I'm in the market for a boat anywhere between 20-24' and am trying to decide between a center console or walk around for our family of four. We will use the boat 50/50 between inshore and offshore so it will need to be versatile. We're looking to spend between 20-25k on something no older than 2000 with very low hours. Any recommendations for make/models and advice from one's to stay away from would be greatly appreciated.
well my friend,it's a buyer's market at this point in time...
there's a hell of alot of really nice rigs on the market..
here's my advice..
you want a deep v hull-forget the modified v hulls,they will beat you to death in sea-it's all about the ride in my world...you want outboards-forget the 4 strokes you want the 2 stroke...don't get too worried over the year of the engines-i have customers with yamaha engines that have in excess of 3,000hrs and have NEVER had a failure...i like the yamaha engines,the new bombardier e-tec engines are truly the cat's ass !!! the yamaha engines are bulletproof-i have yam's on my own rig-old school 2 stroke carb'd engines,they run like hell...
when you hear from the local know it all " the use huge amounts of fuel..." remember this,when the boat is propped correctly the fuel economy is there...my rig for example will burn around 120g that's running to the baltimore canyon from cape may-pulling out at 2am running the 65m out there and trolling for the day,running home and pulling back in the dock around 7pm...again,that's twin 200's on a deep v mako 25-it's propped correctly....
the walkarounds are nice-storage and a spot for a head...the center consoles are equally as nice-wide open deck-even better with a full enclosure along with "wings"....
as far as mfg's go...
the hydra sports are an excellent choice,along with the contenders and the regulators...i really don't like the grady white boats(built like shit and waaaaaay over priced as well as over rated,they ride like shit too) the well craft coastals are another terrible rig-ask me about the 01 i had the replace the fuel system in....the aquasprts are built the same as the wellcrafts-blah....
this is kinda old school,but,i really like the shamrocks...i got my eye on one-it's a stalker-center console with a small cuddy cabin-real sweet set up...
the older makos are tanks-ride great,and built like a tank too..the old school potter built sea crafts are among one of the best built boats around...
take your time,look around-there's plenty of good deals out there...be sure to have a pro check out your choice before you drop some change on it-the price you pay to have a pro check it out is well worth it !!!
***** if i offended anyone,sorry
just calling things as i see them...i work on this stuff every day-it's not a hobby,i've worked on just about all of 'em and i got some really good stories as well as pictures too.....
last point...want to get an idea of how good a boat is....check the sale papers-see if you see alot of a particular model as well as mfg for sale...there's a reason for this-wonder what that reason is.....
others will tell you "it's because so many of them were made...." i tell ya' "bull poop !! it's because the owner got tired of getting their head bashed in when running offshore-common sense goes a long way in this buisness !!!!
I agree with you on the shady gradys. They have never really impressed me and most seem underpowered, especally the older ones with I/O's. For the cost, you could have a real battlewagon.
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