What's your "perfect boat"

[941Punk]

I really really like my 26 Bayliner Rendezvous deck boat. It has everything you can ever need. But a 28 Magic Deck with a 496 would be what I want on steroids..

 

[last1]

I have been trying to buy that 25 Talon at Cumberland marine for over a year. That boat is where most small cat bottoms came from i believe. That would be a fun little boat for the Lake and the River.

 

[HitIt]

Something like this and a house to go with it:

 

[pwerwagn]

I tend to overthink things when I buy, so this has been a topic of conversation between me and whoever is listening for a long time.

I think I wound up with about as perfect as I can get for one boat for us. I've always loved outboards and tunnels. Our lake isn't huge, but can get nasty when it wants. So for me, the 24-27' range was what I was looking for, and I always wanted 2 outboards. The carrera 257 rides fantastic in the rough. It runs triple digits. The open bow has plenty of space for all of us. It will pull my wife up on slalom easily, even when its swingin the 34" props. It will stay on plane with the big props down to ~19mph, and slower with the smaller props. The kids like to tube behind it. The best part is, I have put over 40 hours on it this summer with 0 issues, and I hope/expect another few hundred out of it. I like the fact that the 300's are older, and there is a lot of info on them out there. I always work on my own stuff, I hate paying anyone else to do anything for me. The one downside to my setup is fuel use. Those 300 pro max's are thirsty, but everything has to have a drawback somewhere.

Having said that, there are times when I just want to drive the 20' tunnel with the single outboard. The maneuverability and ease of use is nice. BUT...it never fails, if I unload it...the water gets rough. I am now thinking about selling the 20' tunnel and picking up a yamaha exciter 220 or 270 jet boat. Something cheap that we don't have to worry about props on in the shallow waters (our lake varies a TON from weekend to weekend), the boys can maybe learn to surf behind (I have zero desire to own a rollbar boat), etc. Its also something the wife can get up in the morning and take the boys fishing in without me worrying. And as the boys get older they can learn to drive on it. Id feel much better with them in a little jet boat than on a jet ski.

The group we go with has a vast selection of boats. From an older 32' twin BBC pachanga to a sea doo speedster and everything in the middle. The 2 that get the most use are the speedster and the pontoon boat. The speedster because its fun and anyone can use it, and the pontoon boat, well...because it takes FOREVER to get anywhere in it! But they all have their purpose, and they all bring us together for fun.

--Jeff

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Something like this and a house to go with it:

View attachment 508547

that's badd ass right there...

a boat is a tool..... you have to pick tool for the job.... the problem is tools are buying tools...and tools have no idea how to work tools..

mechanics learn how to use tools and most won't let tools use their tools.....so first one must know what tool to get for the job:thumbsup:cool

 

[pwerwagn]

Thats a bad ass signature line right there. And I totally agree...

that's badd ass right there...

a boat is a tool..... you have to pick tool for the job.... the problem is tools are buying tools...and tools have no idea how to work tools..

mechanics learn how to use tools and most won't let tools use their tools.....so first one must know what tool to get for the job:thumbsup:cool

 

[2FORCEFULL]

I tend to overthink things when I buy, so this has been a topic of conversation between me and whoever is listening for a long time.

I think I wound up with about as perfect as I can get for one boat for us. I've always loved outboards and tunnels. Our lake isn't huge, but can get nasty when it wants. So for me, the 24-27' range was what I was looking for, and I always wanted 2 outboards. The carrera 257 rides fantastic in the rough. It runs triple digits. The open bow has plenty of space for all of us. It will pull my wife up on slalom easily, even when its swingin the 34" props. It will stay on plane with the big props down to ~19mph, and slower with the smaller props. The kids like to tube behind it. The best part is, I have put over 40 hours on it this summer with 0 issues, and I hope/expect another few hundred out of it. I like the fact that the 300's are older, and there is a lot of info on them out there. I always work on my own stuff, I hate paying anyone else to do anything for me. The one downside to my setup is fuel use. Those 300 pro max's are thirsty, but everything has to have a drawback somewhere.

Having said that, there are times when I just want to drive the 20' tunnel with the single outboard. The maneuverability and ease of use is nice. BUT...it never fails, if I unload it...the water gets rough. I am now thinking about selling the 20' tunnel and picking up a yamaha exciter 220 or 270 jet boat. Something cheap that we don't have to worry about props on in the shallow waters (our lake varies a TON from weekend to weekend), the boys can maybe learn to surf behind (I have zero desire to own a rollbar boat), etc. Its also something the wife can get up in the morning and take the boys fishing in without me worrying. And as the boys get older they can learn to drive on it. Id feel much better with them in a little jet boat than on a jet ski.

The group we go with has a vast selection of boats. From an older 32' twin BBC pachanga to a sea doo speedster and everything in the middle. The 2 that get the most use are the speedster and the pontoon boat. The speedster because its fun and anyone can use it, and the pontoon boat, well...because it takes FOREVER to get anywhere in it! But they all have their purpose, and they all bring us together for fun.

--Jeff

I had the force splash of that boat with the twin small blocks... it was streched a foot longer...surprising how well that boat performed:thumbsup I never got to put more power to it...about 78-80 it would pack air....solid boat for sure:thumbsup