Boat suggestions??

[Grove84]

We have a Formula 280BR we seat 10-12 easily . I purchased it at Paugus Bay Marina and my daughter has learned to drive it even with the twin engines. We have been thrilled with this boat. PBM has one for sale now at the marina. Formula and Cobalt you are great boats. Lakeport has two used Cobalts as well

[8gv]

Secure dockage first!

New or used?

Many, many new boats were sold during the pandemic.

The free money and perhaps a brush with mortality had non boaters buying boats.

I predict that next year there will be many lightly used boats on the market at "just get me out of this loan" prices.

Narrow your search and be ready to pounce.

Don't be shy about making offers well below the asking price.

You never know how motivated the seller may be!

[Juiced06GTO]

I am strongly considering a big tritoon, 25-27’ to replace our 24’ Four Winns deck boat. Our current boat is rated at 13 people or 1850lbs. We typically rent each year with 4 families. This year there are 8 kids between 4 and 10yrs old and 7 adults and it started to get really cramped as the kids are getting bigger!

I have looked at jumping up to something like a Formula 270br, a sea ray 270SD or something similar, but the market is still crazy for them. A new formula that size is close to 200k and the sea ray isn’t far behind, MarineMax out of Boston quote me 167k at the start of the season with an 8% increase on all incoming stock.

Used Formulas hold their value well and there aren’t many that I have found on the market, especially locally. A coworker scored one out of TX at the end of last season, a 2007 w/200hrs for about 50k plus the cost to ship it here.

At any rate make sure you secure somewhere to keep it on the lake unless you plan to trailer like I do. My family has a place on Upper Suncook we also boat at so we go between the two lakes often. If we go bigger than 24’ I’ll be looking for a spot to keep it on the lake as well.

[SAMIAM]

27' Tritoon with a 450 or maybe twin 300's will do the trick

[LikeLakes]

You might find this out in a few years, but I bet you end up with 2 boats. A boat big enough for 12 doesn't end up being a very good platform for even tubing, and if the kids get into any more serious water sports (skiing, wakeboarding) they won't be satisfied with a big boat like that. So a big bowrider or pontoon to handle the crowd, then a smaller boat more suited to dragging kids around works really well. Just a thought.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by LikeLakes

You might find this out in a few years, but I bet you end up with 2 boats. A boat big enough for 12 doesn't end up being a very good platform for even tubing, and if the kids get into any more serious water sports (skiing, wakeboarding) they won't be satisfied with a big boat like that. So a big bowrider or pontoon to handle the crowd, then a smaller boat more suited to dragging kids around works really well. Just a thought.

I was leaning here too, or maybe just one smaller boat. I don't think you want to be piloting a boat for 12 all that often. A lot easier and less stressful (and cheaper!) to handle/dock 21-23'

[Garcia]

I think it depends on use. If you are keeping a boat at home, my bet is smaller is better. If you are valet or keeping it a slip, bigger is better. My rationale is if the place to “hang out” is a dock, deck, or shore, how often are you going to spend the day on the boat? On the flip side, if the boat is valeted or at a slip away from the home, my guess is you will be more likely to load up coolers and toys and spend the day on the water.

[fatlazyless]

To get some real insight on BOAT PRICES without leaving home, go to craigslist-NH-boats and adjust your search to owner or dealer, and then to pontoon or bow rider or deck boat or center console or whatever.

Nice thing about looking at craigslist is the PRICE is easy to see which is not always the case at an individual dealer's website plus it makes it easy to look around to see what's out there for available boats.

One hour looking at craigslist-NH is like seven days of driving around to individual NH boat dealers plus craigslist also has used boats for sale by private person owner. Walking into a boat dealer armed with a photocopy of their boat ad from craigslist gives you a good place to start as well.

[brk-lnt]

Keep in mind that if you buy a place at South Down you may be limited on overall size for a rack in their marina. You have more leeway if you can buy a slip.

For 12 people you pretty much need a bow-rider, as any type of cabin boat that can fit 12 people in the cockpit would likely be too large to be as practical as you want.

Formula, Cobalt, and SeaRay, in that order, would be where I would look. A 27' with twin engines would give you a lot of options. A $100K budget won't open up a huge world of options, but you should be OK if you are a little bit flexible.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

27' Tritoon with a 450 or maybe twin 300's will do the trick

Good luck at $100k or less though for these options.

[Leoskeys]

Just sold my great 8-yr old 28’ bow rider and bought a new 25’ Tritoon. Both can seat 12 comfortably, and because both have large motors/hp, they both work great for everything from cruising to tubing. One big difference, PRICE! Generally speaking, large bowriders are going to cost much more than the equivalent size/powered Tritoon. For instance, price out a 250hp Tritoon; and price out a 350/380hp 26-28 foot bowrider. Both can hold 12, both can go 35mph+, but the bowrider will cost 10’s of thousands of dollars more.

[Descant]

Reading the Forum, two of the busiest boaters are Steve On Mark and I Shoot 308. I think both own a pontoon and a 24'foot Eastern or similar. The single hull enclosed cabin is for all purpose, all weather, pending weather, every day use. The pontoon is for work, hauling material and occasional group cruising.
To me, if you want to go out when you "might get caught in the weather", I'd avoid pontoons. If you want all weather boating, a cabin or canvas enclosure over a real boat hull seems to be the way to go. Summary: use a boat 50-60 days a year, use a pontoon 30 days a year, based on weather. I'm sure there are islander exceptions, but I'm looking at posts from folks who own both types.

[steve-on-mark]

Originally Posted by Descant

Reading the Forum, two of the busiest boaters are Steve On Mark and I Shoot 308. I think both own a pontoon and a 24'foot Eastern or similar. The single hull enclosed cabin is for all purpose, all weather, pending weather, every day use. The pontoon is for work, hauling material and occasional group cruising.

To me, if you want to go out when you "might get caught in the weather", I'd avoid pontoons. If you want all weather boating, a cabin or canvas enclosure over a real boat hull seems to be the way to go. Summary: use a boat 50-60 days a year, use a pontoon 30 days a year, based on weather. I'm sure there are islander exceptions, but I'm looking at posts from folks who own both types.

I'm probably closer to 240 days a year!

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[ACME on the Broads]

You won't find a better marina on Winni, Kory (owner) is fabulous to deal with, he's humble, transparent and always available; Rick (Sales Mgr.) a wealth of Formula knowledge, hard working, great communicator and a joy to deal with and Bob T, probably the best and most highly honest Service Mgr. around. We have owned 5 Formulas over the years (most recently a 2015 310Br from PBM), Formulas are terrific boats, extremely reliable, well built and best of all they retain their value. We're now looking to move up to a 330CBR. Can't offer an opinion on Cobalt other than I have never heard anything bad about the brand.

**Check out PBM, great boats, great service, great customer service, always a great experience.