hello all
 

Just joined the site yesterday. I have a friend who is big into boating and I grew up on small runabouts when I was a kid. However, recently my buddy took me to the chicago boat show and now I'm looking into the relm of offshore powerboats and I think its safe to say I'm addicted. I'm 20 and yes a young guy, but I am just looking right now to gather as much information as possible on this sport so as to make an educated purchase within the net 1-3 years depending on price and potential operational cost.

Regards,

Seth

welcome aboard.

thank you.

S87, welcome.... best thing to do is jump right in ! What are your wanting to accomplish with your purchase ? Do you have family to haul around or wanting to have space to yourself ?

welcome, nice to see another 20 y/o on the board!

My objectives are ametuer at best due to my extreme lack of knowledge in this indepth hobby. However, right now I am in the hardcore information gathering stages. Due to my age....20 yrs old. and my financial situation, or the lack there of :) I have most of my desisions made for me. I want a boat that goes fast....how fast? 60+??? From what I have gathered I believe for my first purchase everyone says stay single engine for ease on the pocket as well as ease of opperation. My ego says twins, but my cash flow says stay humble. I want a boat with a cabin for sure that much I do know. I would like to be able to go over night if possible. Doing some nice fri-Sun weekend trips sounds amazing. Furthermore, as far as the water the boat would see I live close to lake michigan, as well as chain o lakes. I havent done much boating in the past since me and my dad stopped talking. Howver, I would like to change all that and do so by buying my own boat :). I would like something between 24-29 feet.

Much past this I am open to ANY and ALL suggestions and personal views. I have looked at baja, howver, what other manufactors that make entry level offhsores out there???


Price range I would like to stay under is mid 20's....Looking to purchase within the next 1-5 years depending on financial situation.

Thanks man, good to know im not the only youngin on the board....figured most guys on here would be well into their years based of the cost of the sport!!!

Good to meet everyone so to speak

Regards,

Seth

Sounds like some REALISTIC goals. I would say your on the right track S87. Welcome (in advance) to the world of boating!

"Nice thing about boating is it costs nearly nothing. Boats are really cheap. And they take nearly nothing for gas to operate. Maintenance is minimal and they stay clean as a whistle!"

WAIT A MINUTE... I'M THINKING OF A CANOE!

NeverMind.

you better believe thats a paddlin!

haha thanks guys lol I would totally pimp a canoe providing it had a cabin, was 24-29', single engine, 60+mph etc..... hahahahah

Welcome aboard BIG Daddy and watch out for Perldiver :D:cool-smiley-011::cool-smiley-027:
ROCK ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hahaha gotta watch out for him huh?? lol good to know.

JAGERBOMBS ALL AROUND!

s87 I got a nice 1990 Eliminator Eagle thats fits all your criteria. you can check it out on boatcrazy just type in zip 63128. I don't have alot of pics on there but you can email me at [email protected] and I will send more. either way welcome aboard. good luck bro.:boat:

Seth, you are smart to do the research, but for the love of God, you're about to put yourself in a financial hole that takes most young people decades to climb out of. Think LONG and HARD about the thousands and thousands of dollars you'll spend each year just maintaining and using the boat, not even mentioning the cost to buy it. Would that money make your life easier if you spent it in some other way, or invested it so you could be RICH down the road? It's easy to become a millionaire if you start early and save a little on a regular basis. If you don't know how to run those numbers to see what it will take, I'll help you. No charge.

A boat's a toy. A very very very demanding toy. And I love them, and being on the water, and understand what you are seeking. But it is not worth going into debt for, or killing your future financial well-being to get. So, please, first put your financial house and plan in place, then buy a quality used boat with a modest engine with CASH, not credit.

I think it takes most people longer to get out of debt once they decide they want to, than it does for them to save up their first $100,000. You are in a great place to avoid the big debt black hole.

Seth, I'll second what Chart says. I can't count the number of guys I know of that got into this sport on a shoestring and were "out for the summer" because they blew an outdrive and couldn't afford to have it fixed. Yes, you can find an older go-fast around 20K. You will be making repairs of some kind in the first season. Almost anything you fix is $1K minumum. Plan on spending $500 a weekend for fuel.

If you MUST own a boat now, I would look at an older stock runabout or cuddy. That 60 mph mark you are looking at is the $$$ dividing line in my opinion. Our friends got into boating with an older 18' bayliner. With stock merc small block V8 it ran darn near 60mph and surprised a lot of people.

A few years ago I was at LOTO when my expensive toy broke. We rented an old small runabout with a V6 and 2X4's lag-screwed to the sides for rub rails. We were still on the water and still had a blast. [ and you don't get pissed when your buddy pukes in the boat - but that's another story :D ]

Good luck and welcome to OSO. :cool-smiley-011:

Of course, if you're one of those punk kids with a web site I've never heard of and you're about to be bought out by Google for around $500M - disregard what I said above and get an order in soon. A new Cig, Nor-tech or OL may take a year or two depending on build schedules! :D :D

Rock On....is such a girl phrase.

Welcome,

I have been in your shoes take your time and save your money it will come sooner than you think.