Which boat??

SPANKY · 02-01-2005, 08:21 AM

sounds like you've got some good advice so far. i stopped into the manchester boat show over the weekend to see some of this years boats. another thing you may want to consider on your boat purchase is the amount of freeboard it has ( the distance from the floor to the top of the gunnels ). more freeboard would make the seating deeper ( safer ) in the bow section. and as mentioned, i would definitely suggest a bimini top so you can easily have a bit of often needed shade. two more suggestions, and something my next boat will have, stern mounted controls for both the stereo and the tilt / trim, nice to have when your anchored and floating on a tube or pulling into a sandbar. neither of these are expensive options, and would make for great convenience. good luck and let us know how you make out

Belmont Resident · 02-01-2005, 10:06 AM

I also started out in the boat size your looking at. One of the most important things to consider is where you are going to use the boat. So many people voice their concerns about how rough the lake is, many of these boaters are in 19-22' boats. Even on a day with no wind the chop created by the sheer volume of boats can have even the experienced boater scratching his/her head. If you are going to be on the big lake and you have not already you might want to consider testing out the boats you have decided on.
Take a ride over to Weirs bay, it doesn't get much worse then that.
Others have mentioned extended swim platform, a must have with kids.
I've seen first hand what a prop can do to knee's, of course they do sell covers you can put over the prop. Another bonus is a walk through. Walking over a sun deck will trash the pad in 2-3 years both from boarding with shoes and from swimmers.
Whatever you decide good luck and remember the boater safety requirements for you and your children.

SHICKS · 02-01-2005, 02:26 PM

After I sold my Sea-Ray 18' I researched both of these boats. The Crownline does not have as deep of a dead rise as the forwinns. This makes is get on plane faster, but not as good in rough water, correct me if I am wrong.

The quality and resale seemed better on the crownline and the boat felt wider from the inside. I liked the gel coat and vinyl on the crownline at lot better. I think Crownline may have another 20ft boat in their lineup with a deeper v.

Steve

Dave R · 02-01-2005, 05:37 PM

Feel compelled to chime in on carbs vs. fuel injection. FI is very nice but it can be quite expensive. My advice is: shop for displacement, not HP. A bigger carb engine can cost less money than a smaller displacement FI engine and will give more satisfying performance due to increased low end torque (which is a function of displacement). Two engines with the same HP rating ought to give the same top speed but the larger of the two will get you on plane more quickly and offer better mid range punch.

Carbs get a bad rap but they really are not at all bad in a boat. FI is wonderfully suited to engines operating in extreme temperature and altitude variations, and under constantly variable loads (like in a car). Pleasure boats operate in a very limited temperature range and altitude change is obviously not an issue... They also operate with very stable loads. The only advantage FI has over a carb in this regard is easier starting and the newest Mercruisers have "fixed" that "problem" (you need to pump the throttle a couple of times when cold on the old design) with new carbs this year. I am certain FI has no more than a negligible advantage in fuel economy at anything above idle speed.

I would not get either boat with it's base engine if it's a 4.3 V6. Opt for a bigger displacement V8 if you can afford it. You won't regret it, especially when it comes time to sell the boat. Also, if you choose a Volvo Penta package, do not spend any extra money on thier 5.7 liter 320 HP GXi vs, the 5.7 liter 280 HP GX. The GXi offers almost no real power advantage over the GX. The GX makes around 300 HP and is likely de-rated to make the GXi more attractive...

Just Wonderin · 02-02-2005, 11:34 AM

JD Power and Associates has a website that rates consumer satisfaction on cars, boats, electronics, etc.

Here is the link to boats. Just click on the type of boat you're looking for and see what other owners have to say.

http://www.jdpower.com/cc/boats/index.jsp

robjnh · 02-02-2005, 01:03 PM

Dave,

I completly agree with you on the FI vs. Carb. I had a carb on my Crownline and never had any problem starting it. I did however have a lot of people that never even came to look at the boat when they discoved it was not FI.

Most people have FI drilled into there heads as the only way to go so if you think you want to flip the boat in a few years you got to go along with the crowd IMO.

I would also throw in that if you think you are going to tow a lot, I would opt for the Volvo or the BIII. Dual prop gets out of whole much better.

secondcurve · 02-04-2005, 08:55 PM

The most important thing you can take away from these excellent comments is size does matter! I wouldn't go with anything less than 23 feet out on Winnipesaukee. Trust me. Also, look at used boats. They depreciate so quickly. I think a model that is about 5-years would be the best. Good Luck!

Liquorish · 02-05-2005, 08:10 AM

After owning 3 Four Winns, I have nothing but good things to say about them,and Winnisquam marine, those guys are great.. However, at 20 ft, especialy on the big lake be prepared for some tough rides.. my first 4 winns was a 20ft Horizon, fun boat but tough in rough waters, which seems like all the time on Winni... Both boats would be a good choice, but I would reccomend buying larger if you can. Good Luck

02-01-2005, 10:06 AM	#2
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	things to consider I also started out in the boat size your looking at. One of the most important things to consider is where you are going to use the boat. So many people voice their concerns about how rough the lake is, many of these boaters are in 19-22' boats. Even on a day with no wind the chop created by the sheer volume of boats can have even the experienced boater scratching his/her head. If you are going to be on the big lake and you have not already you might want to consider testing out the boats you have decided on. Take a ride over to Weirs bay, it doesn't get much worse then that. Others have mentioned extended swim platform, a must have with kids. I've seen first hand what a prop can do to knee's, of course they do sell covers you can put over the prop. Another bonus is a walk through. Walking over a sun deck will trash the pad in 2-3 years both from boarding with shoes and from swimmers. Whatever you decide good luck and remember the boater safety requirements for you and your children. __________________ "better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, then a long life spent in a miserable way.."

02-02-2005, 11:34 AM	#5
Just Wonderin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 166 Thanks: 55 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	A little more info to help you make your decision JD Power and Associates has a website that rates consumer satisfaction on cars, boats, electronics, etc. Here is the link to boats. Just click on the type of boat you're looking for and see what other owners have to say. http://www.jdpower.com/cc/boats/index.jsp

02-04-2005, 08:55 PM	#7
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,119 Thanks: 1,332 Thanked 559 Times in 288 Posts	Bigger is better The most important thing you can take away from these excellent comments is size does matter! I wouldn't go with anything less than 23 feet out on Winnipesaukee. Trust me. Also, look at used boats. They depreciate so quickly. I think a model that is about 5-years would be the best. Good Luck!

02-01-2005, 08:21 AM	#1
SPANKY Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 51 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	sounds like you've got some good advice so far. i stopped into the manchester boat show over the weekend to see some of this years boats. another thing you may want to consider on your boat purchase is the amount of freeboard it has ( the distance from the floor to the top of the gunnels ). more freeboard would make the seating deeper ( safer ) in the bow section. and as mentioned, i would definitely suggest a bimini top so you can easily have a bit of often needed shade. two more suggestions, and something my next boat will have, stern mounted controls for both the stereo and the tilt / trim, nice to have when your anchored and floating on a tube or pulling into a sandbar. neither of these are expensive options, and would make for great convenience. good luck and let us know how you make out

02-01-2005, 02:26 PM	#3
SHICKS Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	After I sold my Sea-Ray 18' I researched both of these boats. The Crownline does not have as deep of a dead rise as the forwinns. This makes is get on plane faster, but not as good in rough water, correct me if I am wrong. The quality and resale seemed better on the crownline and the boat felt wider from the inside. I liked the gel coat and vinyl on the crownline at lot better. I think Crownline may have another 20ft boat in their lineup with a deeper v. Steve

02-01-2005, 05:37 PM	#4
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	Feel compelled to chime in on carbs vs. fuel injection. FI is very nice but it can be quite expensive. My advice is: shop for displacement, not HP. A bigger carb engine can cost less money than a smaller displacement FI engine and will give more satisfying performance due to increased low end torque (which is a function of displacement). Two engines with the same HP rating ought to give the same top speed but the larger of the two will get you on plane more quickly and offer better mid range punch. Carbs get a bad rap but they really are not at all bad in a boat. FI is wonderfully suited to engines operating in extreme temperature and altitude variations, and under constantly variable loads (like in a car). Pleasure boats operate in a very limited temperature range and altitude change is obviously not an issue... They also operate with very stable loads. The only advantage FI has over a carb in this regard is easier starting and the newest Mercruisers have "fixed" that "problem" (you need to pump the throttle a couple of times when cold on the old design) with new carbs this year. I am certain FI has no more than a negligible advantage in fuel economy at anything above idle speed. I would not get either boat with it's base engine if it's a 4.3 V6. Opt for a bigger displacement V8 if you can afford it. You won't regret it, especially when it comes time to sell the boat. Also, if you choose a Volvo Penta package, do not spend any extra money on thier 5.7 liter 320 HP GXi vs, the 5.7 liter 280 HP GX. The GXi offers almost no real power advantage over the GX. The GX makes around 300 HP and is likely de-rated to make the GXi more attractive...

02-02-2005, 01:03 PM	#6
robjnh Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith and Nashua, NH Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Dave, I completly agree with you on the FI vs. Carb. I had a carb on my Crownline and never had any problem starting it. I did however have a lot of people that never even came to look at the boat when they discoved it was not FI. Most people have FI drilled into there heads as the only way to go so if you think you want to flip the boat in a few years you got to go along with the crowd IMO. I would also throw in that if you think you are going to tow a lot, I would opt for the Volvo or the BIII. Dual prop gets out of whole much better.

02-05-2005, 08:10 AM	#8
Liquorish Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Medfield Ma & Meredith Nh Posts: 93 Thanks: 8 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	After owning 3 Four Winns, I have nothing but good things to say about them,and Winnisquam marine, those guys are great.. However, at 20 ft, especialy on the big lake be prepared for some tough rides.. my first 4 winns was a 20ft Horizon, fun boat but tough in rough waters, which seems like all the time on Winni... Both boats would be a good choice, but I would reccomend buying larger if you can. Good Luck