What is the best starter boat?

Question

if i'm just in the market. what should i be looking for?

i don't need anything too fancy. money is a factor.

thanks.

Answer 1

Depends what kind of boat you want. Narrow boat on the canals? Sailing boat? Cruiser? Yacht? Power Boat? Please be specific.

Answer 2

Get a boat with an outboard motor.  Inboard outboard out-drives are a mess of trouble to work on.  

When you  check out a boat try to look at the wood under the fiberglass because it could be rotten and wet wood makes the boat very heavy.

Answer 3

i wood buy a nice boat with a bad engine then by new engine that way you get a cheep boat with a reliable mooter

Answer 4

Try renting a few times to try different boats, see if you get seasick, you may not like it.  I am a harbormaster and see so many unused boats it is terrible.  Be sure you can afford the fuel, insurance, repairs and maintenance.  The cost of the boat is usually only a beginning.  You may be a pontoon person, or a sailboat person(god forbid), or you may quickly realize you want to cruise off to unseen islands.  Start slow,  be honest with yourself and do not let a salesman talk you into something you are not ready for or interested in.

Answer 5

I went through something similar just recently. I found a boat with a motor that didn't run for a few hundred bucks, I also found a boat that ran but the interior was shot for $1000. I looked around some more and found a 15 1/2 tri hull (not as smooth riding) with a older 80 hp merc on it. works for fishing also big enough to pull a tube/wakeboarder. Won't break any speed records but the price was right. You pretty much have to just keep searching eventually you will find something that will fit your budget. The thing I kept in mind is you can get the body of a boat for CHEAP its the motors that cost the $$$$.  And repairs also aren't cheap. So if money is a factor to you I definately advise getting a boat with a motor that runs and drives even if you have to sacrafice some on the size boat you get. Then keep in mind while you are looking what you want to use it for. (stricly fishing; fishing and pulling people; just cruising, etc. and where rivers, lakes, etc) then you will have a better idea of what kind engine size you are gonna need for what you want to do.

Answer 6

Larson boats

Answer 7

If you buy a cheap boat and put a new motor in it that would be the wrong decision on your part.

Think about it......you are investing a bunch of money in a boat that isn't worth as much as you put into it.  Stupid.......

I'd look for a nice used boat that is about 4-5 years old.  Then you can see if that style will work for you.  A lot of people start off with a nice "starter boat" but then they find what they really need.  So, once again if you buy a used boat that is 4-5 years old if you don't like it you can sell it for about what you have into it.

Don't go as far as 10 years old.  You're new to this and at that time you will have to invest money into the boat (bellows, gimbal bearings, u-joints, etc)  At ten years is when those items need to be replaced.

Good boat names:

Four Winns

Glastron

Larson

Chapparal

Crownline

Good luck

***I've been in the industry for a long time and this is good solid advise

Answer 8

You will find many used boats.  Always have a qualified tech thoroughly inspect before purchasing if you find one you like.  The year of the boat is last two digits of VIN.  If the VIN has been removed "walk away".

Go to a local lake and locate a marina or storage used by boat owners.  Inquire on used boats being sold.  Look at "Boat Trader" magazine, local newspaper, etc.

Boating is great fun, Good Luck.

Answer 9

Answer some basic questions first:  What type of water will I use it on most?  Big lake, small lake, river, etc.  How will I use it?  Skiing, fishing, cruising, etc.  How many people?   Where will I store it?  How will I tow it?  Then what material: glass, aluminum, etc.  Newer 4 strokes are much easier on gas but cost more initially.  How much time will you actually use it.  I bought a boat 10 years ago and have about 20 hours on it and live 4 miles from a huge lake (90 miles end-to-end) so I know plans don't always work out.  As for age, my boat is a '77 and the motor is a 1985 but both are in excellent shape so age is not always a factor.  It gets about 4 MPG at 3/4 throttle so figure that into your equation.  Good luck and enjoy it more than I get to enjoy mine!!

Answer 10

What are you primarily going to be doing with it.

Fishing?

Skiing?

Cruising?

And how many people will be on board with you?

Without knowing anything about how you use it, or where you will use it, here is my recommendation: start looking for a boat somewhere between 16 and 19 feet, v-type hull, this is a good manageable size for a beginning captain, as long as you home water is agreeable. Stay with a low-hour, good-running, outboard as your first engine. This doesn't mean rule out the I/O, but there are fewer headaches with the O/B. Grab a friend who knows something about boats, and take them to lunch or dinner. Try and scam a ride or two on the water, and learn about the different types of boats out there. Pick the captains' brain, and they may even help in the search. Best of luck, and welcome to boating.