You right above the old 27 tunnel?
That's cool.

I think this thread highlights why performance / luxury center consoles have become so popular. Lots of guys coming from traditional go-fasts that are sick of the headache of squeezing in a bilge to maintain, drive failures, lack of cockpit space, "wasted" space in the cabin, thirsty for fuel, etc. However, a cruiser might not yet (or ever) fit the bill for them.

Enter a boat with easy to maintain and feed outboard power, tons of room, a hull that runs quick and handles big water well, still looks sporty, and has many of the amenities of a cruiser.
That's what got me into a CC. I'm 41, have had a Hydrostream, a big block jet boat, a Sunsation 288 and a Dominator, and now a Nor-Tech CC....I don't ever see myself going back to a traditional go-fast, or a cruiser for that matter either.

As far as spousal help/enthusiasm/support, my wife pretty much demanded we buy this CC, after being boatless for two years. lol. We've got a pretty good system. She packs the coolers with drinks and food, washes the beach towels, wrangles up and sunscreens our kids some weekends, and recruits skanks for other weekends.

what ever you do get a catamaran with electric motors

the 32 fountain is a sharp ride

I understand what you are saying about doing everything yourself and getting trying to make it easier. My wife had no clue what a dock line was much less a fender/bumper. I started teaching her little things each time we went out as simple as tying a rope to the cleat and what to have out when coming in to tie up. She started getting more interested in helping me because it eased my stress level and made it fun for both of us. Now she has all the fenders out and goes to the front of the boat when we are getting ready to tie up with friends. I'd try teaching her little things each time to help out and it'll get better. Oh, I still spend about 6hrs plus each week washing, hand waxing, detailing the interior and polishing everything while she is doing her thing, but its the little bit of help on the water that makes it so much easier. I'll have to give my wife credit, because she does lay on the creeper and dry the bottom of the boat from front to back for me. Now she is as OCD as I am.

I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one that gets on a creeper to dry the bottom of the boat after we go out......my wife and boys think I’m crazy!

jtbooten, after having a boating season where every little thing seemed to go wrong and even get towed at one point in 5-6 footers with family getting sick, I was frustrated with boating........then we decided to buy a side by side. Now when I get frustrated with the boat we go hammer out on the trails and also we aren’t so sad this time of year when boating season is ending cause we picked up a new hobby and are planning trips for that. Of course boating season is ending and I THINK I have the boat all tuned in now......figures!

By the way, bencini, how is your wife recovery going?

Yes, you can take a nap while they make drinks and switch off driving etc !

The summary of the thread is that big boats are a pain in the ass. Don't get married. And just go boating by yourself in a small outboard.

Couldn't agree more.

Not sure I see the point/ value in drying the bottom of the boat?!?

It's called being OCD and keeping everything like a mirror where you can see your self in it. I can't stand water spots, so it gets hand waxed on bottom 2 times a year and spray wax every week. I have done this on every boat we have owned. The previous boats were gel on bottom and it kept the bottom easy to wipe off. Overkill probably, but I like my things as close to perfect as possible.