Advice for a first time boat owner
06-21-2021 | 05:59 AM
#12
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From: Orlando, FL
I am reaching out because I am finally ready to own a boat but would like to get some advice of do's/don'ts for a first time owner. I have been around water all my childhood but I am now 24 and ready to own my first boat, my budget is $70,000 I currently live in Virginia Beach. I plan on using the boat mainly in freshwater and eventually hit the big ocean after. Here are my questions are:
1. Should I start out with a single engine or should I go twin engine?
2. Would a Donzi/Baja boat as my first boat be too much for my first boat?
3. Should I stay under a certain size of boat or try and get the biggest I can afford?
4. Is it better to start small and work up gradually?
Thanks in advance!
1. Should I start out with a single engine or should I go twin engine?
2. Would a Donzi/Baja boat as my first boat be too much for my first boat?
3. Should I stay under a certain size of boat or try and get the biggest I can afford?
4. Is it better to start small and work up gradually?
Thanks in advance!
My first boat and first go-fast was a 22' Scarab with a 454. I was 27 years old. Was capable of 60+mph and looked and sounded great -- but cost me under 20 grand back in the early 2000s.
It sucks making rookie mistakes on an expensive rig.
06-21-2021 | 06:46 AM
#13
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From: Maryland
buying the boat is the easy part, on used boats you will want to "make it yours" so you will start throwing money at it right away. trailers are a pain, they always need something. make sure you are able to maintain what you have and not be boat poor, meaning you paid top dollar and are struggling for fuel and maintenence, good mechanics arent cheap and cheap mechanics arent good... find out about insurance for your age bracket. its easy to wind up in over your head... make sure you get a survey, Tommy kimbal is in your area and super knowledgable
06-21-2021 | 10:05 AM
#14
Were doomed!
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Chicago, IL
"being around water" doesn't mean much....i've been around water all my life as well...fishing and swimming,,,never got into boats till i was about 18 when a friend and i went in and split the cost of a small runabout just so we can have the ladies out with us in bikinis 
My first "real"boat was a 1986 30' scarab with twin 454's bout it for around $30k and learned quickly on it.....after the first season the engine were pulled and wallet had a hole in it for the rest of the ownership! would i change anything?......NOPE!
Only advice i can give it this...get the best and biggest you can afford. Keep in mind what you will be towing with as well.....a 1/2 ton truck will not cut it with a boat that 30' or bigger (in most cases) So a 3/4 ton min or 1 ton ideal if you going to be pulling it around any distance. And if you have the time...take a coast guard safety course and even the Tres Martin driving class to help you learn your boat when you get it....
My first "real"boat was a 1986 30' scarab with twin 454's bout it for around $30k and learned quickly on it.....after the first season the engine were pulled and wallet had a hole in it for the rest of the ownership!
would i change anything?......NOPE! Only advice i can give it this...get the best and biggest you can afford. Keep in mind what you will be towing with as well.....a 1/2 ton truck will not cut it with a boat that 30' or bigger (in most cases) So a 3/4 ton min or 1 ton ideal if you going to be pulling it around any distance. And if you have the time...take a coast guard safety course and even the Tres Martin driving class to help you learn your boat when you get it....
__________________
-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
06-22-2021 | 05:59 PM
#15
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From: Smith Valley, NV
Lots of people say start small and work your way up. Lots of people get 3 footitis pretty quickly too. I started with a 20' Outlaw and worked my way up to 32 foot.This can be expensive and time consuming though.
My buddy jumped right in to a 36' Outlaw as his first boat and never had any issues. Looking back now, I think I would have been better off starting out with a big boat. If you have half a clue about things mechanical and know how to drive, it really isn't that big a deal running a big boat versus small. Probably towing is the biggest difference. I drove big rigs for many years so towing was never an issue for me. Also, twins makes docking and other maneuvers way easier.
My buddy jumped right in to a 36' Outlaw as his first boat and never had any issues. Looking back now, I think I would have been better off starting out with a big boat. If you have half a clue about things mechanical and know how to drive, it really isn't that big a deal running a big boat versus small. Probably towing is the biggest difference. I drove big rigs for many years so towing was never an issue for me. Also, twins makes docking and other maneuvers way easier.
08-06-2021 | 04:15 PM
#18
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From: Lexington Park, MD
It's cool you are systematically approaching this new venture, great questions.
For inland lakes/rivers I would go to the place you are most likely to frequent and see what size of boat is most common. When I first started going to Table Rock lake in Missouri 30 years ago, a 21' boat was more than adequate for the typical activities done...skiing, tubing, kneeboarding, etc.
But over they years, and especially with the proliferation of the God#*@! wakesurfing boats, a smaller boat was getting overwhelmed. I switched over to a Baja 252 Islander and it is far better suited for the conditions. So in this case, size of boat (in feet) and deadrise (24 degrees) was the key to enjoying the lake again.
What are you going to use the boat for most? That is one of the first questions to ask. Cruising? Fishing? Watersports? Some combination of those?
I've helped countless people get into boats over the 45+ years I've been boating, and my advice is always to get as much power as possible. NO ONE ever has said, "Yeah...it's a nice boat but man, it just has too much power!" And engine power is stupid expensive to obtain.
So here is my advice, summarized:
For inland lakes/rivers I would go to the place you are most likely to frequent and see what size of boat is most common. When I first started going to Table Rock lake in Missouri 30 years ago, a 21' boat was more than adequate for the typical activities done...skiing, tubing, kneeboarding, etc.
But over they years, and especially with the proliferation of the God#*@! wakesurfing boats, a smaller boat was getting overwhelmed. I switched over to a Baja 252 Islander and it is far better suited for the conditions. So in this case, size of boat (in feet) and deadrise (24 degrees) was the key to enjoying the lake again.
What are you going to use the boat for most? That is one of the first questions to ask. Cruising? Fishing? Watersports? Some combination of those?
I've helped countless people get into boats over the 45+ years I've been boating, and my advice is always to get as much power as possible. NO ONE ever has said, "Yeah...it's a nice boat but man, it just has too much power!" And engine power is stupid expensive to obtain.
So here is my advice, summarized:
- start no smaller than 23', bigger is better UP TO A POINT, especially if you are going to trailer the boat
- consider the tow vehicle you have, a 1/2 ton pickup or Suburban is good for small to mid-size (up to 27') but after that, you need a 3/4 or one ton truck to pull safely
- deeper deadrise = better ride. My 21' Baja had a 17 degree deadrise, was stupid fast but rode rough as hell.
- get the most power you can afford...put the bulk of your budget into this. Minimum power should be a 454, better yet if it's a Mag, better yet to go 502 or HP500.
- go with single power, but dual throttle/shifter setup
- freshwater boats are generally more desirable
- look at how the boat is maintained. Look in the bilge, ski locker, cabin if equipped...if messy/dirty/oily...usually a sign of an apathetic owner who isn't maintaining the boat well...and could be hiding a LOT of bad issues.
- if you find a good boat, consider having it surveyed - you are most looking for 'bad wood', i.e. soft spots in the floor, transom, etc that is simply a "run-don't-walk-away" situation, unless you have the time and patience and budget for a 'project' (that likely will never get finished)
- finally, the used boat market is...almost non-existent at the moment...VERY hard to find much of anything.
the boat would be used primarily as cruiser/hauling ass everywhere
. I spent a lot of time in Ozarks as a kid. We stayed at Moonies till it started to get pretty bad with the rooms and etc. I really appreciate the advice. Sorry I haven't reached back sooner, work got swapped and been working 6days a week 12hr shifts since I made this post. I have found a couple Donzi 28-33ft for sale near me but literally have had no time to go look or even attempt to try and get out on the water.
08-06-2021 | 04:18 PM
#20
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From: Lexington Park, MD
Soak up all the advice members here offer, there’s a lot of experience on OSO. Here’s a few ideas (just my opinion) to get started.
Single engine, up to 496ho is easiest to maintain. Beyond that means Mercury racing engine which need a little more love to keep them happy.
Recognized brand name boat, certainly Donzi/Baja fit that criteria.
If you’re going to tow, check towing weights carefully with your vehicle manufacturer and stay within limits. If you go to a twin engine boat, the weight jumps up considerably.
Bigger boats aren’t significantly harder to drive but they’re harder to tow, more work around the ramp, more work cleaning afterwards.and more expensive. Faster boats are harder to drive, more to go wrong at 70mph than 50mph.
When you’re learning, turn your stereo off, don’t drink and better off with one friend on board, not 3-4. Less distraction, less to worry about and less tendency to wanna to push the boat hard.
Look around your boating area and watch others, learn from their mistakes, it might save you making too many of your own. 🙂
Welcome to OSO!
RR
Single engine, up to 496ho is easiest to maintain. Beyond that means Mercury racing engine which need a little more love to keep them happy.
Recognized brand name boat, certainly Donzi/Baja fit that criteria.
If you’re going to tow, check towing weights carefully with your vehicle manufacturer and stay within limits. If you go to a twin engine boat, the weight jumps up considerably.
Bigger boats aren’t significantly harder to drive but they’re harder to tow, more work around the ramp, more work cleaning afterwards.and more expensive. Faster boats are harder to drive, more to go wrong at 70mph than 50mph.
When you’re learning, turn your stereo off, don’t drink and better off with one friend on board, not 3-4. Less distraction, less to worry about and less tendency to wanna to push the boat hard.
Look around your boating area and watch others, learn from their mistakes, it might save you making too many of your own. 🙂
Welcome to OSO!
RR
