they are very thin hulled & can split. They used to have a name of Binliners :1orglaugh

Stick to your Searay as they are lovely boats :thumbsup I have owned a cpl of Fletchers including a sports cruiser. Superb hulls due to the deep v, origionally designed in the 70s that won the championships.

Good luck with your buy mate :thumbsup

Originally Posted by jimmy-3-way (Post 17231280)

Let's just say Miami Vice changed my life:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/...9cb4a3cb_o.jpg

Originally Posted by greg80 (Post 17299995)

I used to sell boats. I love Campion boats (www.campionboats.com). They are made in Kelowna, BC and are just the best. I choose to buy Regal since it was much cheaper at the time due to low US$

Originally Posted by will76 (Post 17299941)

Also it is always good to start off with something cheap and smaller. If you like it, and use it a lot and stick with it, then you can decide exactly what you want to buy and spend a lot of money on. If you buy the 100K cabin cruiser then decide it isn't what you wanted you pretty much fucked. Also if you drop a lot of money then find out you really never use it. It's best to get a boat to make sure this is something you will use often and then use that boat to get your feet wet and decide what you like and didn't like about it, then make your big purchase if you still want to.

<- that goes true for just about any big purchase you plan on making in life.

Originally Posted by Zuzana Designs (Post 17229961)

You sound like my Dad lol. He said the same thing when I bought my RV (Mini Me) 3 years ago. I have traveled 40k miles in it and have not spend a dime besides oil changes and one set of front brakes. I really take care of all my investments, but I have heard a boat is a money pit. I'm hoping to stray from that. That's why I'm asking for opinions.

Originally Posted by ktj4l (Post 17300368)

Deadliest catch without the crabs!

Originally Posted by tombarr (Post 17231183)

In my experience, when you first start shopping for boats it all seems so perfect. The great get away vehicle. Weekends on the water. Then you find out, more times than not, you have friends who get motion sick, the friends you take with you don't want to do any work toward helping out when the boat is underway, and when it comes time to clean or do any maintenance, you are more than likely all on your own.

Boats are different. You will spend a ton of money on them. Watercraft have this odd habit of getting gunk build up below the waterline...thus monthly bottom cleanings are needed by a dive service. Haul outs to paint or seal ( i had a fiberglass boat and a wood boat at one time) the hull every XX months. Rust, corrosion, weather wear and tear, it's all a lot worse with boats. Slip rents, boat insurance, are expensive. Engines are tough to work on, water pumps go bad, etc. I had a sailboat for several years and the addage is very true, they are holes in which you throw your money.

I'm not totally negative on boats, although reading the above might sound like it, they just have their drawbacks and for me, it would take some serious soul searching to make sure I wanted that responsibility again.

Good luck though. They are fun if you have the money, the time, the patience, and a good set of friends who will not only help you enjoy it but help out so it's not all on you when they do.

Originally Posted by Zuzana Designs (Post 17300321)

Will are you sure you're not my father (insert darth vader voice, Sarah I am your father, buy a center console boat) lots of good advice from this thread. I love feedback and I do research on all of what everyone says. I'm pretty smart on all my investment but love to get input from the masses. The more you know the better off you are.

Originally Posted by datatank (Post 17300419)

RV's and boats are investments?

Originally Posted by Zuzana Designs (Post 17300321)

Will are you sure you're not my father (insert darth vader voice, Sarah I am your father, buy a center console boat) lots of good advice from this thread. I love feedback and I do research on all of what everyone says. I'm pretty smart on all my investment but love to get input from the masses. The more you know the better off you are.

Originally Posted by Loch (Post 17300529)

Our Toy "well not this one but one just like it"
VERY inexpensive for a boat

http://images04.olx.com/ui/1/36/13/2413313_1.jpg

Originally Posted by Oliver Klozov (Post 17300485)

The real reason I have a boat!!!!
http://boatphotographer.com/photo_pa...s/DSCN4374.jpg

Originally Posted by TurboAngel (Post 17301147)

I grew up on a 65 foot sail boat, not sure what kind it was but back in the 80's that was a huge boat. My sis and I had to share a room (yuck) and my mom refused to go on it. LOL So every weekend that was nice we went on the boat. Every sumer we would go for a week long sail, mostly up and down the coast of VA. Annapolis was the best spot to go crabbing and everyone loved it when I would bring a hug bucket of crabs.

Originally Posted by czarina (Post 17301232)

I had a Glastron 249, with a great Volvo Penta engine. It handled great, it "planed" awesome and was very steady in storms. The price was right (brand new about $34,000 back in the late 90's) and it did great by me for the 6 years I had it before some jackass stole it from the Miami River.
It was never recovered, so my guess is it's somewhere on the bottom of Biscayne Bay :(

Originally Posted by will76 (Post 17300462)

NO, not by an means. RVs, Boats, expensive cars, all of that shit is just one big expense. They not only lose value and cost you money to own them, but they make you shit. A real investment is something that makes you a cash flow and goes up in value the complete opposite of expensive toys.

I still laught at all of the big ballers who had 5 - 10+ expensive sports cars, who spent 100K's on cars and had big garages built to store all of their cars. They spent it faster than they made it. Just to later either get them repo'ed or sold them off pennies on the dollar and have nothing to show for it today. If they would have taken the money from just one or two of those cars and locked it up in retirement planning at least they could retire rich, instead they will likely be working till the day they die living a modest life at best.

(ballers, don't take that as me being jealous. While I wouldn't mind having made the money you had, I could give a shit about the toys. )