Hello everyone I am a brand new motorboat and I have a few questions that I find difficult to get a straight answer to. I bought a house on the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest and am looking for a boat to travel around the islands, catch crabs, sometimes fish, and ideally even travel between Anacortes and the islands. I have a mooring buoy, so I plan to moor the boat in a saltwater bay for a few weeks (or even more) at a time.
I narrowed down the choice to two 150 hp boats - the 21’ Raider 218 with a soft top ($61,450) and the 20’ Thunderjet Luxor softop ($53,450). I'm asking questions here because the different boat sellers all disagree with each other, and violently!
The difference in price is noticeable. In addition to being one foot long, the raider is equipped with hydraulic steering and electric pads.
How important is hydraulic steering on a boat of this size and power? The internet seems to say "me", but the raider dealer says it's "crazy not to have it." (I learn a lot about boat traders who are very similar to fishermen when it comes to comparisons). Should I try to ask the guys from Thunderjet to install it or just do it later if I need it?
Edged tabs seem nice, which are otherwise unnecessary. Many boats have them - but do they need them?
The Thunderjet covers the interior with a marine carpet, while the Raider leaves painted aluminum. If I put this up for sale for weeks on end, with the tarp up but the fishing deck open, will the carpet mold and rot? Or will it just disappear in the sun? I suppose a mooring cap is recommended, but it looks like a PITA that needs to be installed while on a buoy. Are there any that are easier than others for these soft-top boats?
Finally - service. Thunderjet is a good price from an out-of-state dealer. How good are boat dealers at handling another store's boat, as a rule? In cars, it doesn't really matter. Take your Toyota/Ford/etc to any old dealer anywhere for service. But in boats? In general, I get some sketchy vibes from these dealers. If I can't reliably maintain the boat here, I probably won't be able to save money (and access inventory) by traveling out of state!
Thanks a lot in advance for your help and apologies if I made any false mistakes - I'm new to the world of aluminum boats and in this community! I will do my best to learn.
It's okay, man!
Wow, it's been a while since I've seen people so interested in buying a boat. I would advise you not to buy an expensive boat for the first time but choose a more budget option. However, I do not know if it is worth listening to me if I always rent boats or yachts. When I wanted to go fishing with my father, I turned to my friend who worked for a [url=https://www.vistayachts.com/]yacht rental near me. He chose the cheapest and most excellent yacht for me. We went fishing with my father and were not thrilled because we paid a lot of rent and expected more. However, the catch was excellent, and then we ate only fish for a whole week
Nice essay on changing a deck to a different format and budgeting for it! slope game It's a fantastic way to get to the ultimate product.