Give your honest opinion

[jawz12]

SO I want to get a boat to do some serious offshore fishing. I live in NJ. Is it nieve of me to think I can purchase somethig in the 31-38 foot range as my first boat. I do have a lot of experience on the water, although be it on my cousins 21 foot jones brothers. I am confident in handling that boat and understand the mechanics of its electrical system. I have a basic understanding of the outboard motor.
Am I fooling myself though, I have no experience in diesel mechanics or an ac/dc electrical system, none the less anchoring a large vessel somewhere between the Toms and Lindy. I have a basic knowledge of navigation, chart reading, electronics, plenty of offshore experience from charters, other peoples boats, and so on but I guess my question is can a guy just get into an offshore boat and start learning the game or should I move up to something in the 25-28 foot range and once comfortable with that boat, move up to a vessel capable of overnighters.

check back on this thread after working hrs...i just don't have time to type a reply right now-gotta sick boat i gotta take care of... i will give you the cold slap of reality,the straight out truth from a service point of view on upkeep and operating costs...

[DRIFTWOOD]

FIFTY - ARE YOU ONLY GONNA DO OFFSHORE TRIPS, DO YOU DO ANY STRIPER FISHIN ? I UNDERSTAND YOU WANNA GO BIG, AND GO DIESEL. TRY A TUNA CHARTER WITH CANYON RUNNER. THEY HAVE A 32' REGULATOR W/ TWIN OUTBOARDS. GET TO THE HUDSON IN A JIPPY. SEE IF YOU LIKE THE BOAT. THEY ARE PROS. IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE PHYSICAL SHAPE TO FISH FROM A CENTER CONSOLE DO A CHARTER WITH A PROFESSIONAL CAPTAIN IN A 32 - 38; RANGE EXPRESS MODEL. SEE WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE DONE ON A OVERNIGHTER OR A DAY TRIP. IF YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE IT AND HAVE THE CASH LIVE YOUR DREAM, AND GET THE BOAT YOU WANT.

EARLY TO BED
EARLY TO RISE
FISH LIKE HELL AND MAKE - UP LIES.

[LuckyLady]

With diesel's there is a lot of up keep involved. If you are handy, and have some mechanic skills somethings can be taken care of on a personal level. Others are going to spend a fortune at the service shop.

I would talk to owners and get a good perspective on what costs are going to be as far as the upkeep is concerned.

The other thing to consider is dockage? I do not think it is an huge issue but bigger slip space is limited in certain areas.

Its a lot to dive in head 1st without having knowledge ahead of time.

Many people buy those bigger boats and can't afford the upkeep and costs of running it in general.

The moral of my story is to look up and down each road and see what is going to come up along the way.

The wrong used diesel boat is a sure fire way to go broke in a heart beat. If going used make sure you have a surveyor go over the boat top to bottom and have motors checked, oil samples the whole nine yards.

[sportfishingusa]

Just wait until you get the breakdown from jimmy/jawz..

he will give you some real info and some real numbers i am sure.

I am the owner of both a 24cc and a 33 express in which i run. the 33 express is capable of going offshore overnight though i fish with other people therefore it never goes anywhere and it is completely up for sale..

Now i am no freeloader but if you got friends who have boats that go offshore all the time and you are always welcome why buy the headache? I got the headache and trust me boats are a headache.. my pace has brand new motors which run great and dont have problems with but the other stupid nick nacks are always going wrong...

not to mention i got a 8 man crewsaver on the front that costs me almost 3k a year to service and another 400 a year for a new epird battery.. Then you got fuel. you got the water systems to winterize, you got to worry about the generator if it is used... Fuel filter, oil changes, trans fluids, water tank, fuel tanks, bildge pumps, hatches, interior, exterior, and everything else!!!!!

The list goes on and on and on and on..

now i got my 24 proline cc which i dont do a think to! change a water pump every couple years, maybe a trim pump once in a while and add oil and such!

I winterize it and put it in the dry storage rack for the winter with no worries!

It takes me all over the bay, and up to about 40 miles offshore...

I am a firm believer unless you want to deal with it, why do it?!?!

thats my take..

[dunn6253]

Something else to consider, what type of fishing are you going to be doing? I know you said you wanted to go offshore, but what about the days it is blowing 25+ out there? You like to fish for flounder, fluke, bluefish, etc.? It is something that I am thinking about also as I try to decide on what type of boat to buy. Good luck with your decision.

[WildLines]

I'd buy all the boat I can confortably afford to own, maintain, and operate. Save the 2'itis getting you next year....and when it does you get beat up on depreciation from the boat you are selling.

If you can buy the 38' Diesel...do it...then work up your comfort level in running it and doing offshore trips/overnighters. Just cause you buy a 38 foorter doesn't mean you have to do all nighters and go 100 miles off shore your first weekend.

Good luck in your search and purchase....prepare to be addicted...I buy more tackle each month than I do clothes.

[fiftywide]

28 parker with twin yami 250"s?

[sportfishingusa]

do not do it!! everyone i know that has had a parker has sold the parker.. they ride very very rough.. i have been on many deep and mod v hulls and they are no good for the ride offshore!! Inshore i would be all over it but not offshore..

i got my boat for sale and not to hi jack this thread but check out the 33 pace express in the items for sale listings.. it is a perfect boat for you with little maint... you will love it and a great price also!!

[captcl]

The rule I go buy is buy the best (boat,tackle, motor etc) you can afford. That's right AFFORD!!Ego has no resale/trade-in value and if you can afford it, you will enjoy it! Lots of people are downsizing these days think about the upkeep, general maintenence, slip/docking/storage fees etc. $.02

[joeksr]

As others have said before me,
I would buy the boat that I could afford to own and operate without being in to much pain.
Used to be folks said if you need to know how much fuel it burns you can't afford the boat.
Other than also knowing your range this holds true today.

Bigger is better. If you are not comfortable running a bigger boat get someone on board to show you the ropes.
All boats and motors need constant maintenance.
As far as handling a bigger boat,
The few times I have had the pleasure of running a twin screw inboard setup I found them easier to handle dockside than twin outboards or single screws.

Good luck.