New guy looking for a family cruiser

[marineguy]

Hello everyone,
I'm looking for a family cruiser which is big enough to hold my growing family but small enough to tow behind my Yukon XL. I really like 260s and 280s. My wife and I have three little boys (1,3,5 yrs), and I'm concerned that a V-berth and midberth won't be adequate. I live in Jacksonville, NC, and am looking for something I can cruise to Morehead, Ocracoke or Hatterass to the north, and Wilmington or Myrtle Beach to the south. I see us making lots of weekend trips, since I'm in the Marines and get 4 day weekends around most major holidays (as long as I'm not deployed to SW Asia). I've never owned a boat, but I have a few friends with boats, and had no problem maneuvering my friend's 23' center console. I should probably be intimidated by the size, as a newbie, but as an Osprey driver, I'm used to landing an 84' wide aircraft in 120' square landing zones. I wouldn't think docking a 26' boat would be too much more challenging. Hopefully I'll pick up the skills I need to launch and recover a cruiser faster than I learned how to hover a Bell Jet Ranger in flight school (which was equally foreign to me). I'm also used to planning extensive trips and navigating without roads.
I've been scanning the ads for a few years now, and have a pretty good idea what I need. I'm just looking for some recommendations and advice.
Thanks for your time.:smt100
-Chris

 

[Presentation]

Hello everyone,
I'm looking for a family cruiser which is big enough to hold my growing family but small enough to tow behind my Yukon XL. I really like 260s and 280s. My wife and I have three little boys (1,3,5 yrs), and I'm concerned that a V-berth and midberth won't be adequate. I live in Jacksonville, NC, and am looking for something I can cruise to Morehead, Ocracoke or Hatterass to the north, and Wilmington or Myrtle Beach to the south. I see us making lots of weekend trips, since I'm in the Marines and get 4 day weekends around most major holidays (as long as I'm not deployed to SW Asia). I've never owned a boat, but I have a few friends with boats, and had no problem maneuvering my friend's 23' center console. I should probably be intimidated by the size, as a newbie, but as an Osprey driver, I'm used to landing an 84' wide aircraft in 120' square landing zones. I wouldn't think docking a 26' boat would be too much more challenging. Hopefully I'll pick up the skills I need to launch and recover a cruiser faster than I learned how to hover a Bell Jet Ranger in flight school (which was equally foreign to me). I'm also used to planning extensive trips and navigating without roads.
I've been scanning the ads for a few years now, and have a pretty good idea what I need. I'm just looking for some recommendations and advice.
Thanks for your time.:smt100
-Chris

Hi Chris,

Thank you for your service to our country.

Without changing your tow vehicle the 280 Sundancer is for sure out and the 260 Sundancer may be out. I’ll let a 260 Sundancer owner speak to that.

The 280 Sundancer, loaded with fuel, water, food, etc., on a trailer tips the scale at about 15,000 lbs.

Given your 3 children I recommend you make a decision. Do you want to be mostly day boaters or slip renters?

If day boaters, go with a 240 Sundancer with a occasional overnight, the two of you sleep in the V birth, 2 kids in the mid birth, one kid on the floor.

If slip renters, go with a 280 Sundancer or larger / older. Make sure you have air conditioning, it makes overnights much more enjoyable.

 

[tdappleman]

Welcome to CSR - and certainly to another Eastern NC'er! What year/motor do you have in your Yukon? It makes a difference in what you can realistically tow. I've got a 270DA which I towed for short distance with a new Expedition (9200lb towing cap) but it was over the limit - I now tow with the Excursion.

 

[meant2be]

I would agree with Presentation. I have a 240 DA and my Yukon XL 1500 struggles when this boat is loaded up. Every once in a while is OK but you will definately beat up your Yukon. I will typically borrow my fathers Dodge Ram 2500 Heavy Duty for hauling. As far as sleeping, I have three kids also. 8, 7, 4. A 240 DA is good for now but in 2 to 3 years it will be tight for us.

 

[Fishnut]

Hey, just get a Ford and all your problems will go away. LOL

Curious as to why you want a cruiser. With little kids like that I would think you would be more into the day trips. If money isn't an issue you might look at the select boats. They can handle some water and pulling the kids on the wakeboard is a snap.

We have the 240 and have had for 3 summers. It's mainly (60% of the time) the admiral and I (and our lab) so it works for us. We often go with 4 adults and it is fine. I wouldn't want anymore but we make it work.

If you are pulling tubes and wake boards but need the heavier boat I would consider the select. It has a jon(technical term) and ample seating. They work great for pulling tubes and wakeboards. That's why I asked about the cruiser. If you plan to sleep on it with three kids I would get the 680. :wow:

Just kidding.

 

[Sundancer]

I think SOME of the Yukon XL's were rated to tow up to 12,000 lbs? If that's the case then you have a wide range of boats you can tow. Florida doesn't have a lot of mountains to cross, so that will help extend it's life! Do you intend to moore the boat or just trailer it periodically?

I would recommend buying used to take advantage of the prices in this market. Buying a 5 - 10 year old boat or older will save a ton of cash and it will be easier on your pocket book if you determine that boating just doesn't suit your life style. It also gets you in so you can determine how you are going to use the boat. Will you use it for overnight or just afternoon outings? Fishing vs. watersports, etc. Each boat is a compromise and things may change as your kids get older.

I'd say with the ages you have now a 260 would suffice. It's a nice size and can accomodate all 5 of you for a while. I had 4 of us sleeping in the V-berth of a 19 foot cuddy until they started pushing me out as they grew. Then we moved up to a 250 DA and now a 300 DA. All three of your kids could probably fit in either of the beds. If you move up to an old 270 (late 80's and a great boat!) you can sleep 6 and still tow it, although it will require wide load signs. You have a LOT of options out there! Make sure that you get your boat surveyed before you buy it!

 

[everthing's irie]

Hi Chris,


The 280 Sundancer, loaded with fuel, water, food, etc., on a trailer tips the scale at about 15,000 lbs.

Wow that's really heavy. My 290 came in almost 3,000 pounds lighter than that on the scales when we towed it last year. I emptied the water, holding tank and only had a 1/4 tank of fuel and removed all extra gear.

 

[MExcelsior]

Wow that's really heavy. My 290 came in almost 3,000 pounds lighter than that on the scales when we towed it last year. I emptied the water, holding tank and only had a 1/4 tank of fuel and removed all extra gear.

Presentation's number is accurate. I pulled my boat and had it accurately weighed at a scale. I can't remember exactly, but the boat and trailer was 14,400. (2,650 for trailer) (5/8 of gas and no water). This about blew my socks off. For some reason, the 280 is a heavy boat.... Definitely to be safe need a 1 ton vehicle to tow depending on the weight of the trailer... although a 1/2 ton long box or crew cab could potentially get it done for very short distances.

 

[MExcelsior]

You guys must be feeding your 280's too much, like I said, mine tipped the scales at 12,500 lbs. The base weight of a 280 is 9600 lbs and only holds 600 lbs of gas and maybe 320 lbs of water. Do your trailers weigh 4000 lbs? The loadmaster steel trailer I used was 2300 lbs. Now I will concede that it is possible to cram an additional 2000 lbs of personal equipment and supplies on the boat. I usually carried the bare minimum in mine when I trailered it.

My 2500 series truck (admittedly over the limit which was 10000 lbs) pulled it with no difficulty. The drive train on this truck was the same as others with 16K capacity, the suspension was the weak link. I added roadmaster active suspension to it for safeties sake. http://www.activesuspension.com/

Now, I am not advising anyone to do what I did. This is strictly FYI. Is that a beautiful truck or what???? It was a 1998 model, with only 14K on it when I bought it in 2000. Unfortunately we sold it after I moved to the 320, and my airline went bankrupt. I was sick over selling it, but my latest purchase has me on the road to recovery.

Too bad it's not a 3/4 ton with a mighty 454, but it'll pull my whaler just fine.

Your's probably weighed that much also under normal use. Let's add conservatively! : )

9600 - fairly accurate boat weight
500 - fuel - could potentially be 600
2700 - trailer - steel - customer Heritage
95 - spare tire for trailer (in my case)
160 holding tank/water tank - could potentially be ~375
400 - generator
60 - guestimate weight of canvas supports, camper canvas, and cockpit canvas (could be more)
50 lbs of anchor, chain, rodes, bumpers - (Actually mine is probably at 80 with stern anchor also).

I have this feeling that I'm probably missing a lot of other things.

Here we are at 13,565 at VERY conservative number for my boat. Mine weighed in at ~14,300 with trailer without any personal equipment below. Also, I believe you need to add weight for some extras/options like the Air Conditioner, Windlass, etc.,

Add grill, clothing, drinks, ice, cleaning liquids, extra hoses, parts, tools, toaster, coffee maker, safety equipment, tubes, vests, utensils, bathroom stuff, TV, food, blankets, pillows, sheets, etc... etc... etc... etc... etc...!

Doesn't take long for things to add up! In short, this is one very heavy boat.

 

[everthing's irie]

Y'all must be loading heavy equipment on those boats or full fuel, water, holding tank because my 290 was 12,700. I used a f350 to tow it and had no issue.

 

[Presentation]

I also keep a spare engine and drive. I think 9600 is the single big block and single BIII.

 

[Sundancer]

Y'all must be loading heavy equipment on those boats or full fuel, water, holding tank because my 290 was 12,700. I used a f350 to tow it and had no issue.

I agree! My 300 DA with an 11 foot beam weighs less than these 280's! What gives? The base weight on my boat is 9,900! How come these weigh so much and are smaller than my boat? I thought I had a "heavy" old boat, but these 280's make me look like a lightweight! :huh:

 

[marineguy]

Hi Chris,

Thank you for your service to our country.

Without changing your tow vehicle the 280 Sundancer is for sure out and the 260 Sundancer may be out. I’ll let a 260 Sundancer owner speak to that.

The 280 Sundancer, loaded with fuel, water, food, etc., on a trailer tips the scale at about 15,000 lbs.

Given your 3 children I recommend you make a decision. Do you want to be mostly day boaters or slip renters?

If day boaters, go with a 240 Sundancer with a occasional overnight, the two of you sleep in the V birth, 2 kids in the mid birth, one kid on the floor.

If slip renters, go with a 280 Sundancer or larger / older. Make sure you have air conditioning, it makes overnights much more enjoyable.

Lots of good advice here, thatnks everyone. I had no idea 280s weigh so much.

Travis,
I have an 04 Yukon XL, 295hp 5.3L with the tow package and 3.73s, 4x4, LR D tires, and airbags assisting the rear coils.

I'm not really into skiing, tubing or things like that. What I'm really looking to do is load up the family and go on weekend trips to the outer banks, maybe some camping here and there, and fishing, of course.

Right now the kids are little. I figure I could probably squeeze them into the mid berth for a few years. It just seems like boats are a bit hard to sell (judging by the ads I've seen ride for months), so I'd really like to get something that suits my family the first time... but it looks like I won't be able to tow what I really need. I really want the boat to be here in my driveway so I can do the maintenance without spending hours at the marina (I want my wife to like the boat, not despise it).

I'd hate to have to part with the Yukon. I've had it since new, and always planned on keeping it for 20 years (15 to go). I could swap out the 3.73s for 4.10s, and maybe replace the 4L60 with a 4L80 transmission but I'm not sure that would be necessary for a 20 mile drive to the inlet. If I were driving it through the mountains to the lake, that would be a different story. It's only a 5.3L (325 cu in), but puts out more horsepower than the late 90s 454 used in 3/4 and 1 ton GM trucks--less torque, however. Though I do want to trailer it, I don't realistically plan to use the boat more than twice a month. I'm not retired yet, just looking for some family fun on the weekends.

What I'm really trying to avoid is spending $30-40k on a boat only to find it's too small to be enjoyable on overnighters, or too big to pull out of the water!

Thanks for the warm welcome and great info.