Looking for my first boat

[jethead]

I'm new here and am looking to buy a first boat. I'm looking in the 25' range and I think I've got my choices down to Sunsation aggressor, Velocity 26' or possibly a 25' outlaw. I'll probablly do some overnights on the boat and will be doing most of my boating on lake erie out of Marblehead. I'm just looking for opinions and suggestions. I think the boats I have mentioned will be good beginner type boats and seem like they would be able to be had in my price range. I'm looking to spend about 25k and just want something to have some fun on this summer and get my feet wet in the boating scene.

I did find a pretty good deal on a 25' outlaw out in Iowa and I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on someone that does surveys out there and what to expect to pay. I'm in NW Ohio so i can't really just drive over and check it out.

Thanks for the advice,
Brent

[Davidmnc]

Welcome to the best Performance Boat site on the net. Enjoy the ride!

[Ratickle]

I'm new here and am looking to buy a first boat. I'm looking in the 25' range and I think I've got my choices down to Sunsation aggressor, Velocity 26' or possibly a 25' outlaw. I'll probablly do some overnights on the boat and will be doing most of my boating on lake erie out of Marblehead. I'm just looking for opinions and suggestions. I think the boats I have mentioned will be good beginner type boats and seem like they would be able to be had in my price range. I'm looking to spend about 25k and just want something to have some fun on this summer and get my feet wet in the boating scene.

I did find a pretty good deal on a 25' outlaw out in Iowa and I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on someone that does surveys out there and what to expect to pay. I'm in NW Ohio so i can't really just drive over and check it out.

Thanks for the advice,
Brent

Welcome.

Post the Outlaw question on the Baja forum also. You may also PM Smittyseng and see what his opinion is. He has the fastest Baja I know of...

[PARADOX]

Welcome to the best Performance Boat site on the net. Enjoy the ride!

Ditto.
And.. I have a 26' infinity for sale. Just what you are looking for.

[jmoore32fever]

super nice 26 velocity listed for $29,900 @ alton blakely in somerset, ky near lake cumberland 500hp with around 200-300hrs i believe on the whole boat sorry i cant remember specifally i called about it back in july & august, was originally listed for $39k, they wasnt budging off that price then give em a call heres the link to the add http://www.abwatersports.com/Used_Ca...ington_KY.html

[jethead]

^^^ I love those old T-breds but the area where you sleep in the berth looks like its only about 12'' tall.

[jethead]

Thanks for the warm welcome to this site fellas, seems like a good place to hang out and learn about boating. Because as I said before I am a total rookie to the boating thing. I figure I'm bleeding money in the stock market, so I might as well take some of it and do my part to stimulate the economy!!!

[stecz20]

25 tantrum would be a good intro too.. active thunder

[BY U BOY]

I second the Active thunder Tantrum.. Buy the biggest boat you can afford,after one summer you are going to want a bigger one anyway

Have the boat surveyed(by someone that knows performance boats) no matter what brand or year..

Welcome and have fun. Oh yeah and watch out for that Stectz

[jethead]

I've been keeping my eye out for Active Thunder Tantrums but it just dosen't seem like there are a lot of them out there.

[fund razor]

Welcome jethead.

[Wrinkleface]

Welcome jethead.

[Sunsation96]

My vote is Sunsation, the Aggressor is an awesome boat! Fuel Efficient, Faster than most boats in it's class (and if not you can make it) And the customer service is freakin awesome!

[Magic Medicine]

My vote is Sunsation, the Aggressor is an awesome boat! Fuel Efficient, Faster than most boats in it's class (and if not you can make it) And the customer service is freakin awesome!

Have to agree. Like mentioned before the AT's are nice and buy the biggest boat you can afford. Shogren was a 288 Sunsation coming in more money than you were initially want to spending but seems like a good price at $39k

[Ted]

Welcome. I would just like to add that for your first boat look for one with stock power. Although a big power engine seems attractive they can eat you up in repairs and maintenance. It will also help to know what your boat does like the manufacturer made it before trying to make it go faster. Ditto on buying as big as you can afford, but keep in mind not only the initial purchase but care and FEEDING. Too many people buy a boat that requires more to keep it than they thought and it ruins their experience.

[Chris]

I tell this to everyone looking to step into performance boating- either buy something you can afford to throw away or something easy to resell. You won't be in it long. You're either going to LOVE it and want bigger/faster almost immediately, or the work and expense involved it going to get the best of you and you're going to say F-it.

That means something with a solid name brand and something modern. Or something you can steal. The boats you mentioned all have a good following, but not as strong as something like a Cigarette or a Fountain. The AT definitely has a following and the Baja name brand is well-recognized and a great bang-for-the-buck boat. Their "acquisition" by Fountain may or may not have effect on the value. I know Fountain has abandoned the brand's smaller boats so you're dependent on other Baja owners and some ex-Baja employees for support. Velocity is a niche boat- they're popular in places. North Carolina especially. Others you don't see them at all. It's more of a driver's boat than the others and the pad bottom takes more skill and attention. but when you factor length/weigh/horsepower together, the Velocity is going to be faster than just about any of them. But they're "less frilly" than alot of others.

The best advice I can give-

-It's your money. Learn all you can before you spend it. Emotion and impulse can be very expensive.

-A survey by a qualified high-performance surveyor is worth whatever it costs.

-Use your head. Get the title in your hand before you release the $$. Make sure the HIN matches the paperwork. Make the deal in writing and ensure it details everything. it sounds silly, but bad deals happen OFTEN. Especially in soft economic times. This advice includes dealers. MAJOR marine dealers have tanked and gone down with millions in other people's money- guys that waited months for boats that the dealer didn't really own when they sold them. Guys that made payments on loans they were contractually obligated to for boats they had no legal right of ownership upon.

[Chris]

One last thing- the price of the boat is just the tip of the iceberg. People grossly underestimate what boats weigh and grossly over estimate their vehicle's ability to tow it. Maintenance can gobble up cash in a very rapid rate. Price drive lube, pump impellers, etc. Insurance is something you want to nail down BEFORE you begin to shop. If you're a younger guy with a bruised up driving record, there's a possibility you won't even be able to buy insurance. It's definite that it will be expensive. Even with a clean slate, insurance is tough- the morons are doing their best to ruin it for us by getting loaded up and running full speed in the dark... and so on. Boat insurance on your homeowner's policy is a very bad idea. Get real insurance from someone that does it for a living.

[ar15meister]

Dude Sweet's Pantera is really nice. A bit bigger and neds a motor but I would have bought it in a second if I was shopping and it was for sale.

[Sean Stinson]

follow chris's advice

[Top Banana]

If you have any interest in the old school look......check out www.bananaboatco.com

We make 24's and 28's from outboard to sterndrives.