Newb in need of help choosing new boat

I like the look of the 2004 45 Viking. Take the chair out and there is lots of deck space.

A bit younger would be preferable (3-5 years old) but if its well looked after and the engines are in good condition, then maintenance will not be much more than a younger boat. New boats have less niggles, but still need setting up and sorting out.

As you know - kids and their friends are hard on things, so it may break your heart when they add personal touches to surfaces when drawing etc.

For a 1st play in the bigger boat space, perhaps go for a 3-7 year old boat. If you and the family like it, you can trade to a newer one in a few years, with the experience of having lived with one for a while.

Scrumpy

The 40' Cabo is a very good boat and has a great ride. In an express I prefer the 45' Express over the 40' and it is just much much bigger for that extra 5'. However in a FB, the 40' is a better boat than the 43' and has a better ride.

Baziado,

I just returned from a weeks vacation with a friend.
My boat is 46 sporty.
His boat a 42 searay.
My boat is better for rougher seas and visability.
His boat was the one we met on the aft deck in the evenings for a cocktail or 3.
I lean towards sportfish myself but I think that if you've got 3 kids a 45' or bigger would be better.

Also the front window comment is not a plus in my book.
They seem to be leakers on the smaller ( <75') boats.

I think I read here that Riviera is out of business, hurting support.

Of all the one on the list I'd lean towards a Viking.

I think if you look at used "fishing" boat you need to look hard.
Seems that most personally run fishers ( w/o a captain) are a means to an end.
Those guys don't really love boating but love fishing and the boat sometimes suffers.

I have had better luck looking at boats on the Chesapeake than boats in Jersey.
Ultimately my boat was a canyon runner from SC but was sold on the C.Bay !.
It was well kept though and being of pretty good quality to begin with, it was a good buy for me.

Good luck and post your results.

Them fighting words chesapeake46! In my experience gamefishers lookafter their boats significantly better than social boaters. Our boats spend alot of time miles from land so it pays to make sure it all works. There is also pride amongst the owners & friends in making sure the boat looks good.

We used to spend saturday prepping the lovingthe boat and sunday fishing it. It got a full wash down and dry sunday night. Thats the norm here.

I think it's more a 50/50. The more a boat gets beaten up the better she's generally to be kept after. You're right about the social boaters. A lot think there's nothing more involved than turning a key. Of course there's exceptions to every rule though, which is why they do surveys.

NYCAP123 there is no room for that kind of reasoned and balanced response in this thread. Next you will be saying its not ok not run over a sail boat that tacks right infront of just becase it can.

Scrumpy

As we head towards Labor Day and a summer filled with people who think that under someone's bow is smart place to be, I wouldn't say that. 'D--ned the torpedoes. Full speed ahead.' maybe.

Cabo

My wife and I have a 2 and 5 year old. Went from a 280 Searay to a 1995, Cabo 35 Flybridge. The wife and kids love it. Solid well built boat. We mostly cruise, and do some fishing. Great to work on and handles like a dream. Can't go wrong with a Cabo.

One must ask themselves WHY they have a NEW 2008, that they have been sitting of for 4 years now. There must be a reason, and usually it's not a good one.

It's a little long now, but lots of guys had '08s left through last summer. '08 was when the market collapsed. By '09 and '10 those were old boats that had serious money laid out for, and the new boats were coming in at steal prices. So a new '08 isn't out of the realm of possibility.

No it's not, but very very rare, and there's usually a reason why. Most dealers stocks of left over models have dwindled to nothing and the only leftovers I've been seeing lately are 2010's or newer......and 2012's are on their way out of the factory.