Joined
·
2,180 Posts
$0.02
I am a relatively new 1st time boat owner (3 years) and can relate to your questions. Without a doubt, something in the 21' class is the way to go for so many reasons. One thing that a new owner can't possibly conceive of are the costs involved vs. time aboard, and the bigger the boat, the more $$ you spend. Starting a bit smaller will help you get a better feel for the whole experience.
I would also recommend something used and not in 100% pristine condition cosmetically because there is the likelihood that you will be scuffing it up til you get the hang of docking. Remember, its pretty easy to dock under calm conditions, but pulling in and out of a slip or dock with a stiff breeze and good current can be challenging...especially if you have an audience.
As far as the type, I would say that is up to you, but any walkaround in the 21' class is going to have a tight cabin and be of little use for other than storage. I thought the porti-potti was a good idea until you realize you have to lift it out of that tight cabin to empty it. So you might want to find something that has more of a pilot house or close to stand up cabin.
A plus to getting a used boat is the re-sale/depreciation. From what I have seen, a decent used boat more than 5 years old will retain much of its value so you really won't lose all that much when selling it to upgrade once you get the hang of it.
PS: An acquaintance purchase a 34' as a 1st boat with no experience and does little more than sit on it because its simply too much boat. This person later expressed regret at getting the 34' because it kept them from boating as often as they wished.
I am a relatively new 1st time boat owner (3 years) and can relate to your questions. Without a doubt, something in the 21' class is the way to go for so many reasons. One thing that a new owner can't possibly conceive of are the costs involved vs. time aboard, and the bigger the boat, the more $$ you spend. Starting a bit smaller will help you get a better feel for the whole experience.
I would also recommend something used and not in 100% pristine condition cosmetically because there is the likelihood that you will be scuffing it up til you get the hang of docking. Remember, its pretty easy to dock under calm conditions, but pulling in and out of a slip or dock with a stiff breeze and good current can be challenging...especially if you have an audience.
As far as the type, I would say that is up to you, but any walkaround in the 21' class is going to have a tight cabin and be of little use for other than storage. I thought the porti-potti was a good idea until you realize you have to lift it out of that tight cabin to empty it. So you might want to find something that has more of a pilot house or close to stand up cabin.
A plus to getting a used boat is the re-sale/depreciation. From what I have seen, a decent used boat more than 5 years old will retain much of its value so you really won't lose all that much when selling it to upgrade once you get the hang of it.
PS: An acquaintance purchase a 34' as a 1st boat with no experience and does little more than sit on it because its simply too much boat. This person later expressed regret at getting the 34' because it kept them from boating as often as they wished.
