Your first boat purchase

[Heracles]

Were you nervous and gunshy before pulling the trigger on your first boat?

I been wanting one for years, and now just realizing how much fun and experiences it can bring to a family. We typically NJ shore hop every weekend in the summer - and i just watch the boats go by and want to be on one.

One other thing i wonder, is being its Jersey Shore points- where do you guys typically go to swim safely and not worry about sharks lol. We are originally from Greece, and let me tell you, beautiful waters for boating, and jumping into crystal clear waters with no worries of sharks.

How did you get over the nervousness of newbie boater and not knowing what your doing? I mean, when i was little my dad had a 23 foot bayliner cuddy and we would go out of Point of Egypt Marina in Greenport LI, he would go out far, insane to think how boats in the 80s were o dependable and people ran them so far.

I was thinking about a center console, but realise a cuddy cabin style would allow us to do the short weekend get aways.

 

[Golfman25]

I bot my first boat at an auction. It was an older sea ray cuddy cabin. I was the only bidder and got it for $1500. It had it's issues, but I had nothing to loose. I got tired of trailering it and the river I boated on was either crowded or closed due to water levels. So I moved up to a big lake boat. For me, it was a good first boat. Minimal investment and allowed me to get used to owning. I had grown up as a kid on my grandparents cruiser in FL, so I knew something. But I hung around websites and read the boating publications to get up to date. Also eventually took the power squadron safe boating class. Just take it slow and have a plan for everything. Good luck.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Heracles, I think you'd have to be a little bit nuts if you weren't nervous about buying your first boat. All of us were, and every time I upgraded in size I was nervous. Especially with this one. But every time I did it it proved to be a good move.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

The trick is to take your sweet time, look at several different types and configurations, if available to you, rent a few and know what you want and why you want it. That will take a lot of the nervousness out of the equation be cause knowledge is power. Also I think taking a Power Squadron boating course will help as well. Good luck with your search. Oh and realize too that the perfect boat does not exist.
Welcome aboard
Carpe Diem

 

[Blueone]

Our first boat purchase was a nightmare.... I was young.… bought a big old Sea Ray from a Sea Ray dealer...So all proud I took my Dad down to show it to him and he pretty much said I made a huge mistake and get out of the deal. The dealer who turned out to be a schister wouldn't give my deposit back.... ... So I used the deposit to buy a brand new 80's 21' Seville cuddy cabin....under powered....blew the engine the second year and Merc replaced it....a little in line 4 cyl… alpha 1

This first boat experience is over 30 years ago...I wasn't married to my current wife, we were living together...didn't have a house yet...we had our son on this boat and the twins and over the years we wore this boat out...it went all over Ontario... without a doubt the best boating experience to date

A few years ago we were up in Georgian bay for a family reunion and I actually stumbled across it ...Same name....here are a couple of pics I took of it....still looking good and going strong...

So point of the story is you can't go wrong...yes I lost a bit of money when I was young but the memories have lasted a life time

This is a pic of my oldest on that boat....we added a camper top back then. He is 30 today.. loves boating...he always pilots my current boat like he was born to do it...despite only coming up a couple times a summer. .. Damnit you got me all sentimental over first boats …. Good luck!

 

[Golfman25]

Our first boat purchase was a nightmare.... I was young.… bought a big old Sea Ray from a Sea Ray dealer...So all proud I took my Dad down to show it to him and he pretty much said I made a huge mistake and get out of the deal. The dealer who turned out to be a schister wouldn't give me my deposit back.... the only good thing was he went bankrupt 1 year later..... So I used the deposit to buy a brand new 80's 21' Seville cuddy cabin....under powered....blew the engine the second year and Merc replaced it....a little in line 4 cyl… alpha 1

This first boat experience is over 30 years ago...I wasn't married to my current wife, we were living together...didn't have a house yet...we had our son on this boat and the twins and we wore this boat out...it went all over Ontario... without a doubt the best boating experience to date

A few years ago we were up in Georgian bay for a family reunion and I actually stumbled across it ...Same name....here are a couple of pics I took of it....still looking good and going strong...

So point of the story is you can't go wrong...yes I lost a bit of money when I was young but the memories have lasted a life time

This is a pic of my oldest....we added a camper top back then. He is 30 today.. loves boating...he always pilots my current boat like he was born to do it...despite only coming up a couple times a summer. .. Damnit you got me all sentimental over first boats …. Good luck!

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mine was the 18 foot version.

 

[Stray Current]

I think technically my 260 is “my” first non pwc boat, my fiancé and I bought it together. I grew up on my dads boats, everything from a 14’ sea rayder to a 38’ express, sometimes a few at once. The 23’ center console I just sold was he and I as a partnership.

yes, even with a lifetime of boating experience and knowing exactly what I was getting into I was a little nervous.

if you find a boat you like make sure you get a sea trial survey! Eventually you have to take the leap of faith, but best to be sure it’s the right leap!

im at the jersey shore, feel free to pm for local info

 

[liv2ryde100]

sea trial and survey are important. starting with a 4 stroke outboard is a nice answer because of reliability and ease of maintenance. if u think a cuddy cabin will allow u to do overnights make sure it has air conditioning otherwise u can forget it in the middle of july and august. and also if u gonna have women on the boat u need a functional bathroom. lol

 

[sbw1]

1979 Sea Ray purchased at the West Michigan Boat Show in February 1979. Too excited to be nervous.

 

[duffman04]

Best advice I ever got was to figure out the style of boating that you want to do. Fishing? Day trip? Weekend trip? Anchor away from beach or drive right up? Etc... Once you figure this out, it will help you pick the style.

+1 on Power Squadron and lots of research. I got lucky as I have some extended family that have doing this for a long time to help teach and still learning every time. Yous should be able to pick up some tips here and from other boaters.

My first boat, '87 300 Sundancer. Nervous as hell when bought and even more so when I docked. Lots of work and lots of $, but secured our love of boating!

 

[Golfman25]

Best advice I ever got was to figure out the style of boating that you want to do. Fishing? Day trip? Weekend trip? Anchor away from beach or drive right up? Etc... Once you figure this out, it will help you pick the style.

+1 on Power Squadron and lots of research. I got lucky as I have some extended family that have doing this for a long time to help teach and still learning every time. Yous should be able to pick up some tips here and from other boaters.

My first boat, '87 300 Sundancer. Nervous as hell when bought and even more so when I docked. Lots of work and lots of $, but secured our love of boating!

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Sea ray made some awesome boats over the years.