Greetings All!

I have just returned from a trip to Seattle with my family. We had a
wonderful time fishing and crabbing on the Peuget Sound with my West Coast
relatives (our first time). We have decided to sell one of our motorcycles
and buy a boat. I live in Harrisburg, PA would like a boat to do the
following:

- Play (tube/wakeboard/hang out) in the river at the local boat launch
(approx 5+ feet of water)
- Be able to withstand the Chesapeake bay for crabbing/fishing.
- capacity of 5 people (mostly just 3, but 5 on occasion) in mild chop.
- User friendly (first boat)
- under 15,000 USD

I spent some time in the Navy, so I am familiar enough with the water to
know I need to learn more. I/We plan on taking the local boating course
available before our purchase. I have no experience with the bay, just that
we had a great time in Seattle.

At this point, we are considering a Boston Whaler 150 sport. I found a new
one locally for 12k with bimini top, comfort package, trailer, and standard
2 stroke Merc outboard. This seems to fit the bill, but we have no
experience and don't want to be led astray by an overzealous salesman.

What I am looking for is alternate options, and anything I should be aware
of as a neophite boater. Any links to info would also be welcome.

Thanks Everyone!

Best,

John
Harrisburg, PA

On Sat, 6 Sep 2003 12:29:09 -0400, "Lurch" Lurch3ATTcomcastDDOTTnet wrote:

Greetings All!

I have just returned from a trip to Seattle with my family. We had a
wonderful time fishing and crabbing on the Peuget Sound with my West Coast
relatives (our first time). We have decided to sell one of our motorcycles
and buy a boat. I live in Harrisburg, PA would like a boat to do the
following:

- Play (tube/wakeboard/hang out) in the river at the local boat launch
(approx 5+ feet of water)
- Be able to withstand the Chesapeake bay for crabbing/fishing.
- capacity of 5 people (mostly just 3, but 5 on occasion) in mild chop.
- User friendly (first boat)
- under 15,000 USD

I spent some time in the Navy, so I am familiar enough with the water to
know I need to learn more. I/We plan on taking the local boating course
available before our purchase. I have no experience with the bay, just that
we had a great time in Seattle.

At this point, we are considering a Boston Whaler 150 sport. I found a new
one locally for 12k with bimini top, comfort package, trailer, and standard
2 stroke Merc outboard. This seems to fit the bill, but we have no
experience and don't want to be led astray by an overzealous salesman.

What I am looking for is alternate options, and anything I should be aware
of as a neophite boater. Any links to info would also be welcome.

Thanks Everyone!



Best,

John
Harrisburg, PA

Having had a 15' Whaler, I can say that 5 people makes for a crowded boat! A
fifteen footer on Chesapeake Bay is fine, if the weather is fine. I took mine in
the Bay very often, putting in at Sandy Point and going down to Annapolis for
lunch or up to the Magothy to play at a boaters beach. It is a rough ride if the
chop is up. With the 70hp engine, the boat was well able to pull a tube. We had
some great times on that little boat, but if I had to do it again, I'd spend the
bucks and go for the 17'er.


John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

On Sat, 6 Sep 2003 12:29:09 -0400, "Lurch" Lurch3ATTcomcastDDOTTnet
wrote:

Greetings All!

I have just returned from a trip to Seattle with my family. We had a
wonderful time fishing and crabbing on the Peuget Sound with my West Coast
relatives (our first time). We have decided to sell one of our motorcycles
and buy a boat. I live in Harrisburg, PA would like a boat to do the
following:

- Play (tube/wakeboard/hang out) in the river at the local boat launch
(approx 5+ feet of water)
- Be able to withstand the Chesapeake bay for crabbing/fishing.
- capacity of 5 people (mostly just 3, but 5 on occasion) in mild chop.
- User friendly (first boat)
- under 15,000 USD

I spent some time in the Navy, so I am familiar enough with the water to
know I need to learn more. I/We plan on taking the local boating course
available before our purchase. I have no experience with the bay, just that
we had a great time in Seattle.

At this point, we are considering a Boston Whaler 150 sport. I found a new
one locally for 12k with bimini top, comfort package, trailer, and standard
2 stroke Merc outboard. This seems to fit the bill, but we have no
experience and don't want to be led astray by an overzealous salesman.

What I am looking for is alternate options, and anything I should be aware
of as a neophite boater. Any links to info would also be welcome.

Thanks Everyone!

Best,

John
Harrisburg, PA


For 5 people, I would want more than a 15 footer. John H is right.

Boston Whaler is a fine boat, and if you can get one in your price
range, it will do the job. You can probably find a good used one,
with sufficient horsepower, in your price range. Reserve $200 bucks
or so for a professional survey. It's a good idea for a new boater,
or a "big ticket" boat.

Good luck,
noah

Thanks everyone for all of your input. I think I at least have an idea as
to where to begin. The 5 person capacity will be max, mostly there will
only be three of us. Now the hard part, I have to sell my beloved sedan for
a tow vehicle, and sell one of my classic BMW airhead motorcycles to help
finance the purchase. With any luck, after a winter of research, this
spring we will hopefully be new boat owners!

Thanks Everyone,

John

Lurch..

I'm pretty much in the same "boat" as you (pardon the pun) -- we have been
looking around for a first-time boat, too. After renting a couple down in
the Patuxent River area of the Bay (around Solomon's Island in Maryland),
I've come to the conclusion that what works for me is a 17-19foot center
console-type boat with a 90+/-HP outboard. I plan on spending most of my
time around the rivers of the Bay and nearer the shore, not crossing the
Bay -- so 17'-19' is about right for us. Plus, I'd like it to be easily
trailerable, too. If you wanted to spend time in a small-to-moderate chop
in the Chesapeake, you'd want to be over 21'. Just be careful about getting
caught in the middle of the Bay when a storm comes up!!!!

Be careful about the Susquehanna -- it is full of rocks, even at its highest
(like this summer). You don't want to roll over them in a fiberglass hull,
or you'll wind up with holes and cracks!! A pontoon boat or metal hull boat
on the Susquehanna up near Harrisburg/West Shore would be a good thing.

Good luck!!

--
Marty S.
Baltimore, MD USA


"Lurch" Lurch3ATTcomcastDDOTTnet wrote in message
...
Greetings All!

I have just returned from a trip to Seattle with my family. We had a
wonderful time fishing and crabbing on the Peuget Sound with my West Coast
relatives (our first time). We have decided to sell one of our
motorcycles
and buy a boat. I live in Harrisburg, PA would like a boat to do the
following:

- Play (tube/wakeboard/hang out) in the river at the local boat launch
(approx 5+ feet of water)
- Be able to withstand the Chesapeake bay for crabbing/fishing.
- capacity of 5 people (mostly just 3, but 5 on occasion) in mild chop.
- User friendly (first boat)
- under 15,000 USD

I spent some time in the Navy, so I am familiar enough with the water to
know I need to learn more. I/We plan on taking the local boating course
available before our purchase. I have no experience with the bay, just
that
we had a great time in Seattle.

At this point, we are considering a Boston Whaler 150 sport. I found a
new
one locally for 12k with bimini top, comfort package, trailer, and
standard
2 stroke Merc outboard. This seems to fit the bill, but we have no
experience and don't want to be led astray by an overzealous salesman.

What I am looking for is alternate options, and anything I should be aware
of as a neophite boater. Any links to info would also be welcome.

Thanks Everyone!

Best,

John
Harrisburg, PA

Hi John,
A Boston Whaler is a great boat. Its well made and unsinkable. But 5
people will grossly overload a 15 footer, and I don't think a 70 will
push the weight either. I would consider it unsafe for the intended
usage. I would recommend you get a bit larger vessel. Perhaps an 18' or
20'. A slightly larger boat would be safer in rough seas encountered in
the Bay. (I live in Florida, but have crossed Chesapeake Bay on many
trips up the coast.) You may also prefer a 4 stroke engine, even though
they cost a bit more. They do save a lot of fuel. Suzuki makes an
exceptionally well built 90 and 115 HP that is not much heavier than its
2 stroke cousin. The crabbers in north Florida use the Suzuki engines,
as do many 6 pack captains. I have had reports of 20,000 hours on such
an engine and its still running well. They are a good deal less
expensive the a Merc, Yamaha or Honda product, and hold up well. One of
my charter flats boats has a Suzuki 140 on it with 2800 hours, it trolls
all day and never misses a beat. VERY quiet too. I will buy others.
If an 18 foot Boston Whaler is too steep for your wallet, you may want
to look at a Carolina Skiff. Nearly the same boat, but costs less and
fewer frills. Who needs wall to wall carpet in a boat anyhow? Frills are
just something else to clean.

Please do your family an important service. Take the United States Coast
Guard Auxillary Boating Safety Course. The life you save may be your
loved one's.
http://www.uscgaux.org/

Good luck,

Capt. Frank Hopkins
personal website
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks

Lurch wrote:

Greetings All!

I have just returned from a trip to Seattle with my family. We had a
wonderful time fishing and crabbing on the Peuget Sound with my West Coast
relatives (our first time). We have decided to sell one of our motorcycles
and buy a boat. I live in Harrisburg, PA would like a boat to do the
following:

- Play (tube/wakeboard/hang out) in the river at the local boat launch
(approx 5+ feet of water)
- Be able to withstand the Chesapeake bay for crabbing/fishing.
- capacity of 5 people (mostly just 3, but 5 on occasion) in mild chop.
- User friendly (first boat)
- under 15,000 USD

I spent some time in the Navy, so I am familiar enough with the water to
know I need to learn more. I/We plan on taking the local boating course
available before our purchase. I have no experience with the bay, just that
we had a great time in Seattle.

At this point, we are considering a Boston Whaler 150 sport. I found a new
one locally for 12k with bimini top, comfort package, trailer, and standard
2 stroke Merc outboard. This seems to fit the bill, but we have no
experience and don't want to be led astray by an overzealous salesman.

What I am looking for is alternate options, and anything I should be aware
of as a neophite boater. Any links to info would also be welcome.

Thanks Everyone!

Best,

John
Harrisburg, PA

Yep, its a whole new world when you can shut off the coffee grinder and
enjoy the slap of canvas in the wind.



NH_/)_ wrote:

yes... when we first started to do boating we purchased
3 diff types, I know not everyone can do this ...but we went
boat crazy, one 19ft pontoon, one 18ft Rinker, one 2700scr
Maxum. Had fun on them for a long time, then we sold
all 3 to change over to a sailboat. Now its a whole
new venture :-)

NH_/)_

"DownTime" wrote in message
m...

Might want to check out some local marinas and rent a few different brands
to get the feel for how it will work in your situation. You are right on
target in not letting a salesman dictate the best fit for your needs.

being

a first time boat buyer, you probably do not even realize what you true
needs are until you have been doing it for a while. That is why we
continually sell/trade/buy to find our 'ultimate' boat.

I believe a 15ft anything, would be small for 5 people. Especially if the
conditions are less than ideal.

p.s. Is there really an 'ultimate' boat?


"Lurch" Lurch3ATTcomcastDDOTTnet wrote in message
...

Greetings All!

I have just returned from a trip to Seattle with my family. We had a
wonderful time fishing and crabbing on the Peuget Sound with my West

Coast

relatives (our first time). We have decided to sell one of our

motorcycles

and buy a boat. I live in Harrisburg, PA would like a boat to do the
following:

- Play (tube/wakeboard/hang out) in the river at the local boat launch
(approx 5+ feet of water)
- Be able to withstand the Chesapeake bay for crabbing/fishing.
- capacity of 5 people (mostly just 3, but 5 on occasion) in mild chop.
- User friendly (first boat)
- under 15,000 USD

I spent some time in the Navy, so I am familiar enough with the water to
know I need to learn more. I/We plan on taking the local boating course
available before our purchase. I have no experience with the bay, just

that

we had a great time in Seattle.

At this point, we are considering a Boston Whaler 150 sport. I found a

new

one locally for 12k with bimini top, comfort package, trailer, and

standard

2 stroke Merc outboard. This seems to fit the bill, but we have no
experience and don't want to be led astray by an overzealous salesman.

What I am looking for is alternate options, and anything I should be

aware

of as a neophite boater. Any links to info would also be welcome.

Thanks Everyone!

Best,

John
Harrisburg, PA