1st Boat Ever, How Big Is Too big?

R

Riff Raff

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Jul 9, 2013
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NJ
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We are wanting to purchase our very first boat. We are coming to boating later in life (late 40's) so i don't really have time to trade up through 3-4 boats.

We were thinking of a late model 340 Sundancer, the prices seem fine and the boat is just enough for the two of us.

Is a 340 too much boat for a first boat, or does it not really matter?
We are prepared to hire the services of a professional Captain to teach us.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

-Riff Raff
 
Great choice, especially with the Captain. Not an easy task, but if you are so inclined, you should be fine.
 
The late model 340DA is a great boat. You don't really say what you expect to be able to do and/or get out of boating so hard to advise there but it sounds like you have a great training plan with hiring a captain so to the base question, I would say no, not too big for first boat.
 
You'll get a lot of 'it depends' answers here but without knowing more details, a late model 340 is a fabulous boat and a value compared to other cruisers in the Sundancer line-up. You'll have space to sleep, hang clothes and entertain guests without having an overwhelming beam or length to deal with as a first boat. The 340's typical engine packages and inboard vdrive transmissions should also be great for your needs in NJ. (Most folks here will tell you to stay away from the Bravo version of the boat if you're in saltwater.) Popular boat with many on this board who can be of help. Good luck!
 
I think buying a larger boat right off the bat is a great idea. Once you get used to how the boat handles and reacts in the water, all will be fine. I'm in my mid 40's and bought a 290 with twins as my first boat. Most said I started too big, but after 2 full seasons I'm not wanting to upgrade and glad I bought my 2nd boat 1st.
 
No you should be Ok. Training with a captain is good. I would recommend a boating course if you have never been on the water. Depending on where in NJ you are at some local guidance around the layout of channels and shoaling would be worth wild. I find that twin inboard are easier to handle then twin outdrives. Enjoy the experience!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 4
 
By the way, learning how to anchor is much more complicated and more important that learning how to drive the boat, other than not killing people with it. Other stuff that is extremely important is basic care and caution for the boat itself. A Captain and the suggested boating course will help with that. I don't know anyone who has enough money to let someone else take care of everything. Even if someone does, they would have to have that person with them on the water all of the time.

One of the best things about the 340 is that unless it is an I/O, the engines and transmissions aren't too different from a car or truck. Dual inboards are less maintenance than a single I/O and less quirky.
 
I understand this is your first boat purchase....but, is it also the first time you will be captaining a boat?

If you haven't already, you need to take a boat safety course... http://www.boaterexam.com/usa/newjersey/

Then, I would go out with a captain before you buy a boat and get a feel for it. Truthfully, no one can answer if it's too big a boat because they don't know you or your experience.

If you had 20 years of boating experience and you have already taken the boaters safety course, then a boat this size should be fine. Then again, if you have five accidents on your driving record and never stepped foot on a boat before, well maybe you'll get a different answer.

I, for one, didn't have to ask this question because, one....I had a lot of experience on the water....two, took a boaters safety course even though it wasn't required....three, I knew I needed to self assess myself and limitations.

All that said, there are some very helpful people here that here to help no matter what you decide.

Good Luck....
 
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We got back into boating after a long (20+ years) layoff in our early 50s. We decided to buy a small runabout (175 Sport) to figure out if we really did want to do this, and to get comfortable and efficient with the rules of the waterways. Then we bought the sport cruiser once we were sure we were hooked. Then we only had to deal with learning how to operate the big boat, and not also learning the boating culture at the same time. Not saying this is what you should do, but if you've never owned a boat before its a lower risk way to go about it.
 
A boating course is a must and a Captain to show you the "ropes" is just great, you'll be fine:) Guy at our yacht Club's first boat was a new 46' blue (not gray - ha, ha) Formula and he manages okay (had Captain train him too)! Just be sensible, take it easy and learn all you can from the Captain. Great choice of boat and good luck!
 
I do not want to rain on your parade and if anything I wish you good luck, Maybe some one else might chime in. BUT not knowing how much boating experience you have I would suggest if you can do so take at least an online boating safety course, and do get some training from a licensed captain. MY point is from you being able to obtain insurance without having to operate your boat only with a licensed captain onboard. Then from my view point another question, and I am not knocking the 340, but are you going to be doing the maintenance yourself. I am referring primarily from a Mercrusier 8.1 with V-Drives standpoint. I know an earlier models 370's and possible the 360's as well as the 380's give you a bit more room in the bilge.

Good luck and no matter what you get it takes practice, practice and did I mention practice LOL
 
+1 on the safe boating class, you will also get a discount on your insurance if the class is USCG approved.

On the topic of insurance, you may want to check with an insurance carrier/agency first. When we bought our 280 the insurance company was very interested in our boating resume. In the process of cataloging past boats and experience I got the impression that a larger boat even with many years of small boat experience might be a problem. It turned out my having learned to sail and handle the family sailboat (Bristol 34) as a child got more traction than my more recent small center console experience. While I don't see anything wrong with your plan, an insurance carrier might not be so understanding. If you can't buy insurance, or if it absurdly too expensive, it may make sense to start with a smaller starter boat.

Henry

Bill types faster than I do, but the message is the same check to see if you can get insurance based on your experience before you get locked into a boat you can't use.
 
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My first boat purchase was a 290 so I kind of know how the OP feels.

My approach was as follows (I am happy with the results):

1. First take boating safety course of some type even if its online
2. Take an on-the-water boating course, preferably in something with twin engines.
3. Rent a boat 2-3 times to practice. Start out with a simple boat and finish with something with twins if possible if you know thats what you will want. Note that Outboards/Outdrives/Inboards all handle very differently so try to find what most closely matches what you hope to purchase
4. Decide what size boat you want and how you will really use it.
5. Buy your boat, insurance and SeaTow (or similar)
6. Go out at least twice with someone VERY experienced with boating in your specific area to show you the ropes. Can be a paid captain or just an experienced friend.
7. Practice Practice Practice...especially "unusual" circumstances like maneuvering & docking on just one engine. It will take months before you become fully comfortable
 
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I pretty much agree with the other guys, except all the discussion about operation, anchoring, docking, maintenance etc. are near term issues you get flooded with in the early part of the learning curve. The "big picture" approach is to buy the biggest boat you can get your wallet around. As long as you are in the Sea Ray family of boats, all are safe, easy to operate and very forgiving. I know all that fiberglass in front of you can get intimidating, but there is less and less intimidation every time you take the boat out.....just go slsow and keep your mind ahead of the boat and in a few trips, you may not be at 100%, but you will be a lot more comfortable. One of the most expensive mistakes a new owner can make is buying too small a boat......in a few weeks he is ready to trade up and takes a huge depreciation hit on the first boat just so he can buy the boat he should have purchased in the first place.
 
I started with a 320DA and it lasted only a year. The 340 is a great boat but make sure you know how you will be using it. We had no idea how many extended weekends we would be out on ours.
 
After boating for 25+ years, I bought a big boat, actually only a 28 footer, but I took the USCG class before it was mandatory in NJ. Now you have to take it, especially if your in the salt or on the ICW. The class was fun! I highly recommend it! But in buying a boat, you have to ask yourself "What am I going to use it for?". Cruising, skiing, camping? This will be the deciding factor in how big it should be. And don't get a grey one!!!
 
Frank has a great point about buying the biggest you can "get your wallet around."

When we ventured into boating we bought a 24 footer. By the end of the first season we learned that it wasn't the right boat for what we wanted to use it for. So we traded and went to 31 feet and that cost us more than had we gone with the 31 in the first place. That one lasted 8 years before we moved up to our current 370 DA. We probably would've moved up faster had we not relocated.

The size of the boat doesn't only apply to the room inside that you live in. You also have to consider the water that you're going to boat on. 24 feet on Lake Ontario just did not cut it. Our first big trip was in bad water and we felt like we were on a motorized cork. The 31 was fine for Okanagan Lake in BC which is a significantly smaller and less prone to rough water lake.
We moved up last year because the family is bigger with kids, grandkids and our desire to have something larger that we could spend more time on. There's lots to consider...but the biggest you can afford may save money in the end.

Mark
 
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