Has anyone here gone up in size and regretted it?

E

EricW

Member
Mar 16, 2008
354
Essex, MD
Boat Info
1994 290 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 2005 220hp 4.3 MPI's FWC w/ Alpha 1 Gen IIs
I think about having a significantly larger cruiser someday with true liveaboard accomodations. But, being of relatively modest means, I also think about the huge jump in expenses.

Has anybody out there bit off more than they could chew?
 
I understood the costs before I moved up and I do not regret it however I under estimated the work and upkeep involved. I do just about everything myself and it is a heavy load. If I was rich and always trusted someone else I would pay to have everything done.
 
Yes me. I got up to #253. I was at the limit of clothing size I could buy at Kohl’s. I’ve worked all year long and am presently #185, waste down from 42” to 36” and really the 36” pants are getting a bit loose.

I also do most of my own boat maintenance. Someone has played a trick on me. My engine compartment, the area where I stand, bend over or lay down was much larger this fall than last. I have no idea how someone did this.
 
EricW said:
I think about having a significantly larger cruiser someday with true liveaboard accomodations. But, being of relatively modest means, I also think about the huge jump in expenses.

Has anybody out there bit off more than they could chew?
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It happens more often than you think. I have several friends and acquaintances who moved to a 42+ for the reasons you noted and now are looking to go back to the low to mid 30' range. Lots of different reasons but moorage is almost always an issue. One thing that keeps most of them from following through is the diesels, they love them. Hard to find a diesel pusher in that smaller size range.
 
I've recently moved up from a 26' to a 33' Sundancer. I know it's not a big jump but it was like night and day as far as the systems go. My head spun when I looked in this bilge compared to the last not to mention the cramped quaters in there with the twin big blocks. I know this isn't a "significant" jump but it made a world of difference in comfort for my family of five. There are alot more systems it seems and maintenance which of course increases costs. I do not regret this move one bit but, I did get an excellent deal on a mint condition boat which I feel fortunate about.

My friend is now looking to move up from a 27' Bayliner express to a 35' Siverton ACMY. I was trying to convince him to go straight to a 392 ACMY but he brought up an excellent point that must be considered. The marina we do 99% of our boating to on Fire Island has a very limited number of slips above the 13' beam range. This can make it stressfull trying to get locked in for the weekend, especially around holidays. He would probably end up going over early in the week and paying for numerous days that he wouldn't even be there. I know Bmac leaves his boat over there for extended periods specifically for this reason but, he is made of money and doesn't seem to care!:grin:

I would certainly look at your budget and then stick to it. The last thing you want is to become "Boat Poor". I have seen this before and it really can ruin the whole boating experience. In addition be sure of what you want to do with your boat and be sure the bigger one will accomodate these parameters. The dockage issue at the beach certainly will be a big factor for me if and when the time to step up arrives!
Good Luck.
 
Yep went from a 21ft to 30ft then back down to a 21ft.

I don't miss them $800 fill-ups or the $1.100 winterizing / storage fees. :wow:
 
Just finished winterizing, while the 320 is more work than the 260 and 215. I enjoy the camaraderie among the dock neighbors. We all help each other. After changing oil and winterizing everything went to the marina restaurant yesterday with the guys from the dock and had pizza and beers and talked about the fun we all had this boating season. The memories is what makes it worth all the work.
 
skolbe said:
I enjoy the camaraderie among the dock neighbors. We all help each other. After changing oil and winterizing everything went to the marina restaurant yesterday with the guys from the dock and had pizza and beers and talked about the fun we all had this boating season. The memories is what makes it worth all the work.
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Sounds like our marina, We all help each other out and then it ends up being some type of party.
 
I regret it a little but it was a good experience overall. All in all, generally I think we had more fun on our smaller sport boat. Having kids, it is nice to be able to pull them around on boards and tubes in a reasonable size boat. Even the 285 is a little big for that, but it isnt outrageous like the 330. I think we will sell our boat this spring and get a Chaparal 285ssi. Cheaper to run, can do almost anything the 330 can (with less room of course, but it can do it). Plus it is trailerable so I dont have a slip payment all year. Plus we can go on nice trips to lakes once in awhile, bringing the boat on camping trips is good fun too.
 
I regret moving to the 1988 340 every fall and spring. All the work that has to be done. But when I am on the water, wish it was bigger! Just spent two 3 day weekends getting the boat ready for winter. The tarp over the top is almost done. Tomorrow I will finish it. Then starts the winter projects.
 
I'm at just the right size for us right now with our 300 Sundancer. I just made a big commitment to several more years with it because I just put two brand new motors in it.
I've often been tempted to go even bigger, but my wife is not a fan of boating so the limited use wouldn't justify anything bigger. If I had a bigger boat I'd want to make it my summer weekend house. That just isn't going to happen with my wife.
Dock fees and storage aren't a factor for me since I own the property where my dock is.
My kids, ages 8 and 11, still like the boat but their busy schedules don't have room in them for as many overnights as we would like.
I'll probably stick with this one for a few more years and then if anything I'll probably move down just a little bit to something that will give me the creature comforts enough for two for the occassional overnight that I can convince my wife to do, yet do it with something with a single engine to keep costs down.
 
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
mistercomputerman said:
Nope, no regrets.
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Same here, the 410 is perfect for how we use the boat. Bigger is possible in the future (love the 510) but would most likely live on anything larger than that.
 
Yeah, I guess most folks that use this forum are active boaters and are pretty happy with their current size boat. That's a good thing.


Like most of you, I do my own maintenance, minor repairs, and cleaning. Doing those things on a larger boat doesn't concern me too much. I hate to admit it, but fuel costs are probably the biggest factor holding me back. I don't think I could afford to use a larger cruiser the same amount I do now due to the increased fuel. I really like the mid 2000's 340 DA with 8.1s. But, every trip on that boat would cost me twice as much for fuel. I would hate to have a beautiful 340 and not have the money to take it on long cruises. Something else in the budget would have to give.
 
Regrets? Not for even an instant. Now that I'm retired, working on the boat has become my life pleasure and I love it.

This has become my mantra....

"There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats."
- The Wind In The Willows
 
sfergson727 said:
I love the room that our 340 affords, but I really, really miss being able to load the boat up on a trailer and take it elsewhere. I trailered my previous 280DA all over the place, and we had some great vacations. Now if I want to go up the lake, it costs an arm and a leg in fuel....sometimes bigger is not always better.
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That is the conclusion we reached without trying "bigger". We also are in mostly landlocked Indiana so that figures into the decision. MM
 
Over the years we have known a number of couples who had boats in the 50'+ range who went back
down to 40'+. The common reasons are handling a boat that size for a couple and the inability, here in the
Sacramento delta, to go anywhere you want due to draft concerns.
 
I don't know if this counts but, years ago and long since past, I bought a 52ft "SAIL" boat. It was set up to single hand it from the cockpit but it worked me to death. I loved the room and the big boat feel, but if you ever want to test your ability to handle a boat. Try to put one of thoes in a slip with some wind and current, by yourself. Power boats are easy and that's where I intend to stay! haha In my little 240da....for now.
 
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Eric, it depends on how you boat. I had a 27' dancer and it cost me a fortune to spend every weekend on it for FOOD for a large family. Fri nite dinner, Sat. 3 meals, and Sun. 2 meals equaled $300. or more a weekend! We moved up to a 35' and made a pact to eat/cook as if we were home and the resulting savings more than paid for the extra boat! Now we are in a 45' diesal, which uses LESS fuel $ than the 35' gasser and we go farther and more often in this WAY more comfortable boat. We are doing more boating because it is so comfortable to be on, and we "live" on it from april to nov. 15th or so. So I have no regrets and I'm loving our boating life with the wife,family and dog. Ric
 
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