The Good and the Bad about your current boat

The Good
Love the view from the bridge
2-separate showers and heads
The room in the master
The view outside from the salon
Storage is great
The way the boat handles in tight spaces
The room in the bilge(except the port side of the port engine)
Ease of oil and fuel filter changes

The Bad
Making the master bed is a pain
Wish I could see more of the stern from the bridge

Bennett
 
The Good:
Love the bridge
Slow cruise when not in a rush or hop on plane at 22kts still won't break the bank at the fuel dock
Tons storage (but naturally could always use more)
Love the hydraulic platform
Get a kick every time i fire up the 6CTA's
Love lounging in the salon and having full views of our surroundings
No more CO alarm going off with diesels
Dual heads with separate showers
130 gallon water tanks
Bow and Stern thruster
Space in the forward master is great
No more duck horn - kids are not embarrassed to hit the horn after the fireworks[edited:"i'm not embarrassed"]
Love the classic lines - most think she's way newer than she is

The Bad
View of the platform from the bridge when sterning in
Access to port motor - however haven't really tackled maintenance on that side as yet.
Dreading removal of the bridge enclosure for winter storage

Removing the bridge enclosure is much easier than you think. I can take it all down in less than an hour. I took mine down this spring, cleaned it, and have it in storage for the summer. I marked each piece with painter's tape and "my code" so I know where each piece goes back....

Bennett
 
Good:
Twins
Straight inboards
All systems are basic, easily accessible, and easy to maintain.

Bad:
40 years old, so out of date (and admirals tastes).
 
The good: It's paid for

The bad: Slip fees

And all the things My3sons/Mark listed. Except I like the low swim platform. Great for pulling my dingy on and off the H2O davits
 
The good:
It's small
Fun to run around in
Easy to work on
Paid for years ago
Fits in indoor dry storage
I think it still looks and runs great even at 20yrs old

The bad:
It's small - can really get beat up on LKN on a busy weekend.
No head - the girls don't like that.
I think a 25ft ish bowrider with a head may be my end boat.
I can’t agree more with the no head part. It’s so nice to have a bathroom onboard. I have friends with pontoon boats that paid well over $100,000 for and the ladies don’t even have a place to go pee.
 
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270 Sundeck. Paid for the day I towed it home. Only regret is that I am off during the week, and potential companions have to work. So, it sits around, and gets used 3 times a year. Happy to have it, it has all of the right bones, and for a 2004, has 111 hours. First world problems.
 
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Good: big and heavy for a 32 foot boat. Translates into great seakeeping characteristics in rough Lake Michigan water. All weather boat with enclosed air conditioned/heated helm, and full electronics. Fuel efficient. Low depreciation so ownership cost is very reasonable.
Bad: queen sized bed is tough to make. Shower could be larger.
All things considered, I've not seen a better 32 foot boat design. Would buy it again.
 
The good

There's really too much to list but first would be the comfort level of this boat. Last night we had 11 guests for a 4 hour evening cruise. Very comfy, lots of seating for everyone and it was quiet enough while cruising that everyone could talk and not have to yell.

There is a ton of storage and GW has done a nice job of filling all the nooks and crannies with "stuff". The boat gets decent fuel economy and with a 700 gallon capacity, a good cruising range.

It's a very easy boat to maneuver. Last night when coming back to drop off the passengers I had to spin the boat 180* back it to the port side to side tie on a dock, and also had to fit between two boat. It was a piece of cake and I got a round of applause from the people on board for doing it successfully.

I love the Cat diesels. Quiet, no smoke, powerful with a ton of torque.

The bad

I can't see the stern when backing in, but I made a fix to help judge how far to back into the slip.
 
The Good:
For us, it's the perfect size for a couple. It's very easy to handle but gives us plenty of space for the weekends. It also allows us to get into our favorite marina on the weekends, which can only handle about 35' (we stick out quite a bit). We've made it our own with many upgrades and it feels like "home". Decent room for another couple or our grown kids if they want to go with us. I love access to both side of the bed. That's a VERY big deal for us.
The Bad:
The ride in rougher seas is not great. The 330EC we had prior was a much better ride. We don't go out (on purpose) in rough seas, but it happens. I've yet to change over the exhaust to a water lift system and do have fears about water ingestion, though having that fear forces me to come off plane very slowly and I let the motors idle for awhile before shutting down. That's a winter project for this year. I so wish I had a better dash layout for a 12" display or at least twin 9".

Overall, we're in love and barring anything weird, we'll have this boat for years to come.
 
I went from a 11 260 DA to a 98 290 DA.

The good:
The over all design and layout is fantastic.
I have the "B" interior plan with the raised V berth and a couch so I have ample floor space down below.
I will actually own this boat in just a handful of years compared to the mortgage I had on the new 2011.
I've found that the 1998 is built more solid compared to the 2011 I own previous.
With the older boat I'm not apprehensive to get in there and get my hands dirty fixing things. I just love to know how everything works.
I can fit in the bathroom with the door closed and even stand to take a shower :D

The bad:
The previous owner deferred some maintenance items which helped me negotiate a lower $$ but I soon have to pay the piper and get the work done.
 
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The good: Easy to handle. Not too big and Not too small. easy to maintain.
The bad: The generator, the spot light, the refrigerator.
 
I've been looking at (lusting over, obsessed with?) the Back Cove 34 for years. Finally got one 2 weeks ago. I'm getting used to it.

The good:
  • Room for 4+ to sleep. An island berth, convertible settee, convertible dinette. Space was becoming a major problem to sleeping out on the 270 AJ.
  • Pilot house with full glass. Basically is an all-weather boat. Don't have the same weather-related visibility limitations of my old AJ or the same worries about weather windows on a trip.
  • 27-28 mph cruise. I can get where I want to go reasonably quickly.
  • Single inboard diesel engine. Less maintenance and fuel burn than twins. I can cruise at 27 mph burning 17 gph. Less maintenance than outdrives. And it's diesel.
  • Handling and acceleration. They are are amazing. My son wasn't holding on tight enough when I went to full throttle; the turbo kicked in and he slid from the helm next to me all the way into the aft cockpit. Bow and stern thrusters are a huge game changer - makes everything easier. The boat handles chop and larger seas very well - it muscles through seas that would have made the AJ have to slow way down and/or very uncomfortable.
  • The head: full standing height with a separate shower. No more stooping over or wet toilet.
  • Engine access. The whole helm deck lifts up for engine access. With the lone engine I can easily access all sides of the engine and all the mechanicals.
  • Build quality. It's very high.
  • Draft. with a prop tunnel she draws 3' 1", about the same as the AJ.
  • Value preservation. Back Coves seem to hold their value very well.

The bad:
  • Storage is not as good / copious as I expected. In some ways the AJ was better in terms of mass storage. The BC has a lot of small storage spots, where the AJ had couple massive areas like the cockpit sole locker, the aft trunk, and the fish cooler. I think this might be largely a function of the inboard design.
  • Island berth is hard to make.
  • No cup holders in the cockpit. Really?
  • Hard top separates me from the open-air boating experience. It offers WAY more more protection, but it's not the same wind-in-your-hair sensation.
  • It seems like the electric head uses WAY more water than a vacuflush system.
  • The acquisition cost. It's an expensive boat. And it's not paid for yet.
  • It's not a Sea Ray.

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Nice looking boat. The Down East style always intrigues me.
 
1998 370 Express Cruiser

Good:
  • Previous owner took really good care of it
  • Twin CAT Diesels
  • Lift up cockpit floor for engine room access, tons of room to work around both engines and the generator
  • Room for 15-20 to have a dance party on it :)
  • Room for only 2 to sleep (get off my boat!)
  • Hardtop and full camper canvas means year round boating here
  • Good range, decent economy
  • Heavy and beamy, handles rough seas well
  • Down below layout is excellent - walk around V Berth bed, enclosed shower, large galley
  • I looked for 18 months and found my dream boat

Bad:
  • Small swim platform limits my dinghy options
  • No bow thruster
  • Holding tank could be a tad bigger (only 28 gals for a 100 gal water tank)
Kevin
 
I'll keep this short and simple...

Each boat is mission specific - That said, the 400DA is great.

Honestly I look for things I'd change and I can only find one thing, well maybe two...

She was very well engineered, from the helm to the layout... I see things all the time on other vessels that I would change but not my boat, and like I said, I'm looking for things. I just got lucky finding this model. It's the sweet spot for me....The only reason to move on would be extra room, hence a change in mission.

So, the two things - 1. The door size could have been improved so that you don't need to pull the cabinet to remove the fridge. That's the worst job and everyone knows it. Or they could simply make reasonably repairable fridges....

2. I'd probably add an additional battery and have a separate house bank.

But, the two tiered swim platform; the helm station; the full doors to staterooms; the separate shower; the large blackwater tank; the fuel switching; the full sized fridge; the loads of storage; the large water heater; the two 30amp sides; two a/c units; redundant bilge pumps; wide beam with props fairly wide; step access if you can't use swim platform; color scheme; room for 40' flat screen; quality components; huge engine bay hatch with electric actuator; loads of room in the bilge; central vac; most everything accessible to repair; customer service that's super;

What else can I say... I'm going to miss all this when I move on...
 
270 Sundeck. Paid for the day I towed it home. Only regret is that I am off during the week, and potential companions have to work. So, it sits around, and gets used 3 times a year. Happy to have it, it has all of the right bones, and for a 2004, has 111 hours. First world problems.
Weekday boating Is the best just go anyway
 
The good:
Paid for.
Diesels.
Lots of Space.
Fuel Efficiency in a boat this size.
Excellent handling around the docks.
Master shower size.
Second head in aft.
Pocket door closing off aft berth and head.
Having a big fridge.
Second fridge in cockpit.
Great bow pad for relaxing.


Bad:
Still has too much canvas. I hate Canvas.
Master bed is a PIA to make but I’ve got a system now. Wife still can’t do it though.
Aftercooler Zincs are a PIA to change on the 3126’s but kind of getting used to those.
Cockpit table is too small, off to one side and located where it is in the way.
 
The good:
Paid for.
Diesels.
Lots of Space.
Fuel Efficiency in a boat this size.
Excellent handling around the docks.
Master shower size.
Second head in aft.
Pocket door closing off aft berth and head.
Having a big fridge.
Second fridge in cockpit.
Great bow pad for relaxing.


Bad:
Still has too much canvas. I hate Canvas.
Master bed is a PIA to make but I’ve got a system now. Wife still can’t do it though.
Aftercooler Zincs are a PIA to change on the 3126’s but kind of getting used to those.
Cockpit table is too small, off to one side and located where it is in the way.

Interested in your bed making system. Can you share?

Bennett
 
The Sabre is new to us, so list is short.

The good:
Twin Volvo diesels and IPS pods, and for the record, Pods Rock! The steering control is the closest to a sports car control I have ever experienced in a boat. Ride is very smooth and the boat corners like it’s on rails. Fuel efficiency is great with 17gph total burn at 21 knots

Similar to the Back Cove, real glass surrounding the helm with skylights. The helm is well laid out and spacious (two Raymarine E120Ws, auto pilot display, tachs and Volvo MFD engine display).

Below, the salon / Galley is laid out really well and can be used as a second berth. The entire below deck interior is cherry paneling with teak flooring.

The bad:

Counter space in the Galley is smaller than the counter on the wet bar located on the helm deck. Fridge space is ok with a good sized under counter unit in the Galley and combo ice maker fridge under the wet bar.

Ice maker is ac only, off the dock we need to run the gen or inverter to keep the ice as ice. Alternatively, we have to empty the ice bucket and shut off the ice cube maker.

Serenity is Sabre’s Hull #1 for Volvo IPS in their 38 model, so the features are spartan; no sky hook, docking speed only joystick, and the engine telemetry sucks. It is not even close to the comparable VesselView of the day. I’m hoping I can replace it with the newer version that’s built by Garmin.

That’s it so far.
 

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