What to get next?

JoeStangJoeStang Member Posts: 1,125 ✭✭✭✭
edited March 4 in General Boating Discussions
So I'm thinking this might be the year I finally upsize. My 276 cuddy doesn't allow the family to overnight, and we tend to want longer, but less days overall. 

I have a budget of $50-$100k and really want the best combination of layout, speed, and and reliability. I'm partial to stern drive, since that's what I know and Lake St. Clair has shallow areas that its very nice to be able to trim up to get into. But V drives have some maintenance pros, so I'd consider them in the right boat. 

I'm thinking 32-38', gen/ac is mandatory,  and twin big blocks are preferred. Did the 342 come with big blocks? It seems hard to fine. Would a 360 Fiesta Vee be too much boat coming from a cuddy cabin? Any opinions are welcome, and I'm open to other brands and models as well. 
2013 276 Cuddy ~ 350 MAG / B3
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  • Dream_InnDream_Inn Member, Moderator Posts: 7,699 mod
    It's fun to watch you go from those wild days to the family days and changes in boating. :)  I think the 360 (especially around 2008-2010) is a  great boat and you can get it with the big blocks.  That boat has outstanding performance getting on plane with top end near 50mph!  Layout is also really nice!  
    The 342s were really popular because they were the smallest that had a full size shower.  I've rode in many and with the small block, they just don't have the get up onto plane quickness (just my opinion). But, they are really nice boats.  Just get one that has the extra space in the engine room (I think after 2003).  
    I also owned an older 310, which was a fantastic boat with a great layout and I'm sure can be had for the lower end of your price range.  My next boat won't have stern drives.  As much as I like the performance and ability to go in shallow water, the maintenance definitely adds to the cost.

    Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express

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  • PickleRickPickleRick Member Posts: 4,074 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 4
    How good is your relationship with the local marinas service center?  50k has a good bit of buying power these days. 

    Good running small block packages have go to be worth some pretty coin in trade in value.  A set of big blocks and new drives, with a full warranty would be sweet when you launch for the first time.  


    Might be worth looking into it you find a hull that you and the admiral love.  


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  • JoeStangJoeStang Member Posts: 1,125 ✭✭✭✭
    Dream_Inn said:
    It's fun to watch you go from those wild days to the family days and changes in boating. :) 

    Yeah, I definitely had a ton of fun back in my "single-ish days", but I love this even more. Seeing all of our kids grow up and also enjoy all of my hobbies is pretty much the reason I don't miss those days as much! It's still fun to reminisce though :)

    Dream_Inn said:
    I think the 360 (especially around 2008-2010) is a  great boat and you can get it with the big blocks.  That boat has outstanding performance getting on plane with top end near 50mph!  Layout is also really nice!  
    The 342s were really popular because they were the smallest that had a full size shower.  I've rode in many and with the small block, they just don't have the get up onto plane quickness (just my opinion). But, they are really nice boats.  Just get one that has the extra space in the engine room (I think after 2003).  
    I also owned an older 310, which was a fantastic boat with a great layout and I'm sure can be had for the lower end of your price range.  My next boat won't have stern drives.  As much as I like the performance and ability to go in shallow water, the maintenance definitely adds to the cost.
    I will really have to do some walking on boats to get a sense of the size and layout, but I can definitely see the advantages to the couple extra feet and beam of something like the 360. I can see this being my next "10 year" boat, so I dont want to try to pinch a penny and regret it for a long time. My only real concern with something like the 360 is docking and access around here, but either way I'll be making a huge jump in size from my 276.

    PickleRick said:
    How good is your relationship with the local marinas service center?  50k has a good bit of buying power these days. 

    Good running small block packages have go to be worth some pretty coin in trade in value.  A set of big blocks and new drives, with a full warranty would be sweet when you launch for the first time.  


    Might be worth looking into it you find a hull that you and the admiral love.  



    Thats an interesting thought, but likely more than I would prefer to get into. I'd rather not have to fork out a ton of money up front, which is what a scenario like that would entail, plus all of the electronic stuff that may or may not match up going to a completely different engine setup. I can only imagine a Big Block / B3X setup to be extremely expensive to buy new or remanufactured. Thats gotta be what, like $25-$30k per side?

    2013 276 Cuddy ~ 350 MAG / B3
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  • mattiemattie Member Posts: 1,293 ✭✭✭✭
    Interested in what you end up with Joe....
    My wife is a bit tired of the dayboat stuff - which I still really enjoy.
    We may be doing the same in a year or two. SeaRay has a nice 320 Sundancer hybrid with a shallow bowrider & full cabin. Model has been out for 5yrs+.
    We were on one at the Metro Beach show last fall - pretty sweet.
    246BR, 276BR, H310BR current
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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,813 mod
    Might be deals available on express cruisers big enough for multi-day trips.  Several of my close boating friends recently downsized to outboard center consoles.  They are starting to regret it because it limits what they can do, but I'm just saying there might be deals out there.
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  • PickleRickPickleRick Member Posts: 4,074 ✭✭✭✭✭
    https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2805889892931858/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post

    You couldn't fit a business card between these big blocks 
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  • Rich_Rich_ Member Posts: 207 ✭✭✭
    Those become lifetime spark plugs by default 
    Rinker sold but still have other boats        Eastern LI, NY
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  • IanIan Member Posts: 2,888 ✭✭✭✭
    PickleRick said:
    https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2805889892931858/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post

    You couldn't fit a business card between these big blocks 
    Or a cigarette paper as my grandad used to say.

    Regards,

    Ian

    The Third “B”

    Secretary, Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club

    https://www.rcyachtclub.com/

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  • PickleRickPickleRick Member Posts: 4,074 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Going from a smaller boat a bow thruster would be mandatory on my list.  

    I find myself in small canals with a 21ft single outboard CC having more trouble getting the the dock than I do with my 2859 in similar conditions.  




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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,110 ✭✭✭✭✭
    @JoeStang check this out.

    https://www.facebook.com/share/15nwASfg5q/?mibextid=wwXIfr
    2008 330EC
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  • JoeStangJoeStang Member Posts: 1,125 ✭✭✭✭
    aero3113 said:
    @JoeStang check this out.

    https://www.facebook.com/share/15nwASfg5q/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    I like Chap 350 alot, but saltwater and 20 years old scares me a little bit. I'm on Lake St. Clair (metro Detroit), so I can imagine the cost to get it here would be pretty high too. But yeah, something like that would be a great layout and plenty of space, plus good speed with the big blocks.

    mattie said:
    Interested in what you end up with Joe....
    My wife is a bit tired of the dayboat stuff - which I still really enjoy.
    We may be doing the same in a year or two. SeaRay has a nice 320 Sundancer hybrid with a shallow bowrider & full cabin. Model has been out for 5yrs+.
    We were on one at the Metro Beach show last fall - pretty sweet.

    Yeah, thats a really cool setup, but def too spendy for me. Cheapest I found quickly is $200l+


    2013 276 Cuddy ~ 350 MAG / B3
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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,813 mod
    @JoeStang- you live in the fresh-water boating capital of the world!  Wouldn't make sense to import a salt-water boat.  BTW when we come up there this summer, I think we'll come right through your neighborhood.  You'll be in your next boat by then!
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  • PickleRickPickleRick Member Posts: 4,074 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If only there was a "you deserve a bigger boat" government program.   Where if you owned, maintained and operated a vessel for 5 years you qualified for a government subsidized upgrade. 

    Plus subsidized slip for several years 

    I'd have a cutwater 32 sedan by now. 

    The biggest question is ...twin outboards or inboard diesel.

    When you have 250k to 400k to spend of the governments money, why settle for a 50-100k boat. 
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  • johnny44johnny44 Confirm Email, Member Posts: 111 ✭✭
    If we are playing with house money, I'm in. 
    Four Winns 355 Coupe with outboards
    https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2020-four-winns-vista-355-ob-9331137/
    Sold - 2008 350 EC -- Greenwich Bay, Rhode Island
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  • Rich_Rich_ Member Posts: 207 ✭✭✭
    If I can get PickleRick’s program I’m looking for something like https://www.facebook.com/weaverboatworks/videos/weaver-boatworks-has-the-only-weaver-on-the-market-right-now-for-sale-this-is-a-/1793614727799110/
    Rinker sold but still have other boats        Eastern LI, NY
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