Smudgebarge advice

[PalmettoSailor]

My 30 something nephew is contemplating buying his first boat and wants to go power. I am working on that, but in the mean time would like to be able to provide some specific advice on powerboat brands to consider and to avoid.

Of course Sea Ray was the first brand he mentioned, and they seem to be universally despised by Sailors but I don't really know if they are a good boat or not. In fact I really don't know much about the relative quality of powerboats at all, but have it in my mind that Rinker and Larson are better built boats than Bayliners or Sea Rays.

Does anyone know if there is something like Sailnet for powerboaters where I can send him to bone up on brands before he walks into one of the winter boatshows and gets smoke blown up his rear by a bunch of dealers?

Forgot to add he thinks he wants an Express cruiser type boat around 30' or so.

[Faster]

This is a huge site:

Boat Design Forums

that doesn't cater to sailors exclusively, if you're patient you may find some useful info here.

But continue to work on changing his mind!!

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by midlifesailor

Forgot to add he thinks he wants an Express cruiser type boat around 30' or so.

Uhhg. That is a cross no father should have to bear!

I have admitted here before that I also have a "thing" for certain powerboats. But "express cruisers" are my second worst nightmare when it comes to them, after only cigarette boats.

Express cruisers are one of the least efficient hull designs (wide, fat, heavy, much windage), which is why they kick up such a huge wake, and require large, twin, fuel sucking V-8s to get up on plane. And they rarely come with diesels. Have you talked to him about the fuel costs? Prices have dropped lately, but there's no guarantees they'll stay down. 20-30 gallons per hour is the burn rate up on a plane.

The good news is there are loads of them for sale -- cheap, due to the economy and the fuel costs this past summer.

If you could at least steer him towards some models that are derived from the sport-fish boats, he'd be getting into a more respectable design with a broader appeal. Look at older Bertrams, Uniflites, Blackfins, etc. Maybe some larger Grady Whites. Or some downeast designs like Duffy, etc.

These are boats with enduring appeal that will be easier to get out of down the road if he has to sell. Or he can just park his Express Cruiser with the 5 dozen other ones lined up for sale.

If nothing else, maybe convince him to give a poor sailor a break from his wake!

[121Guy]

If I ever go to the dark side it will be in a Tiara! They support active dialogue on their website among owners and are known to have very high quality. By the way, your son in law has excellent timing if perhaps not the best sense.

Good Luck!

121 Guy

[PalmettoSailor]

Originally Posted by 121Guy

If I ever go to the dark side it will be in a Tiara! They support active dialogue on their website among owners and are known to have very high quality. By the way, your son in law has excellent timing if perhaps not the best sense.

Good Luck!

121 Guy

Nephew, not son-in-law.

Thanks for the input so far. I think I may have some luck directing him towards something other than an Express Cruiser, but doubt I'll be able to sway him towards the enlightened art of sailing.

Like me he'll live some distance from where he keeps his boat and wants some accomodations for long weekends. I'd try to talk him into a diesel trawler design but that might not have the "chick magnet" appeal he's looking for. lol

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by midlifesailor

Nephew, not son-in-law.

Oops, sorry, somehow I read that as your son for some reason. Not such a cross to bear if it's only your nephew!

Still, do what you can...

[sailaway21]

Here's one company's version of an express cruiser, although I like their other designs better. They make life-long chick magnets in varying sizes.
http://www.grandcraft.com/PDFs/Expre...Spec_Sheet.pdf

I'm a bit more partial to the classic series myself.
Builders of Fine Mahogany Boats | Home

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

Here's one company's version of an express cruiser, although I like their other designs better. They make life-long chick magnets in varying sizes.
http://www.grandcraft.com/PDFs/Expre...Spec_Sheet.pdf

I'm a bit more partial to the classic series myself.
Builders of Fine Mahogany Boats | Home

Ahh, now that is a very different interpretation of "Express Cruiser" from the Sea Ray.

Lovely boats....

[xort]

once upon a time I was an express cruiser owner. The rinker had a lot of plastic, whereas the Chapparal I bought had stainless. Rinker is down the line of quality.

Tiara is definately top of the line. Sea Ray & Regal seem to hold the middle ground with everybody else behind to one degree or another and Bayliner at the bottom.

[PalmettoSailor]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

Here's one company's version of an express cruiser, although I like their other designs better. They make life-long chick magnets in varying sizes.
http://www.grandcraft.com/PDFs/Expre...Spec_Sheet.pdf

I'm a bit more partial to the classic series myself.
Builders of Fine Mahogany Boats | Home

Ok, I'll say it. That thing is sexy. Its really more what I think of as a Pilot boat design than todays express cruiser though.