Quote:
Originally Posted by capesams
20'er's are the best all round bay/ocean,and this depends on how your mind set goes as far going offshore[miles].
semi-v bottom...great stable fishing platform, but will beat you to death in any chop.Easy on gas as it doesn't take allot of power to get it to move and stay on top.
deep-v....cuts chop/slop/white caps like it's even not there, but takes more power to move it.some say they roll more, but I dought you even notice after a few trips.
once you cross the line from a 20' and go to a 23', be warned , you'll need twice the truck to pull it,,much larger trailer, twice the gas use.
I'd stick with a 20'er....deep-v.....after owning 20-23's,semi and deep-v's.
|
T'is what I did. Over four to five years, I looked at probably forty some hulls. (all used) I did not want a project boat, and patience was well worth it. I found a beautiful 1993 Grady White 209 Escape center console, with a '93 Yamaha 200. Survey backed up what I thought of it, that it was hardly used, and well maintained. Trailer and electronics were a bonus, Garmin 188c was new last year, with full NE chip. Some guys on the board saw it last weekend.
My seatrial was a run from Marblehead to Cuttyhunk and back last weekend, and that hull was solid. (Not that it was a comfortable ride home in a 20k NE blow with 2-4ft chop....) Engine has low hours/yr and boat had 7+ years of maintenance records from Ryan Marine and Baerts.
Previous owner moved up to a 24' Regulator. So knowing boat owners is as important as knowing the boats and the brokers. He was anal and it shows in the details of work he had done. Timing is everything. After educating yourself by looking at a lot of boats, you'll know when to pull the trigger.
As for costs, it is what it is. And it's always more than what you expected it to be.