Which boat for someone new to boating?

xravenx

xravenx

Member
Oct 5, 2006
858
Baltimore, Md.
Boat Info
370 Sundancer 1995
Engines
8.1s (2013) w/ V drives
Just want to get some thoughts on this............... I've got a friend who's wife wants them to get into boating. He has never owned a boat before and he wants me to take him "boat shopping" and show him the ropes about boating. They have kids that are grown, so it would mainly be just them. They want a Sea Ray and are looking to spend around 150K. They want to keep it in a slip where I keep mine and spend weekends on it, so it would be boating in and around the Chesapeake Bay. His wife wants to buy new, I know the direction I'm going to guide him...............just looking for some thoughts and comments from you guys.

John
 
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Gary,

It would be mostly in the upper Chesapeake and knowing them a long trip would be like a 4 day weekend...............at least until they got comfortable with everything.

John
 
A nice used 320 or 340 with V drives would be great. There are so many gently used ones right now. There is a repo - 320 at Lake of the Ozarks in my area - that is like new. I looked at it at the time I bought mine. They wanted more for a used one than I paid for mine new. Today it is owned by the bank. It is an 06 and they are asking $125k. But, I am sure there are similar 340 deals. Otherwise if you want outdrives. There are some nice 280's and 300's out there. New you might get a 310.
 
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The "length of trip" is a key factor.

The other factor is if they want to trailer the boat to other locations.

I can understand the "new" vs "used" argument. The key is to find the right used boat. . and don't show her any used ones before you have the right one. (The right one is clean, with no mold!)
 
skolbe said:
A nice used 320 or 340 with V drives would be great. There are so many gently used ones right now. There is a repo - 320 at Lake of the Ozarks in my area - that is like new. I looked at it at the time I bought mine. They wanted more for a used one than I paid for mine new. Today it is owned by the bank. It is an 06 and they are asking $125k. But, I am sure there are similar 340 deals. Otherwise if you want outdrives. There are some nice 280's and 300's out there. New you might get a 310.
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Scott...does that 320 at LOTO have v-drives or stern? I think on Yachtauction's website...it said the boat had stern drives.
 
For 150k, they should be able find a 320 still under warranty. I would search for one with bow thruster. It won't provide the live aboard space as a flybridge boat, but it should be easier to handle around the dock and get better fuel mileage. They may even fin a 340 for that price.
 
Vince_nj1 said:
...as a flybridge boat, but it should be easier to handle around the dock and get better fuel mileage.
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Huh?

Dude... my 480 DB is easier on the wallet than my 380 Sundancer was... and I didn't know it was harder to handle around the dock...

This is a hard one without knowing the people or how they'll like boating. Get too little of a boat and they really like it and then they are moving up and waisting $$... Get too big and they don't like it and they are waisting $$...

It appears, at a minimum, they are not looking to trailer so I sure wouldn't get anything with outdrives on it...

A 2003/2004 vintage boat like yours (a 380 DA) would be a nice boat and in this market they could pick one up with diesels as well... The bay can get rough which is why I mention something of that size... However, if they are only going to be fair weather boaters and not really get into the whole hobby, something with inboards but smaller would be in line...

Hope they don't hate you after this.

Oh wait... shoot... just get a bow rider... they'll go anywhere! :grin:
 
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Maybe start with a lightly used 340 and bank some of the $150K in case they do decide to step up after a while.

I would also encourage them to spend some time on your 370, see if it fits them. Not just a walk thru, but spend some time on it. Heck, rent it to them for the weekend!
 
Four Suns said:
Huh?

....
Oh wait... shoot... just get a bow rider... they'll go anywhere! :grin:
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Looks like you have already got some great info. The 340/380 sounds like the best options for them per what info you have given.

*Off Topic*
If they got a nice bow rider they would have the best of all worlds. They already got a friend with a big boat and a sport boat to play with. :thumbsup: :lol::smt043:lol:
*Back on Topic*
 
xravenx said:
... He has never owned a boat before and he wants me to take him "boat shopping" and show him the ropes about boating....
John
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Dumb question, How many actual started out with a 30+ foot boat as their 1st boat?
Would highly recommend some kind of training/classes for your friend.
 
vetteboy said:
Can you get bow thruster on a bow rider ? Why would anyone want a thruster on a 320?
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Why not? Wind and current affect "little" boats too. Why would anyone want an Axious drive?

If this is their first boat, any help they can get docking would be appreciated.

I have a bow thruster on my 320 and I like it. I don't know if I would have payed the 10 or 15K for the option new, but I bought used and was happy to have it.


http://www.splashvision.com/Video/14228_NEW-AXIUSZEUS-JOYSTICK-DOCKING-VIDEO.html
 
Hoos Dave did, bought a 2000 340. I was surprised when he told me this last weekend, but so far so good for him and the boat.

My father-in-law started with a new 320, 6 months later he purchased an almost new 420AC.
 
I like the idea of "renting" before you buy. You want to understand if you can actually stand living on the boat for 1-2 nights a week.

I would think a bow thruster would be cool. . .I would love to have one on my 280SS, even though I don't really "need" it. I would only make use of a bow thruster one or two times a year. . but each time would be sweet!
 
"I like the idea of "renting" before you buy. You want to understand if you can actually stand living on the boat for 1-2 nights a week."

Me too. It's difficult to walk through a boat and say for sure it's going to work. I guess it's the same with a house though.
 
xravenx said:
Just want to get some thoughts on this............... I've got a friend who's wife wants them to get into boating. He has never owned a boat before and he wants me to take him "boat shopping" and show him the ropes about boating. They have kids that are grown, so it would mainly be just them. They want a Sea Ray and are looking to spend around 150K. They want to keep it in a slip where I keep mine and spend weekends on it, so it would be boating in and around the Chesapeake Bay. His wife wants to buy new, I know the direction I'm going to guide him...............just looking for some thoughts and comments from you guys.

John
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That’s a tough position to be in. You can offer them advice based on your own experience but ultimately the decision will rest with them. Just give them your best advice you can on things like comfort, gas mileage, handling, and operating expenses.

I think most people learn what type of boater they will be in the first year or so, so many save some money by starting out small then move up if they like it. I see people all the time at our marina buy big boats to start, and then realize how much they cost to operator, so then the boat sits.

Make sure they are prepared for the cost of ownership. It does not stop at the purchase.
 
"Make sure they are prepared for the cost of ownership. It does not stop at the purchase."

Great advice. I think I would show them your maintenance (DIY and service paid for) and fuel bills for the past 2-3 years, plus insurance, plus slip fees, then see where they stand.
 
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