Talk to me about ski boats.

[kingjason]

as low as the lakes are getting i'd carry another prop.

x2

[Baron Von Crowder]

as low as the lakes are getting i'd carry another prop.

x2

http://special.wfaa.com/discoverboatingtexas/northtexaslakes.html

[ceyko]

Yeah Texoma dropped and I know several areas that maybe 6-12" under water and not visible at any speed over 5 mph and staring at the water. (since it has a risen a little)

I'd recommend checking out Plano Marine. They have used boats as well.

My buddy has a 20' Ski boat (chaparral) and at 5 people it's pretty crowded with a single cooler. I do not think 8 people would be possible on a 20' boat.

However, the flip side is you're generally going to ditch a lot of folks on the beach and do runs, have 1-3 people out back sking/tubing...etc It seems to me the legal count is one thing, but with comfort you'll be around 2 less than what is on the label. Typically this is due to gear and coolers. If you beach and ditch all the crap or hardly take anything - that's another story.

My barge would feel like a floating living room if it were not for gear, deck box, 2 coolers and crap laying all over the place for 2 day trips.

[Rreemo]

Jimmy - I've bought/sold a number of boats over the years....if you need some consult feel free to give me a ring. I'd also be happy to take a look when you find something too.

I just picked up my 3rd Four Winns literally a week ago. For a good all around family boat that is reasonable to get into and will hold some value, they are hard to beat. I actually sold the last 2 for more than I paid for them...and the one that I just bought was more-so for a flip b/c it was such a good deal (after we've had some fun with it of course ).

[2011GT]

For the love of god cover your boat when not in use. I see so many dumbasses that leave them open to the weather. Boggles my mind.

[ceyko]

For the love of god cover your boat when not in use. I see so many dumbasses that leave them open to the weather. Boggles my mind.

Good advice unless in a garage or something. Hell, I have a covered slip and thought I was good - damn spider poop all over though, had to start covering it.

[lincolnboy]

have seen any one post stater fliud

[Baron Von Crowder]

Jimmy - I've bought/sold a number of boats over the years....if you need some consult feel free to give me a ring. I'd also be happy to take a look when you find something too.

I just picked up my 3rd Four Winns literally a week ago. For a good all around family boat that is reasonable to get into and will hold some value, they are hard to beat. I actually sold the last 2 for more than I paid for them...and the one that I just bought was more-so for a flip b/c it was such a good deal (after we've had some fun with it of course ).

Lake GTG?

[2011GT]

Another thing to look for in used boats is the decking. Hop around all over inside the boat. If there's a soft area the floor is fucked and will need to be repaired.

Stay away from anything OMC.

Check for rash on the keel.

Check the prop for damage.

Check to make sure the sacrificial plates are installed on the outdrive

If you go I/O stick with Volvo or Mercruiser. No old fords or OMC either.

[2011GT]

have seen any one post stater fliud

Um because nobody wants to blow up their boat lol

[Tyrone Biggums]

Jimmy - I've bought/sold a number of boats over the years....if you need some consult feel free to give me a ring. I'd also be happy to take a look when you find something too.

I just picked up my 3rd Four Winns literally a week ago. For a good all around family boat that is reasonable to get into and will hold some value, they are hard to beat. I actually sold the last 2 for more than I paid for them...and the one that I just bought was more-so for a flip b/c it was such a good deal (after we've had some fun with it of course ).

Cool. Something told me when starting this thread you'd be here. I've seen a couple late '90's Four Winns that actually looked really nice. I don't see myself jumping on anything right this second, but when you get done with your current one, I'd like to know. I know anything you've touched will have been thoroughly investigated.

[Country cracker]

You probably park in the coves where the wake is best ( smooth ). That's where they wake board at.

I fish everywhere. deep,shallow, by the bank or out over a brush pile or hump and it doesnt matter. I've only had to throw my asshole hooker once (1oz slab with a treble hook). I was fishing about 10 yards from a rocky point and one of these wakeboard assholes came within 20ft of me and swamped the front of my boat and he started to scream bloody murder when I hooked him in the shoulder.

[lincolnboy]

Um because nobody wants to blow up their boat lol

was trying to find that video of the guying blowing himself out the boat.

[Captain Crawfish]

For the love of god cover your boat when not in use. I see so many dumbasses that leave them open to the weather. Boggles my mind.

Also Home Depot sells brass fittings you can install in your cover to allow water to drain otherwise you'll buy 5 covers when they tear

[Treybiz]

I have a 20' wellcraft I/O currently and it is great for what we use it for. It's me, the wife, and our 3 year old. We cruise around and have picnics on the water, tube, and wakeboard a little. I had a MasterCraft in college and loved that one as well. At this point in our lives the I/O is perfect and very family friendly. The wife and I decided (this weekend actually as we had a natique picked out at the boat show) that we are going to wait a few years and see how much our kiddo enjoys skiing or wakeboarding and go from there.

I don't want to plunk down the money for a fancy direct drive and Junior doesn't want to ski. 15k vs. 50k investment to figure out if he wants to be on the water with us all the time. We also have two- 3 seater jet skis and dad has a little aluminum fishing boat so we have a lot of our water bases covered. If I was only to have one boat right now I think i would want a large fish and ski with an outboard. Maximum use since we could fish after and before the summer months. But, with our current fleet the I/O ski boat is a great fit.


My Suggestions:
Go to the boat show and crawl around everything.

Make friends with folks on here with different boats and pick what works best.

If you are buying a boat make sure you can afford to use it. We use the crap out of our stuff... we would be miserable if we had a nice boat we couldn't afford to use.

Good Cover and Covered Storage if you can swing it. My boat has a snap-on cover, with a trailer cover over that, sitting in my parent's boat barn when we don't have it in our driveway up here. I'm slightly OCD but our 2002 boat looks like a 2014.

SPARE TIRE!!!! I've blown out my fair share so I agree with others that have said that.. Matter of fact, my spare tire/wheel also has a spare hub attached to it. Bearings and lake water aren't the best of friends