My first boat shopping experience...

i finally decided to take the plunge, so i went around new port richey to tarpon springs and oldsmar looking at boats on Saturday.

i went to over 5 or 6 dealers and spoke to at least that many salesman.  only 2 were really honest and helpful, i hope to buy from one of them.  I highly highly highly recommend staying away from SUNRAY in Holiday... unless you like dealing with cocky, cigar smoking old guys. 

i went thinking all i needed was a 17' flats boat. WRONG! a 17' really isnt that big and wasnt something i could reliably take even a little offshore.  my family used to have 2 boats but that was over 10yrs ago.  i need a boat my family can enjoy as well... 19-20' center console bay boats were the ticket. 

i know 2 people with flats boats and another with a middlegrounds worthy boat... a boat to fill the void inbetween would be ideal.

my top choices were a 2004 20' Sea Pro CC, a 2004 19' Sea Boss CC, and a 2006 20' Pro Line CC.  the Sea Boss was roomier and nicer than the Sea Pro.  i would love the pro-line, but at $5k more than the other 2, the price didnt seem to justify the differences. 

so Sea Boss it is! i'm still looking around of course but i havent found a better deal.  im putting the deposit down on the boat tomorrow to hold it and we'll take the boat out on a sea trial later in the week.  after that i can still back out and get the deposit back if i don't like it. 

if i don't hear back from tony soon with a boat he's found for me than Sea Boss it is! 

i learned alot about boats this weekend and what to look for in my first boat.  it took alot of asking questions and talking to alot of different people but it looks like im on the right track so far.  

stay tuned!

(pic of a Sea Boss included, but 2 captains chairs instead of the bench)

 ***EDIT 7/15/07***

financing went through last week. just need to get boat insurance and take a quick online boaters safety course for insurance discount. 

i'm test driving the boat on tuesday out of anclote.  unless the boat blows up or sinks or something, i just sign the line afterwards and thats it!

fish on! 

i hope some of you guys have some free time on the weekends to explore the tampa bay waters!  ive never even been around the bay actually.   

My Comments From: truckyfd 21 Jul 2007, 6:41 pm pucky, call me i've fished anclote for years, tell me what you wanna catch and i'll take you there! from shark or snook in the cut to grouper THREE miles of island!!! From: sleepy 20 Jul 2007, 1:38 pm Pucky how is the boat shopping coming along. havent heard from you in a while dude. From: truckyfd 09 Jul 2007, 4:28 pm pucky you from npr area? From: sleepy 09 Jul 2007, 11:47 am http://www.geocities.com/palmbeachboating/buying.html   Pucky Check this out, maybe it will help some more... From: sleepy 09 Jul 2007, 11:36 am Man, I'm glad I'm your friend... Can I start dreaming about the grouper fishing..... Congrats dude, I hope you get what you want and your happy with it. Oh yeah, are  you going to give it a name... SLEEPY sounds real nice... From: admin 08 Jul 2007, 10:06 pm I have been looking myself. Only suggestions I have is stay away from Johnson outboards (heard tons of bad things). Shoot for the Mercury or Yamaha with the self freshwater flushing mechanism.