Anyone here have a boat ? :unsure:

I'm about to purchase my first boat, a cruising/fishing 30 footer with twin engines (Sea Ray Amberjack 290 for those of you who familiar...); any recommendations? words of wisdom from the elder and wise? :whistle:

:thumbsup:


Oh yea... I know it's an 'off topic', but you'll excuse me... o:)

Amberjack is a great boat and is styled more for fishing but you also can cruise in it, I have a Formula 31PC. You can find a lot of Searay owners with a lot of experience on:
http://www.searayowners.com/forum/search_form.asp?FID=0

Give this one a look:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=7444

There is a saying about owning a boat: "Two happiest days in a man's life, the day he buys the boat and the day he sells the boat..." :whistle:

I was about to say the same thing. Boats are much more maintenance than most people realize. Just wait till the head backs up for the first time. Much for fun to go out for the day on some one else's boat.

We know some people who have a 2.5million pound sunseeker. Its about 75 foot and has a sports flybridge.

They invited us over for the weekend and we went out in it for my 21st birthday. The thing is huge. They employ people to take care of it and we had a spanish guy who stayed onboard at all times with us to make us breakfast and the such...

We 'cruised' from one port to another on the other side of the island (majorca).

About an hour and a bit if that of actually being on the move.

Pulling into a harbour where you are on a boat 100x the size of everything else with loads of people watching and then getting on a dingy and having 'a little man' take you ashore is one of the most poncy yet greatest things ive ever experienced.

The sheer 'howdya like dem apples' show offness that can be achieved cant be explained.

However when we sailed back and he filled it back up it cost him 2 grand....


2,000 pounds...apparently our brief 2 hour trip had cost around 700 quid to do...

but then it had two engines that i believe were over 1000hp...



im fairly sure that to own a boat of any description requires vast amounts of cash to both maintain and run the damn thing. I suggest you convince a mate to buy it and then convince him to take him with you on it everywhere.

Sorry can't be much help on fishing boats. I own a tournament ski\wakeboard boat (2001 Malibu). SeaRay does have a good reputation for build quality.

Let me give you a few suggestions from my experience on boat ownership in general. Look at purchasing a used boat for your first boat purchase. Driving a boat requires new skills. Mistakes in launching, approaching\leaving the dock in various conditions can lead to expensive gel coat repairs. It is ineviable that you will make mistakes that scratch up the hull. Better to learn these on a used boat than mess up a brand new one. You may find that owning a boat is not what you thought it would be as well. Less of a depreciation loss when purchasing a used boat. Selling it will not be as big a disappointment. You may also find that the "perfect" boat is not the one you chose. Have fun for a year or two with the used one. Look around at what you like and dislike after using it. If you are hooked then purchase a new boat with all the right stuff you find important. Also I highly recommend you take a boating and seamanship course from the Coast Guard.

Another saying for boat owners. "A boat is a big hull in the water you through money into". Beware that purchasing the boat is only the beginning. You will find many items and accessories are wanted or required.

Good Luck.

wnfield is right on. i've been in boating since 1960 and have learned the meeting of boat= bring another thousand.

older sea rays were good heavy boats the newer ones are an offshoot of bayliner boat and not that great. bu the used boat first.

Thank you guys for your suggestions!

And yes, I do intend to buy a used / 2002 SeaRay rather than buying it New at over twice the price.

In 2 weeks i'm supposed to start a USCG BSS/9 course, I know the sea is a dangerous place and wouldn't go off shore without it.

I too used to have a Formula, but sold it and took up motorcycling--a lot less "crew" and gas....lol

But I heartilly endorse the USCG course, just as I endorse the Motorcycle MSF course. You can never learn too much about what's out there.

Oh, and if I were going to buy an ocean-going open runabout, I'd look for a Bertram Moppie.

http://www.bertram31.com/history.htm

Super boat. Don't think they are made anymore, but used ones (at least into the 90s) still bring big money.

Cheers,
Ray Hull