First Boat Help/Don't Hurt Me
 

Hi!
First off, sorry this is so long--my question is below, if you'd like to skip through the background.
I have searched and read and searched but haven't been able to come up with my answer, so: Hello! I'm new to this forum and to boating. My wife and I were able to acquire a small camp on Hanson Cove with lake access and, though I thought I could wait a few years to get on the water, it's just too tempting.
That being said, I am looking for advice on purchasing our first boat. We have two small children, 2 and 4-years-old and a limit of 20' for where it'll be kept. At first, we were set on a pontoon, which looks like it'd be relaxing, but then we started looking at bowriders because they look sexy and we could scoot around a bit more. And THEN we saw a couple deck boats that we think would be a great compromise (Hurricane SunDeck Sport, etc.).
But then I found some threads here about choppy waters, boat size, and deck vs. bowrider (cutting vs. slapping, etc.).

SO: If I plan on mostly scooting around the Hanson Cove area and, probably at most over to Moultonborough Bay (as opposed to the broads), would a 19-20 foot deck boat be a good choice?

Any other suggestions or things I should be considering are very welcome. Thanks!

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thinkxingu, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.

I'm sure you will get some great responses to your question from the members and you be motoring real quickly. :)

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IMO, if you're limited to 20' you probably don't have to worry about which boat rides "best", they're all going to be a little bumpy when the lake is busy. A deck boat would probably give you maximum usability/versatility for the size, so I think you're on the right track.

Don't give up on the pontoon boat yet. The later models are quicker than you would think. Of course you should do your own homework but I bet a 20 foot toon with a 115 HP engine would do 35 MPH. Also, a 20 foot pontoon can handle rough conditions better than any 20 foot deck boat or bow rider. All this being said don't get me wrong, I love all boats. We were members of the American Boat Club last year and used both bowriders and toons alot. PM me if you want any further details on my experiences with both.

My family has had a place near Hanson Cove since the 1930's. A 20 ft. boat would be fine in that area, but I think over time you will want to travel out to the big part of the lake. A 24-26 ft. . Tritoon would be great in the broads ( we have one ). Is it possible to get a boat slip that would hold more than a 20 ft. boat?

A 20 ft tritoon would handle any conditions on the lake. Go check out Manitou which is now sold at Fays. Good luck and enjoy the lake!

I explored Winnipesaukee for 10 years on an 18' bowrider. Sure, there were choppy days or times. Still not an issue.

Don't let a bit of a rough ride here and there alter your decisions. Enjoy the lake.

I think a 20 foot bowrider or deck boat would be ideal for the Hanson Cove end of the lake. You can easily explore a huge amount of the lake on windy/busy days without exposing the boat to big waves/wakes. A fast pontoon would also be excellent, but I imagine it would cost substantially more than a fiberglass boat the same size/performance. I'd aim for a well-cared-for, high quality used boat. My preference would be a outboard powered dual console boat, but they are probably not on your radar...

If you do opt for fiberglass, and plan to keep the boat on the water, look for light colored (white is best) gel coat, a fully fiberglass-lined cockpit, and a full snap-on canvas cockpit cover that covers the windshield. The sun is the enemy.

While a 20 foot tritoon will likely get you home in bad weather, I think "handle any conditions" may be a stretch (just my opinion)

To the OP, any boat that is noted aboive will suit your needs on the Moultonborough part of the lake as long as you note conditions (most tough conditions are caused by boat traffic). Enjoy the lake!!

We've had a couple "deck boats" now... a 22' Chaparral Sunesta and a 24' SeaRay Sundeck. Both handle the lake pretty well. The extra space up front is great for kids and a lot of fun if you get the bow filler cushions. I'm not sure how much more the space shrinks in the 20' versions of these.

Our neighbor just got a new boat and I think their old (actually fairly new), SeaRay is over at Goodhue and Hawkins. It's around 20', but I'm not sure if it's the SunDeck model.

OK, so it sounds like for what we plan on doing (at least in the next couple years, until the chillens is older) would work. I'll keep my eye out for a newer used tritoon or deck boat, keeping safety in mind (I don't think "sexy" was the right word, but it seems y'all got my point).

I may end up posting what I find for feedback at some point--thanks, all!

1st don't ever be bashful about asking questions, everyone here loves this lakes and wants to see people enjoy it.

As for boat size 18' to 20' boat regardless of type is going to get you quite a bit of enjoyment on the lake. Some will argue that at that size it is just not big enough. Well that is where they are wrong, I myself have been on the lake for over 25 years, and have never owned a boat bigger then 18'.... There are certainly days where I will not go out, but then again on most of those days I wouldn't go out even if I had a 24' boat.

Now on to types of boats, for a first boat I would recommend going with a bow Rider or closed bow boat. I believe from a control and an ease to learn stand point the will be the easiest to learn with. Not to mention the fact that you can find them all over the place used. The next consideration is free board, not all 18' bow riders are equal. Some are deeper then others. Then you need to look at the width of the boats. Once again this is not standard, some boats are wider then others, giving the short boat, a better more stable feeling.

Talk with neighbors, friends, and people on this forum, go out for a few rides in others boats, or even take some test rides on potential boats from some of the dealers. You will notice differences as your try different makes and models. Eventually one will feel right.

My big advice is to take your time and don't rush your decision on what to buy.

Last, if your looking for someone to talk to, to get more information PM me, I am always glad to get new people involved in boating.

Ll, you mention test rides, which sounds like a great idea, but I hate to waste dealers' times, especially during the season. We're close to a couple, so maybe I'll check in with them and start to form relationships.

I think you made a good choice thinkxingu. The Tritoon floatation is awesome. Over the many years that I boated here and was out in the Broads during high winds and stormy weather, I never had an issue in a 19' Galaxy Bow rider, so you should be fine.
And, come'on back here and let us know how you like it...

Terry
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We enjoyed virtually every corner of the lake in our 19'cuddy. It was a pretty deep V 1991 Sea Pro. We now have a 24' Four Winns bowrider and the 19' was drier and smoother in the rough.

Not all boats are designed the same way and size is only one factor.

4Fun- this point is missed a lot when it comes to boats. Hull length, while important, is second to hull type (I like deep Vs with more deadrise). When boat shopping this year, the ride on Winni was foremost in my mind!

We have a 214 Funship - FourWinns Deck boat. We have two kids (6 and 7) and it's great for our friends and family. We've had 7 kids on the boat before, lots of room up front for them, especially with the bow cushions in and they all love riding up front. I think they are great family boats and it's served us well, besides a minor incident here or there, but not the boats fault ;)

We looked at Hurricane boats as well, they are a bit flatter then the FourWinns, SeaRay, Chapparal deck boats and people we know who have them on Winni say you get a lot more splash over the bow on the Hurricanes...just something to note.

As for the deckboat on the big lake, we live on the Broads and sure it can be a bit rough sometimes but on days when it's still a little choppy we go out and it's just a little slower and bumpier, the kids certainly don't mind. But even with a bowrider, anything under 24 feet will still feel bumpy on the choppier days. If it's really windy and choppy we just don't go out and wait for the next nice day.

Also after some time you will see that the lake has some general patterns to it that you can work your boating time around. We have found that going out early or later and avoiding the middle of the day rides is great. Some days we save our boating time for after 4:00 / 5:00. The lake is generally calmer with the wind in the early evening, it's still nice and sunny and warm during the summer at this time and the boat traffic is significantly lower.

Either way good luck with your boat shopping and even before you get a boat I would get a map and start studying it...:coolsm:

Hi again! In my searching for boats, tritoons seem hard to find. Can someone help me with a quick list of manufacturers who make 20 tritoons?

We love our Manitou tritoon with Evenrude e-tec engine. Fay's now has the franchise.

boat
 

We worked with Kory, Paugus Bay Marina, who spent so much time educating us on boats, not just trying to sell us one. We had a 16 foot and a 20 foot Four Winns that we loved, and they were great for beginner boats and when the kids were small. Kory educated us about the deadrise and how important that is when handling rough water. We purchased a 23ft Crownline in 2003 and are extremely happy with it still! When we are docked at public places, people still comment about how "beefy" the boat looks, it is very deep and handles all the weather fine. It took us about a year to test drive and look at boats but it was well worth it since we still love our choice!!! Good luck :-)

http://i44.tinypic.com/1499wms.gif thinkxingu , I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.

I'm sure you will get many answers to your request.:)

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I got boat fever quickly too. We ended up with an 18' bowrider. If I'd waited another year I would have chosen a tritoon. We have 4 kids so the passenger limit of 7 on our boat is limiting. Rough water is... Rough. I have to move the kids to the aft for fear of them flying out in the bow. Busy weekends on the lake involve a lot of avoiding wake for me.

We love our boat but I can see us trading in some day.

The tritoons are out selling fiberglass boats over the last few years and that tend will most likely continue. Every marina now has a tritoon or pontoon make that they offer because that is where the market is heading. Fay's who are know for great service and have great expertise on sailboats brought on the Manitou line of pontoon/tritoon boats. I could list the marinas and what pontoons they carry but it is best to contact each marina. I also could give you the top 5 pontoon manufactures in this area. If you want to learn more just give me a Private Message.

We have tritoon Harris. We purchased it at Melvin Marina. We absolutely love it. Matt ( the owner ) will answer any question you have.

I would start with Channel Marine at the Wiers. Ask for Jay. Tell him that Dan W. sent you over. You should get a good price from Jay. They sell the top of the line Bennington's

Then go to Winnisquam Marine. Ask for Ryan. Tell him I sent you. Ryan owns the marina with his Dad. They sell the Premier. Another quality boat.

Then go to Melvin Village Marina. Go there second after Channel. Ask for Chris or Matt. Same deal tell them I sent you. They sell a very good tritoon in Harris.

Then go to Winnisquam.

After that go to Meredith Marine. Ask for Chris he is sales manager. Same deal. I know Chris. They sell Aqua Patio and SAn Pan

Then go to Fay's ask for Paul Johnston. Same deal. Paul is a good friend of mine. They sell Manitu

That should keep you busy for now. Let me know how you make out and if I can help further.

Oh and I forgot Irwin. How could I forget my friend Jason. See Jason Wylie he is a good friend of mine. They sell Birkshire. Call Jason first. His cell phone is 603-998-0308.

This is a great start, thanks! Which of these brands offers a "value" tritoon? As mentioned, used tritoons in the 18-20 foot range seem hard to come by.

In my opinion, if your looking for a "value" tri-toon, check out either Goodhue and Hawkins "Tahoe" line or Winnisquam Marines "Palm Bay" line. Palm bay is made by Premier just not as plush and without all the bells and whistles. Both are very nice boats.

Good luck in your search!

Dan

OK, I gotta ask because the sheer simplicity and pricing of Bass Pro Shops' Sun Tracker keeps coming up. They have an 18 DLX Party Barge for under $17K new with a 50HP motor. Any thoughts?

I don't know what you want for speed but an 18' Sun Tracker with a 50HP would be pretty slow. With a boat with 4-5 people on board I'd bet you'll be lucky to hit the teens. So even if you're not a speed baron that's ok, neither am I but being on a day boat there will be times you need to beat the weather or just get out of a tough/tight situation.

Just an update Goodhue Hawkins doesn't sell pontoon boats any longer. Steve told me that he is investing in the Hacker Craft and he is out of the tin boat business.

Palm Bay is a good entry level boat. Good suggestion.

You get what you pay for
 

Boats like the Sun Tracker tend to have less than premium materials, such as thinner vinyl and less stiffness in the deck structure. Also check the gauge thickness and diameters on the pontoons themselves. I did compare them to the premium brands a few years ago and there was quite a difference if you know what your looking for. But, if you don't plan to keep it more than a few years, they're a great buy.

OK, thanks. I figured as much, but, like I said, it's just so easy. Most marinas don't have their prices on the web, so I can't really even shop to get an idea of price.

BTW, what are the best used boat finder options? Craigslist is Meh.

I found mine on boattrader.com. If you are willing to travel, there are some good deals outside of New England. I bought mine in Indianapolis and sold my old boat to a guy from Chicago.

Continuing to shop, but something came up I hadn't thought much about: towing. I've got a Jeep Wrangler that is rated for 3500 pounds. Which is lightest: bowriders, deck boats, or pontoons?

Pontoon boats will be the lightest... I wouldn't want to tow anything serious in a jeep wrangler. Rated towing capacity is typically for pulling something on perfectly flat land in nominal temps.

A 20-ish bow rider will easily go 3000 pounds

Pontoons will most likely be the lightest but usually has more drag. You'll know it's there on the highway.

If you have a spot on the lake for the boat all summer then you don't necessarily need to tow--it depends on what you plan to do for winter storage. A trailer could add $2K to the price and that money might be better spent on the boat itself.

I love all boats, there's no wrong hull style, they all have pluses and minuses. That said, I vote +1 for a pontoon. If your budget allows, by all means go for the tri-toon! But if cost is an object, a 20' gently used two-toon with min. 75 hp motor would be a good first boat choice, IMHO. Docking will require some learning but they are stable & tough & easy to maintain.

Most marinas do post the prices of their used inventory. You can rent a boat for a few hours to try different styles, since you are new to boating it would be a worthwhile investment to see what you and the family are comfortable with before buying. You could also attend marina in-water demo days, but they are mostly held in spring.

Happy shopping!

Young Children Boating
 

One other thing to think about is the age of your children. I have been boating for almost 50 years. When we bought a place on the lake about 10 years ago, my thought was to go with a bow rider but our grandson was an infant and my wife didn't feel comfortable with a bow rider but wanted to get a cuddy cabin. We bought a 22ft Chaparral from Fays and am glad we did. When you get out on the lake, children of the ages you mentioned will quickly fall asleep with the motion of the waves/wakes and sound of the engine. It was so much easier to just put them in the cabin with their life jackets on. It also gets them out of the sun, although having the bimini up helps. The grandsons are now 10 and 7 but still like to use the cabin for play and also their private get-away.

I bought new and went to the New England Boat Show where Chaparral was being shown by Russo Marine in Medford. I then went to Fays and they beat the "special" boat show price by a substantial amount for the identical boat.