New to Boating

[BMAB]

Originally Posted by jrc

Plenty of used cruisers around. Unless cash is really tight, I would go a little bigger, maybe 28'. I started my overnighting with a 30' and it was a good fit for two of us. With four it would start to get crowded. A 24' seems like it would be tight.

Then again model year is important, older boats seem to have more space for the same size. Later models tend to cheat a little, counting swim platforms as length, for example.

Thanks. I was thinking for our first boat a 28'-30' boat would be too big, but I have also heard you dont want anything smaller than 24' on the lake as it can get rough. I will make sure we get inside a few to make sure there is enough room. For the money we can spend it may be on the smaller side, but we can deal if it means we have something in the water!
Thanks for the help.

[polarisman14]

Originally Posted by BMAB

Thanks. I was thinking for our first boat a 28'-30' boat would be too big, but I have also heard you dont want anything smaller than 24' on the lake as it can get rough. I will make sure we get inside a few to make sure there is enough room. For the money we can spend it may be on the smaller side, but we can deal if it means we have something in the water!
Thanks for the help.

Even with a 24' plus boat you can still get yourself into some hairy situations if it's windy and you are crossing the broads. 28-30 is definitely a manageable size especially if you are planning on staying overnight. If you just need a day boat (bowrider), in my opinion even a 19' boat is just fine. You just have to be a little more aware of your surroundings.

[BMAB]

Originally Posted by polarisman14

Even with a 24' plus boat you can still get yourself into some hairy situations if it's windy and you are crossing the broads. 28-30 is definitely a manageable size especially if you are planning on staying overnight. If you just need a day boat (bowrider), in my opinion even a 19' boat is just fine. You just have to be a little more aware of your surroundings.

Thanks for the insight!

[jrc]

There are big weekend overnight communities all over the lake. Seems like more are on the west side, probably due to ease of access from RT93. Do some searching on this board about the pros and cons of each.

There are a few true rental properties left, but many are now condo. You can either buy a slip or rent one from an owners. Most will have electrical hookups cable TV and water at each slip. With cell phones I don't think people bother with phone lines on the slip anymore.

Most will have a club house and showers. Some are co-located with boat dealers and use the dealer bathrooms. Quality and cleanliness vary greatly.

We usually launch the week after ice-out, this year that may be the Fourth of July . After that you're welcome to stop by and see what it's like. Send a PM.