Looking to buy my first boat...need suggestions!

[SilverGriz]

I have never owned a boat, but would like to get one for the family. I want to stay below $10,000. Looking for at least a 20 foot open bow.

What year can I expect for that kind of money? Any brands that I should avoid? Motor size for that size of boat? All suggestions welcomed!

 

[justadude]

You should be able to find a nice set up for 7-8 K. look for 98 up. Do lots of research and remember the the 2 happiest days of a boat owner are when you buy it and when you sell it. Trust me, it's true.
Have fun!!

 

[xsummitx]

I have never owned a boat, but would like to get one for the family. I want to stay below $10,000. Looking for at least a 20 foot open bow.

What year can I expect for that kind of money? Any brands that I should avoid? Motor size for that size of boat? All suggestions welcomed!

first things first...make sure it floats

seriously though what are you going to be doing in it ,fishing,skiing,tubing,cruising.bbqing...that has alot to do with what you need.

 

[SilverGriz]

Little bit of everything...cruising, tubing, maybe throw a pole in every now and then. Mostly just looking to get my wife and kids out on the water in the summer. We have so many lakes close to our house I think it would be good times.

 

[ARTIC CAT BUM]

Boat's

I have a 98 19' Four Winns Ski boat with trailer, Bought it brand New in 98 and it is 2008 and I have 69 hours on the boat.Would like to sell if your a Buyer, Like the one quote says a boaters happiest days are when you buy the boat and when you sell the boat..Loaded all you have to do is put gas in it, Tubes, skis, Ropes, Wakeboard, U can still smell the leather when you open the Cover off the boat...210 vortec V-6 great on fuel but great for pulling a tube or skier..White and Blue and in GREAT condition. The boat is sitting in Storage in Missoula only three hours from U..$9000.00

 

[SilverGriz]

Send me some pictures Artic Cat Bum and I will take a look. Thanks, Andy anthor@roadrunner.com

 

[sledhead ut]

That sounds like a good deal Griz. I was going to suggest looking on ksl.com classifieds. I looked last week and there were 2500 boats for sale. They must have wiped it clean a few minutes ago cuz there's only 14 boats on there now. Never seen them do that before.

Like anything else good maintenance and gentle use are key. I wouldn't buy anything that you can't get serviced locally. You have the right idea for what you're doing. Only reason we bought a boat is cuz the whole family can do it together.
Good Luck

Here's ours at Lake Powell

 

[Deadsled]

I bought a '86 Searay 2680 Sundancer 3 years ago and love it. It's a fully contained camper that floats and fishes. 2 bedroom 1 bath with a full galley. This boat has changed the way I look at summertime. Absolutley love it. I payed 11k for it with 500 hours on it. Runs like a dream.

 

[hilpulr]

Boats

Sounds like Arctic Cat Bums boat is a really nice boat for a good price. Make sure you buy at least a V6. I had a 4 cylinder and a V6 and would never go back to a 4. Just my .02

 

[Gone Sleddin]

B=bring
O=out
A=another
T=thousand

helps the summer go by though

 

[Skinner]

Arctic bums deal sound pretty good. I have a 21 foot Four Winns Horizon that I love. If I buy another boat it will be a Four Winns. It’s a 01 and it still looks brand new. They know how to build boats.

 

[nebraskarmk]

arctic bums deal sounds good it has low hours. I put over 60 hours on our tige wakeboard boat this year.

 

[Ultra]

I have a 98 19' Four Winns Ski boat with trailer, Bought it brand New in 98 and it is 2008 and I have 69 hours on the boat.Would like to sell if your a Buyer, Like the one quote says a boaters happiest days are when you buy the boat and when you sell the boat..Loaded all you have to do is put gas in it, Tubes, skis, Ropes, Wakeboard, U can still smell the leather when you open the Cover off the boat...210 vortec V-6 great on fuel but great for pulling a tube or skier..White and Blue and in GREAT condition. The boat is sitting in Storage in Missoula only three hours from U..$9000.00

Sounds like a good deal, Post some pics if you have some and we will help him decide. The 210 vortec V6 sounds like a 4.3gm, which makes a great boat motor in a 19'

 

[SilverGriz]

Thanks for the replies. Any chance of getting some pictures Artic Bum??

 

[SilverGriz]

Anyone else have the type of boat that I'm looking for that they are willing to part with? Must be fairly close....the Silverado loves to drink the juice!

 

[yammadog]

B=bring
O=out
A=another
T=thousand

helps the summer go by though

Beat me to it.......

 

[triple]

I bought a mid 90's Chaparral 1800SL with a 3.0L for 5 grand US this summer. It pulls the kids around all day on a tube, pulled me around on my slalom ski and board and we're going fishing in a week with it. Make sure you get as many covers as you can. WE got a travel cover, storage cover, full stand up cover and a dust cover. Also came with a porta-potti, 2 anchors, skis, knee board and life jackets. Had a great summer on the boat.

 

[Ultra]

05 fourwinns

Anyone else have the type of boat that I'm looking for that they are willing to part with? Must be fairly close....the Silverado loves to drink the juice!

I do have an 05 fourwinns horizon 180 with a 5.7 350gm and a volvo outdrive. Has about 40 hours on it. Looking to be about $18k. Was kicking around selling it. I am in Kalispell, but sounds like thats more then you want to spend. Though I would throw it out.

 

[SilverGriz]

Sounds like a nice boat Ultra but I don't want to spend that much on my first boat.

 

[Ultra]

Don't blame you. Its a lot of money to have into something you use 20 hours or less a year. Thats why I am kicking around stepping down a little even though it will definitely piss off the wife.
The 98 sounds nice, worth checking into.