foster@nsc.UUCP (Jerry Foster) (05/30/85)
> > At first I thought this newsgroup was only for sail boats, but then > I saw the article(s) about water skiing (which I don't think you can > do behind a sailboat ;-> ). > > I am about to purchase my first power boat and I am at a loss as to > what kind to get. It will be for water skiing, fishing and just crusing. > Any recomendations on the following questions would be greatly appreciated. > > -How big? > > -What type hull (tri-hull, deep vee, etc.)? > > -Inboard or Outboard (and what size) engine? > > -What drive (Jet, In and Out, V)? > > -Brands (Does it matter)? > > You can mail responses (or just experiences) directly to me. If there > is suffience interest I will summarize for the net. > > -Thanks- -Pete- > ========================================================================== I would like to see more powerboat articles here too, so I am going to kick in with my two cents worth on a 1st powerboat. My first love (boatwise) was a 14ft ski boat with a 40hp outboard (OMC) and I have owned or had memorable experiences with several others (much of it in Southern Calif). I also paid my dues in sailboats (I owned two medium sized over a seven year period) and although I still like to sail I prefer to do it on someone else's boat. As to skiing behind a sailboat, you should look into the Lancer Powersailer (would you beleive 20 knots under power). I don't really recommend this for skiing, but you should be aware that some mighty strange boats do exist. For a general use first powerboat these are my thoughts: SIZE: 16 to 18 feet will be manageable in a trailer boat and still be big enough to go a little way offshore for fishing. HULL: deep V - best for big water, comfortable but slower. modified V - most common on current boats, good for all around use. (faster but pounds more than deep V). tri or cathedral - have great space utilization and are generally fast and dry but watch load/balance. May pound in rough water. Best of this type is Boston Whaler which are very good boats but are also more expensive. POWER: Often this is dictated by the boat you admire (you take whatever is on the stern). If you have a choice and can remain objective, then get an I/O or OB of about 2/3 to 3/4 the boats BIA rated max power. Pure inboards are rare (and expensive) in that size range but are ok if you find one that turns you on. For skiing, a big engine would be better (there is nothing like cubic inches to pull a heavy skier out of the water). For fishing or cruising less brute power is needed. Too much power can be a disadvantage (in handling and fuel economy) and sometimes dangerous. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of the power choices, but all forms will do what you want with the proper hull and engine combination. DRIVE: Jets (pumpers) are good for pure ski boats (no blades) and for shallow water operation but are expensive to buy and maintain (not very efficient either). V drives have pretty much disappeared. The surface drive (Kamaa or Arneson) is now replacing I/Os as the I/Os did V drives for very high performance boats. If you want an inboard get one with a straight drive. For general boat use, the I/O and outboard remain the most popular. BRANDS: Stick with the popular brands (boating mags and newspaper want ads). This makes them easier to sell and they hold their value better. There is an old but true saying "there are two great days in a boat owners life, the day he buys it and the day he sells it". STYLES: A runabout with seats fore and aft is most common and is a good combination like a jack of all trades (but master of none). For skiing, rear facing seats are a real plus and for fishing, a center console is by far the best. MATERIAL: Fiberglass is the most common but there are several newer designs in aluminum which are light and strong and well worth considering. Wood is good too in older boats but does require more TLC (some- times the price can be well worth the extra effort). WEIGHT: Assuming you are going to put in on a trailer, what are you going to tow it with? Most cars these days have very limited towing capabilities (check the manufacturer's specs). Ask what the boat and trailer weigh before you buy it (weigh the tongue and figure this at 15% of total for a rough guess). No boat is a bargain if you have to buy a new vehicle to tow it with. I also recommend the basic boating courses put on by the U.S. Power Squadron or the Coast Guard Auxillary. They are free (or a nominal cost) and are well worth the few hours it takes. Shop around for used boats as well as new ones, the results may surprise you. Remember that no one boat is going to do all and be all you ever want. As your finances and desires change you will probably change boats to suit, so don't be too critical of the first one. GOOD LUCK .....
rls@ihu1g.UUCP (r.l. schieve) (05/30/85)
> DRIVE: Jets (pumpers) are good for pure ski boats (no blades) and for > shallow water operation but are expensive to buy and maintain It was my understanding that skiing behind a jet drive boat was not practical as the jet drive throws so much water in the air that the skier either gets a face full or is forced to ski with an impractically long rope. I have never owned a jet drive, is this true? Rick Schieve
dond@ihu1g.UUCP (Donna M. Hymel) (05/31/85)
> > DRIVE: Jets (pumpers) are good for pure ski boats (no blades) and for > > shallow water operation but are expensive to buy and maintain > > It was my understanding that skiing behind a jet drive boat was not > practical as the jet drive throws so much water in the air that the > skier either gets a face full or is forced to ski with an impractically > long rope. I have never owned a jet drive, is this true? > > Rick Schieve I much prefer to ski behind our 19' jet drive boat than my brother's 19' I/O drive. Most newer jet drive boats have a control, like a power tilt on I/Os, to direct the angle of the jet so there is no problem with getting hit in the face with water. I do ski with a longer rope, but I don't have any problems with that. Our boat has a very shallow V hull, while my brother's boat is a very deep V, which creates a much larger wake. I tend to wipe out more when I ski behind his boat. Could be just me, but my brother likes to ski behind my boat also. Also, someone mentioned that deep V hulls provide a more comfortable ride and pounds less than modified V hulls, but that is not the case with our boat and my brother's boat. Maybe it's just the particular brands, or the conditions of the lakes we boat on, but our boat rides much smoother. Our's is a 19' open bow jet drive Baja with a modified V hull, and his is a 19' open bow I/O Celebrity with a deep V hull; both are the same year and around 200 H.P. There hasn't been a noticeable difference in gas consumption between our boats - both use plenty! -- Donna M. Hymel ihu1g!dond AT&T Bell Laboratories IH 2C-319 312-979-6870
js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag) (06/03/85)
> WEIGHT: Assuming you are going to put in on a trailer, what are you going > to tow it with? Most cars these days have very limited towing > capabilities (check the manufacturer's specs). Ask what the > boat and trailer weigh before you buy it (weigh the tongue > and figure this at 15% of total for a rough guess). No boat is a > bargain if you have to buy a new vehicle to tow it with. Tongue weight is 15% of total weight? I should hope not. The trailer should be set up so that the tongue weight is light enough for one person to lift. This is more or less independant of boat weight. -- Jeff Sonntag ihnp4!mhuxt!js2j "Sundown, yellow moon. I replay the past. I know every scene by heart; they all went by so fast." - Dylan
tj@utcs.UUCP (tj) (06/04/85)
I also agree that the tongue weight should be a percentage of the trailer weight. I think 10% is the number but the "light enough to lift" approach is incorrect. On larger trailers a 200 lb tongue weight is not uncommon, nor is a jack on the front to lift it. You get a tongue too light and it will try and throw the back end of your car around. You will find yourself making lane changes faster than you can flick the turn signals. (Voice of experience from a trailer with NEGATIVE tongue weight) (fortunately I was in the car behind watching...) tj