TxHawk

iTrader: (2)

Ill step in here too. I am 21. I have been boating since i was born. I had an XP in highschool and sold in when i went away to school in Galveston. I bought a 1984 21' Scarab. It was in rough shape. I spent about 6 months of labor on it to get it where i wanted it. I ran it for a year and sold it for enough to buy parts for a boat i have recently been given by my father. I recommend an older boat. For one they are heavy and slow enough to keep you out of trouble. You can buy cheap used parts when you break them and obviously they are cheaper to buy. I looked at 27 Excaliburs before i got the 40. You can find them pretty cheap and you will have a lot of boat. Good luck.

Your pocket book will never be the same. Tell the woman in your life sorry now before it gets to bad.

JEEPDUDE

Thanks guys for all of the info so far. I have a lot to learn but love the water. One day in the way so distant future I do want a big boat for big water, probably fresh water but maybe even in Florida. For now I'm looking at the 24-25' range. A good friend of my dads use to have a Liberator and it was a pretty solid boat, i'm gonna try and get something like that. Also when I can afford a bigger newer boat, which kind should I be looking at? I'm sure my experience will come, but I really like fountain boats and my research on them so far points me toward that business. Any thoughts?

Anyway thanks again for the advice so far I'm still looking for a boat but don't be suprised if you see me out there soon!!!

Tim G.

I'm 27 (I think). My insurance for the Pantera is about $1500/yr. But that's for FL, 12 month usage.

Insurance is the eye opener. I had quotes from $1000-$5000. But you have to be sure you have the right coverage...

So yes, don't buy any boat until you price the insurance.

What should you buy?
http://server1.offshoreonly.com/cgi-...uery=retrieval

I pay about $600/mo, plus that $120/mo insurance, and about $2-500/mo for operating. Keep some money around for those repairs... I needed exhausts for both engines, and digging in my bank accounts for $6,000 was not fun at all.


Where are you going to use the prospective new boat? River, small lake, or the big water of Lake Mich???

A 20' Baja is a good value, but all but worthless if you want to run in the Mich...

What ever you get... ENJOY. And welcome to debt.... and Offshore Only.

hugetime1

You should get a sex change, and free load off a guy with a nice boat

Tim G.

And- You said you wanted to go to FL right...

Well there's this guy that just bought a duplex on the West coast of FL.... He has a boat and would love to have a mistress on the side. He would even keep you in the rental side of his house...so his wife wouldn't find out.... His boat is OK...but slow.. I think it's a Hustler.
Wouldn't be a bad deal, assuming you were up for the sex change and doing dudes...

hugetime1

no tim I would not be into that, but he could bring his sister along.