time to upgrade?

[niko]

it may be time to start looking for a bigger boat. i enjoy my little cc but i've reached the limit as far as what i do w/ it. plus i need a more family friendly boat, something w/ a head and a place for the little ones to rest. i'm thinking something around 23'. i want to be able to still trailer it. any suggestions on names to avoid? the budget is in the low twenties. my knowlegde of boats is pathetic. i guess first off i've got to figure out what style of boat i want. here we go

[gf2020]

My wife and I recently went through this same process and it didn't end up the way I thought it would. I sold my 19' center console in '07, thinking we would quickly move up to something in the 23-25' range.

With things going on with my kids' activities, my mother-in-law's health, work, etc. we didn't really shop for another boat in '07 & '08. In the mean time, the boat market has tanked and there are lots of good deals out there.

I thought for sure something like a 23' pilot house or walkaround would appeal to my wife, but after re-evaluating what we really wanted in a boat we decided to stick with another trailerable center console and only moved up in size to a 21' boat. We closed on the new boat in October.

The new one has a very useable head in the console and a T-top which makes it a bit more user friendly than the previous boat, but my wife had no interest in a cabin.

It's a great time to be buying, not so good to be selling. Good luck!

[beamie]

Niko,

For that budget maybe an older 23' Grady. Dont know the model, I think it's a weekender or something. A little cuddy to take a nooner.
Or you could buy my boat for in the low 20's

[macojoe]

I have a 23 walk around and it is a perfect size for towing and famiy. Not that I have a potty but the bucket works great LOL

[niko]

[QUOTE=beamie;735090
Or you could buy my boat for in the low 20's[/QUOTE] just make sure that thing is ready for cod on april first

[Raider Ronnie]

Paul,
What are you considering ?
Pilot house, cuddy cabin ?

[niko]

i would like a pilot house but would miss the wind in my hair. i just want something seaworthy so i can go and not have to pull the plug every time the wind picks up a little. will someone explain how deadrise effects stability for me. i've been on some boats that rock considerably more than others.

[BigBo]

Did you just say you'd miss the wind in your hair?
The 23' Grady is not really trailerable with a 9' 3" beam. For that reason I went with a 22' Grady when I had mine. The Grady is nice, but for the money, I'd look elsewhere. Look at Sea Hunt, Jones Bros., Scout.
A wide beam doesn't always mean stable. A lot of deadrise will give a good ride (usually) but will sometimes feel like sitting on a log when on a drift or anchoring. Too shallow deadrise can sometimes give a rough ride. Nothing is set in stone with boats though because everything comes into effect on something else. Everything is a tradeoff. You want one feature but may have to give up something else to get it. You need to think long and hard about what you really want the boat to do, set a price range, and get as many opinions and test rides as possible.

[Motor Fish]

I'm a few years behind you... but already discussing with the admiral.

My wife wants a 23-25' walk around, an enclosed head, someplace where my girls can sleep and we can occasionally go for an overnighter. Not bad...

But, the way I see it, if it's rough/rainy/cold - the family isn't going with you anyway. I say another CC with a porti-potty in the console. Still can do the day trips and cruising.

[ProfessorM]

I'm been thinking just the opposite, sell the 20 foot glass boat and just keep the tin boat as I find myself using the tin more each year. Funny how your fishing changes as you get older. I like the simplicity of the tin. Good luck in your search, it can be a lot of fun.

[big jay]

There seem to be a bunch of older sea-craft tsunamis around the used market right now. They aren't as popular as the center console, so you could probably find one with newer power, for not alot of $$. That's one of the best riding 23 hulls ever built, and you could have the w/a cuddy for the kids.

[fishbones]

My first boat was a 21" walk around because I thought it would be nice to have a place for the wife to get out of the weather and go to the head. What a waste it was. The cabin ended up being a place to store more fishing stuff and life jackets. I'd much rather have the room to fish rather than the cabin space. My dad and I now have a 23 CC and there's plenty of room in the console for the porta potti (which still never gets used) and storing extra rods, tackle, etc... Plus it's much better for plugging with the extra room at the bow. My wife only goes out on bluebird days, so there's no need for a cabin to get out of the weather. Think about what you're going to be using the boat for most and focus on getting something that best suits those needs.

[angler management]

I run a 21' Hydrasport walk around (small cabin) I agree with Fishbones that most of the time it's just a good place for storage. Nice part is everything is dry and can stay on the boat at home without fear of theft. Throw up the curtins and It's just like a pilot house.

Running off shore it's nice to stay a little drier and plenty of room off the back for 4 people to bottom fish for Cod/Haddock.

When I go for striped bass insure the center console would be nice.

I can say I have used the cabin a few times to take a quick nap.

[Van]

I did the same searching when I bought the boat I have now.
My kids were young and I couldn't afford a big boat.

I went with a Proline 21' walkaround, it has a nice padded cabin and they loved it in there. Plenty of room outside to fish so dad could fish and they would play gameboy !!

That size boat does not usually come with a head, so I just went with a portapotty. It fits in there and is removable when I didn't need it. AND I still get plenty of wind in my hair !!!!!

Now they are older, one has moved away, the other works and has 2girlfriends so he don't come out too often. Now the cabin is my storage area. Its lockable and I keep a dehumidifier running all season in the slip so all my stuff stays dry and the cabin stays mold/mildew free.

Hope that helps,
Good Luck

[Sea Dangles]

I went through the same decisions recently when looking to upgrade from the tinny to something I can get more opportunities with.After months of tire kicking I pulled the trigger on a Parker 23 cc.I weighed the plus minus on deadrise but never considered a walkaround.I should get more chances for tuna than the Lund gave me,but I'll also be able to fish the Elizabeth's more often.I think the balance I achieved with the Parker is perfect for my type of fishing,it is known as a great boat to drift in and adequate in 3-4 footers.Bigger than that,I'll stay in the barn anyhow.Boat came with radar,livewell under the leaning post,as well as a t-top.12K knocked off the price in November sealed the deal. Come on Spring....

[quick decision]

I miss my old 2000 proline 25 walk. 8-6 beam and lots of room. I went too big to a 29 sea ray. I wish I had the 25 back.

[fish4striper]

Get mine in a 23ft ,you'l love it

[keeperreaper]

Paul,

Get the Steiger. End of story.

[Mr. Sandman]

Sniff around the bank-owned market, they auction off boats every week. Also keep an eye on yachtworld.com as well as the other popular used boat markets (ebay has some leads too). Deals are out there.

Consider a used world cat. (or similar) super comfort, soild riding and some come with cuttys. For monohulls, I have seen some used gradys on the cheap that might work for you. Older Boston whalers with cutty's might work... The stiger a tad narrow and a little light IMO but the layout is good and they are efficient. Parkers are a bone breaker in seas but have that cutty you are looking for with good fish-ability. I am sure you will find something. IMO there has never been a better time for boat buying...but it is still expensive.

[buckman]

We had a 23 Wellcraft coastal with a 200hp. Great package and ther are a ton of them out there. Try; The Hull Truth - Powered by vBulletin
Just ask on the for sale section and state your budget. You will get lit up with offers.

[redlite]

My buddy has a got a 23' Parker Sport Cabin with a 225 Yami 4 stroke. Has flushing head. We used to spend a couple of a days at a time on it when I used to comm bass fish with him on it. Had the outside station as well with live well in middle of deck. A SOLID boat, but we took beatings in any kind of sea, but we were dry and warm in the cabin. Could carry a shat load of gear that stayed dry, but still be able to sleep comfortably in the cabin. The big, big draw back of a cabin in my opinion is that it SUCKs for drift fishing with like eels, or yo-yoing, especially in a fleet because any wind at all, and the cabin is a giant sail. We had to use drift socks and work the engine in and out of gear constantly to slow down the drift so we weren't high speed trolling eels. Was an agravation. But I'll tell ya, the days we would be comin back from Sankaty Light watchin the center console guys chokin on water and we were dry, was nice.
If I were ever to get a boat, I'd go with either a 23' Seacraft CC or a 21' Contender CC. Been on many, many different boats and they shine in my eyes.
Good luck and hope you don't make an expensive mistake

[taJon]

if you're thinking 23 might as well get the 25 and avoid that 2 foot itice.