Time for a Different Style Boat?
09-01-2022 | 03:11 PM
#41
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From: Portland, OR
I have a 32’ Fountain and I love it. It’s in great condition and I have it the way I want it BUT it is starting to feel like a hassle to use. I trailer it to the lake and my wife isn’t the best help, so basically I do everything.
Thought about downsizing but I did that once. 29’ fountain to a 19’ jet boat. Fun for a while but i bought a 27’ fountain a year or two later, now my 32. I’m 34 now and looking for a way to make boating easier and more convenient. So I thought about going to a cruiser. 32’-38’ Searay Sundancer or similar. Something that I can leave at the lake during the summer and move to dry storage during the winter. Maybe even change lakes. This way all I would need to do is drive a car to the lake and start boating.
Terrible idea?
Thought about downsizing but I did that once. 29’ fountain to a 19’ jet boat. Fun for a while but i bought a 27’ fountain a year or two later, now my 32. I’m 34 now and looking for a way to make boating easier and more convenient. So I thought about going to a cruiser. 32’-38’ Searay Sundancer or similar. Something that I can leave at the lake during the summer and move to dry storage during the winter. Maybe even change lakes. This way all I would need to do is drive a car to the lake and start boating.
Terrible idea?
Here is another perspective. I too had a 32' Fountain and my wife was ZERO I mean Z E R O help. Packed a cooler held a dock line and that was it. I did everything. I too had this boat where I wanted it I did engines, stringers, blah, blah, blah, you know the drill. I sold it, went BIGGER and got a 36 Supercat. She absolutely LOVES this boat and now helps with everything. Drives the truck towing on long trips, launches and loads it, helps load and unload all the crap we take, cleans, washes, learned what all the buttons do etc. Even started going to the gym getting in shape again and wears pasties now out on it! I seriously don't know who this lady is!!!
09-01-2022 | 03:29 PM
#42
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What I was referring to was the dock cabinets.
And Grider is the only one with all "that green."
09-01-2022 | 03:33 PM
#43
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From: SW Ohio
I was, indeed. I stand corrected.
I'll be honest... I don't believe I've ever stepped foot onto Grider Hill marina. I've gotten gas there a couple times (damned few), and I've been past it a blue million times. But never ON it. I think this is the only marina I can honestly say this about, though.
Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991
09-01-2022 | 03:35 PM
#44
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From: Indianapolis, Lake Cumberland
09-01-2022 | 05:33 PM
#45
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From: KY
The green looks like Grider to me.
JTBooten, you have to pay to store it dry currently?
Is it inside?
Winterize it, storage prep it, let it sit for a year or 2 and forget about it.
I've done that before. To that point now again maybe. The hassle has part to do, but mostly just get wore down with the "same ole, same ole".
Get bored. Could live with or without it.
JTBooten, you have to pay to store it dry currently?
Is it inside?
Winterize it, storage prep it, let it sit for a year or 2 and forget about it.
I've done that before. To that point now again maybe. The hassle has part to do, but mostly just get wore down with the "same ole, same ole".
Get bored. Could live with or without it.
Poker run next weekend will be its 4th time out this year. So it’s done a lot of sitting this year.
09-01-2022 | 06:48 PM
#46
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From: Traverse City, Michigan
As much as we sometimes pass off our boat launching errors onto our partners it's usually the guy that forgets to install the drain plug or remove the rear tie down straps. I know, I've failed to do both.
09-03-2022 | 07:38 AM
#48
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From: Boerne, TX.
Been there too, done all that as well. Sold and owned Baja's (25's to 33's) for many years late 90's early 2000's, Had a 388 Hustler, had a 35 Top Gun, in-laws had a 2008 350 Sundancer, v-drive 496's. We bought that from them thinking "maybe a cruiser" would be easier, less breaking drives, blowing up motors, more enjoyment and more boating, blah blah blah. The cruiser is fun for the first year (or less). Then it is "oh, the sh!tter is broken again", oh, the generator is broken, how the hell is the AC blowing hot, we were just here 4 days ago and they put it where (350 Dancer owners know what that means, behind the wall in the bottom cabin area with no access), what's that vibration, damn spider sh!t all over, gotta wash it every weekend (OCD), haul everything up and down the docks to and from the slip. I said all that to say "ain't nothing easier about any boat" lol. I am 46 almost 47. Sold our Sea Ray 2 months ago and didn't even turn around when we walked away. Great times and great memories but a floating house on the water will always need constant maintenance too. But, I still wouldn't trade it for anything in the world lol, it is a disease we all have, we are all boaters. I wouldn't mind a nice 28' -32' CC with twin outboards next, not a go-fast one though.
09-03-2022 | 09:43 AM
#49
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,000
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From: SW CT & Long Island Sound
Been there too, done all that as well. Sold and owned Baja's (25's to 33's) for many years late 90's early 2000's, Had a 388 Hustler, had a 35 Top Gun, in-laws had a 2008 350 Sundancer, v-drive 496's. We bought that from them thinking "maybe a cruiser" would be easier, less breaking drives, blowing up motors, more enjoyment and more boating, blah blah blah. The cruiser is fun for the first year (or less). Then it is "oh, the sh!tter is broken again", oh, the generator is broken, how the hell is the AC blowing hot, we were just here 4 days ago and they put it where (350 Dancer owners know what that means, behind the wall in the bottom cabin area with no access), what's that vibration, damn spider sh!t all over, gotta wash it every weekend (OCD), haul everything up and down the docks to and from the slip. I said all that to say "ain't nothing easier about any boat" lol. I am 46 almost 47. Sold our Sea Ray 2 months ago and didn't even turn around when we walked away. Great times and great memories but a floating house on the water will always need constant maintenance too. But, I still wouldn't trade it for anything in the world lol, it is a disease we all have, we are all boaters. I wouldn't mind a nice 28' -32' CC with twin outboards next, not a go-fast one though.
09-03-2022 | 11:52 AM
#50
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From: Boerne, TX.
Kinda boat I'm looking at, sad. Might have to re-think. Maybe a CC with outboards, less to go wrong but every boat breaks. But at this stage in life I just want to hang on the boat with family and friends and it always goes back to a boat like your old one. But you prove some of my thoughts, more systems...more headaches. And I heard generators just plain suck, never had experience with one but gettin' nervous.
