Small CC brand input needed
 

Can someone help me out on small CC brands. I bought a cheap Wellcraft on Facebook last summer for the kids but it’s proving too unreliable (tons of little stuff just constantly an issue) after it sat for 13 years and with my oldest turning 14 this June I want something more reliable for him.


My quandary is I just don’t know (or have much passion) about these brands and there are SO many.

sea Hunt
Sea Pro
Hydra Sport
Privateer
Tidewater
Albacore
Parker
Robalo
SportsCraft
Scout

and the list goes on. From what I can tell they all look about the same and I’m guessing half are made by Brunswick….

Then there are the couple that I’ve at least heard of Donzi ZF23’ and the Fountain 23cc. Not sure what the reputation on those two models is like?

Any recommendations to stay away from or pursue? Im thinking in the 23-24’ range and am probably budgeting 15-25k which is 14-24k than my father budgeted when he bought me my first 1976 V20 with a trampoline for a floor.

My girlfriend has had two Boston Whalers - I think they’re great. She had an older 13 foot Super Sport in 2023 ( her first boat ) for a couple months and liked it so much she ordered a 2024 Montauk 15. It’s great !

It’s such easy boating, I’m tempted to order a 25-28 footer and call it a day. Having said that, I have a 32 Doug Wright on order - we will see what happens.

MDS

Add Pioneer to the list. Love my 175 Venture, all composite construction.

Key Largo is one worth looking into. My son has a 20’ one and it is old faithful. He doesn’t take care of chit so that says something. :D

Tidewater 28 twin 300s - boat has been great but actual factory support is lacking IMO...

For what your trying to accomplish, I would think the condition of the boat and the mfg of the motor would be the most important.

I'd personally be partial to a Sailfish, Pioneer or Robalo.

There's probably nothing wrong with Wellcraft. The fact is any boat that sits for 13 years will have problems. This would have nothing to do with the mfg.

If you really want to know the differences between specific mfg's, go on THT. Those guys are fanatics. They'll know which is a 2pc / 3pc Hull, synthetic & wood, etc, for whatever mfg & model you are looking for.

You’re probably right madman - I’m not necessarily chasing the greatest build quality ever for my kid to grow up on, just wanted to make sure I didn’t misstep and buy a yugo.

That Spectre looks like a smoking deal. I’d almost worry too nice because you know the kid is going to ping a dock or two year one.

So Add - Key Largo, pioneer, Sailfish and Robalo ( funny because I always thought they were made by Bayliner - shows how much I know)

Mike - can never beat a Whaler. I grew up on a 13 whaler before we got too big to ski behind it and bought the V20.

there is a really nice 21 on my local Facebook with an E-tech on it for under 20. It’s a restored boat. Are those E-tecks any good? I remember they were a problem at some point a decade or more ago…..

Not sure what Wellcraft you had, but I had a 180 Fisherman with a 150 Merc Opti on it and it was great for the wife and kids, actually quite a fun boat.

18' seemed like a good size, easy to handle, trailer, and launch. It handled well and it would take a fair bit of chop.

Funny you mention the Bayliner/Robalo connection, there was a time when they were made at the same plans, but that was back in the 90's or so.

I've got a 1995 CCF218 Wellcraft - it was a $1200 Facebook Marketplace special so I have no complaints about what it is. It’s just not the right the boat for what we need. Just lots of small things as to be expected and I just want reliability so I don’t get calls at work in the middle of the day when something goes wrong. I have no complaints on the Wellcraft brand - my father has a 27 Coastal and I am shocked how nicely it rides…..

I am going to shoot for something a bit bigger than 18. I hear you on the size but we live right where the Chesapeake bay meets two tributaries so it can get a bit snotty and sometimes we cut across there to get to a local lunch spot so want a bit more length.

We are heading to West Palm for the month of February and of curse wanted to bring a boat with us. Nothing in the fleet worked out very well so I bought a solid old 26' Bayliner Rendezvou that has a 4 year old trailer and a 4 year old Suzuki outboard. I am putting a new interior and bimini in it, doing a total rewire, and repainting the exterior and new rub rail. I had the shop completely go over the engine and the axles/lights on the trailer. I have watched these at LOTO for years and they are battlewagons. All in I will have about $13k in it, plus some of my labor. This is not the best boat for you, but maybe you can find something older with good, newer 4 stroke power that needs a little work. If your kids help you fix it up, they would certainly have a better understanding of the boat and the mechanics of it, making them better overall boat owners for the future. There are a ton of good boat brands out there with many of them not having any wood in them. I would be more concerned about the power. Just my .02, but sounds like fun!

Those old bayliners are tanks. I see them all over the lake still.

Boston Whaler.

Joe

17' Mako with a 90hp. Merc/Yamaha

Classic