Small learning boat suggestions

W

willhave1day

New member
My wife and I have been talking alot lately about putting off a cd25 purchase for a couple years and getting something small, used, in the $5,000 range. We came out of the clouds and realized that, although we could afford the payments on a C-Dory, it would set back our other plans for house remodels and early retirement.

On top of this I realized that she has only been on a boat once in her life which was last year skiing with my brother, and has none of the knowledge I take for granted from sailing and years of boating all over California. I think I realized this when she asked "so how do you stop??" LOL. She can learn the basics of boating (I could use a refresher) such as driving, docking etc; and we would have a small expendable boat that would not be too big a deal if we bottom out somewhere on a lake (obviously that's not good..but you get the idea). Anyway, the idea is it's lots easier to learn the basics when the worst case failure leaves you swimming in a warm lake to shore, or ding the gelcoat on an inexpensive boat.

So we decided we would really like a bow rider boat for when the friends come, outboard motor, less than 4.000lbs wet on a trailer and in the $5k-10k range to enjoy when we go camping at Chelan and Lake Wenatchee. We *will not* consder any form of a Bayliner. Many of you have been owners of many different boats; some of you are dealers so we thought "let's ask those guys! They know everything!" We are all ears on suggestions. In a couple years the CD25 may compliment - or replace it. But we figure by then we'll be tired of the lakes anyway.

Used boats we've seen that fit the bill:
Cobalt 19 Bowrider
SeaSwirl 178 Spyder
Concord 19'
Wellcraft 170
4 Winns runabout 175
Searay Seville
Invader 17' or 19'

All opinions on this angle are welcome!
Matt and Iva
 
If you are willing to spend up to $10,000 why don't you look into a used 16 angler or cruiser. it is a good stepping stone to the 25 and the resale would be better when you decide to move up the chain of C-Dorys
 
Yes absolutely. We tossed that idea around quite a bit, but if we are on a lake, we'd like to have 4 or 5 friends with us, and would like easy access for everyone to go swimming and get back in the boat. What we may end up with is a boat for hot summer lake fun; and a 25 in the Everett marina when we're tired of the hot; and for extended winter fun. Most of the boats I've listed are around $5,000 sale price. $10k is tops in our search, but bottoms for any CD... :sad
 
So much depends on the condition of the boat--and I don't mean the upholustry. I think we get spoiled with the C Dories, because major defects are so rare (and what keeps the values up).

But all of the boats you mentioned can have dry rot in the subflooring, deck, or stringers. Also I am even more partial to outboard motors; I had owned a I/O about 20 years ago--swore I would never own another one--but A very nice Rinker 270 came along at the right price and I was seduced. This affirmed I really don't like I/O's....The modern outboards are very reliable engines. There is more room in the boat. They can be lifted completely out of the water, they can be run when in a partially tilted up position safely. They are easy to winterize --the list goes on.

I understand why you want an open boat/bow rider and think that would fit your boating venue better than a 16 C Dory.

Look carefully at the stringers, look for cutouts where limber holes are, and soft wood. Look at bulkheads, for rot and tabbing pulling away. Jump up and down, plus sound out all floors and decks. Have the engine gone over by a mechanic. Consider what the costs of any maintance or upgrades will be when you make your offer.
 
The First C T 41 which was imported into the US was cored with newspaper. The owner went to put in a thru hull, and found that there was little if any glass when he used the hole saw. Needless to say, that hull was destroyed and he got a new boat. I suspect that the Asians who built the boat were very used to working with Paper mache--and didn't see much advantage to this new cloth--combined with the polyester resin, it looked "OK"...
 
Thanks, good advice. I plan to visit all of the puget sound boat dealers I can that would have something used just to see what there is. It's actually hard to find anything other than a bayliner it seems. My outboard preference just comes from the fact I've never been stranded by one in my life. Even ancient ones. The "just rebuilt this" or "replaced that" i/o boats that left us stranded were memorable. And they handle differently.

Does anyone know of any good used boat review websites? I would like to get information about a particular boat outside of a salesman or previous owner.
 
I would strongly consider the "Boat Trader" & Boat World, as well as local free rags. I don't see much advantage from buying a boat from a dealer. I would much more prefer buying from a private party. Don't trust a dealer to find or tell you about problems in a boat. I get up your way at least once a year and am amazed by the number of good small boats for sale.

I am not sure why you are discounting the Bayliner--but they have a support group: http://pub12.ezboard.com/bbocweb nearly (no one is as good as "C Brats") as good. Bayliner is the lower end of the boat chain, but they build some decent boats and the parent company builds many other "high end" boats. There is no truth as to them falling apart (Ok there was one hull which did years ago, and it was an acknowledged manufacturing defect--which can happen in any boat). The fabric on the upholustry is not quite as good as Sea Ray, but Sea Ray has its own problems--and they are common to the Bay liner...

Good hunting--and have fun! Good time of the year to buy!
 
I suppose I've just heard all the bad things about bayliner (and that force motor). Something newer might interest me. I'm at the beginning stages of looking for what there is. I agree about dealers, but I'm the kind of shopper that learns everything there is about what I'm going to buy if it's over $1k, and dealers usually have a large selection on hand for comparison. It sure does seem there's alot of options if I include bayliner or maxum (or any other brunswick boat). I guess my point is I wouldn't mind spending a few more dollars on a better brand/quality boat. But yes, a private purchase will most likely be how I get one after I know what is what.

We're going down to the olympic boat deal at southcenter today just to see what there is. We're actually not thinking of buying anything until early next year. If, after looking at everything, a bayliner seems an affordable value of cost vs quality I would consider it. I just don't know enough at this point..
Again, good food for thought..this is why we ask!
 
One thing about boating--you never know it all. You never know all about any one boat even. I have been boating over 65 years and still am learning. This forum--and some others--are great places to learn. You could read forums for the next year solidly 24 hours a day, and still not have the answers as to the "best" boat. Boating is a "jump in there" and do it. For example, many people will agree that Grady White is a "high end" small boat. Yet they have a history of transom, stringer, deck, fuel tank and bulkhead problems... I owned a Grady and it was a good boat--The history didn't stop me from buying the boat, but I knew what to look for, and when the problems arose (new transom because of rot) I knew what to do....

I understand that you don't want to make a "mistake" in a boat. But boats are all compromises and each has a learning curve.
 
Thanks Bob. Again, a wealth of knowledge!

Driving to soutcenter was a waste of gas...they only had about 20 boats, most over 30'. We're thinking of heading up to dagmars to see what's there. I don't really know of any other used dealers that we can go to see a variety of things. I do know the bayliners I just saw didn't impress me with regard to the interiors or space layout, and they all were inboards.
Anyway we have months to look around.
 
For a used boat under 10k, I would consider an aluminum boat with an outboard motor. I had an outboard Smoker-Craft that I purchased used, held on to it for two seasons, and sold it for about $300 less than I paid for it. I would RUN from anything that had a sterndrive on it, regardless of what a bargain it may appear to be. Hewescraft and North River are two good northwest-built aluminum boats that appear to hold their value.

Good luck with your search,
Leo
 
Les up at E.Q. Harbor Service has some very reasonably priced Klamath aluminum boat packages. Looked at them before we got our 22. seem to be a great little boat
 
Thanks, but that's not the angle I'm looking for. I want her to get used to sitting at the chair, operating the throttle etc. She asked where the gas pedal was yesterday when looking at the soutcenter thing :smileo And we want to be able to maybe tow a tube or something with friends at a lake and swim etc.

I really had to step back and think about this. Steering, planing, navigation, trailering, docking, ...and the above is really why we are putting off the cd25 purchase as she is foreign to all of this. The recent price increases were the 2nd reason. Literally learning from the ground up for her, I know the stresses of worrying about an 80K+ boat would just clam her up. And we all know the, uh, "discussions" between loved ones that can arise in in a situation like this :wink Think me swimming after a 24' sailboat because Dad told Mom to tie it off but Mom didn't know the proper knot and figured it would do....
Come to think of it, I can barely remember all the knots I learned it's been so long.

When we decided to hold off it was after my wife's question "would you rather teach your daughter to drive a stick in your brand new Ford GT, or the Escort? Which one would your daughter be more comfortable and less stressed learning in?" Wise words, I thought, and I don't quite have the skills to single hand a CD25. I can go into something gung ho and figure it out..she is much more aprehensive and I respect that.
 
How about a PERFECT Baja 192 Islander always store under cover and on a lift; fresh water only. Vessel has 5.7 liter Mercruiser with captains call exhaust and only 176 hours. Trailer is Tennessee tandem with hydralic surge brakes. Way to much more to mention email post or something and I'll get ya the rest of the details.
Only $17,800
tks
chris
 
OK, here is another answer - a 16' Smokercraft with a 50 horse Yamaha. Nice pedestal seats, windshield, canvas, and console, a nice usable bow area, you can tow a towable toy with a kid easily (did it), great for crabbing, we LOVED this boat - until we saw our first C-Dory...

Side_view_of_Crabby_Lou_II.jpg

We bought this new in 2002 at the Tacoma Boat Show for $12,000, including the trailer, so somewhere, somebody is selling one like it for probably around $8,000 or less.

I would suggest the place to find it is NOT on Boat Trader but rather on craigslist.com. In fact I am going to take a quick check and see if one is available right now.

[On edit, here you go - $6,000 sound OK? Or maybe this one for $7,200?]

I would still really recommend getting a 16' C-Dory Angler though.
 
Well this may be more than what your looking for but it sure has been a cozy reliable and comfortable boat... and now available for $48K
-Phil [/img]
 
Interesting Pat. We have seen those online before. How many people can you fit in it? If my grandparents wanted to go out on the sound around Edmonds, would they be comfortable in the back? I get the idea that we are the only people in the PNW who don't fish or crab! LOL. When we get our 25, it'll be camping, cruising and kayaking (if I can talk her into learning on a lake that is :? ). By the way, we are IN LOVE with your boat!!!! What you have, is what we're saving for!

But yeah, good suggestions, we want something that can fit 4-6 people. The other post with the link to articles about what to look for as a first time boat owner; that was really helpful.

This is an example what we're looking for,
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/197224815.html

Inexpensive is the word. The less I spend here, the more I have for a CD25, assuming I make an "intelligent" choice.

Oh, and thanks Chris but I can't see owning a used boat with a larger motor and costs more than the truck pulling it..unless it's a C-Dory of course :mrgreen: It also has to weigh less than 4,000lbs on a trailer and I have not met a v8 boat on a dual axle that does (yet?).
 
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