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Thinking of buying a boat....

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by Tspringer, Jan 6, 2005.

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  1. Tspringer

    Tspringer F1 Veteran

    Apr 11, 2002
    6,155
    #1 Tspringer, Jan 6, 2005
    I live 1 mile from Lake Lanier here in GA. A fantastic, large and deep lake that offers amazing recreation. I grew up living on this lake, it was literally in my front yard and we had a dock and boat. I love the lake!

    I now have a 6 year old and a 2 year old. I have been thinking that getting a boat would be a fantastic way for the family to spend spring/summer/fall weekends when I am not at the track.

    So.... I have begun looking at boats.

    I dont want to spend a ton. Something under $50K. I will have to pay for a slip at a local marina, which covered and with power and water runs about $275 per month.

    I want something we can entertain on. HAve friends with kids come with us. I want something the family can sleep on, so it must sleep 4 comfortably. It needs to have A/C, a generator, fridge, stove, microwave, and ill put a TV/DVD player on it. Basically, a small family express cruiser.

    Im thinking something in the 28' to 32' range. It will clearly be used, probably 8 to 10 years old with 500 hours on it or so. I hate depreciation and I know maintenance is almost always FAR less expensive!

    These are some examples of what I am looknig at:

    http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/1/1/75674311.htm

    http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/8/2/77156682.htm

    http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/8/7/75673687.htm



    Anyone own a similar age/type boat? Opinions? Concerns? Things to watch out for? One brand better than another? Single engine or twin?

    Info appreciated.....



    Terry
     
  2. Horsefly

    Horsefly F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2002
    6,929
    #2 Horsefly, Jan 6, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Terry, here's your bargain boat right here. Only about 2 miles down the road from me. Only been sunk at the dock for about 8 or 10 years now. Unfortunately, the dock owner won't give me a green light to even TRY and save it.

    Photo number 2 was sent to me 2 days ago. An early 50s Chris Craft. Supposedly a 45 footer, but looks a little bigger to me. Currently sitting on a trailer in the owners yard, and he needs to sell. That would certainly be a classic. It is tempting me. I like those older Chris Crafts.
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  3. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 Texas Forever, Jan 6, 2005
    As an old Florida boy who grew up on the water, I say, "Don't do it."

    1. As you mention in your memoir, you grew up with a boat in the water. Please read point number 2, but if you still must buy a boat, only buy a boat if you can keep it in the water. If you have to trailer the boat, furgitaboutit.

    2. Chartering or renting is always the better deal. Before he crossed the river, my Dad owned and ran a charter boat out of Pensacola Beach. Charter fees may look expensive, but it is the cheapest boat money that you will ever spend. Screw this pride of ownership crap. Rent the damn boat, have fun, and let some esle deal with the headaches.

    Dale
     
  4. Tspringer

    Tspringer F1 Veteran

    Apr 11, 2002
    6,155
    #4 Tspringer, Jan 6, 2005
    Arlie...

    I LOVE those old Chris Crafts! Even the smaller Commander series was one heck of a class boat! The second one you posted would be an amazing boat AFTER it had been 100% renovated and restored + modernized. Of course you could easily spend $250K doing that....

    Those old classy wooden cruisers are great boats and all, but a REALLY nice one is way out of my price range and I dont want any sort of project.


    Dale....

    I know where your coming from. BOAT stands for: Break Out Another Thousand!

    But, I do believe owning makes sense. Like I said, we are 1 mile from the lake. I would not trailer it. There is a great marina about 10 minutes drive away. The have covered slips, with water+power and any other utilities you may desire. Costs about $275 per month, but the boat is then in the water, always available and your only 25 minutes from living room at home to cruising the lake anytime you want. That is how I would do it.

    I honestly think we would use the boat very often. Probably 8-10 days a month during the season and some even in winter (it was sunny and 65 here yesterday). Boat rentals for a similar size vessel run about $550 per day.



    Terry
     
  5. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 darth550, Jan 6, 2005
    Remember:

    B reak
    O ut
    A nother
    T housand

    'nuff said!

    DL
     
  6. pdiack

    pdiack Karting

    Nov 19, 2003
    239
    #6 pdiack, Jan 6, 2005
    Terry,

    I'm about 10 mins from Lake Lanier as well and have a 21' Sea Ray. No cabin, but I only do day trips. I'd highly suggest Sea Ray, MarineMax is the dealer on the lake at Bald Ridge Marina - go try some out and I think that'll help with size/options. BTW, my boat is at Habersham Marina, a dry dock facility and is something like 450 a quarter. I think they can dry dock boats up to 26' PM me if you need more input.
     
  7. Tspringer

    Tspringer F1 Veteran

    Apr 11, 2002
    6,155
    #7 Tspringer, Jan 6, 2005

    I do like Sea Ray. We had a 19' SeaRay when I was growning up, excellent boat that withstood 20 years of hard use and abuse with very little issues!

    Bald Ridge is about 5 minutes from me. We are off exit 16.

    When I was in High School, I worked at Habersham. I was one of the guys who drove the boats back and forth between the fork lift and the docks. You dont want to hear the stories about what we used to do with customers boats after hours....




    Terry
     
  8. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    #8 judge4re, Jan 6, 2005
    Terry:

    Go to the marina. Find the boat you like. Find the owner. Get to be best friends. Buy beer and gas all the time.

    You'll still come out ahead.

    Cheers,
    Erik
     
  9. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 20, 2004
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    #9 UroTrash, Jan 6, 2005
    You know what's funny?

    I bet at this VERY MOMENT on some boat forum, there are some guys trying to talk their bud out of the crazy idea of buying a Ferrari.

    :)
     
  10. Tspringer

    Tspringer F1 Veteran

    Apr 11, 2002
    6,155
    #10 Tspringer, Jan 6, 2005
    Boat forum.......

    Why didnt I think of that????




    Terry
     
  11. bobafett

    bobafett F1 Veteran

    Sep 28, 2002
    9,193
    #11 bobafett, Jan 6, 2005
    That's why they pay him the big bucks...

    --Dan
     
  12. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 jimpo1, Jan 6, 2005
    I think the 'make friends with a boat owner' is the best advice you've been given. We bought a lake house 8 years ago thinking we'd be having parties every weekend, fighting off lines of friends dying to come to the lake. Boy were we wrong. We NEVER have guests, because no one ever accepts our invitations. We're good hosts, have a nice boat, a comfortable house, and a fenced yard for the kids. We have a great time by ourselves, but we'd love to have more guests than we do.
     
  13. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #13 Spasso, Jan 6, 2005
    Boat=Hole in water to throw money into.

    Like a motor home, if you use it regularly it's worth it. If you don't use it you still pay and pay while it sits and depreciates.

    Lease/charter the first season. Then decide.
     
  14. Murph

    Murph Formula 3

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    #14 Murph, Jan 7, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Well, this being a Ferrari Forum I would recommend you check out an Italian boat!
    This old girl has provided us with quite a few memorable weekends at Catalina Island.
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  15. cmparrenzo

    cmparrenzo F1 Rookie

    Mar 3, 2002
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    #15 cmparrenzo, Jan 7, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I do love our boat more than my Ferrari's, but time is a killer, it is in Florida and I am in Kansas....

    The size boat you are looking at will be inexpensive to own and will provide you and your familty the very best of memories...

    You will forget the cost long before you lose the memories...
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  16. abarre

    abarre Formula Junior

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    #16 abarre, Jan 7, 2005
  17. richard_wallace

    richard_wallace Formula 3

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    #17 richard_wallace, Jan 7, 2005
    I also will agree that owning a boat (if you are really going to use it) is a great time for family and friends. I have a little different situation - I have a fishing boat down in florida - a 25 for open fisherman and use it for fishing with family and friends - but not the best boat for any type of entertaining. We have our own dock (cannal in Marathon) so no cost there. I will say of the 3 boats we have owned - they cost way less than most of my F-cars - to maintain - but I get to use my F-car much more.

    I say go for it - look around - make sure you do a PPI and have fun!

    Rich
     
  18. steve f

    steve f F1 World Champ

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    #18 steve f, Jan 7, 2005
    buy a formula pc cruiser they are 26 ft to 41 ft and they are a very well built boat
     
  19. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    #19 Texas Forever, Jan 7, 2005
    Grasshopper, you must look inside yourself to find the answer to this question. For example, when did you bathe last? :)
     
  20. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    #20 Texas Forever, Jan 7, 2005
    Great boat! As a kid in Florida we had sailboats, and I had a hell of a time getting into almost more trouble than the law allows. Of course, it wasn't on my nickle. :)

    In fact, I always tell people that, if you are going to move to Florida, that you must have a boat. Except for the Ocala area north, the shore side of Florida isn't very exciting, except if you are from Kansas!

    Keep the hull side down, Dale
     
  21. milstanselnino

    milstanselnino Formula Junior

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    #21 milstanselnino, Jan 7, 2005
    Sounds like Ferrari ownership.

    Older Chris Crafts are beautiful boats!
     
  22. Tspringer

    Tspringer F1 Veteran

    Apr 11, 2002
    6,155
    #22 Tspringer, Jan 7, 2005
    Chris, I LOVE that boat!!!


    I would just kill to have a MINT condition, fully restored and modernized Chris Craft Constellation. Say a 1958 to 1965 model in 58' length.

    Those are about the best looking and classiest boats going to me. The woodwork is pure art, the style is james bond classic and they just scream "good taste".

    The problem of course is finding such a boat. With wooden boats of that age, its a must that it has received a very recent and complete hull restoration. Totally restored Connies are VERY rare.... and pretty dang expensive (250K+... expensive to me!!!) Getting a project boat is pretty cheap, I have seen them for as low as $20K. But I have a hard time thinking of anything that could soak up $$$$ faster than bad Connie needing a total restoration!



    Terry
     
  23. DMC

    DMC Formula 3

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    #23 DMC, Jan 7, 2005
    I really like the old Chris-Crafts too. There was an article somewhere about a guy that rebuilt the 2nd Commander that got built. Basically stripped it down to the hull and re-built it, with a spectacular result.

    When I was a kid, we had a 25' Carver, one of the last wood hulls that they made. My dad had to have it when he saw it, it was only a few years old but beat. Teak all needed to be refinished, and needed a good cleaning up. However, it was black with a gold stripe under the deck. Unique looking boat and we had a lot of great times on it. Then gas went up from .35 cents a gallon to over a buck. They sold it and found property on a smaller inland lake. My kids are similar in age to yours, and I'd like to get a boat too, but my only option at this point would be to trailer, which I won't do. Fortunately, my parents moved to a condo on a different lake, so we can use their pontoon boat when we want to.

    As far as the ones you listed, the Maxum and Sundancer are both nice boats. I don't have anything against the Chris, but don't know much about them. For an inland lake, a single should be fine, will be easier to handle, and cost less to maintain. If you were going to do any open water (Great Lakes or ocean), then it's worth it to go to dual props.

    Good luck!
     
  24. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #24 jimpo1, Jan 7, 2005
    The day after I last saw you! :D
     
  25. Scott98

    Scott98 F1 Rookie
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    #25 Scott98, Jan 7, 2005
    My parents had a boat when I was growing up and still do. We went to the river every weekend and really enjoyed it. However, owning a boat is A LOT of work. My advice is to buy something that needs as little maintenance as possible. Keep in mind also that it takes a lot of time to clean a boat.

    There's a great saying that goes:

    The two happiest days of a boat owner's life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it.

    Nevertheless, if you really want one and know you will use it a lot, go for it!

    Scott
     
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