It’s time to move up. The Envision is for sale and we are looking for a boat with a cabin and amenities. The stipulation is, we want a cockpit that will seat 8 people.

We prefer a used boat. I contributed to the boat manufacturers economy with my last boat purchase. There are some good buys, from a financial point of view, on some larger/older boats out there. Aside from the fact that these longer boats will offer a better ride, do I really want to deal with a large boat? We will want to trailer the boat at least six times a year. A lake we frequent is about 20 miles long. Are boats 38 – 41 feet “too big” for the smaller inland lakes? As several recent threads have pointed out, you can’t have it all. We just want most of it.

Greg I thought you bought a cobalt.
Forrest

G-Man to the rescue

Your Next Boat

Catmando,
Two Words: Insufficient Funds

Forrest,
We were looking at a 282, but found enough that we did not like that we passed. We went with the Envision for the cockpit room (adults) and bow room (kids). Boating this summer proved that we no longer need to seat 14 people, so we would like a closed bow but still have the cockpit roominess of our current boat.

Gary,
Of course I want your boat. My wife doesn't. It's all her fault!

Let me ask some simple questions:

1. If I bought a larger boat (38'+), it might see Lake Michigan and salt water once a year. Otherwise it's LOTO (twice annually), local lakes, and the IL River. Is a larger boat too much of a hassle for a busy guy like me compared to a 30'-32' boat?

2. Assuming an affirmative answer to #1, what boats should I be looking at? Remember, I need cockpit seating for EIGHT adults and full amenities. I'm sending four kids to college over the next 10 years so my budget is less than 100K. I have considered the following boats. Please offer your thoughts, and let me know if I am missing any.

1986 Scarab 400
1987 Chris Craft Stinger 390
Sonic 386 or 41SS
Fountain 38 SC

3. Besides a larger Envision or a 32' Advantage, are there other boats in the 30'-36' range that offer the seating and amenities I am looking for?

You should look at the Baja 38 Special. Lots of room and ammeneties. I wish I got the extra 4'. But I'm happy with my 342.

I would certainly look at the Baja, especially over the Advantage.
My only other suggestion would be to get something with Bravo drives.

Too Old,
That's what I'm thinking as well. The Fountain sets pretty high in the water though. I don't know how "nimble" this boat will feel

Baja342,
The 38 has a 9'-3" beam. A little too much maybe. I could sneak a wide 30' boat down the road w/o permits, but a 38 might attract a little more attention.

Gordo,
Agreed. Based on the boards comments regarding drives on older boats I'm thinking #3's = good, trs = bad.

Your original post stated that you want a cockpit that will seat 8 people and a nice cabin. For these two reasons, I would steer you towards Black Thunder. I have never owned one, but they do have huge cockpits and awesome cabins. Also, I have never heard any bad feedback about them. Of course, to make one of these go fast on a lake would probably require quite a bit of power, but I may be wrong. Here is a link to their web site.

www.blackthunder.com

Hot Duck - I love the Black Thunder's. See my reply to catmando above.