advice on new boat

kartman · Posted: May 09, 2009 8:33 am Post subject: advice on new boat

ok, so im lookin at gettin a new boat. im not sure what i want to get, but i dont have enough money to get a vdrive, and the wife doesnt like the direct drives cause of the dog house in the center.

i found a couple, just want some opinions. the first one i like the fact that it has a tower already and is cheeper, and i could sell my boat outright, or keep it.
http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/1161777593.html

the second is newer, bigger, has the 4.3, but no tower, and i could trade in my current boat on it dropping the price to around 4
http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/1144241128.html

nice boats in my price range are few and far between in my area from what im finding. i just know that i need to get something better than my 80hp outboard.

Suprahunter · Soul Rider Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 486 City: Lowell

The 4.3 is better but I would stay away from the Cobra drive. Be careful on older boats for soft floors and rotting stringers.

leviwynnyk · Posted: May 09, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject:

How much do you plan to wakeboard with it? If the answer is a lot or most of the time, you will want to upgrade again soon. I started with a 15 ft 1969 100hp outboard, to a 95 18 ft 4.3L i/o to a Mobius XLV 340hp. The 4.3l was decent with sacks but had a tough time holding its speed.

I think you might be better off driving to pick one up. Might take a couple days but if you looking to spend 6500 or more, there are some deals out there.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

What is your budget? And, like already asked, what percentage are you going to do wakeboarding? You might throw in what your water conditions are typically like too.

kartman · Posted: May 11, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject:

it will be used mostly for wakeboarding, and a little tubing. i would love to buy a dd, but the wife doesnt want the engine being in the center. and vdrives are out of our price range, so im stuck with either an ob, or a ib/ob for now.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I can tell you from my experience so far, I'm glad I got a DD instead of an I/O. The handling and pull characteristics far outweight the disadvantage of having the engine in the middle. If you can, talk her into a DD. I'm sure once you had one and got used to it a little bit it would be noo big deal. If you're going to mostly wakeboard, it's almost a must unless you need certain characteristics of an I/O like a smoother ride, etc.

What is your budget?