Recent move to central Florida (Requires A New Boat)

Do not look or buy a boat from Florida. Just tellin ya. It'll save you tons of time wasted. Go look at listings in the Great Lakes region. Thank me later.

Agreed..... Those boats are super clean. And usually lived under a covered slip that kept the sun off the decks. Actually, any boat from the interior of the country is most likely a lake (fresh water) boat. My last boat purchase was a 1999 Searay 215 EC. Bought it in Tennesee. Super clean boat! The latest one I'm going to look at is not in Florida. If it's clean and the vinyl is not dried out, it might be a keeper. Thanks for the tip.
 
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My .02c had dinner with a service manager sat who services all types of boats here in Fla they won’t even take in an I/o for service I go to the sandbars weekly and it’s 99% outboards in Fla. They get flushed and put back on the rack for the most part
I’ll save you $$ avoid an I/O ! as far as sitting down inside the boat like you stated that doesn’t exist here it’s too dang hot most people are under the Bimini or in the water so a small cabin is really for storage we have one and that’s what it’s used for
I would try to find a smaller outboard maybe older boat and go explore and you’ll see what works here and what doesn’t. With lack of service and more maint I/O’s are like dinosaurs on the sandbars. Good luck.
 
Adding to diamond's advise. We had our IO down here for 2 years and knew we'd made a mistake. Fortunately used boat market was on fire when we sold and actually made money on that mistake.

Not so much in the new one tho
 
I wouldn’t discount a Robalo. I know you are convinced to stick with Sea Ray, but I think they are really nice boats myself. They do offer smaller 21’ runabouts with outboards and a small head. Their center consoles have room to move about and still offer good seating and a head too. I would strongly consider something like that for Florida’s if I was ever going out to a bay or the keys (and that sounds really fun to me).
 
I would actually prefer an OB boat, but I'm kind of hung up on the porta potti. I started looking a the Stingray line of deck boats (no potti) and I like the ample freeboard on these boats as well. What do others do with no potti when the girls (and grandkids) are on board?
 
If you plan to have guests, I would have a porta potty. Actually, I would want a pump out head, and they can be found on some smaller boats. Porta potties suck to use and suck even more to empty.

I love sea rays, and sundecks, and I/O's. But I would not do an I/O or a sundeck for what you are talking about. I would be looking for a plush CC or dual console and OB. I could make a sundeck work, and I could certainly make an I/O work. I've owned I/O's for decades, and here is the key... Do not leave them stored in salt water, follow maintenance very closely, and never ever, ever ignore a tick, a click, a whine, or any other noise. And never, ever ignore glitter in the oil.

There is also a profound difference in handling and performance between a BIII and an Alpha, but the BIII is even worse if stored in saltwater.

Ultimately, for what you are describing, I'd probably end up with a dual console outboard.

I would definitely be looking outside Florida. I know there are those of you that have absolutely beautiful boats in Florida, but tons of them are absolute trash. Pictures lie, and brokers lie, and I lack the patience for both.
 
OK people! Here's where I'm at. After chasing down several SR 200SD's and SR 210SD's I came to the conclusion that a late model SR in good condition is VERY expensive. A 2011 200SD is selling for over $34k.... before title, tax and registration. And that was without a trailer! The same is true for a SR 210 SD. $$$$ .... Sooooo..... My friend told me to look at the Chaparral Sunesta line. I did, and found a 2007 Sunesta 214, original owner boat, super clean, FRESH WATER use only, w/5.0 merc MPI, alpha drive (239 hours) sitting on a 2014 trailer for under $30k. I'm going to look at the boat this weekend. This boat will be used mostly on the Florida lakes with an occasional trip to the Gulf. What do ya think???
 
I have a friend with a Sunesta, and there is no way I’d personally take it out in the Gulf. the front end has a really weird shape that doesn’t really take big (3’+) waves very well. In my opinion, that boat is too easy to take water over the bow. I think inland, it’s a good boat.
 
Nick, I think I know what you are talking about ...... the really weird shape of the front end on your friend's boat has been refered to as a "pickle fork" bow (hate it). That bow shape was used on the larger (24' plus) Sunesta. The 214 I am looking at has a round bow much like a cc but with a lot more freeboard all around. But I will only be in the gulf on occasion, if at all. I plan to be mostly on the fresh water lakes in central Florida and perhaps the St Johns river or the ICW.
 

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