Looking for boat options
 

Hi everyone,

Not sure if this is the right section for this, I figured this is the best place to get the most comments from. I am in the Army stationed in upstate New York and have 18 1/2 years in and I am deploying for the 7th time at the end of October. I am looking at getting a boat in the next couple years. I have 2 kids (11 yo Son and 8 yo Daughter) and we all love the water. The wife and I are scuba certified and my son will be certified this fall. We are looking for something we can spend the weekend on that can sleep 4. I would like something I can take them out on the river in upstate NY or the inner coastal ways and outer banks of North Carolina when I move back there. When I retire in a couple years we will be moving back to the Bay Area in California and the boat will be used in the San Francisco Bay and off shore. So we will need something that can handle 2-4 foot chop. Also something that we can also take friends out on and go swimming, fishing (No deep sea fishing) and scuba diving off of. I would also like something has a top speed around 50 mph-60 mph as well. The boat will have to be something that I can tow to and from the water occasionally.

At the moment we are leaning towards the Formula 370 SS or the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser or the Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser. We are looking for I/Os only.

Any help would be great for a good all around boat.

Danny

I live up by you and was in the army. I have a fountain, but that probably wouldnt suit your needs. One thing you have to look at is what you need, want, and your budget. The two boats you just mentioned are both going to have 6 zeroes behind a number, will have to be kept at a marina, and if you want it towed you will probably have to it professionally done as the fountain weighs about 14 grand dry, add 3-4 grand for the trailer and liquids your going to need a F450 tow it plus its a wide beam, which I dont know if you have to have something special to tow those. All things to think about, plus 60mph on both of those boats might be tough, 45-50 is probably closer. Keep in mind the fuel tanks are 300 gallons so your talking a grand to fill up. Not trying to talk you out of these things, I just dont know where your bank accounts are or your boat knowledge. Everybody always has bigger eyes when it comes to boats until they start looking at everything.

But for what you want to do, any 26-30ft cabin cruiser would fit the bill and there plenty around. I think you need to give us your budget

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/boa/3896825555.html

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/bod/3930845443.html

Heres a few I found. Formula SS are also made in 26 and 28. and lower 30' length. Any Sun sport since they are heavy and any cabin cruiser close to 30 ft is probably going to require a 3/4 or better to tow them.

We are at least 2 years from buying and looking between $80k-$90K for the boat. We are not afraid to get a 2002 or newer and will have a 2011 or newer Dodge 3500 dually when I get back from deployment. We would like more of a sport cruiser then a Bayliner type cabin cruiser. 45-50 mph top speed is fine with us, we were looking at the Formula's and Fountain's because of how well the construction is. We are kicking around the idea about getting a Formula 330SS, if Fountain maid one we would be looking at them also.

I am in Alex Bay every weekend diving and riding on friends boats but they are all speed boats and I know those type boats will not suit our needs.

This is probably close, except for speed.

http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/3934317128.html

Except now does not fit your needs, as we posted at same time. lol

Have you been on this site?

http://formulaboatsforum.com/forumtest/index.php

97FASTech I am a member there as well. That is why we are also looking at the 330/350 SS and the 370 SS.

:coolcowboy:

I think the hardest part is going to find a boat that can sleep 4 comfortably. I looked at the Rinker's and Bayliner's that were posted and they only sleep 2 in the V birth according to the specs sheet.

good luck with purchase. I bought my diesel before I bought my fountain too. Be sure to check your weights as that dually your sitting around 17k as a towing capacity and that fountain 38 is going to be 17k before you put 2000lbs of fuel in it, dive gear, load up the truck, etc. Might have to go F450 or Chevy 4500.

Personally I think for what your looking the 33 foot range is going to be a lot better. Dont see a lot of 40fter cruisers being hauled and when they are its on semi. Check out what Sea Ray has, they have some sporting cruisers out there as well.

Also might be a good idea to get some insurance quotes on some models as well, to see where you sit on that. Lot of guys get boats on here and really pull there hair out trying to get insurance after they buy the boat.

Buying the boat is the easy part, its everything else lol. Fuel in those big boats are 1200 bucks to fuel up, dock space for the summer is probably 2-3 grand, insurance probably at least 1000, if not more, can you store a boat on your property, if not inside storage probably a grand or more for the winter. If you cant tow the thing your going to pay 2 bucks a mile to haul it. Then you have to outfit the boat if doesnt come with anchors, jackets, etc. another grand for that. Annual maint and fluid change on two engines probably 2-300 bucks. Then add on breaking stuff.

From it sounds like you will always be in bigger water, but you get above 30 and closer to 40 ft, its going to keep you out of a lot areas and finding ramps might be a challenege.

v birth is always going to be 2 maybe three with boats under 40ft. A lot of them have aft cabins, which i guess you could say another 1-2 people, then probably a pull down table or couch. But boats in this class are going to be hard to find a true dedicated twin sized sleeping areas or greater for 4 people.

Travel trailers are the same way, they say they say sleeps 8 which usually means 5-6. You can always sleep 8, but its means somebody sleeping with a couch bar in the back or with their knees to their chins.

370 SS is FAR more boat than 330 SS. I have friends with both. The 370 with twin 496's runs amazingly well.

No Rinker
No Bayliner
IMHO

I have already looked and the 2011-2012 Dodge Ram DRW with 6.7L Diesel with 4.10 gears is 20,500LBS and the 2013 is 29,500LBS.

I did a online quote with Progressive and it was $2500 a year, I know there are other places like Geico and such to get insurance that might be cheaper or more expensive. The fluid change and general maint I can do and I get all the fluids at cost since I am a AMSOIL dealer. As for winterizing, drive and engine rebuild I will take it to a marina to do that. The good thing is I have friends that know people so that will help with cost for storage and maintenance of the boat.

Those new dodges are impressive, although I wonder how their numbers got bumped up a third in a matter of a year. It sounds like you have looked through most things, and I didnt want to come off as demeaning, a lot of new boaters come on here now knowing and want a 35ft fountain with 600hp engines. And dont realize the cost in the boat, didnt understand their ford ranger couldnt tow it. etc.

Insurance try geico which is actually seaworthy, But I would highly reccomend foremost in getting a quote. progressive through USAA which I assume you used is way high often times. But key is to have a policy as yes your auto covers your boat when towing, and your homeowners CAN cover your boat while in storage at home, but its a sticky slope when you do that, and still leaves your SOL when on the water. Whether you use home owners or not ensure the boat is spelled out in a policy.

MAINT is easy I have to BBC and filter, ol, gear lube, is probably $200 bucks and 2-3 hours of my time.

The 2013 and newer Rams have the HD Aisin six-speed that is standard in the cab and chassis Rams. If I could get a Ram 4500 with a truck bed I would but they dont have that option :(.

The wife and me both grew up around cars and boats so we made sure we looked into everything before we started getting into the specific make and model. I know what you mean about the sleep capacity, we are mainly worried for us and the kids. If others want to stay on the boat they better bring sleeping bags and they will sleep topside on the couch with the filler cushion in place LOL. The main reason we are looking at the Formulas and the Fountains is for the customer support and the following on here and other forums.

As for the maintenance 2-3 hours is no big deal. I do all the filter, oil, gear lube changes on all my vehicle every 6 months or when mileage is up.

On a side note your not off of NY 12 and have a white twin Fountain with a red trainer and cover for it?

Lol yes thats me. One thing with fountain, is they dont truely exsist anymore. But really most boats your looking at will be out of warranty, but most parts beyond the hull and some other things arent fountain or formula anyways, as far as engine, drive, and mechanical stuff. One last peice of advice, dont buy a boat unseen and make sure you get a full survey. I did what I just said not to do, and took one up the ace for it, even after getting a so called survey.

I like your boat. I live off of Lowe RD and I volunteer as a EMT in Clayton.

I fully plan on getting a good full survey and also meeting the surveyor at the boat and doing sea trials with him as well. I read that about Fountain how BAJA or BAJA's parent company now owns Fountain.

I am in Alex bay either diving or I have 2 friends let me drive their boats. One is a 1994 Formula 271 SR1 with a 450hp 502, the other owns a 2003 Donzi with twin 377 scorpion engines.

cool and thanks. I know don from dons prop shop and bunch of people up in Clayton. Fountain got sticky a few years back reggie doesnt own it anymore, his son fixes boats at his own company. But as far as I know no new fountains rolled off the line in a few years but yeah Baja owned fountain or vice versa I dont know.

Fountain is making boats again according to their website.

Oh I would love a go fast boat like a Fountain Lightning or a Formula 382 but with the different activities we do in the water neither are very feasible for what we do.

have you looked at any sail boats? i hear they are quite popular in the gay area, i mean bay area...

Hell no I dont want a sail boat :lolhit:

Yeah its possible. I know its gone back and forth with lots of speculation. Yeah I have a fever and would like a lightning. But were talking of getting into kids, and really the performance boat is a one trick boat. I know you can do some other things, and bigger boat like a lightning might offer more room, but still is what it is. Not really the types of boat for water sports, fishing, etc. I think i would like something that I can get 8 people in the cockpit without sitting on laps, be able to throw a line and lure over board here and there, and hit the water on tubes some day. Thinking of getting into a Formula SS 26 or 28 in the next few years, possibly, but they are heavy and suck fuel. Not really concered with saving money on gas and what not, just would rather get more bang for the gas I do use in terms of range and what not.

Oh I totally understand about kids and having room on the boat for family and friends and being able throw a line and lure over board here and there, and hit the water on tubes some day. I also want the speed when I want to play around (Safely) and also be able to get to the fishing or dive site. Plus want to spend the night out at the dive site to do some night diving and then be able to sleep out on the boat and not have to worry about getting back so the kids can sleep.

Have you looked at Intrepid? I am not sure of how many I/Os they have made, but they have several 30-40' OB models that would fit your bill perfectly.

Never heard of them. I will look them up. Thank you.

They are a OB only. We are looking for I/Os only.

Have you checked out the Fountain 38 SC. I was up in the Islands for the Abay poker run, and there was one parked at the Riveredge. I believe he had 575's in it and said it would do in the 80's. They have the lightning bottom, and a much bigger cabin. Have a safe deployment.

Are you talking about the sport cruiser?

If so I have looked at them. They have the sun pad and having people move scuba tanks up and over it I am afraid people will ruin the cover.

Powerquest 320sc? Can get twin 496ho gotta be close to 60mph. Not sure on the sleeping situation

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...est-LSC-345160 Ad says will do 60 and it looks like in the one picture it has an aft cabin as well as the v birth. Hard to tell for sure. Worth a look, sharp looking boat

It looks like it just has the front bow seating with a filler cushion. Maybe 2-4 but that is pushing it.

Would like a manufacturer that is still in business.