[JeffC_]

If I may summarize:
The water-ballasted boat you can trailer to the lake is not much good on the Bay, and the boat that will be good for the Bay stays in the water. You must decide which experience you want.
(I''d give up the "weekend at the lake after a three-hour drive" idea (and then three hours home? Gad!), and have a good boat in a slip in the marina).

Jeff