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Need advice buying a boat
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Date: May 30th, 2025 10:27 AM Author: Histrionic tripping clown pit Looking to get something for general use, beach hopping, some fishing, cruising. Mostly ocean, but staying close to shore. Dont want or need lots of amenities. Was thinking of an aluminum vhull, sib or rib under 15 feet and maybe 20hp. Would typically have 1 adult and a few kids, but would like to have the option to have more people in a pinch. Also, I have a minivan with no hitch. Was thinking I could maybe fit a rib or sib in the van or on top and launch with some kind of dolly. Obviously if I get an aluminum boat I'll need to trailer, but would prefer to avoid that. Would also be nice if I could beach launch with 1 or 2 adults. Would like to keep this under $8k (may upgrade after a few years). I don't have much motor boat experience, but have extensive sailing, canoeing, kayaking experience. |
Date: May 30th, 2025 10:34 AM Author: lime parlour goal in life since you have sailing experience and for the money you're thinking i'd recommend you try to find a good deal on a used catamaran. with not too much digging you can find a great deal on one. and since you don't have much experience motor boating let here's a little secret: the engines are dirt simple to work on. buy a catamaran with a busted up engine and you can literally pay an 80iq filipino a couple hundred bucks and they'll manage to get it running in tip-top shape very quickly. if you're on the west coast i actually have a lead on one that'll probably work for you. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973384) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 10:44 AM Author: Jet godawful patrolman theater ran here, it makes no sense to buy a newer boat when there plenty of 40yo boats that have been lying in the water for years, some even since covid! repair work abroad is super cheap in many places, just hire some bros and they can fix things up easily and you'll be off sailing in no time. thats when u really enjoy things, when u are on the open water with no worries in the world. its a highly credited lifestyle, enjoy fren! (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973413) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 10:53 AM Author: lime parlour goal in life (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973449) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 11:08 AM Author: aphrodisiac reading party pocket flask Captain Tommy ottah know (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973495) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 11:11 AM Author: dun area scourge upon the earth (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973502) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 11:10 AM Author: erotic emerald macaca dog poop (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973498) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 11:12 AM Author: dun area scourge upon the earth (TT, MFE) (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973504) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 11:18 AM Author: light hell (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973517) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 10:48 AM Author: Histrionic tripping clown pit That would need to be trailered though? I'm nervous about motor issues since I don't have time to work on it and I don't want to run into issues if I take the boat for a vacation somewhere. Was thinking of spending the majority of the budget on the motor and may buy that new just for peace of mind. I can get something decent 20hp or under for under $5k. Also worried about how the cat would handle on rougher waters vs a monohull. Would mostly use this in the northeast/new England coast and there may be rough waters. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973426) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 10:50 AM Author: light hell https://www.hobie.com/kayaks/mirage-fiesta/
Hobie Tandem Island (https://youtu.be/PepgrmvC44Q?si=ofo7qLNMr1EmBiHy)
https://www.boteboard.com/collections/micro-skiffs
https://octenders.co.nz/the-oc400-tender/
https://www.livewatersports.com/boards/l4expedition
All of these have options for a motor mount
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Date: May 30th, 2025 10:53 AM Author: light hell And if you can swing it, do an electric outboard. Tried a friend’s recently and it was so nice being able to chat because it’s just so, so quiet compared to gas.
https://www.torqeedo.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-US-B2C-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=M-1162-00 |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 11:42 AM Author: Histrionic tripping clown pit Half of these are sailboats/human powered. I already have some canoes and kayaks. Not looking for a sailboat. Want something I can go a few miles in with a couple adults and 2-4 kids. Would stay close to shore but hop between beaches that are a couple miles apart. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973583) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 2:13 PM Author: light hell Every single one of those has both a human/sail powered option and the ability to take a small outboard via a mount. I was trying to lean into your van transport challenge, which I think makes the inflatables reasonable to consider.
The OC tender is basically a carbon fiber john boat so you’d be able to roof carry it. Cheap aluminum boats are pretty much going to require a trailer. |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 10:53 AM Author: bull headed home don't. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973450) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 11:28 AM Author: beady-eyed territorial dopamine persian (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48973548) |
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Date: May 30th, 2025 2:16 PM Author: Charismatic avocado foreskin house a boat that can fit on top of a minivan will not fit more than two people, so you won't be doing any family outtings in it, sounds like a motorized kayak would do what you need it to do (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5731336&forum_id=2#48974027) |