New boat, because it's nearly spring

[monkeydelmagico]

sweet. That's a big step up from a ski boat. You gonna rent a slip or trailer it?

 

[Uppsala9496]

Congrats on the new boat. Going to run it in Lake Michigan?

I've been contemplating trading in my 20 foot pontoon for a 24 foot one. Thing is only 2 years old so seems rather foolish to me, but gives me something to think about.
Getting an 18 foot ski boat seems like a better idea (keeping the pontoon of course).

 

[halik]

Yupp, lake Michigan. The 18ft was actually not too terrible even in 3-4 ft swells (especially if you're going 20-30mph...weeeee). The new one should just cut through the chop.

We had a slip last year, doing the same this year.

 

[RGUN]

Do any cruising into the Huron/Georgian Bay area?

 

[Meghan54]

Darned nice boat, halik. Too large for myself, but I've always looked fondly at those, esp. Rinkers and the like.

Buying boats in dead of winter = win.

Truth! Bought a 17 1/2 ft. "fish and ski" w/a 120hp outboard on it in January for little more than what the outboard was worth. Granted, it's sort of a project...needs the gelcoat worked on, carpet replaced, new steering cable, but it scooted like a scaled jackrabbit when we tested it out.

I don't think I have ever met a boat owner that didn't end up hating boats or anything to do with them within 2-5 years of ownership.

BOAT - bang out another thousand

First, it's usually expressed Break out another thousand.

Second, I've never hated any boat I've bought.....ever. I've owned boats for decades and have never regretted it once.

Now, as to expense....I'll grant you a boat like the OP's can be a tad costly to maintain and its parts certainly aren't inexpensive. But that's part and parcel to the type of boat and its propulsion system.

On the other hand, boats I've owned have had fishing on inland lakes/reservoirs as their primary purpose, mostly bass boats. And outboard powered boats are pretty much the choice in that. Outboards are vastly cheaper to maintain vs. an I/O setup.

Yes, they're louder, uglier, will never sound as "good" as the V-8's do, and the boat probably won't look as sexy, but the ease and cost of maintaining an outboard vs. an I/O setup more than makes up for its "deficiencies".


And being on the water is all the justification for owning a boat I'll ever need.

 

[slag]

So.. What needs done to it or what do you plan on doing to it? I keep forgetting to check this thread at home because work blocks imgur urls. Can you put photos on bbzzdd? If not, I'll just send myself an email to check this later.