Good first boat?

[HoosOnDeck]

good grief!!!

when are you going to have the time to run a boat?? thursday afternoon short runs and sundays seem to it for you. who needs sleep, you can sleep when you're dead

you seem like an industrious young man ready to reward himself, good for you.

[Deep C]

I see Eliot Key mentioned and really any of the boats you mentioned would be fine.... Stick to 23 and first boat I reccommend used but fairly new. This way you don't take the depreciation doink at the door. With a used you also have had someone else do the groundwork in setting up a basic package. You can then use it and see what changes you will want to make in your next boat.
23 feet you can get away with good reliable single power. I lean toward Yamaha myself. Has solid resale value and the ones I have owned and own have been very good to me...
The other advantage with 23 is that although you're not looking past a few miles right now, you will get the urge to go further some where along the line. That size will get you past the sailfish water. Then past the offshore dolphin water. Eventually you will probably get a bug up your scuppers that will get you to give sword fishing a try. One day your lungs will fill with fresh air, you'll really get the bug and the urge will carry you 47 miles to Bimini... A 23 can do that for you on a nice day with ease...

[unoyankeefan]

No one has mentioned Regulator. It could be a good option to have a nice ride if you don't want to tournament fish. You really haven't mentioned how much entertain on the boat with family and friends because there are other boats like Contender to look at if it's a fishing only machine.

[FinRazr]

No one has mentioned Regulator. It could be a good option to have a nice ride if you don't want to tournament fish. You really haven't mentioned how much entertain on the boat with family and friends because there are other boats like Contender to look at if it's a fishing only machine.

Hey won't find any of these in a 30k budget that won't need work.

[Let It Ride]

I have to agree that the Grady is the way to go. It may cost a couple more bucks, but you can't beat the boat. The Grady will also hold its value better when you turn around sell it. If you look, you should be able to find a clean Grady around 30k in the 22-24 foot range.

Mike