Just traded in my 18ft Robalo CC (don't worry in-laws live on the coast with another fishing boat) on a new 21ft Searay Bowrider. Wanted to know if any of you out there have boats, what kind, and what you like to use them for. I take delivery on mine this coming Wednesday. It was very hard to give up the fishing boat, I thought it worked good for skiing behind the 150hp. Problem was tripping around the wakeboard and skis. So, I opted for the 21 footer with a 5.0L EFI (Fuel Injected so if I'm not at the helm, the temp. capitan won't flood it out or accidently drop it into gear at 7000rpms). The 240hp should be nice, and there a ton of room in the cockpit area for my one year old to run around under the bimini top. I got it from Sail and Ski in Austin, they were very professional to work with so far. They are even installing a removable table for me that isn't even an option on the boat. Anyway, I'd love to hear what you like about your boats the most, and trust me, my first boat was called "Damn Boat", so I know the pain too. ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
Boats SUCK!!!!!! That being said, I just took delivery (last week, actually) of my first new boat. I've owned three very used boats before though, and you'd think I would have learned my lesson. Boats are a lot of work! I guess I thought that with a new one, it would at least last a little while before I had to start all that hard work on it. Let's see....my first boat was a 16' VIP tri-hull with an 85 HP evinrude. Nice heavy boat; had it when I was in college. After college, I bought a 16' flat bottom jon boat with a 40 HP mercury. not a bad fishing boat, but damn was it loud....and the engine was very particular about which days it wanted to work. Most recently, I had a 15.5' Boston Whaler with a 90 HP evinrude. Completely overpowered; that boat was ridiculous. Anyway, I got rid of it when I was engaged last year. Something about that whole scene leaves you with little time to fish. In fact, I live in a canal community. From my canal, I can drive my boat into West Galveston Bay in about 15 minutes, yet I only went fishing one time in the year 2000. That sucked. Anyway, I told the wife we were gonna get a boat, and surprisingly, she didn't tell me to wake the F*** up, so we went to the boat show back in January. Prior to the boat show, I had done a bunch of research on different boats. While at the boat show, I came real close to buying a Robalo--in fact; it was the only one we came real close to buying. That is, until we were walking out the door. It was there that I saw a boat I had never seen before. I really like what I saw, and it was being sold by one of the larger dealers around (Louis Dellhome/MarineMax). Anyway, the guy told me the price, my eyes lit up, and before I knew it, I had put down a refundable deposit. Needless to say, I immediately went home, got on the net, and tried to find out more about this boat. It's relatively unknown, but I was able to find it mentioned in several boat forums. All the owners said the same thing: they couldn't believe they had gotten so much boat for the money, and they would definitely buy again. All I can say is that it feels solid, everything suggests a lot of quality, and the lay-out is awesome. It's sitting the slings of my boathouse right now, and if I want to go fishing after work, all I have to do is press the button, and it lowers into the water. Man, life is grand right now. It's a 21' Sea Hunt Deep V center console with a 150 HP Mercury. Bimini Top for the wife, swim platform for wadefishing and kneeboarding, 250 qts of built in ice chests, 70 qt insulated live well in front of the center console that doubles as another ice chest, a console behind the center console that acts as a leaning post but has dry storage beneath it and another 70 qt live well/ice chest behind it, lots of stainless, and plenty of rod holders. I'm lovin it! ------------------ stop posting my damn signature
If you don't mind me asking....comparitivly speaking, what was your boat priced at % wise compared to the 21ft Robalo? Because, I haven't taken delivery...so I haven't turned over the funds...hehehehe! Ah....I love fishing for Kings and Dolphin...that is some serious fun! My father in law has a 23ft Red Fin....I kid him and call it a Wet Fin, becuase the downward curve design of the corners of the transom, causes any kind of breeze to completly soak the back of the boat??? Just what the heck they were thinking about when they did that I don't know. One great looking bay boat that you haven't seen...or maybe you did, is called Bay Quest. A fully rigged 22 footer with a 200hp Salty, trolling...you name it was 25K and change. It really took me 3 months to decide not to get another fishing boat. I tried every thing...that also included having custom pads made for the bow deck, side storage, and stern deck. Bimini top, and ski pole. They make 'em up here at Austin Classic Boats in Manor. I would have traded in my Robalo for this one...although it would have only been for bay fishing. ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
I got the 21 footer with that console I described (a pretty big option), plus a bimini, swim platform, cusion package, about 60 gallons of fuel, a full tank of oil, an anchor and rope, all of the safety equipment, a 150 Merc (carburated though), stainless prop, tandem axle aluminum trailer with brakes and a spare wheel and tire for just a little over 23K. Maybe I could have done better, but it beat all the other deals I saw at the boat show by a long shot. It stickered for about 32K, and although I'll be using it in the bay, it's a VERY deep 'V'. It's also very dry. ------------------ stop posting my damn signature
Oh man...looks like you cleaned up! No biggy on the carb engine. The only reason that I got it, is because I want to do some wakeboarding too. And if somebody else is piloting my boat, I don't want to worry about them flooding it, or screwing up the tranny. Sounds like a heck of a deal that you will be happy with for a long time. A Rabolo like that would have easily run you mid 30s to lower 40s. Enjoy the heck out of that boat my friend. You mentioned canal access...your not living in/around Tiki Island are you? ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
Not quite Tiki Island. I looked there, but decided I wasn't quite rich enough. I live in Omega Bay (Bayou Vista) which is just a few miles north. Tiki's north shoreline is the south shorline of Jones Lake (Bay), whereas our community feeds out into the North shoreline of Jones. Either way, we both have great fishing. ------------------ stop posting my damn signature
Hey Pole...is it the Triton 210? I ask that, becuse you mentioned a Robalo, and I know the 210 is similar to what Rabolo puts out. Very nice looking boat. If it's anything like a Robalo, your can have all the fun you want in the blue water. The only reason that I gave in to getting rid of mine was becuase I do have the use of a bay boat, and I plan on getting a little Bass Tracker to take my son out on area lakes. So, the bowrider it was... ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
Triton 210 it is. I can't believe someone has actually heard of it. I already got me three trolling rigs, and I'm waiting to catch my first dolphin. (for all you lefties, I'm not talking about flipper, so don't freak completely out.....a little freaking out is okay; I'd expect nothing less) ------------------ stop posting my damn signature
Yes you do have some great fishing! I can't believe that you are the only other person on this BBS that owns a boat...or at least does some fishing!!! You're going to enjoy that Triton, I'm sure! ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
