Boat suggestions??

SAMIAM · 08-14-2022, 08:37 AM

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

LikeLakes · 08-14-2022, 09:45 AM

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 · 08-14-2022, 10:20 AM

Quote:

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 · 08-14-2022, 10:51 AM

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 · 08-14-2022, 12:19 PM

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 · 08-14-2022, 03:03 PM

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 · 09-06-2022, 01:54 PM

Quote:

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 · 09-11-2022, 07:25 PM

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 · 09-11-2022, 10:48 PM

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 · 09-14-2022, 05:23 PM

Quote:

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!

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

08-14-2022, 10:51 AM	#4
Garcia Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 612 Thanks: 138 Thanked 283 Times in 172 Posts	Use? 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.

08-14-2022, 12:19 PM	#5
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,793 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 301 Thanked 1,024 Times in 745 Posts	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. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

08-14-2022, 03:03 PM	#6
brk-lnt Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Down Shores Posts: 1,944 Thanks: 544 Thanked 570 Times in 335 Posts	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. __________________ [insert witty phrase here]

08-14-2022, 08:37 AM	#1
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,912 Thanks: 338 Thanked 1,689 Times in 594 Posts	27' Tritoon with a 450 or maybe twin 300's will do the trick

08-14-2022, 09:45 AM	#2
LikeLakes Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 339 Thanks: 50 Thanked 92 Times in 66 Posts	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.

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09-11-2022, 07:25 PM	#8
Leoskeys Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 148 Thanks: 134 Thanked 27 Times in 21 Posts	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.

09-11-2022, 10:48 PM	#9
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,413 Thanks: 1,365 Thanked 1,636 Times in 1,068 Posts	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.