first powerboat
 

I have owned several pleasure boats and have always wanted a go fast boat. I'm now able to buy one. Before I go out and get one what should I know. Yes I know its off season. I thought I might be able to get a better deal this time of year. I looking to get a V bottom twin engine boat around 38 feet . I'm not saying any brands because I don't want to start one of those threads My biggest question is are these type of boats something I can just put in the water and go all season after the spring service. Can I just start up at the ramp go to the sand bar for a hour then start right back up and go to the beach etc? Oh ya fresh water only. Everytime I see a power boat at the beach, sand bar, dock, or anytime its not running the engine covers are up. Do these boat not have blower motors to vent. Please don't make this a brand thread.

Outside of my impeller issue which is really just common upkeep that I let go to far.

Mine has been start and go every time. Sand bar is out favorite place and I am Salt water here.

36', twin 496 HO's. Turn key and have fun.

Nate5.0 How do you like your sonic? Is it your first powerboat?

It is my first powerboat yes.

I love it and if I could it would be mine for ever but we can't always get what we want lol. It is for sale cause of the old phrase you live and learn.

That aside. It is great in every way except I am not the fastest thing on the water but if the props were done it is a low 70's boat maybe a mid 70 on a heaven sent day.

It is big, turn key, handles the rough like it is nothing, cabin is second only to maybe OL, the fit and finish is great, no rattles or loose crap all over, paint is super great from factory, and just everything.

It really is a great boat and I hate that it is for sale. I would never tell anyone not to take a hard loom at a Sonic, great all around boat.

All I can say is for your first osb I would try to get on and go out on as many different boats that u can to find what u like and need. We all have the boats we have for one reason or another. U need to find the one thst fits your needs and your budget the best.

Stick with black motors if your looking for turn key low maintenance, 454, 496, 502 all with run a long time with low maintenance.

I have a 38 ft Top Gun for sale, low hr hull, new engines run flawless Merc 500 EFI, total turn key, PM me if interested, or you can buy Nate5.0 boat and he can buy mine, LOL

Find the boat style that best suits where and how you boat, then find the brand that fits the budget and puts a smile on your face. :)

Let's go with the last part of that bud.

The guys having the hatches up is more of a big balls ego thing more then any thing imo but it never hurts to open it up with the blower on and do the sniff and quick check over everything befor you start up and go. Its alot of money on the line with the bigger boats and big power to not do something that only takes a minute.

There is also some guys that leave them up to stop people from walking on them.

For a first powerboat I'd go with something straight bottom and black power. At 38', you will have a hard time getting yourself in trouble with that combination (except around the docks!).

Early to late 90's are prone to vapor lock issues on hot days. Mine happens to be one of them. Opening the hatch and idling with blowers running for 10 minutes prior to shut down, as well as leaving the hatch open for a half hour or so will eliminate the issues.

What's your budget?

Starting with a 38 foot twin engine boat????

If you really have no boating experience at all, buy yourself a 16 foot outboard boat on a trailer and spend a summer learning. There is no shame in taking your time and learning how boats work and why props are important and what it means to hit a rock or sandbar.

Better to do it with a small boat that can be turned over quickly the next year. Take your time with this process and find out what you like most about boating and then plan on buying something that will cover most of those needs.

Every boat, big or small, is a compromise, so don't expect it will all be perfect with an XXX Craft or a YYY brand. Good luck and have fun.

Read the first post, he said he's had many previous boats but this will be his first performance boat.

You probably also need to consider if you are going to trailer it and what you have as a tow vehicle if you haven't already. Sounds silly, but I've known a lot of people that buy a boat and then want to borrow a truck to go get it. I agree with the black motors. I would also consider something a little smaller than a 38 unless you've been driving big twin engine cruisers as your "pleasure boats".

Upon first start after sitting for a few hours, I always lift the hatch even with the blowers. Just rather be safe than sorry.

A twin engine, side by side, fuel injected, speed boat is about the easiest docking boat that you can buy. It is much easier than a single because you can spin on the two engines, and it is easier than a big cruiser because the tide and wind don't effect it as much.

This 35 is my first real boat. Before this the biggest I ever drove was a 23' CC.

With patience and ego set aside. You can learn to get into something big from the get go.

Sorry, I missed that. Just excited waiting for Santa!

My nickel.

3 years ago my wife decided we needed a boat. We bought a 34 Powerquest Vyper with twin 496 HOs. Never drive a boat prior to buying.

My friend and marina owner, Chip Miller took me out and showed me the ropes. I spent a couple days driving in the marina and practiced docking. I put 35 hours on the boat that summer.

The following spring I took Tres Martin and it was very valuable. I put 50 hours on that summer.

The following year I bought my AT with 525s

Do t let others tell you what to buy. Figure out what type of boating you like, where you will boat and that will help picking a model. Then get the newest you can afford .... Making sure you can still buy fuel, maintenance, etc.

I open my hatch when docked so Im not asked to do it 10 other times by people asking.......... whats in there.......... and also to see what I spent 30K on...LOL

Agree if you know what you are doing., Try docking a twin like a single (using wheel and both drives forward or reverse) and it will get you in trouble quick with the extra length. Every year I see people docking a twin like it is a single and making their life so much harder than need be.

I have to use the shifters wheel and some times the throttles when docking. When your props spin in u all most have to with the props fighting each other. It is nouthing like when they r spinning out.

Oh you want a go fast boat??? Then youre in the wrong place this is CentreConsoleOnly.com lol

A full stagger boat has to be docked like a single because the props are so close it doesn't do anything if you put one in foreword and one in reverse. Now ad big carbed blower motors that stall every time you go in or out of gear, and docking is a blast

So can a CC not go offshore?....I mean OSO....that is offshore only right?

:p

500efi and hp500 seem to be the lowest maintenance blue motors.

No way a boat with outdrives is as easy to dock as a fat cruiser with v drives. Doesn't get any easier than those except maybe one of those joy sticks I haven't tried yet.

I agree for easiest turn key lowest maintenance go with black motors. All the blue motors require a little more attention with headers and top ends.

Hey what about the race boats we drove with crash boxes? You have to shut the motor off, bump the starter button and shift into forward or reverse, then start the motor again and be ready to shut it off when you want to go to a different gear. Now add a nice wind blowing or current running and about 1,000 spectators on the docks watching every move you make....nothing to it!

Well not so easy if the props are spinning in..

I knew a young ex Navy pilot once, while running a rack marina, who after some homework, bought a 31 Scarab empty and had it powered with black 502's for his first boat. Nice warranty and all. It was a nice boat, great for learning and his wife and he used it all the time. A few years later he bought a 38 top gun then eventually a Outerlimits with big big motors. He, eventually, wound up in federal prison but I always respected the way he went about his getting into large speed boats. Very methodical and educated. The Navy way.

Its not bad once u get used to it. I am fine now

I agree with this. Black motors are best, but the blue Merc 500s are pretty turn-key too. With an aggressive maintenance schedule, I've had zero problems with my hp500s for three years (that is, until I blew one of them last August :hitfan: ) LOL

And by the way, I wouldn't worry too much about the 'jump.' I went from a SeaDoo to a 33' Scarab with twins, and it was fine. As long as you're not a knucklehead, you'll be okay.

The bigger the power the more frequent the maintenance. Merc of course has very reliable packages, but there are other choices too.

Our engines are same as Nates and are very reliable. Sometimes I want more of course, but they always work and you can run them hard. Blower setups like Merc 700s could be used the same way, but will require more $$ in fuel and maintenance.

The best advice I EVER got on OSO is, it's not how fast you want to go, but how fast you want to spend. In fact, that could be one of the few TRUTHS on OSO:)