Now that the price has crashed on boats I can finally afford one again. I used to know Bass Boats but I ain't goin there again. We have been lookin at the Cuddy Cabin style or Pontoon boats. I've been lookin at the Inboard/Outboard so far just cause I can work on them and they're easier on fuel. But what are the drawbacks to them and what brands are good and bad. Seem to be seein alot of them with cracked blocks advertised, is this a big problem.

But anyway I'll take any advice on brands, models, motors or any other input you may have.

 

the blocks crack cause people dont winterize them properly and ruin a good boat motor. stick to merc motors and drives for the parts availibility, reliabilty etc. all recent merc stuff is based on big or small block chevy 90's and up anyway. drives are basicly like any trans more HP you stick to em more upgraded parts you need with exception to the latest xr or xz drives made for high hp applications bravo 1 drives are the standard for any big block. stay away from bravo 3 (twinprop) known to break alot and hard to prop right. as far as brands. wow so many. if you find something you like pm or whatever and i will give you my opinion from experience of course.

 

Thanks for the info. So many is about right, that's why I decided to ask away on here. Don't seem like any two boats out there are the same brand. I don't know how many different brands, models and styles of boats there are but it's gotta be in the thousands.

 

Find one you like... Test drive it... Take in to a mech to ride in it and pick his brain... If you where closer I would tell you to take it to dads marina and let him look at it. If you want when you find one let me kno wthe specs (hull, engine, tranny/out drive, ect) and I'll get him to pull up a tsb's and get his personal remaks about it. He has been a boat mechanic for 30 years +... Not a whole lot of them he doesn't know something about.

 

buy a BRYANT!!!!

The wife and I decided a few years ago that one of these will be our next boat...

www.bryantboats.com


what are you planning on using your boat for? do you plan to use it much during the cold/winter months? how big are you looking to get/how many people do you plan to haul around?

 

i work at ranger boats and they have over thirty models that are in production right now

 

I Am With NM On That One. I Have Had The 3.8 V6 - 5.7 - And Now The 6.0.. All GM Parts All Readily Available. The Only Blocks I Have Ever Seen Cracked Is Units That Were Not Properly Flushed +/- Winterized For The Seasons End.

A New Nich I Have That Most People Don't Think Of. Is Finding A Heavily Produced Lower End - It's Bound To Happen, But If You Snag A Rock or Debris - Your Going To Want To Be Able To Find Those Parts (Anything Past A Damaged Prop). Been There Done That.

And Find Yourself A Good Mechanic To Check It Over. If Your Buying Used - Try To Locate Or Ask For A Parts Manual - Thats Been My Lifesaver For Years!

 

That's the big question. I know that 90% of the time it would just be the two of us and maybe the dogs. The question that I can't get her to answer is if we would just be cruising around for the day or if we would be spending nights on the water. Somethin big enough to ski behind would be nice, but for the most part we just kick back and float around. Last time I bought a boat it was a Bass Boat cause I wanted to go fishin and in 4 years of having it only fished once, the rest of the time it was an overpriced ski boat.

 

Yah, then you will likely want a bow rider like those bryants (or other brands) -- Pontoons are comming into their own though, expecially with the inboard/outboards...

If you are going to be using your boat for on the water sleeping/overnight - you'll want a cuddy cabin or a cruiser - if not - a bowrider will be spot on. If you plan to use it during the winter months (doesn't sound like you would be since you don't get to fish much) then get a straight outboard... if not, just get an I/O and make sure you winterise it! The 18-19' boats usually have V6's, but can have V8's and are usually a pretty economical boat, and even more economical with a 4-cyl and are very good at cruising, but can be pulled around by a heavy skier or tube -- they won't haul bunches of people, and aren't too terribly roomy, but are generally easier on the fuel mileage and easier to tow.

The bigger the boat you go, the better(usually) the ride on the water and wave cutting ability and also the more convienences you can get. Some of the longer (26'-27' ish) boats have a mid cabin... has a bowrider up frong, under the windshield is a "cabin" where there would be a porta pot/changing room/bed, and the aft is just like a regular boat... but you do have to get a fairly large boat to have enough room, and that may be overkill.

You will want to make sure, no matter what brand, that you get WOOD FREE construction -- All fiberglass boats are the ONLY way to go now days. Brands that are good, and you get what you pay for are...

Chaparral
Bryant
Monterrey
Four Winns
Cobalt
Mastercraft
Chris Craft
Bentley (pontoon)
Play Craft (pontoon)
Lowe (pontoon)
and many others...


Those that are usually entry or budget would be

Bayliner (sells LOTS of boats)
Sea Ray
Tahoe
and others...

 

Why Would a I/O be better then an outboard for the winter? Seen just as many of them frezze and bust... We run our I/O all year long fishing... Just drain it down.


VERY good list of boats!!!!