So my foray into performance boating started back in 2000-2001. I was a kid in high school mowing lawns for money. One of our family friends,.whose lawn I mowed at the time had a Baja 260 with a 502 in it. Took me for a ride in it out in the bay in NJ at the time and I was hooked. I didn't even hardly want to get in our families 18 foot bowrider because we could only do 40-50 and it just felt small after that run. Same family friend got me a powerboat magazine subscription and I poured through every one of those pages each month dreaming... I even designed my own boat back in our computer drafting class ( we just got the program, prior to that it was still all pencils and T-squares). Was going to be an airline pilot but didn't have the money for flight school. Changed majors to business and got my degree. I've been in supply chain in aerospace for a while now.. we were finally setting ourselves up in the family to get a boat this year then the market went ridiculous and I couldn't justify or afford an $80k center console. So I had a change of plans. We spent some money on the house and hangout area and decided to buy a less expensive boat... And go back to a performance style boat like I'd always wanted. I figured what the hell, lemme scratch that itch... So I went out and bought a full collection of the magazines that started it all and found the 2001 collection of powerboat magazine.. I love it. It definitely brings me back. Sad to see all the companies in there that are out of business now... And I'm sure the classified ads aren't available anymore but definitely enjoying reading them again... The old donzi and cigarette ads and all. Definitely helped re-ignite my passion and thought I'd share.. wish it was still around but thankful the forum is at least still here. My now six year old son looks at the magazines and is in love with the photos from the boat races and huge rooster tails... I'm almost afraid to send him down the path of one of the most expensive hobbies there is, lol.. anyway, just thought y'all might enjoy a little origin story and some nostalgia of the old powerboat magazines. I used to fawn of the dirty duck cat for years.

They had an issue once a year with long time subscribers listed. You will find my name there. Joe Murray

C.W., I'm curious as to which less expensive boat you bought? I would say that a decent size, not expensive to run, reliable performance boat, that the whole family would enjoy, could easily be had for $15k-$20k.

Here are a couple of examples that come to mind.

Working on an 88 Formula 242 purchase at the moment. Keeping it under 20k for the purchase. Buddy of mine just got a quote for the 23 tidewater I wanted.. 97k. Just ain't worth it at that price. That first pic though does look like a pretty decent setup.