Drooling for the next upgrade ...

[Hai Nhi]

I just got into boating last year. Bought a 24 Bayliner, sold it right after to get myself a 280. I thought this would be the biggest boat I would buy because I only trailer it, no slipping (and plan to keep it for ... 10 years). But ...!

Now I realize that my trailer can take longer/heavier boats, I've been guilty of checking around other people boats and am loving it.

Well the 340 & 320 are definitely nice boats, but 340 is too big to tow, too expensive for me for now. 320 I'm not sure, but if it's trailerable (on a frequent basis) I have to get an even bigger trailer. Hahaha. So that's probably a no-no too because of the $$$ issue at the very least.

Going down the list, I really like the newer 310 (2007 and up), especially those with v-drive & Axius/joysticks etc... NICE!!! Is there any one wanting to trade a 310 for a remodel project? Custom built home? Anyone?

OK here are a couple of million-dollar-questions:
- Who's strictly trailering their bigger than 280 boat?
- Those who upgraded from 280-and-smaller boat, what made you pull the trigger?
- How to convince the admiral?

On the third question, I have 2 problems:
- I love boating in general, the wife does too. But we still not sure how to enjoy it on the more frequent basis yet. We live about 15-30 minutes from most of the marinas around here (salt water), and about 1-1.5 hr from CA Delta & river. In the summer for the last 10-12 years, we go to some lake (2-3 hrs) once/yr with our inflatable rafts, then jetski, now 280. I tried to take my wife & 2 kids (3&5 boys) out on a couple of hours trip to the Bay but it's still cold or windy. So we just did a quick tour of the new Bay Bridge and back. I want to be able to "wow" my wife somehow to show her that boating is really cool. So please suggest some "cool" ways/nice place to boat (year round, not just in summer), other than just doing quick tours like I just mentioned. If she likes it, upgrading boat wouldn't be sooo .... out of this world for her. Hehehe.
- Money wise: We're not millionaires for sure. Getting the 280 was a big surprise for my wife already. The 310's I was looking at would set me back $30-$50k more. I mean, how you guys usually do it? Do you have a budget for upgrading boat or something? Then save up? Or just buy first tell later kinda deal? Hahaha. That's what I did with my 280. Taking a loan would be an option, but then she'd be freaked out with the surprise monthly payment.

If I can prove to her the wonder of boating (and reason to upgrade), I'm sure we can try to come up ways to finance it somehow. But so far she only likes it moderately, unlike me - dreaming about boating all the time.

Did anyone get bank-repo boat deal? How was it?

Oh and I'm serious about willing to work for boat!!! Yep!

Okay, I need to go sleep - long day tomorrow. Hope everyone has a nice weekends. It's raining over here so no boating this weekends for sure.

 

[kevin27]

You may want to look at the 02-07 300DA. It is still trailerable.

 

[JimT]

The 310/330 is a great boat and a logical upgrade from the 280. One of the reasons I chose it over the 320 is the narrower beam. At 10'5" it is much easier to tow. That said its not an easy boat to tow due to height. If you have radar you will have to R&R the dome on each trip which is not practical.
You cite the closeness to water as the reason you want to trailer. I would strongly urge you to consider a wet slip. For us a big part of boating is the time spent on the boat at the dock. Launching a 280 or 310 from a trailer is a lot work and at least a two person job. Driving to the marina and boarding the boat is a snap. There is increased cost to keeping the boat in the water but its more than offset by the amount of additional use you will get. And your wife will love the social aspect of spending time on the dock and the overnights. If you are determined to continue to trailer stick with the 280. If you are going to spend a lot of extended time overnighting the 310 is much more comfortable.
The cost issue is relative. Many people consider the monthly payment rather than the price of the boat. With low interest rates, 10-15 year terms and the interest write off you can probably afford more boat than you think. But also recognize the payment is only part of the cost of ownership. Maintenance, fuel, repairs, insurance, etc. are a big cost.

 

[Zach312]

The 310/330 is a great boat and a logical upgrade from the 280. One of the reasons I chose it over the 320 is the narrower beam. At 10'5" it is much easier to tow. That said its not an easy boat to tow due to height. If you have radar you will have to R&R the dome on each trip which is not practical.
You cite the closeness to water as the reason you want to trailer. I would strongly urge you to consider a wet slip. For us a big part of boating is the time spent on the boat at the dock. Launching a 280 or 310 from a trailer is a lot work and at least a two person job. Driving to the marina and boarding the boat is a snap. There is increased cost to keeping the boat in the water but its more than offset by the amount of additional use you will get. And your wife will love the social aspect of spending time on the dock and the overnights. If you are determined to continue to trailer stick with the 280. If you are going to spend a lot of extended time overnighting the 310 is much more comfortable.
The cost issue is relative. Many people consider the monthly payment rather than the price of the boat. With low interest rates, 10-15 year terms and the interest write off you can probably afford more boat than you think. But also recognize the payment is only part of the cost of ownership. Maintenance, fuel, repairs, insurance, etc. are a big cost.

I couldn't agree more. My wife would have never agreed to an upgrade to a 280 if we would have trailerd the boat. Once we started looking at marinas she was much more on board. We ended up with a 380 sundancer. We wouldn't change it for the world. Many nights are just spent in the slip with many friends we have met at the marina. No stress of dealing with boat ramps. We meet at the marina after working during the week and idle out to the pay and grill for dinner all the time. We spend a lot more on boating than we ever thought but we get 10x the use and 100x the enjoyment.

 

[Gary Hill]

+1 on the slipping at a marina. We have friends that have a 27' weekender slipped at our marina. They have a trailer and use it now and then. So slipping at the marina brings the camaraderie that Jim mentions above. But then, they still have the trailer if they need it. The trailer also lets them store the boat for winter at their house (probably not needed where you live).

So they stay at the marina but every so often they put the boat on the trailer and haul it some where. This is an advantage. For example, last year they wanted to go to the Mackinac area (top of the mitten in Michigan) which is a 5 hour cruise at best. Being smaller they wanted to save gas money but they also didn't want Lake Michigan to hold them up somewhere. So they trailered the boat up there, had a great time as it is awesome up there, trailered it home and plopped it back in the slip.

For most of us, boating is a way of life. Getting the admiral to get on board with this way of life will take some time. It is easier for her to see if she is around other boaters. If you think about slipping keep a couple of things in mind. 1. Make sure you pick a marina that has things for your kids, I.e.: playground, pool, etc., 2. You will need to get those kids into the boating way of life as well. If there is no one for them to play with while you are hanging out at the dock, that aspect will go sour. 3. Try to find a marina that will let you store the trailer on site so you can have it handy.

One last thing, as you were talking about payments, etc., keep in mind that our lovely government allows the boats loan interest to be deducted if you have a head, galley sleeping quarters. It qualifies as a second home. At least for now!

Remember, happy kids = happy admiral, happy admiral = happy life!

Good Luck in whatever direction you go!

 

[Hai Nhi]

I know wet slipping would give us more chance to go boating. But finding a covered slip in the Bay Area is very expensive I heard. Also, salt water & outdrives don't like each other much. .

And, we'd like to boat in lakes and river. Trailering allows me to do that. One of these days when I can afford a little bit more in monthly payment, I'd definitely do it.

I see down in the CA Delta area people have covered slips, and some have boat lifts and what not. I even thought about buying my own boat slip & install a carport to cover etc ... Heck, I even looked into water front properties with private boat docks. Hehehe. But that's just when I day dream. Very expensive for us for now (a couple of mil at least).

Alright, back to the reality: maybe I should look into financing so I can afford a bigger boat.


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[NorCal Boater]

Put the boat in a slip in the Delta. It's there to use even if you don't go out. And you can get to the bay if you want. We have kept our last 2 boats at Oxbow Marina near Isleton.
www.oxbowmarina.com
There is much to do there and the slips are covered. There is a pool and a private ramp. Check it out

 

[jitts3]

For what my opinion is worth I would hang on to the 280. At least for me the big monthly payments would ruin any fun. But again, I look at things differently. I have drowned in debt before. Since you have no boat payments maybe try slipping it for a season. You still can trailer her if you choose to take a trip to a different body of water. I fail to see how adding a payment to the budget can help on a affording a bigger boat when they have no payments now. Won't the new payment chew into the fuel budget for a now thirstier boat? Take what the payments would be and use that to fuel the boat you have.
I drive old vehicles. But I admit, am a car guy. Counting the motorhome we have 4 at our disposal now. Our "economy car" is a 1979 Cadillac. But with no payments, I can drive anything anywhere.
Well that's my opinion for what it's worth. All points to concider.

 

[JimT]

I know wet slipping would give us more chance to go boating. But finding a covered slip in the Bay Area is very expensive I heard. Also, salt water & outdrives don't like each other much. .

And, we'd like to boat in lakes and river. Trailering allows me to do that. One of these days when I can afford a little bit more in monthly payment, I'd definitely do it.

I see down in the CA Delta area people have covered slips, and some have boat lifts and what not. I even thought about buying my own boat slip & install a carport to cover etc ... Heck, I even looked into water front properties with private boat docks. Hehehe. But that's just when I day dream. Very expensive for us for now (a couple of mil at least).

Alright, back to the reality: maybe I should look into financing so I can afford a bigger boat.


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Why do you need a covered slip?

Outdrives in saltwater require more care but that's not a reason to keep the boat on a trailer.

 

[Richie89]

I trailer and went with the '06-'08 290. I think it's as good as you can get and trailer. It's like 31' long, but only 9.5' wide. Looks like a monster being pulled, but surprisingly easy to launch. It seems much bigger than the 280's we looked at. It takes all of my 3500 diesel dually to handle it tho.
we chose a trailerable boat so we can go different places easily. We live in Atlanta, so trailer to Atlantic and the Gulf for trips.

 

[AFD]

go for a loan even if it is to supliment your out of pocket expense. I got 3.1% for as long as 10 years if i wanted. I didn't go that long but i will tell you a payment of under $200 was pretty enticing. i have a 1997.5 290. 32' long and 10'3" wide. i'm looking for a used trailer but keep it slipped. i would like to take it on some long trips to visit friends that would cost me a fortune on the water but pennies behind the truck. at about 11,000 pounds dry according to sea ray, it's well under the capacity of my truck but i would have to take the radar off...not that difficult but something to consider every time. my wife and I looked for 2 years for the "right" boat for us. i liked several but she hated most of them until she boarded the 290, first one we had been on and the extra beam made all the difference. she loves it climbed right up the boarding ladder in the lot while she was 6 months pregnant. best advice i can say is buy the boat you can see yourself loving and just love it...we all fall victim to 2footitis eventually but just let those days come. make sure the Boss can visualize herself enjoying the boat or you will both come to hate the boat.

 

[hillsideshortleg]

After we got our boat, my wifes plan was to go to the lake Saturday and spend the night on the boat then come back the next day. We keep it at an uncovered slip and don't think we would like a cover slip. One of the first weekends with the boat I talked her into going out Friday night. She complained about being rushed. We tried it and have been enjoying the rush of getting out to our lake home(boat) every Friday night. She even wanted to go up and spend the night on a night we 30 mph winds. We have a 280 and now have 12footites. We plan on having a 400 da within 10 years. BTW our fun at the lake is floating around out on the lake at night listening to music having DRINKS and loving life. The dream of a 400da was an easy sell. I believe there are all kinds of ways to enjoy a boat, you just have to find thing that woks for you. We are both socially overloaded during he week and look forward to being by ourselves during the week end. Personally I don't care for sitting out on the lake during very hot day and look forward to the cool evenings.
CORRECTION: 1 non alcoholic drink!!!! I say this so I don't get an earful from the whiners about me having a drink out on an empty lake with no boats within 3 miles.

 

[AFD]

my wife and i had 15footitis on this one. went from a 17' bow rider to the 32' 290 sundancer some getting used to as the last boat i operated with twins also had a bow thruster but with twin IO's it just takes some getting used to.

 

[Hai Nhi]

Cool!!! All of the comments have solid points.

I mentioned about covered slip because I want to avoid direct sun light when slipping. I had an opportunity to buy a slip at a private marina 25 mins from my house, good for the 280. Monthly (fee & tax) comes to about $125 or less. Cost about $20k. But because I don't think I can install a carport like cover, and it max capacity is 28' (maybe some leeway for swim platform sticking out 1-2'), I passed. I was thinking ahead that if I own a slip, I would more likely to upgrade to a bigger boat in the shorter future

I checked out the newer 290 (07-09), looks very nice too, both floor plan & the new exterior look. So that might be one contender, for the minimal upgrade cost compared to say 300/310 (2007-10).

For this year, my plan is to wash up the boat very good. Double check & service the engine & generator. Service the Bimini & full camper enclosure (change zipper pulls, smooth out zipper, patch, wash, apply protectant, etc). I've already changed out all my breaks to have brand new disc break with hydraulic over electric on my trailer. All speakers upgraded. Maybe wax the exterior too. Then maybe do an over night trip, or at least a night trip out the bay to practice & prep for 4th of July firework watch (those of you in the Bay: if you've done this before please give tips & advices of where & what to do). Then do a couple of delta trips, hopefully some overnight too. Point is to get the wife & kids enjoy it more. If all is good, next year I'll plan for the upgrade. .

Anyone owns a slip? Specially around the Bay Area? Advantages/disadvantages?

Thanks again.


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[HUMPH]

Why do you need a covered slip?

Outdrives in saltwater require more care but that's not a reason to keep the boat on a trailer.

The Delta is mostly fresh water but many marinas have covered slips. The sun is what bakes the gel coat so having the boat covered makes it much easier to keep looking beautiful. It stays cooler while in the slip too. Temps during the summer get over 100 degrees so it's nice to not have that sun baking the gel coat and canvas!