LOOKING TO MOVE UP

[chincheck]

I have a 05 25 contender 200yamas.Going to move up to a
45viking convertible 05. IS THIS TO BIG OF A JUMP or should i
move to a 35 then 45 ? Is there realy that much difference other than the obvious?Any help here would be greatly appreciated THANKS

[Nauti Natured]

I have a 05 25 contender 200yamas.Going to move up to a
45viking convertible 05. IS THIS TO BIG OF A JUMP or should i
move to a 35 then 45 ? Is there realy that much difference other than the obvious?Any help here would be greatly appreciated THANKS

Ummm ... pretty much the same thing ... being that they both float on water and both have engines.

In all seriousness .... You are talking about a WHOLE different ball game. If you are planning on running this boat yourself I would definitely jump to the high 30's before you get into the mid 40's. Just seems like a more natural progression. As you are obviously looking to move to the big league eventually ... get something similar to the big boat but in a smaller package (maybe a 35-40 express?). Your learning curve will not be quite as steep. Your expenses will be midway of the two and you can get a good feel of what a bigger boat feels like without killing yourself, your wallet, and those around you.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers

[WAHOONBOX]

DUDE THERE ARE TEN MILLION RIGS JUST WAITN ON YOUR ASS TO GET BEHIND THEIR WHEEL......BE PATIENT....THIS CROWD HERE WILL FIND YOUR PERFECT RIDE

GIVE CAPT TIM (yachtsnc) A CALL AT CAROLINA YACHT SALES.....OR ONE OF OURR SPONSORING BOAT BROKERS....


YOU NEED A FISHING BOAT....NOT A LIVING ROOM!

[Shortfin]

Great Question and i am sure there are many here that can add to my answer

I worked aboard a 45 Vik this past summer and the owner made the jump from a 23 whaler to the 45 Vik with out a problem.

with a bit of instruction all went well

Practice evrything slowly until you build up your confidence and then continue to proceed slowly

Having a knowlegable person on board for the first few voyages will take the fear factor out of it

another key point is having the crew to go with you that has any experience when manuevering in close quarters and the abilty to handle lines .

Hiring a local sport boat captain to get you comfortable is my reccomendation, the right cappy will make your learning curve from years to months .

above all the vessel handling you will learn ,you will also need a primer in engine room maintenace ,just so you know what you are looking at for daily checks and in case of an emergency.

[JD5652]

Shortfin has it about right. My first boat was 37' and none months later a 44'. Everyone thought I was crazy. Well after a few years on the water and a few canyon trips under my belt, I am more than comfortable. Yep....and I did get lots of help from my more knowledgeable local captains, especially in running the boat in nasty seas. Every boat is different and has it's own characteristics, but with some practice you'll do just fine.

Make safety #1 priority... and get the best electronics you can afford.

Life is not a dress rehearsal....go for it and don't look back.

Now is a great time to be a boat buyer....good luck!

[backman]

one thing to consider in going from 25 CC to inboard express or convertible is the plethora of systems you never dealt with before that you now have to maintain. And pay for when they break which they will.

Ever dealt with a head and its pump/black water system? Shower? Fresh water system?

Generator? AC, heat? Oh; full 110 AC electrical system to go with your usual 12V DC? Shore power?

Refrigerator; freezer? On board burner, microwave, convection oven?

Etc, etc, etc. not to mention the care and feeding of 2 big diesels which is an entirely different game than outboards?

I moved up from center console -> 28 express and have stuck here for 9 years; periodically I get into the "I wish I had..." but at the end of the day I fish more than most because I have less to go wrong and maintain.

I'd go to a 32-35 w./ less systems as a nice next step.

[neilinov]

If your goal is to spend more time on a boat go with the biggest you can afford. Not the cost of the boat, but the biggest you can afford to own and maintain. The cost of acquistion is the cheapest part of owning a boat. If you think that you are going to want a bigger boat in a short period of time get that boat now. Life is short and you never know what it will throw at you. It isn't that hard to run a bigger boat. I find it is actually easier to run a larger boat than a smaller boat. You just have more systems that you need to get familiar with so it may take you a little while to get used to them, but they are not all that complicated. It is a buyers market now so the acquisition cost of the larger boat is in your favor. Just make sure you can afford to keep up with it. Good luck man and post up some pics of whatever you get!

[chincheck]

I am not going to get rid of my 25, it will be my go to. I have wanted a sport fisher boat since I got this one, even before
I got this one. I fully understand the up keep things are going to brake (or I will tear up). The expenses are not what I am concerned about, the safety is #one even on the 25, that is always the top priority. I had planned on trying to get Capt. Shane or one of the other big boat capt. to work with me in the water on their off days. As for a crew, well not yet but this is not going to be a charter boat just a lets go fishing boat. Well bags are packed going to meet the surveyer at the dock Monday. If all goes well I will need someone to bring her home. THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP!

[neilinov]

Wow sounds exciting man! Good luck with the purchase. If you need someone to bring her home shoot me a PM.
Neil

[Shortfin]

feel free to pm me for a phone number if i can help answer any questions or things to look for ,,I pretty much crawled thru every inch of that 45 last season

what year and what power does the prospective vessel have