New here w/ a couple questions

[flybub]

Hi everyone. I am new to the site and looking for my first boat. My wife and I have been around the water all our lives but have never owned a boat. I have been on more than I can count but ownership has never come my way. Anyway, we are in the hunt for our first boat and have a couple questions. We are both 30 yrs old with 3 kids ages 8, 4, 2. We live about an hour and half south of Lake Erie where a majority if not all of our boating will be. The first year the boat will probably be trailered to launch then hopefully get a slip for the following year but that is yet to be determined (I have an 05 F-150 4x4 5.4L). I know that boating is a compromise between a family cruiser and a fishing vessel and I am leaning towards a family cruiser for the time being but would still like something I can fish off of with a couple buddies. My kids LOVE to swim and they enjoy being on the lake (we use our in-laws boat from time to time - Four Winns cruiser 24') and the kids have a blast jumping off the swimming platform and tubing. My budget is going to be around $16k-18K for right now, don't want to get into anything to expensive right off the bat as I can always trade up to something bigger down the road. I have been around SeaRays for the most part and love their layouts. I am wondering the difference between a Searay Express Cruiser 215 and a Weekender 245. I know the Weekender is longer but what other differences are there? I found a 1998 E.C. 215 that I really like but I'm gonna keep digging for right now because I'm not quite ready to buy yet. How is the ride between the two? Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch.

 

[Buckeye Boater]

Flybub,

First of all, welcome! Always good to have another buckeye on board.

We were in a similar situation as you. Away from boating for several years for various reasons, we opted to re-enter with a 215 Weekender (newer version of the 215EC). We love the boat and it performs better than expected. We split our time on Lake Erie (west end/island area) and several inland lakes in southern Ohio. At this point in time, we prefer to trail so that we can maximize our weekends. If the winds are blowing and we can't get on Lake Erie, we head south.

If you are planning any overnights on the boat, I would consider going larger with the 3 kids. We have slept four on our 215WE, but that was pushing it.

Buy as much boat as the budget allows!

Good luck in your search - Hope to see you on the water.

 

[wvsundancer]

with 3 children I would go for the 245 if you can swing it. If a slip is in your plans the 245 would be a much better boat to try and spend the weekend on. 245 on the lake is going to be a much better boat. Also boating is something you may or may not get addicted to. If so you are going to get 2 footitus.. always looking to move up the next two feet. Good luck with your search.

 

[BonBini]

I say get your Family a "Fun Boat". Something the kids can enjoy the water on, they will eventually want to invite there friends. Will pull a skier... A small galley, stand up head... And a camper top. Something around 25 footer W/300hp B3. That would most likely be at the top of your trucks ability. Be just enough boat for five of you.

Also don’t be too afraid of a little older boat. I don’t mean a Classic pre “89” with the bolt on swim platforms. The mid “90”s are some really nice affordable boats. And when its time to move up, you won’t take as big a hit when you sell your fist boat.

Best of luck with it all.... Welcome to CSR.

Edit: You mentioned "Ride". Teach yourself about "Dead Rise". The flatter the bottom, the rougher the ride!

 

[flybub]

Thanks for the responses! I would prefer something bigger but (lol...there's always a but), I don't think financially I can swing something bigger and if I go to something bigger then I am more or less upgrading to a full onboard kitchen in the Sundancer and I don't need that. There may be an overnighter here and there but we certainly will not be living on it for a weekend. What I would like to find is a 24ft with just a cuddy to either crash in or for storage and perfer a head on board. I love the look of the Sundancer but it looks like that is more for entertaining guests, I'm looking for something functional as a boat to fish off of and something the kids can enjoy. The E.C. 215 is perfect for what I'm looking for just wish it was bigger. Is the 245 Weekender more or less the same boat as the E.C.? I will have my own slip at some point but I need to get a boat secured first. My original plan was to save as much as I can on a boat so I can get a slip but where I'm at now and the price points I'm seeing I'm better off getting as much boat as I can with a trailer and worry about a slip down the road. I know alot of you (and I am too for the most part) big on sea trials but is there a price drop in the winter? A good freind of mine is a supervisor/mechanic for the Jet Express out of Port Clinton so I figure I could take him with me and have him look at it if I do find something during the winter months. I do like the styling change to the cockpit in 1995 and prefer something 1995 and on. Thanks again for the help.

 

[pgplay18]

Just had a friend by a 23' cuddy Crown Line. Tried to talk him into a Searay but this is a really nice boat. Just enough room for his 2 kids but still able to trailer it easily. He paid around 18,000 for it but I'm not sure the year but its late 90's. One thing to double check is canvas. Once he went through the survey and bought it, found it it only came with a cockpit cover. He will spend most of his time on Lake Michigan, cool nights... he just ordered the the camper replacements, just a heads up as you look.