Entering semi-retirement and looking at getting a boat, mainly for pleasure use on the Chesapeake and Delaware with the missus. Considering something in the 30-40 ft range, but I have no experience owning a boat. Once things open up again, we’ll sign up for safety cert and license. Looking into something that’s large enough to be comfortable yet easy for a newbie to pilot. Also something that’s not too slow.
Any mariners here with recommendations, suggestions, etc, for a vessel suited for Chesapeake cruising? Thanks in advance.
Do you plan to keep the boat in a slip? Hi-and-Dry (Boatel)? Trailer it?
Not sure what you mean by comfortable. Do you plan to sleep aboard? Would you sleep "on the hook" or always at a marina?
How fast do you need to go? You've got trawlers which are very comfortable yet slow. Express cruisers are quicker and can also be very comfortable.
I'm happy to share advice. Tell me some more about what you want!
While we always enjoy visiting other towns, there is nothing more enjoyable then finding a quiet cove to spend the weekend on the hook, most often rafted with other friends. We all have dinghys to transport ourselves (and our pets) to shore or visit into a town for dining out if we desire to do so.
I share all of that information to get your mind thinking about how you intend to use the boat. As Dave in Havre de Grace said, you have left too many unknowns to give any real solid feedback.
You did say you don't want slow, so rule out Sail Boats and Trawlers. You still have millions of choices.
-Do you want to overnight on the boat?
- Do you want to use it for traveling the bay with options to explore the ICW or just stick to day cruises with friends?
-What kind of budget? Larger boats generally require a slip, slip fees can be significant. Everything you do related to a boat is by the foot. Our boating hobby costs us every bit of $20,000 per year and we don't have a boat payment. That is routine maintenance and slip fees.
So much to consider. My advice would be to look at the used market first, don't break the bank until you know what you want to use the boat for. Lots of very good, used Sport Fishers and Express Cruisers on the market that fit your description of size, comfort and speed. All of those choices would be twin engines as well, much easier to handle, even for a newbie.
After a year or two you will have learned so much about your needs and wants that you will likely be making a change to something different.
Happy to answer any questions as well. Glad to know there will be other fellow Giants fans cruising the bay this summer.
- we’d like to have the option to sleep onboard
- ICW capacity would be smart considering the close proximity
- There’s a nearby yacht club that offers dock space, I expect it to be a bit pricey but Im not really overly concerned.
- i guess 40’ is pretty big! Im sure a 30-ish would be good as long as it’s got a cabin
- I don’t need a speedboat but I’d like something with a little power, just to have it
Thanks!
You'll see that you can get cabins in boats as short as 24'. So, you have to decide what you need in a cabin.
Once you get to 27'-class boats, you are typically getting a wider beam and twin engines. My original 27' boat was a 25'class and had a single engine and 8.5' beam. My current boat is a 36'-class which is actually just shy of 40'. The beam is 12.5'. That difference in beam is huge.
Eventually, you may have to decide between gas vs diesel and I/O (sterndrive) vs Inboard vs Outboards.
Keep the questions coming!
You'll see that you can get cabins in boats as short as 24'. So, you have to decide what you need in a cabin.
Once you get to 27'-class boats, you are typically getting a wider beam and twin engines. My original 27' boat was a 25'class and had a single engine and 8.5' beam. My current boat is a 36'-class which is actually just shy of 40'. The beam is 12.5'. That difference in beam is huge.
Eventually, you may have to decide between gas vs diesel and I/O (sterndrive) vs Inboard vs Outboards.
Keep the questions coming!
Great! I like the idea of the 27 footer, bc of the wider beam and twin engines.... cabin wise, a sink, bathroom, and place to sleep would be good.
As for fuel, I suppose whichever is most sensible maintenance-wise; but are there any fuel-related considerations should I know about?
Are some makes/brands more well made or mechanically reliable? And brands to avoid? Thanks
As for gas not having enough power, I'm not buying that. That said, do your research on what engines were offered on the boat when new. The base/smallest engine might be a disappointment, performance wise.
As for brands, that's a touchy topic. Bayliner is the lower end Sea Ray (kind of like Chevy vs Caddy). That means you get higher end finishes etc on a Sea Ray. Keep in mind that most will use similar components, whether Volvo or Mercruiser engines, etc.
Unless you are reckless, it isn't dicey at all. The large ships move fairly slowly through the canal and the canal is quite wide. And the level of traffic isn't that high.
I'm amazed seeing some small john boats going through against the current and barely making headway, but they do it anyway.
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Regarding the Chesapeake-Delaware canal; I understand that huge freighters regularly pass through. Is it dicey for a smaller vessel to navigate that canal?
Unless you are reckless, it isn't dicey at all. The large ships move fairly slowly through the canal and the canal is quite wide. And the level of traffic isn't that high.
I'm amazed seeing some small john boats going through against the current and barely making headway, but they do it anyway.
That’s reassuring, thanks a lot for taking the time to answer - have you been on the bay recently? Seems like boating would be an outstanding way to self isolate!
My boat is currently still on stands at the marina. I was about a week out from launch when my marina shut down as a non-essential business.
My boat is currently still on stands at the marina. I was about a week out from launch when my marina shut down as a non-essential business.
That’s makes no sense! Understandable to be sore about that.
We were looking forward to the Bay Bridge Boat show but it was cancelled. Next year for sure.
My questions for you... Do you have friends with big boats like this? Have you ever driven or used any type of boat before?
My advice for you... Rent a big boat first before you buy something. You may find it is not your fancy. I have too many friends that have made expensive plunges into either a boat or a large camper and regretted the decision and it costs them thousands and thousands of dollars.
You can find a rental of a boat in the bay area and plan a mini vacation with it. You will immediately find what you like and don't like. Worst case you hate and you saved yourself a lot of headaches, best case you love it and now you have a much better idea of what you are looking for.
If you could find a place to rent larger boats definitely do that too. Honestly if you could rent a cabin cruiser for ~$1000 a weekend and you do it 10 weekends a year you'll be saving money and hassle in the long run. Or find friends with a boat and become good boat friends. Bring all the supplies and pay for gas. They'll appreciate it and invite you back.
Now with that said there is no better place than being out in your own boat. Days on the water will be some of the best days in your life. Especially if the wife really gets into the life style too. Absolutely look to take a safe boating course, usually the Coast Guard Auxiliary has classes. Study charts of your local area to get a picture in your mind of where you are, where you want to go and how to safety get there.
Lastly if you do go onto buy a bigger boat find a boat broker. They will make sure you get a good boat....And once you buy hire a captain to show you how to drive it, how everything works, and important maintenance items ;)
We quickly learned that we were way more into traveling than day cruising, and the boat was WAY to small for our needs. We also learned that the Express Cruiser was not for us, we wanted a main salon that was above the water line, so we could enjoy spending time on the water, without feeling like we were in a cave when we were inside.
We moved up to a 35' Sport Fish with 13' 6" Beam. The boat is a nice size for my wife and I and our golden retriever. We spend most of our free time from mid April through November staying (and sleeping) on the boat. Even on crumby weekends we will stay on the boat in our slip watching movies from the comfort of our salon. Its a home away from home. The size accommodates us well but when we add additional overnight guests it gets very crowded fast. Our next boat will be a 40'+ Trawler, but that's another discussion.
Consider that a convertible style (or sport fish) has a bridge. Having a bridge adds a great deal of enjoyable outdoor space when you are entertaining, but more importantly, I find driving from the the bridge to be preferable. My visibility is greatly improved and engine noise when under way is reduced considerably up top. Its a great place to converse when underway. We are fortunate to have a lower helm too. Although it rarely gets used, it is nice on cool rainy mornings in the fall when we must get home.
The boat handles well, much better than our small express cruiser, but it's still uncomfortable in 3' chop and I hate following seas. I attribute this in part to having gas motors not diesel. There is truth to what jintsjunkie said. Gas may have good power, but not the torque diesel has. The props on a diesel engine are bigger, they move more water at slower speeds. The RPMs remain constant. This is especially beneficially in a following seas. Not only that, the risk of explosion and of CO fumes entering the cabin are greatly reduced with diesel, especially CO with the generator running. That said, you pay a premium for Diesel and you rarely see them on Express Cruisers or Sport Fish until the upper 30's even 40' range.
Although I'm partial to a sport fish/convertible over Express cruisers, both are nice and there are advantage/disadvantages to both.
Gas vs Diesel, that's a cost decision. Gas motors in boats have their drawbacks, diesel also last longer if properly maintained, but you can replace a gas motor 2-3 times over for the cost of replacing 1 diesel.
If you are just getting your feet when and trying to discover what you want from boating I would buy probably buy an Express cruiser in the 30' range and go up from there.
That said, the experience we gained by learning how to maneuver and handle a smaller vessel was invaluable, and you should make sure you are comfortable with your abilities before taking any boat out without an experienced captain. You can find yourself in a lot of trouble fast.
Really appreciate it. By way of thanks, I'm going to donate to bbi in honor of "The Corner Mariners".
I just sold my 24' Rinker because the kids are all grown up and spread out. 40' boat is a big dog to learn on
Down here boats are allowed out but not allowed to tie up together or anchor within 100' of each other. Doing some fun fishing (unpaid) and bringing home fresh fish for us and the neighbors sure is better than tv.
Down here boats are allowed out but not allowed to tie up together or anchor within 100' of each other. Doing some fun fishing (unpaid) and bringing home fresh fish for us and the neighbors sure is better than tv.
You can boat only if used for "sustenance fishing". I think Gov. Hogan saw all the media reports of boaters in Florida rafted up and assumed the same would happen here.
Yes, the standard advice is to have a rod on-board. My boat is still "on the hard". LOL. Crabbing season is open. Crabs work their way up the bay from south to north as the season progresses. Not much happening where I am, at the top of the bay. The bass fishermen are always out.