Buying the right boat

i ended up buying a 2008 240 with about 70 hours on it and we're LOVING it! it's got heat, A/C, pretty much everything we need. i'm under 6' and wife is just over 5' tall so the size isn't bad. the size is just what we need for now learning to dock, getting into slips, etc. such a pretty and comfortable boat. i'm sure we will, however, move to a 30' before too long when we can spend some quality time up and down the FL coast. thanks so much for all your input.
 
Here is a suggestion from left field, but you should take a hard look at a 300 Weekender with inboards.

I hate outdrives in salt water and inboards solve the problem of submerging gear cases, and transom assemblies in salt water, plus, they save the annual drive removal and service cost as well as the usual $5K drive replacement every 5-6 years.

I also am of the opinion that trading up from a smaller boat is the most expensive way to get the right boat for you. You will quickly find that the 240DA very cramped for weekend trips, particularly if you stay on the boat over nite.....stay in a hotel along the way.....perhaps. The other issue for me is that the smaller Sundancers may be a case of too much stuff in small a package. I find the performance to be marginal and the handling questionable. If you find boating down the ICW enjoyable, we'll see you here in 6 months asking about larger boats. So, just go ahead and get the right boat for the plan now and save the trade-up next spring.
 
I am stealing a quote...I believe it is from Oldskool..
"where I boat a 240 is a yacht..in the ICW a 240 is a canoe"
I have no issues with my old 240WE for several days on the water but my admiral
will do primitive camping too...much like my boat with no a/c or gennie.
my advise is see what the female would be comfortable with for a few days....then decide how big and well equipped

p.s.
we are looking at 340s as we speak :wink:
 
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as well as the usual $5K drive replacement every 5-6 years.


Pretty funny stuff, guess I'm due.... 5K X2.... hope I can afford fuel for it next year after that repair bill
 
At the price the 2005 and up 260's can be had I would start with that as a minimum size. The factory generator is very nice to have and we have slept 4 adults on ours for a week or so on special occasions.

Our 260 is a great ICW boat and can handle rough seas when needed. If I planned to keep my boat in salt water I would want inboards. Ours in mostly a fresh water lift kept boat but we do trailer to the coast and the 260 does just fine.
 
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