Spousal Pressure
 

I had my heart set on a Sonic, had the wife in my corner too. But of course, she is flipping on my ass now pressuring me into getting a bowrider for the kids. Is she right, hell yeah, but I'm a selfish SOB and I want to have fun! Of course I'm gonna lose this battle, so until I can afford two boats, I'm now looking at a 1995 Regal 8.3 and a 1998 Powerquest 26 sls. Any info on either one of these or any other recommendations would be great.

Sincerely,
Sad & Distraught

How old are your kids? I was in same boat, i wanted a baja outlaw, but wife wanted a bow rider for kids, so we got the islander. it was a great boat, we loved it. but after first summer, wife wanted something w/ a vbirth to get the kids out of sun (daughter was 2 at time). so while she thought the bowrider would be a better fit, being in boats w/ a vbirth allowed them to take naps & watch movies in more comfort. we sold the islander in nov & now lookin for something in the 33+ range.

Oh man that sucks. I think that sunsation makes one of the best bowriders around. Get the kids on your side - take them too the lake for lunch and ask them if they want one of those bad azz fuggers there or one of those little guys over there. If all else fails - just say its the sonic or nothing at all. Good luck.

If your going to get a pleasure boat get a sea ray or a cobalt. The sea ray or cobalt will hold its value alot more than a regal. If you want a cheap powerboat check out my 24 python for sale here on oso (Misc V) - its in Denison. It won't depreciate like that 1998 Powerquest will.

Buy The Sonic. The kids don't want a bowrider either. You're wife wants a bowrider. She drives the kids around in a mini-van, and she wants a mini-van for the water.
Buy the Sonic.
What do you want?
Gotta ask yourself that every now and again.

2 boats is cheaper than 1 divorce.


Some years back, we had this same issue. Our compromise was a 34' Scarab open with O/B's. Triples made it fast & fun. Lots of room made it family & friends friendly.

I have 3 girls, 9,7,& 3. The only problem with the cuddy is in the TX summer, it will be too hot to have them go down below. If I was in Tahoe, there wouldn't be an argument. The Sonic can't ski or wakeboard, maybe it can pull an inner tube. Don't know? If the Sonic had an air conditioner it would be a done deal. Who knows, I'm so pissed, I just have to see how it will work out. Does a Powerquest make a good boat?

sux.....

I agree with bouyhunter. my sister and I never wanted to be on a bow-rider. Funny thing is I know a family we see boating every summer, the kids are 8 to 14 years old. They specifically told there parents that if they bought a cruiser, they would never go boating :) Wish I have kids like that!!!
Jr.

Texoma Powerboater hit the nail on the head. Find a Sunsation or one of the other manufacturers who make a mid cabin boat. You get an open bow, a small cabin, a big engine, and everybody's happy! Well, mostly anyway.:rolleyes:

Very nice boat, but unfortunately out of my price range.

I checked out the sunsation, WOW, I would love to have that boat, but that's a dream for me. The cheapest used one I could find is 60k and that's double what I want to spend. Back to square one.

Well you will be hard pressed to find a Sonic for 30k, unless it is a 22 or something. I guess if that was my budget I would go for the fastest, funnest open bow, Sea Ray makes a great one. Save your go fast for when you can drop 60k, that will get you a nice 32 with twins and in good shape. I know i paid that for a 1995 32 Active Thunder with twins, B1s with 1:36s, steering, and HP500s, home made but still full roller and 470 hp. There are tons of custom made West coast bow riders that are very nice, you can still find a good 24 with a BB 502, B1 and an open bow. Look in the AZ area, thats all they use on Mead, Havasu, LOTO, all over.

Get what you want.
Sorry to be blunt but you earn it you spend it. :D

I think this situation points to what's wrong with kid's these days. We were happy to just be in a nice boat, no matter where we sat. What difference does it make if you sit up front or in the back? Geez! It's still a boat.

Buy an old, used Bayliner bowrider for next to nothing AND the Sonic. Then see which one they want to ride in.:evilb:

Michael

Kids want to ride in a bad ass boat, your wife is just on a power trip, like they always do. I saw go witht he Sonic or tell her nothing at all, chit who's paying for it????

OK yea ia am single:evilb:

I did not read anyone say how insanly dangerous bow riders are for kids!!! :D:D They get tossed out of the bows about every day. It is one of our industries little secrets!!!

Hope that helps.

I've had cruisers to 35 ft, 20-21 bow riders and now my second "go-fast". We have 3 boys ages 5,8,10 so I know where your coming from. My wife wanted no part of a performance boat until we spent a weekend on a buddies and she saw how many more places we could visit because of the range/speed these boats provide. (now she's hooked). You've got to get her onboard with whatever you want!!!
I too bought a bow rider when the kids started getting to tubing age but they didn't want to do that for long. When I couldn't get them behind the boat I gave up.
Try to get some time riding with people in each type of boat. If you end up with a bow-rider, Searay have been "dumbing-down" there boats for a number of years trying to compete on price. Chapparral, yes Regal, Cobalt, Bryant all make better boats than Searay. We had a 21 ft 2000 Chris Craft that had a open bow, enclosed porta potti, and with the 5.7 Volvo DP ran 60 in 2-3 ft slop. (3,800 lbs , 22 degree bottom)
A few commented that you need to grow some balls, if the wife ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!!!! Keep looking, some of the open bow/west coast boats may work or consider an outboard center console. (Concept comes to mind)

Good Luck

I was just gonna say the bow is the most horrible ride in the boat and tell you wife you get one is she wants the kisd to have back problems. bouncing around up there is fun for kids for about 5 minutes...
when I was little I always wanted to be behind the wheel with dad on the throttles.

mid cabin bow rider meets her in the middle, but I would go for and ourboard open boat with a cabin... donzi 30 in my opinion is what I am getting for the family boat... lower noise for the little ears... fishing and a just enough speed for the dad.

Ernie

Hey Bert,
The 260 Powerquest is a GREAT boat and if it has a big block it'll perform in the 60's. It has a 23 degree deadrise and handles choppy waters easily. I've had a '98 and an '03 260 and just moved up to a 340. Good Luck!

I told my wife that I was buying my Scarab with or without her approval, so now I have my boat and she is gone.

You think you have problems . This is what my wife wants .
She even leaves the 07 Sea Ray brochure on my end table .
Now if I could get it to go 70 I might reconsider .
Paul

Bert go to www.sunsationboats.com and look at the forums section. Put a post up asking for used 288's and 32's and you might find one in your range.

Bert,

Look at the bright side, at least you will still be boating....

I too was selfish for some time.

But now my wife convinced me to sell my boat for a hole in the ground that I can throw money into.... :(

I noticed none of them were around when it came time for the buyer to take delivery.

Later I found out my daughter's (ages 5 & 8) wanted to keep the boat! :eek:

I guess my wife was avoiding a scene by taking the girls out for the day.....:rolleyes:

The inground pool is now on its way.... I am sure I will love it too, but it just won't be the same without having boat.:(

1Bagger
Take a look at the 38 Fountain Express Cruiser!
70MPH Cherrywood interior, Gen/Air, Electric Anchor,Vacu Flush Head..........

start a thread asking us how dangerous bow riders are and we can make them look like the devil, then have you wife read the thread:evilb: :drink:

I would never put my girls in a bow rider...

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o16094-en.html
This is a great boat with kids and it still runs low 70's. I am going to a Formula 370SS with a few more amenities and the ever priceless SHADE! Sunsation makes the best mid-cabin boat on the market. The others look like guy did it after drinking a 12 pack with his buddy in the garage with a sawzall nearby!

On flat water you can ride up front but in traffic, sloppy conditions no one even wants to ride up front!

If you have $ for 2 boats and insurance, just buy a 32SS MCOB Sunsation! Drop in some big power and you have a go fast open bow!!

I've seen kids fly out of an open bow boat!!:eek: Just kidding. I agree Sunsation is the way to go. Whatever you buy, "you" need to feel good about the purchase or you won't enjoy your time on the lake. For me boating is a passion and everytime I'm out I feel like a kid. My wife would love a Formula Sun or Super Sport, I just wore her down and she gave up.:D

I grew up on open bow boats and I don't think they are dangerous at all. Were not talking about the ocean here were talking about some good size north texas lakes. I enjoy the ride upfront because you don't hear the engines and if feels like you are all alone flying through the water. I also think you may be suprised on how much you will use a cabin. We had a 24 sea ray cabin cruiser and we used to hang out in the cabin all the time during 100+ days. The windows actually create a nice little breeze through the cabin door. Throw in one of those koolaire ice chest air conditioners and you got it made. My lakehouse neighbor also has a 24 wellcraft cabin boat - he and his kids use the cabin all the time, especially on the hottest of hottest Texas days.

you could buy yourself a dedicated ski boat, like 17ft with a 115 outboard, Im thinkin' used and real cheap AND a real boat.
My buddy bought himself an old Charger DL with a 175 Rude for like CHEAP and it looked awful but after looking at it all it needed was the front seats replaced(they made the whole boat look like chit!), a real good cleanup of the rest of the interior, hide the wires hanging out from under the dash.....(EZ), a "new" stereo (an old Pioneer he had hanging around in his garage), new gauges (Faria.....cheap), a new cover from Wal Mart (nothing wrong with it) and a weekend buffing out the gel with Meguires 3 step.......and a couple of yrs later he redid the trailer.......that boat looks AMAZING to this day

I was originally looking into a 1980 Glastron-Carlson CV27, everything on it is original, including the engines. So I know I can it get relatively cheap, but I'm cash poor, so I would have to loan out the project. That gets expensive when the interest rate is double that of a 15yr boat loan. But the boat is super cool and would look amazing if I could do what I wanted. Then I just scrapped the entire idea and decided on the Sonic. There are two currently in my price range. One with twin 454's the other a single 502. Then the issue of what can the boat do for the family came up hence the open bow "family" boat arose.

If I could pull an inner tube of something with the Sonic I would be ok, but I don't know if that's possible.

I've owned two open bow boats. My last one was a 230 Mastercraft Maristar. If your into water sports, recreational skiing and tubing, it's a great boat and they're a blast. The only issue with these types of boats, is when the water gets a little rough the ride gets hard.

Monterey has a bow rider that might fill the bill for you AND your wife. Check it out.

See "Starting Over" thread in The Bilge!

This is the answer. When it comes to the purchase of a boat I make the decision, no one else. Would you let your wife tell you what gun to purchase??

:D :D :D

What about that 42' Fountain bow rider:rolleyes: :D

i guess im lucky. when i was looking for my boat i was down to 2 different ones. i asked my girlfriend which one she thought was better and she asked which one was faster. then we had the talk of kids. she told me im going to need to uy a bigger boat but it would have to it 80. i love her...

get what you want.....she will get over it, and probably realize you were right all along. :drink: