Opinions on buying first boat for family weekend use? – (Sydney NSW Australia)?

Question

(SORRY FOR THE REPOST)

I want to buy a weekender boat for family use around sydney.

Its a first boat, dont want it for fishing and ski etc. Looking to keep it on trailer.

I've looked at bayliner, quintrex and sea ray.

Want to buy new and around $35k.

At the moment I prefer a cuddy (somewhere to shelter kids if need be) but it seems that bowriders are better priced and appointed by comparison.

I have had different sales people tell me many different opinions as to fiberglass or aluminum weight and strength etc.

Welcome comments ( I sound green I know)

Answer 1

I love Haines.

Answer 2

rent on a bit first, maybe a few times. lotsa times the boats get bought, used a few times, then they sit and rot - like my 2 brothers' boats.

:(

ymmf

Answer 3

if you prefer a cuddy to a openbow I wouldn't recommend getting one less than 20ft. And even with a 20 you'll get 2foot itess..for buzzing round the bay a openbow will afford you more space for the kiddies but no  privacy if ma needs to take a whizz.....I have seen a few openbow models that do have a portapottie......Might want to check one out. A smaller boat will beat you to death in chop.the deeper  the boat the better for ride. The trade off is speed. A Four Winns Liberator or a Sea Ray Pachanga might be a good place to start. For openbow Sea Ray Montego or Seville or Four Winns Horizon

Answer 4

it's advice use it or not I have a boat because I can afford one. have had a few the one I settled for and the kids stay with me even in fowel weather a nice used sail boat with cabin paid around 32,000 the owner was more than happy to sail with me 2-5 times untill I got the hang of it and believe it or not he and his wife still come out with us 2-3 times a year just couldn't afford to keep it. we have been to mexico in it.

Answer 5

If you are going to use in the ocean, go fiberglass,  it being your first boat, consider a "starter" boat, or spend a month or 2 with someone who can teach you safe boating & how to watch the weather. It is discouraging when you buy a new boat that is too large for you to learn on, scratch  it all up trying to dock & put back on trailer. Even worse is to buy a very used starter boat that you have a lot of trouble with it ! What I would do is to buy a 18' bow rider or closed bow, nice late model used one, have motor checked,  and learn boating with it. Learn how to load on a trailer & dock, Then move on up from there. If you go to a boat store & tell them I have $35K to spend, whatch out !! Also remember, some boats are heavy, I have a 22' fiberglass offshore boat, it takes a Ford F250 to pull it. We do pull it 300 miles to the ocean,,the total weight is about 5000 lbs.

by the way, NSW ? New South Wales ? I have some greek relatives that live there

Answer 6

First - definitely rent a boat first a few times.  Then I suggest buying a USED boat first.  As a first time boat owner - YOU ARE GONNA MESS UP - and I am sure you would be happier seeing a used boat get scratched, damaged, etc - then your brand new boat.  I sold boats for 10 years and would often have someone buy a cheap used boat for a season or even only a few months, they get there learning done on that and then the next year they buy something new...