Boat Recs for a newbie?

**skinautique** · 06-06-2005, 07:27 AM

RE: Boat Recs for a newbie?

I would recommend the 211 or the 216. Don't shy away from telling them to buy an inboard. The boats handle a lot better and are safer (prop and rudder tucked away from the swim platform). Resale on the 226 is great but that is probably more boat (size and money) than they want to spend.

**SGY** · 06-06-2005, 09:56 AM

RE: Boat Recs for a newbie?

I agree with SN. The inboards are built better (for the most part) simpler, safer, more fun to drive, and have much better resale.

Hey SN, where you been?

**JoeCos** · 06-06-2005, 11:03 AM

Just a little background � before I purchased my 226, I owned a 2000 22� cuddy cruiser stern drive. Until about last year, I realized that my family was outgrowing the cruiser and wanted more of everything. More of everything meant - more storage room, more seating space, more horsepower, more water sport options (wakeboarding, skiing etc). We typically are the type that would cruise around, go tubing, a little wakeboarding and ski. As the family and friends grew in number, the list of requirements got longer. So this year, I decided to sell the cruiser and settle for a boat that met pretty much all of the requirements or at least close to it. After countless research and several demo�s, I decided on the Nautique 226.

We really like everything the 226 offered. The Space, size, and just the all-around capability of what this boat can do. It seemed the Perfect boat for us.

So if you are, perhaps, looking for a family oriented type boat, �do just about anything and everything boat�, I highly recommend the 226. It handles very well considering it�s size and surprisingly great in handling choppy waters. I�ve had my Team 226 for over 4 months now and we just love it! Absolutely no regrets here. Now, as far as ease of driving it, it�s really not much harder than any outboard. Maybe a little getting use to the rudder�s slow response and how the Nautique�s reverse works. A little practice on the water should get your bro in law up n running in no time.

If you have specific questions on the 226, do let me know and I will surely help you out.

Hope this helps and wishing your bro-in law all the best in his research. I can tell you this, while researching, I felt that, the �other� brands didn�t even come close to the quality of a Correct Craft Nautique�s. Being a PAN owner, I�m sure you already know this.

Joe

**bkhallpass** · 06-06-2005, 11:16 AM

Unless your friends are very wealthy people, I recommend
a used boat (preferably and inboard).

Less initial cost. Don't have to worry as much when they
inevatibly bang it up. Won't take the depreciation hit. Should
be able to sell it for almost as much as they paid.

Can find out for themselves what they like/don't like. Boat too
big, boat too small. Closed or open bow. How important is storage?
Do we use this enough to make it worthwhile. Wish I had chosen
a different color? Whatever.

It will only take 1 good season, and they'll know whether they are
adicted or not, and what is the right boat for them.

My $.02

BKH

**SNMike** · 06-06-2005, 12:04 PM

What BKH said!!! :grin: Mike

**skiswm** · 06-06-2005, 12:35 PM

I also agree with what BKH said. Save some money and see what they are really into. If it's wakeboarding then a bigger boat would be good, but if they start to love waterskiing, then they'd want the small flat wakes of something like the 196. The most important thing is to have fun and if they aren't really good with boats and buy a brand new boat.......bash it into a dock while trying to learn to dock it. The fun meter.........wouldn't be too high. Save the money, learn what they (you) like and if need be upgrade at a later time.

**ag4ever** · 06-06-2005, 12:37 PM

Personally, if your are not really hardcore into watersports, then a I/O would be a good decision. I know that won't be popular around here, but for 95% of the boating population heck probably 99.9% an inboard is not the "best" boat.

I got a CC because I always wanted one, not because it fit our needs the best. We go out on Travis a lot, and we could use a boat that handles the chop better. That means not an inboard. It does not matter which inboard you have, they will never handle as good as a decent I/O will in the chop.

If I did not have the SANTE, I would have a Cobalt and if I had bought that instead I would have been just as happy. But since I got the CC, I absolutly love it, and don't want the Cobalt.

Either way, I would only recomend what makes them pasionate about getting on the water. If the poor handling at slow speeds will keep them away, then the less than stellar handling at high speeds might be better for them. If they are patient people and willing to learn, then they would be just fine with an inboard.

**fsts2k** · 06-06-2005, 03:40 PM

Well, I have zero history with boats other than the fact that I wanted a Nautique. Our first family boat was the 226 TE which I have a total of seven hours on right now. Therefore I cannot give you a long term review but I have three weekends on it. In summary, it is perfect.

We have a lot (house is being built) on a large lake in WI, the lake gets very busy during the summer and winds can make serious chop. I had initilally wanted a 210 but after much discussion with dealers (Nautique, Malibu, and Mastercraft) we determined that a ~23 foot boat was minimum.

I wanted a boat which could cruise with six people while having wine and cheese, wakeboard, open water ski, tube, etc.

The first weekend we had the boat out, there where 2 foot waves and with a little speed, the boat handled it perfect. Then this last weekend I was up early when the water was calm and we took it out for a couple of sets with the ski and wakeboard, too fun. The boat is perfect for us.

As to the comment about I/O, I have ridden a fair amount on different I/Os and non (same size <24 feet long) felt more stable than the 226 in chop (granted I only have 7 hours on the boat).

On a bit of a tangent, I always see comments about HP and if 330 is enough. Let me tell you that when I ski with six people in the boat and me behind on one ski (190 lbs) I pop out of the water.

Great boat!

**Mikeski** · 06-06-2005, 04:33 PM

I always try to convince my friends to go straight to something like a 211 and they usually go for a I/O based on price differences. I guess it's not a bad way to go if they get a V8 I/O.

the beaten path:

year 1 - garden variety V6 I/O (complaints of lack of power by the end of the first season)
year 2 - trade in boat at boat show for similar boat with V8 (complain that they can't hold a speed by the end of second season)
year 3 (or 4 if money is limited) - upgrade to wakeboard/waterski boat like a 211 or 226

Sometimes it comes down to competing needs and when the wakeboarder to be cannot explain what the difference is for a $20k price premium to the spouse... well I guess that's why so many I/Os are sold.

**Deuce** · 06-06-2005, 05:14 PM

I could not agree more with what ag4ever said. I sold my Cobalt and purchased my current boat(SAN). I am happy as a clam and have no plans to go back anytime soon. My wife misses the Cobalt.

An I/O will never tow like an inboard. But an inboard will never provide some of the benefits of a quality I/O....everything is a tradeoff.

If they do get the watersport bug, Mikeski makes a very good point.

Resale on Cobalt boats is as good as it gets.