New to boating could use some advice
 

Im new to boating and i would love to get some kind of performance boat. However i have a budget. Probably not the best thing to say in here since im sure most people here have money (well at least more than me). Are there any performance boats out there for give or take 15,000$ or under. Im aware if there is i can't expect anything to great, but i figured i could start out with something basic and cheaper until i come into some cash and get more experienced. If anyone has any advice please guide me in the right direction. Thanks.

Found this one in classifieds. Good size at 25' and old school cool. :coolcowboy:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o29784-en.html

Welcome to our world. :)

Good luck on your search and welcome.

my 28ss cigarette

20k on trailer

Give him some more specs dreamer sheesh.

so far you have the right attitude....doesn't matter what your budget is as long as you appreciate what you have, others will appreciate having you around.Good Luck with the search, get what YOU like and get it surveyed before you buy it.

Get something moderately/stock Merc powered, and reliable so that you enjoy your first experience and you keep coming back for more.

Do you want Single Engine or Twins?

I would say a 23 Wellcraft Nova would be a good boat to start with. Very nice boat for its size, and in your price range.

You can buy a lot of boat for that money right now. Its a buyers market in a huge way, lots of hundred k boats priced in the 50 to 70k range....you get the picture.

First consider the type of water your going to boat on. For rouger ocean type water a heavier boat like an old Formula or Cigarette will give you a much more enjoyable ride and not beat the snot out of you and your passengers. For inland lakes you can get away with a smaller. lighter, faster boat. Good luck and welcome to OSO there seems to be a neverending source of info here. Whatever you decide to buy BE SURE! to get a survey first.

Dreamer do you have any more pics of that Cigarette? What engines and drives are on it?

WELCOME. It is only as expensive as you make it. Dont go nuts, Do lots of research first. Ask questions on here about particular boats. Thats what I did and it saved me lots of headaches. I think most people would agree never buy a boat until you have personally been on the water with it, and put it though it paces.

I got my Baja 272 for around 10K w/trailer. Just keep searching, there are boats out there.

Remember this: If you find a boat you like and its in your price range, cough up a little extra $$ and have a professional accredited survey done, you would sure hate to think you found a great deal, when in actuality you might end up being the sucker. It's well worth the money.. www.marinesurvey.org

Homey give homeboy a break 19,995 :evilb:

Jr

Dreamer , Post pic's and details , I know a guy with cash who is looking ,

RHC

I would look at Superboat 24's, Pantera 24's and all the derivatives of those hulls. Great handling, fast, and well built.

restored in 1999

1999 merc 350 efis bravo 1 out drives 280k planes 24p bravo props

boat has just been gone thru... rerigg bilge new water pumps new bilge pump and blower new exhaust mainifolds on all engines trailer service just done also

and a matching 2005 viper trailer

I have been and seen dreamers boat MANY times and i will say it's CLEAN...at 20k it's a great buy and loves big water...you won't go wrong nor be upset

JR

For 20k Dreamer's boat sounds like one you should at least consider....

A 28 CIG has resale value and is a boat you won't lose lots of money on, you can run it a few years, basically get your money out of it, and then off it for something bigger.

Well Joe if you can find an extra $5000 buy Dreamer's Cig.

1) Cigarette has tremendous history behind it.

2) Owning a Cigarette will give you instant credibility in the boating world(boat babes will flock to you :D ).

3) As others have said, great rough water boat.

4) Built like a tank.

5) Twin engines will make you look like a pro around the docks immediately.

Really, a LOT of boat? Show us some nice "offshore" boats that won't need another few grand in repairs, for $15k or less, on a trailer for him to consider if you have time.

He's also going to need money for maintenance, tagging the boat, lines, fenders, insurance, and whatever other plays of the game that arise. If an engine or drives blows, and on any $15k OFFSHORE boat I'd be leary, it's going to end his Summer.

If it were me, I'd save your $15k through the Winter and try to turn it into $30k, or at least $25k. Then you can buy something that doesn't need a complete overhaul, or is bigger than 20ft long. Anything roughly 20ft in length is a ski boat, not an offshore boat, no matter who built it.


Dreamers boat is without question the boat you need to end up with. Save a little more and try to buy it. I've been on the boat numerous times, and I personally had a 28 of my own. They are going to be the best overall "real Offshore boat" you will find for the money you have set aside to spend. His has super reliable power & drives, and a nice trailer to get around with.

And still...NO Pics ???:drink:

My advice is to figure out exactly the type of boating you will be doing, then narrow your search from there.

Some things to think about:
#1 Will you be boating in a lake or in more open water
#2 Windy/Choppy area of boating, or generally smooth and flat?
#3- Will you be using it to just ride around in, will you be day boating at the beach, or do you plan to overnight in it all?
#4- How many people on average will you be taking out? Just yourself or will you regulary have a crew of people with you
#5- Do you need a cuddy cabin of some sort with porta potti?
#6- How handy are you and do you have the knowledge to fix an older boat?
#7- How fast do you want to go?

I think once you answer those questions, you can start to focus in on a specific brand/type and then go from there. THere are good deals out there right now, but defiinitly remember....the purchase price is only the begining of the costs!

This is a fun performance boat for the money. Not necessarily for a beginner though. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...#ht_500wt_1182

Brandon can you please tell me how to turn $15K into $30K by next summer, I sure could use some extra cash:drink:

Do you think Joe is Dreamer in drag, trying to get the word out on his boat that's for sale:p:D:boat:



Just kidding but it would be a good tactic:flag: posted by Ms PatriYacht

Nobody has mentioned a Fountain and you definitely can't go wrong with its power, handling, safety, etc. All around awesome boat and you can find some great deals on them right now!

LOL def. NOT a boat for a newbie. :D

Great Boat
 

This is a great boat to start with, my friend has one and we rebuilt the engine to a 502 600 horse and it runs about 75MPH. My point is that you can make 'em go pretty good if you don't want to sell the boat once you get more money.

im very unfamiliar with boats im in the learning state now. To describe what iam looking for is some kind of (deep vee etc) performance/race boat, single engine, the more basic the better for me. I dont need a cabin. I guess the best way to describe what im looking for is a Activator 22' sport. something along those lines but maybe a little cheaper. I live on Long Island, NY. So i got the sound and the atlantic. i would probably choose the sound but would like to boat off the south as well. my mechanical experience is not to great just beginner. Im not looking to do overnighters just day trips. im aware that boating can be expensive. at least one guy told me boat stands for break out another thousand. i know boats can be headaches but im sure there is something that is reliable out there for me, i just gotta do some research.

Dreamers boat got us from Miami to Islamorada and back for the Poker Run. It was comfortable and ran flawlessly.

You can never go wrong with a Cig as far as resale. Twin engines are ALWAYS better than a single. And they are small blocks so fuel econ is not too bad.