quite the can o worms opened... many choices,,, tell the guy to narrow it down to a few and solicit thoughts then... right now there are hundreds of options

I have access to some great deals on repo boats. limited availability but great deals, i think I can help him with his choice.

1) Simple as possible. Don't buy until you can't think of anything else that is not needed.

This guy is a newbie, and broken and unusable boats put people off the pastime very quickly.

This strongly suggests a center console, no cabin, and for certain, no head. No A/C. No generator. No refrigeration, just ice boxes. No lounges or upholstered gunwales that tear and catch hooks or dive belts or ... And for absolute certain, no bow thruster.

2) Reliable, unbreakable, safe.

This means outboards. Two, not three.

3) Useful in the shallows and tropics.

This means lots of shade: a T-top. A fiberglass one, as the canvas won't stand up. But fiberglass tops are NOISY unless properly installed, with good rubber between the aluminum and the fiberglass. And an upper steering station on top -- a tuna tower. Its a small boat, so don't include a bimini above the upper station, that's just way too much weight, windage way too high. But steering up there is very, very useful in the shallows.

4) Designed and build to be USED, and not just sold to the first customer:

a) Very clean construction, clean and smooth bilges, excellent glass work.
b) Very easy to clean everything. A hose and big brush anywhere.
c) Totally unsinkable, and won't swamp or capsize even with water up to your knees or higher.
d) No holes in the hull that are not absolutely necessary, for certain no outdrives. No thru-hulls for electronics (only transom mount), no through hulls for refers, sinks, heads, drive shafts, ... Zero is the best number for holes in hulls.

5) Probably in the 26 to 34 foot range. Bigger boats can be intimidating to a new owner. Crashing when docking will turn any new owner off from boating. Smaller won't handle twins (super important for manuvering and safety) nor the T-top or tuna tower. A tuna tower on a 26 center console works fine.

That's about it.

There are a lot of boats that kinda fit those requirements, but the one that gets selected must be very high quality.

Do not every buy a boat just because the price looks good. Sure, if you find the perfect boat, then you haggle for the price. But never, EVER, shop by price first.

Tell him I will leave my boat at his house and take him on a few trips until he gets used to the bigger boats, then he will know better what he will be wanting. :drink:

He pays for fuel, maintnance etc just like normal. I can transport.

It is a 38' sea ray express cruiser with genset, A/C etc. In trade, I get to babysit the house for a couple weeks.:drink:

Carcrash and Catmando. excellent ideas. I especially like the Jag!!!! I am going to forward these ideas to him.. He can afford what ever he wants, but he want to learn all he can before making a purchase. He owns a Pilatus so he can fly down to the keys, whenever he get the whim to go.

Thanks for all of the ideas!!! I will forward them to him

He can stop in TX and pick me up whenever he wants to go boat shopping. I am available.

I got a 2008 Sea Ray 48 loaded with every option plus. Ready for something bigger. If not i can put you in touch with someone in Pompano that has some Sea Ray trades.

O'yea mine is sitting in OK right now.

48 Fountain express cruiser with diesels and Arnesons like Menace said. Sweet package!

RAF

Is it on Grand lake?