Cruiser Newbie help

[Tantrum]

Heres the deal..
Im boatless for the first time in 15 years. Just sold my boat 3 weeks ago (that wasnt really for sale) and thought I would take some time off. The last few boats have been high performance poker run boats. My wife and I just had our second daughter and traveling around the country this summer towing a raceboat was not where I wanted to be.
Well that brings me here. Im jonesing. We love the water and are thinking about a cruiser type ride the family can enjoy. Looking for something 30'+ with room to sleep 4+, room for lots of friends to hang.
Im looking to spend around $50-80K to try this out. Im looking for a very good deal incase we arent quite ready for the, take it easy life, yet and want to get out.
We would like to plan a couple decent length trips 4 days or more. The rest of the time would be rafting up with other boats.

Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[keokie]

I would recommend 310's and 330's from the '90s. Those models will offer a lot and be in the price range you mention. I would highly recommend holding out for big blocks (there are plenty out there) to anyone, but especially someone coming from the high perf arena.

What part of the country are you in?

 

[waterlogged]

tantrum,

We mad the same move (33 Baja HP500s, Sonic, Baja, etc). We started with a 280 Dancer and went with the 340 last year. We're glad we made the move. Only regret is that we didn't go right from the Baja to the 340 and skipped the 280 (would have saved some money), but we weren't sure if we'd like cruising.

We have a friend with a 33 Donzi with 525s so any time we have a "need for speed", we bum a ride. He seems to spend more time on our boat though :grin:

Sounds like your price range would put you in nice a 280DA.

 

[Tantrum]

Thanks for the replies.
Im going back and forth with what I want to spend. First I was thinking if I went on the lower end I wouldnt get hurt to bad when I sell it. However...Im a freak when it comes to a clean boat, so that puts me back up to the high range stuff.
I keep coming back to the 2000+ 320 & 340SD's. Not sure what it will take to pick up a clean one yet. There are a ton of these on the used market.

We traveled quite a bit with the AMT. Last year we trailered to Lake of the Ozarks, MO - South Florida - and the Thousand Islands. We live in NJ and this boat would be kept on the Hudson River with regular trips to Barneget Bay.

Yep, Ill be the first in the group to step to a cruiser so Im sure I will catch some grief.......the ice maker needs to be high output for some redemption :grin:

 

[Presentation]

Due to your price point and performance boat history and need to sleep 4, I would suggest a 2002 280DA Sundancer with twin 5.0L Bravo III.

The hull is 28 feet (or is it 28' 6" Jeremy - please help) and with the swim platform its 31'1" x 9'5" beam.

That should do about 50 MPH, plane pretty well and give you some room.

 

[Presentation]

.....I keep coming back to the 2000+ 320 & 340SD's. ....

I think you mean 320DA. The Sundancer is “DA†the SD is for the Sundeck

The 2000+ 320DA would be well above your stated price point but is a very next boat.

 

[Tantrum]

Yes I meant to say DA

 

[RiverRat]

My recomendation would be to get what you can afford or what your willing to spend as a starter cruiser. This is boating and your always going to want to step up. You won't be trailering anything larger than a 280 without special permits, so a decision needs to be made for that reason alone.

Look around and pick out one that you think will meet your needs and go from there. :thumbsup:

 

[BSenzina]

Just my luck

Yep, thats just how my luck runs.....Too bad yo are in NJ...I would invite ou to come take a peek at my 90 310 EC...I just re-did the engines & Trans.....with receipts...Ever get to the West Palm Beach area???

 

[Tantrum]

Im going to take Waterlogs advice here and check out a couple 340's and see what we are going to have to spend to get a good deal on a clean boat.
What are the opinions on a 2000 340DA?
What options are a must? Where are the problem areas?

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Skip]

I share this only FWIW.

We went from a 22' Inboard Ski Boat to a 2002 260DA, 6.2/BIII. Compared to the ski boat, the 260DA seemed huge. Until I put it in the water, ran it out in the Chesapeake, and spent a weekend aboard with my family and another couple. Boat seemed really small. So enter the 2002 320DA. Great boat, but I violated the fundamental rule of sea trials....I did not load her up as I intended to use her. I spent the next 10 months wishing I had more power to run fully loaded against wind and tide and achieve a 24-25 knot cruise. The boat would do it, but it required running the 5.7 MAG Horizons at 4 grand plus RPMs. So I found a lightly used 03 420 that had been a bit neglected, got some superb coaching from fwebster, and got the deal done. I spent a week killing myself to clean her up and now she looks and runs as new. This is a long way of getting around to my point: buy the most boat you can get your wallet around, and eliminate the two foot steps in between what you think you want and what you really want. Buy a clean used boat that has already depreciated, due proper diligence pre-sale, and enjoy it. I really believe that with gas threatening to hit four bucks a gallon there will be some folks looking to dump bigger gas powered boats...and therefore some deals to be had. Just my .02

regards
Skip

 

[Tantrum]

Skip
I agree with what you are saying and thats what has me a little apprehensive. I just sold my last boat, that wasnt for sale, because I was asked "if you were to sell it, what would you take?", I through out a number, he wrote a check :smt017 Im pretty sure that will not be the case with this type of boat , it just fits my needs better right now.
Im not an open check book guy but Ive worked hard to get myself into a safe position.

The only way to not get hurt too bad is to buy it right.

 

[keokie]

Tantrum, your statement about the necessity of buying right is wise indeed. You have to buy boats "right" because that is far, far easier than selling them "right".

 

[bliss]

I looked for an older 34 in the Chicago/Milwaukee area. I could not find one that was clean enough for The Admiral. I then looked for 330DAs and found quit a few that would do. I bought five months ago. Got pretty much what I wanted at a very good price. Now I have to say I got it at a good price. The boat market here is very soft. Much softer then in December. That is unusual. It usually firms up in the spring- not this year. We all know why.
Shop 'til you drop!

 

[Tantrum]

I resized some of the pics of my last boat.

 

[AndersonAcres]

Nice looking boat.