Is Bigger Really Better?

AKBASSKING

AKBASSKING

Active Member
Apr 13, 2008
4,649
SE Alaska Summer/Columbia River winter
Boat Info
1988 Yacht Fisher
Engines
Twin 375hp Cat 3208 T/A
Wayne get your mind out of the gutter!

I am going to the Seattle Boat show next month and I was thing about the pros and cons of a bigger boat 40'-54'.

The living space would be nice. Having diesels would be great. But would it fit into the way I want to use it? I plan to spend my retirement in Prince William Sound in Alaska and some time the inside passage.

A bigger boat presents issues like bigger mooring, if you can find it. I won't be able to go into the smaller coves that I can take my 30' into.

So to start a winter solstice discussion what do you see as the pros and cons?
 
That's what big tenders is for! My 14' Caribe fishes just fine in tight spaces. Bigger is better!
 
On the PRO side, you'll love the space on a bigger boat. Going from a 30' Sedan to a 50' Sedan will be like moving from a 1-bdrm apartment to a 5 bedroom home. You'll also find it's easier to handle, docks just as easily, is much smoother in chop or big waves and the fishermen downstream from Bonneville Dam will tend to give you more room. In the San Juans and further north it will be much more comfortable for spending weeks/months aboard just 'cause there's more room to move around in the cabin.

You mentioned not being able to go into some of the tight coves. You may find some you can't get into, but I'd bet there won't be THAT many. The draft on your boat is probably around 4', right? The draft on mine is 5'. If I were looking at getting into a cove with a 6' depth I probably wouldn't chance it. Just being on the safe side and not wanting to ding a prop. You might go into that cove, but I'd guess if you were out on the boat for the summer you'd pass it up so you wouldn't risk bending a prop.

I'd say GOFORIT!!!
 
I think boats are like TV's, buy the biggest one you can afford because no one ever goes back to the TV place and says " I bought too big a TV".

That said, I like that I can get my 320 around on nice harbor cruises I would not be as manouverable with driving a 40-50' dancer or DB. A harbor cruise is also much more fun with the stereo, fridge full of drinks etc, than in a 10' RIB. Would I like a bigger boat, yeah, a 390 would be just about perfect for me.


D
 
Everytime I think I want a bigger boat.....I wax and trailer the one I have and it is paid for. That cools my wants for a while, Mike.
 
I have gone up in size and come back down. 20 foot bow rider, 31 foot offshore, and now the 230CC. The 230CC seems to be the boat size and type that works for us, Inland lake and Great Lakes. All my boats have been "trailerable" Had a tri-ax custom trailer under the '31. But for the way we boat right now I don't think bigger would be better for us. Just weigh all your option first, that can be a pricey mistake upgrading and not liking it, but then again, you won't know till you try.
 
I was thinking of an algorithm to answer this question... Some of the considerations are time, money, use, repair cost, slip/mooring cost, etc... But the most important factor is what does your better half want?


(Time+Space Required+Type of use+Ego/fuel cost+maintenance cost+slip fees)*spouses desire to move up=Your Answer
 
AKBASSKING said:
...A bigger boat presents issues like bigger mooring, if you can find it. I won't be able to go into the smaller coves that I can take my 30' into....
Click to expand...

If a 40'er doesn't fit there I don't think those places qualify as coves. This would be a showstopper for me. I think you should keep the 30'er. :lol:

On a serious note, I'm not sure if you use a dinghy. Every boating experience is location dependent. For example, when we had 240DA we didn't have much need for dinghy until much later. But after we moved up to 320DA we knew 100% that a decent dinghy will be a must. As Ken mentioned, your tender is your way to get to shore, explore the shore and surroundings.

I would always say that bigger is better until the point where one is crossing the line of the "happy medium", which is very different for everyone. Some forks don't need anything more than 40'er b/c it's a perfect size for them. Some folks need something larger due to the crew size. And of course some will choose to stay right below 40' b/c they don't justify the expense for the boating style they have. There are tons of variable that will drive the decision and everyone has different situation. In order to help an individual we'll need more details.
 
Alex F said:
If a 40'er doesn't fit there I don't think those places qualify as coves. This would be a showstopper for me. I think you should keep the 30'er. :lol:

On a serious note, I'm not sure if you use a dinghy. Every boating experience is location dependent. For example, when we had 240DA we didn't have much need for dinghy until much later. But after we moved up to 320DA we knew 100% that a decent dinghy will be a must. As Ken mentioned, your tender is your way to get to shore, explore the shore and surroundings.

I would always say that bigger is better until the point where one is crossing the line of the "happy medium", which is very different for everyone. Some forks don't need anything more than 40'er b/c it's a perfect size for them. Some folks need something larger due to the crew size. And of course some will choose to stay right below 40' b/c they don't justify the expense for the boating style they have. There are tons of variable that will drive the decision and everyone has different situation. In order to help an individual we'll need more details.
Click to expand...

Good points all. We are getting a dingy this spring, so we will see how that goes.
 
I have a nice West Marine with a small Merc all late model if you are interested...
 
My 260 is my first cruiser and I looked at a 280 at the same time and was intimidated by the size on the trailer. Now I wish I would have gotten the 280. But now, I am looking at a 420AC. I say buy the biggest thing you can afford for what you want to do. Sooner or later you'll want to move up or get out alltogether. Therefore, go for it!
 
Time to move up is after you have filled up the current "hole in the water" with your money. That is when you need to start all over with an even bigger hole :)

As long as your enjoyment over rides the amount of work involved, I say keep on moving up! After 25 years I have found my balance point, besides, I have friends with bigger boats.
 
What cove can your 30' get into that I can't ? draft....inches different and you shouldn't be there either. size... does an extra 15-20' really matter?
 
Went form a 18' to a 20' now in a 26' I am already wanting a 38-40' (If anybody wants a 1/3 ownership in a condo in Orange Beach let me know so I can get rid of it and move up to a larger boat.)

If getting into the shallow is a problem just get a small boat to tow behind the big one.
 
Went went from a 260, in two months because it just wasnt the size we needed ,then we thought the 320 was massive , for a while now we need a 480. But the way we use our boat which is often we realistically are looking at 34'-38' sedan. For our situation we cannot at this time justify a second "Mortgage" for a boat we only get to use for 5-6 months. Ps. We also use or dinghy!!! A must have ,,,
 
Bigger is better if you can afford it!

In my situation I'm limited to what I can get to and from our lake. My 310 is about at the limit in height now with the power lines and over hanging trees. If I only had to take there once and leave it year round, a taller/bigger boat wouldn't be a big deal, but we have to get out at the end of season. I have friend that bought a late model 40' Rinker... he has to have a crane to remove/place the radar arch twice a year. About $3K a year to get it in and out.

For now a 40'+ DB is out of the question but an older 410 DA... maybe?!?!
 
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