What’s next after Yamaha? Regal? Monterey? Chaparral? Center console?

[captainhook]

After a long ownership of my 232 Limited, the new boat itch is going to win. I’ve been kicking this idea around for a couple of years, and didn’t really expect to own this boat for 13 seasons, but I am going to move on. The question is, to what?

Here’s what sold me on the Yamaha:
1. Price
2. The swim platform
3. All the seating
4. Low maintenance
5. This forum where I can find friendly help for any possible issue
6. No exposed props (I can still hear my dad telling me not to jump on the outdrive as a kid)

Here’s what I want now:
1. $60-70k (less is better and I am cheap but refuse to get a loan for a toy)
2. 200+HP Outboard powered so I can wet slip/low maintenance/shallowish draft
3. Huge bow seating with center filler cushion
4. As big of a swim platform as possible
5. Comfortable helm where I can sit or stand
6. Wrap around stern seats/huge bench
7. Tower since my kids love to wakeboard
8. 20* or more deadrise so I can venture more into the Chesapeake Bay
9. Reasonably trailerable behind my F150
10. Did I mention lots of seats?

My wife's want list:
1. Tons of seats
2. Wet slip
3. Nice audio (I spoiled us with installing JL in the current boat)
4. NO center consoles! (due to #1 since most CCs in the 23' range don't have a lot of seats or swim platform - usually have to go to 25'+ for this which blows the budget)

So far, I've looked at the following over the past couple of years:

Chaparral 23 SSI OB
Nice boat, checks pretty much all the boxes. I liked the silicone seats, but it just looks okay? It also just seems smaller than it actually is for some reason. I don't like the helm or captain's seat that much. It's highly rated online. A couple year old used these tend to be $60-80+k including trailer.

Regal LX2
Really like this boat, but they are only a couple of years old so pricey and not many around. I think 22' might be too small, but the layout looks nice and I haven't been able to find one in person to verify that's the case. Most of these seem around $80k.

Regal LX4
LOVED this boat, but damn it costs too much for my cheap ass. Similar deal as the LX2, it's only a couple of years old so expensive and few available. If I had an extra forty grand to spend, this would probably be it, but once you get to $100k, you're getting into used center console with twins money territory that probably checks most of my boxes.

Regal 23 OBX
Really like this one in pics, I haven't seen one in person up close. I don't like the helm as much as the LX series but it's cheaper and I think I actually like the rear seating better. Pricing in the $60-70k range, probably what I go with if I can find one for the price. There's one on my shortlist but it's 4 hours away, private seller, $65k.

Monterey M-45
Really liked this one too, but also few available. It may be lower sales volume so that could be contributing. It seems they used to be priced very competitively new, but new they seem on par with the Chap in terms of price. Outboard is pretty far back which is great for the swim platform, but may contribute negatively to the ride in chop.

Monterey Elite 25
This one had me considering doing something really dumb. Wow that helm and ALL that seating. It looks a bit awkward from the outside but man this thing was great. My kids were ready to sign all of our lives away to take it home. $170k+ [new] price is completely outta the question.

SeaRay SDX
Nice but seems to be $100k for 6 years old in good shape. Also often has champagne ish color interior which I don't like.

Cobalt 23 SC
Only come across one of these online in the vicinity of my price range, looks good outside but the helm is just hideous brown vinyl crap. I have no idea what they were thinking here.

Robalo
Really like these as CCs, not so fond of their DC models. Lots have nice bow seats and a bench in the back, but as with most CCs, basically no swim platform. $70k+.

Tidewater
Similar to Robalo, bow seating and rear bench can be found, but no swim platform. Sharp looking boats.

Sea Hunt/Sea Pro
Similar to the last two, just doesn't check enough boxes--mostly due to lack of swim platform

What else should I consider? Anybody have any experience with any of the above, especially as a former Yamaha owner?

 

[zipper]

We see a lot of Searay, Chaparral, Regal, Tidewater and Robalo boats at our marina. The marina next to us, 200' away is owned by a Searay, Chaparral, Regal, Boston Whaler, Yamaha dealer. Home - Vermont and Lake Champlain's Premier Powerboat Dealer Saba Marine Colchester, VT (802) 863-1148 We like Boston Whaler, Scout, Tidewater, True North, Cut Water, Pursuit, a few monohull sailboats and now our PDQ 36 sailing catamaran. No, it's not a trailer sailor, lol. We like fishing from the trampoline and walking the larger fish back to the stern steps to land them.
A lot of sailboats at our marina, I would say 50/50 sail-power. It is 20 minutes from home. We spend many evenings there. We like going out for overnighters on the hook, Etc.
I like the ease of repowering with the OB. The space. The old fiberglass layup, thicker. I guess I like refitting old boats.
We did own a Searay 35 years ago, nice boat. Because of our farm, we used it little and sold it.
I have not really looked at/in your choices above, but there are a lot of them around us. Might do a dock walk to check them out.
Good luck with your search.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

That’s quite a list of boats….lots of mental karate going on there. My friend and I have been doing something similar for the boat we want to go in on together.
For us we have a different set of needs but the process is the same;
-Where will the boat be used?
-When will the boat be used?
-What will the boat be used for?
-How many people will be on the boat?

Our current interest is the 22’ Sisu by eastern boats, or even the Steiger craft Miami.

I like that you’re looking at a boat with at least a 20° for the bay, more dead rise will make the boat more “tender” but the ride will be better in bigger water at the cost of a bit more fuel. I would also include that the boat has a sharp entry AND some flare at the bow to help keep the ride dry. However with more flare comes less width inside the bow but the trade off is the drier ride.

The DC’s have the ability to extend the boating season with the addition of some eisen glass panels, and provided there is enough room to store the panels on the boat also gives the ability to put them in place should conditions warrant it for the ride home, or, to be able to put them on in the morning and take them off later in the day.

The larger CC’s with twins as you’ve pointed out can be had with a larger swim platform. For me, fishing / boating alone most of the time, the Yamaha swim step is really great for landing bigger fish alone.

Have you looked at any of the inboards? These drives do very well being slipped, and can be had with larger swim steps, draft can be a consideration though.

Do you want to stay with a trailer legal boat? How hard is it to get an annual oversize permit? Where I live it’s a simple process to get an annual oversize permit for 10’ width and under. Once you get up into the 9’-10’ range that really opens up your choices.

 

[zipper]

That’s quite a list of boats….lots of mental karate going on there. My friend and I have been doing something similar for the boat we want to go in on together.
For us we have a different set of needs but the process is the same;
-Where will the boat be used?
-When will the boat be used?
-What will the boat be used for?
-How many people will be on the boat?

Our current interest is the 22’ Sisu by eastern boats, or even the Steiger craft Miami.

I like that you’re looking at a boat with at least a 20° for the bay, more dead rise will make the boat more “tender” but the ride will be better in bigger water at the cost of a bit more fuel. I would also include that the boat has a sharp entry AND some flare at the bow to help keep the ride dry. However with more flare comes less width inside the bow but the trade off is the drier ride.

The DC’s have the ability to extend the boating season with the addition of some eisen glass panels, and provided there is enough room to store the panels on the boat also gives the ability to put them in place should conditions warrant it for the ride home, or, to be able to put them on in the morning and take them off later in the day.

The larger CC’s with twins as you’ve pointed out can be had with a larger swim platform. For me, fishing / boating alone most of the time, the Yamaha swim step is really great for landing bigger fish alone.

Have you looked at any of the inboards? These drives do very well being slipped, and can be had with larger swim steps, draft can be a consideration though.

Do you want to stay with a trailer legal boat? How hard is it to get an annual oversize permit? Where I live it’s a simple process to get an annual oversize permit for 10’ width and under. Once you get up into the 9’-10’ range that really opens up your choices.

That’s quite a list of boats….lots of mental karate going on there.
Our current interest is the 22’ Sisu by eastern boats, or even the Steiger craft Miami.

You know you wanted a Bertram.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

You know you wanted a Bertram.

They are pretty much the gold standard for go fast, big water and fishing. But the little sisu is right sized and while a tad boring will be good in the waters we fish in, just like all those fishermen / fisherwomen and lobsters guys in the Nor East..

 

[2kwik4u]

I know you said no center console......but I wonder if you can find a Scarab 25 CC. They have that cool tailgate feature on the back that cures the swim platform issue. Local guy has one here in Buffalo and it looks to handle chop really well. Keep you in the jetboat family as well.

Looking at your list, it doesn't fit all of them all that well. it's not a great suggestion. Outside of that I have nothing to offer, I'm so far out of touch with boating it's not even funny. Wife wants to sell ours to fund a pool. I'm not completely certain she's wrong

 

[zackmorris]

Not the model you're going to be looking at for $70k price range, but Ive had my Robalo R300 for a year now and love it. It's been a great boat.

 

[captainhook]

Might do a dock walk to check them out.

That's a good idea. The small marina we launch at only has 35 slips and a lot of stuff is older, but there are some nice smaller CCs. I should venture out a bit and visit some other docks.

 

[captainhook]

That’s quite a list of boats….lots of mental karate going on there.

Have you looked at any of the inboards? These drives do very well being slipped, and can be had with larger swim steps, draft can be a consideration though.

Do you want to stay with a trailer legal boat? How hard is it to get an annual oversize permit? Where I live it’s a simple process to get an annual oversize permit for 10’ width and under. Once you get up into the 9’-10’ range that really opens up your choices.

It absolutely is a lot of mental karate, and that's the type of responses I love. I'm not great at settling and usually just continue to search until I find exactly what I want (and the price creeps up along the way too...).

I have not looked at inboards, it's too shallow around here to consider those. I also have really poor memories of shoving myself into engine compartments of the I/Os my dad had as a kid. My father in law has a 29' Luhrs with twin inboards and while it's older, the few times I've helped him fix it and shoved myself down in there adds to the list of not getting an inboard. Not many around my immediate area either where we will boat a lot of the time, venturing out a bit there are lots in bigger boats.

Yes, trailering is an absolute requirement as there are a lot of rivers around here I've always said I was going to visit but didn't with the Yamaha. My co-captain will be old enough to legally take the helm soon and I've got lots of plans (which is why he and I still want a CC).

 

[captainhook]

I know you said no center console......but I wonder if you can find a Scarab 25 CC. They have that cool tailgate feature on the back that cures the swim platform issue. Local guy has one here in Buffalo and it looks to handle chop really well. Keep you in the jetboat family as well.

Looking at your list, it doesn't fit all of them all that well. it's not a great suggestion. Outside of that I have nothing to offer, I'm so far out of touch with boating it's not even funny. Wife wants to sell ours to fund a pool. I'm not completely certain she's wrong

A jet is out of the question unfortunately with wet slipping in brackish water being a hard requirement.

PS-get the pool, we use ours WAY more than the boat. Unfortunately, it will cost more than the boat.

 

[captainhook]

Not the model you're going to be looking at for $70k price range, but Ive had my Robalo R300 for a year now and love it. It's been a great boat.

I would love something like this, unfortunately the cost is far more than I am willing to spend. In a good year on the Yamaha we use it 10-12 times, and that's part of why I have never upgraded from a boat that was paid off the day I bought it and can sit in the driveway for a week or two or three in the event we can't use it. I am expecting that we use it 15-20 times/season being able to wet slip, so that's part of the justification. If I lived in Florida I absolutely would be spending a lot more on a boat with the much greater potential for usage. Maybe in retirement.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

It absolutely is a lot of mental karate, and that's the type of responses I love. I'm not great at settling and usually just continue to search until I find exactly what I want (and the price creeps up along the way too...).

I have not looked at inboards, it's too shallow around here to consider those. I also have really poor memories of shoving myself into engine compartments of the I/Os my dad had as a kid. My father in law has a 29' Luhrs with twin inboards and while it's older, the few times I've helped him fix it and shoved myself down in there adds to the list of not getting an inboard. Not many around my immediate area either where we will boat a lot of the time, venturing out a bit there are lots in bigger boats.

Yes, trailering is an absolute requirement as there are a lot of rivers around here I've always said I was going to visit but didn't with the Yamaha. My co-captain will be old enough to legally take the helm soon and I've got lots of plans (which is why he and I still want a CC).

Have you had much experience on a CC?

 

[captainhook]

Not

Have you had much experience on a CC?

Not a ton, but I’ve used my FiL’s ‘88 20’ Mako that he fully restored and repowered with a 200 Suzuki. I’ve found that I actually prefer the view from the helm in a CC and love the flexibility of an outboard, but this is a purpose-built and older fishing boat with very few seats. I think that’s what’s souring my wife and the girls on it. Unfortunately, it seems CC makers have only somewhat recently figured out people actually want to sit down, and usually in bigger boats than fit in my budget.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Not

Not a ton, but I’ve used my FiL’s ‘88 20’ Mako that he fully restored and repowered with a 200 Suzuki. I’ve found that I actually prefer the view from the helm in a CC and love the flexibility of an outboard, but this is a purpose-built and older fishing boat with very few seats. I think that’s what’s souring my wife and the girls on it. Unfortunately, it seems CC makers have only somewhat recently figured out people actually want to sit down, and usually in bigger boats than fit in my budget.

I know what you mean about the “hard core” cc’s, very limited seating, that doesn’t appeal to me either. Boats like the Robalo have great seating and what appears to be TONS of storage in the bow area, and with the bow filler can be made either into a big sun pad or full bow casting deck. But they don’t have the lounging that a bow rider has

 

[captainhook]

But they don’t have the lounging that a bow rider has

Right, and I think that’s what’s going to “sink” the CC for me. I asked my wife what she didn’t like about a Sea Hunt 25’ with twin 150s I just found and she said it doesn’t look comfortable for cruising, there aren’t enough seats in the back or sides, and the center console is “in the way.” Unfortunately for the captain (me), I don’t get to really enjoy any of those things so I’ve been prioritizing a more comfortable helm and far better visibility like I’m seeing on all these modern CCs. Surprisingly she didn’t mention a lack of swim platform but the one I showed her had the side door so I’d just get an inflatable mat and use that as a trade off for a bigger boat and twins.

Another thing I’m noticing is a lack of storage on CCs. I was pretty excited about all the storage OB bow riders have when I started this journey, but it’s just not a thing with CCs. Perhaps it’s possible in the bigger boats but those don’t even remotely fit the budget or the reasonably trailerable requirement.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

You stated it's out of your budget, but if we decide to move on to another boat, the SDX will the front runner. I've been eyeing it for a few years, and they keep making it better.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Right, and I think that’s what’s going to “sink” the CC for me. I asked my wife what she didn’t like about a Sea Hunt 25’ with twin 150s I just found and she said it doesn’t look comfortable for cruising, there aren’t enough seats in the back or sides, and the center console is “in the way.” Unfortunately for the captain (me), I don’t get to really enjoy any of those things so I’ve been prioritizing a more comfortable helm and far better visibility like I’m seeing on all these modern CCs. Surprisingly she didn’t mention a lack of swim platform but the one I showed her had the side door so I’d just get an inflatable mat and use that as a trade off for a bigger boat and twins.

Another thing I’m noticing is a lack of storage on CCs. I was pretty excited about all the storage OB bow riders have when I started this journey, but it’s just not a thing with CCs. Perhaps it’s possible in the bigger boats but those don’t even remotely fit the budget or the reasonably trailerable requirement.

Right on the storage on the cc’s except for boats like the Robalo, lots of storage on that boat and I think it has transom seating?

I take it your wife has never been out on a cc?

Captain Leon, aka @Leojay has a great video on how much stuff he gets into his 19’ Yamaha, it’s amazing.

 

[captainhook]

You stated it's out of your budget, but if we decide to move on to another boat, the SDX will the front runner. I've been eyeing it for a few years, and they keep making it better.

I’ve read really good things about the SeaRay, but yeah it has a price tag to match. The 270 looks like it’s a winner until I get to the price part.

 

[captainhook]

Right on the storage on the cc’s except for boats like the Robalo, lots of storage on that boat and I think it has transom seating?

I take it your wife has never been out on a cc?

Captain Leon, aka @Leojay has a great video on how much stuff he gets into his 19’ Yamaha, it’s amazing.

She has been out on a CC, her dad has had several but older ones that were meant for fishing. It seems CC makers have only relatively recently figured out that people actually want to sit down too.

The Mako I mentioned above that we’ve borrowed a few times is a CC, but has no rear or bow seating at all, and a small 1 person seat in front of the console. It’s exclusively intended for fishing and it just doesn’t work well for us. It’s actually only rated for 5 but 2 of those people don’t even have anywhere to sit. The bow is just a platform intended for fishing.