Panteras are the ****, if you could get her game for one I would go for that.

That's an easy problem to solve...take her out in the 202 Islander and then the Pantera on a snotty day on the Chesapeake and she'll never let you buy the Baja...

Take a look at the early 2000 Crownline boats in the 22ft - 26ft range. They may be right up your ally for your price range. I had a 2002 230CCR Crownline awhile back and it was a great cuddy cabin boat. Rather large cockpit area for a 23' boat, high sides and a decent size cabin. It's not a fast boat like you are wanting, but a great family boat and not bad in the Chesapeake Bay. I've made many runs across the bay and in some nasty stuff and never once was nervous. I would not recommend going across the bay a lot in a boat that small as even though I was never nervous, my kidneys hated me for it. lol It's a great boat if you only plan to hit the bay a few times a year though. Good luck in your search.

I wouldn't go any smaller than a 23. Having grown up in Anne arundel county and on boats my whole life. We got a 23 nova when I was 13 and it was perfect for most of what the bay threw at us. Uncle had a 19 and couldn't keep it in the water on some choppier days on the bay. Prior o the 23 nova we had a 21 ft boat and it was ok but horrible when it picked up. I'd look in the 23-25 range.

I just bought a bigger boat and selling my 89 Baja 235 force. Built a new 468 bbc last spring. Boat runs 63 with 4 adults. It's under your price limit as well.

Pm if interested.

I had a 242LS Formula a few years back and it would handle water pretty well but towing it with something less than a half ton truck might be tough.

The Chesapeake Bay can get pretty rough on occasion and bad weather can come up quick, especially in the summer months.

The first time your wife experiences a wave (or wake) crash down into your open bow boat she'll be wishing she had an unclosed cabin boat.

There is a Baja 236 about 40 min from me on Craigslist, will probably try and set up an app for next Friday to look at it and also a Wellcraft Excalibur on YachtWorld in Joppa Md but it has a Volvo Penta 7.4 without thru hull, not sure about Volvo, prefer Mercruiser and thruhull exhaust
.

I have a hard time believing the ad on the speed of the islander. I have a islander 180, 5.7 alpha 1, 23p stainless prop, and by myself with very little extra weight it still tops at upper 50's on gps.

Not to hi jack but were you coming down i65 in Alabama towing the velocity on thursday? If so I saw you at mm 310. It was a good looking boat.

LC.