What boat under 3500# trailer weight that can handle some chop?

[zimm17]

I've owned a supercharged Donzi Classic 22 and a Grady White 226. Both were awesome in their own ways. Now I find myself in a bit of a bind. I'm boat-less. I have two kids (3 and 5). The wife doesn't like boating. My tow vehicle is a 2015 wrangler JKU with a 3500# weight limit. I boat on the Potomac river which can get really snotty. I'm finding myself wanting a small, budget boat to get back on the water this summer.

So I'm asking the impossible:

Under 3500 pounds with fuel on a trailer.
I have to be able to launch and recover myself
Prefer outboard power
Seating for 4

What should I be looking into?

Oh I'm on a budget so used and under $15k would be best. Maybe an old 18-20' outboard like a checkmate?

[Brad Zastrow]

24 Skater. My wife loves the ride of cats versus a V Hull. V-Hulls like your 22 Donzi will beat you to death in rough water. A good cat like a Skater is the bomb in rough water floating over the top of the waves. Once you learn how to get on top of the waves the boat will amaze you. Do not assume all cats are the same as an Eliminator cat or any center sponson cat is NOT a rough water boat.

I did not see the part about the 15k budget. That might be a problem getting a Skater.

[activator22]

Any of the 19-22' SOB's should do the trick nicely. I tow my Activator with a V6 RAV4 and/or Honda Odyssey and have no issues, and ramp launch/retrieve all season, doing it by myself is no issue.

[Baja170]

21 Challenger, Shadow, Superboat, Intimidator. Velocity's are also a great rough water V and Sutphen is making new 21' V boats if you want new. These boats are what are referred to as SOB's pretty much.

Only problem with the Skaters is they have a mean porpoise through the mid range that does not stop until pretty fast. I know a few people who have them and some of them say it goes from about 65 to 85 at least. Some say less some say more. Most of the twin setups have a tunnel tab to help out a bit. If you watch the vids people post of them the camera is mostly looking back not forward, there is a reason for that.

Most all the boats I listed are based off a design by George Linder and built to run Long Island Sound and handle rough water very well and there is no porpoise. They are a high deadrise V that can handle amazingly rough water and designed for rough water. How fast do you want to go? Twin Shadow does 95 and Intimidator will run at least 100 with single 15" 300x. They are all a good bit under 3500#. I would say my Shadow with twins is roughly 3K and a little change, my Intimidator is a lot lighter than that probably closer to 2100. They are also a lot less money than a Skater which carry about as high a price tag as any older boat, people who like to go balls out a LOT LOVE their Skaters and pay the price.

Just my 2 cents. I run lakes and sold my cat with center pod that did not have a porpoise like the Skaters do but it is also a low 90 mile an hour boat not a well over a hundred boat with hot twins on it like the Skaters.

[zimm17]

Wow, great posts fellas. To be honest, I don't care about going over 60 with my kids onboard (although 70 WOT would be nice). My Donzi would cruise all day at 50mph without hitting the boost- but 70-86 was a white knuckle death ride with that round bottom keel. If I can cruise 35-45mph I'd be very happy. The grady white ran 29mph at cruise (43WOT) and that was a bit too slow for me.

[Baja170]

This would be a nice SOB with 300xs still under warranty that sips fuel. The RS is a splash of the Challenger I am pretty sure and this one has been completely redone with no wood in the boat, has a very nice and new interior and a skater like console in it and 60 will feel like 45 in some decent chop and it will go a LONG way per fill-up with the XS on it with a 60G fuel tank enlarged from teh standard 50 G they came with. http://www.screamandfly.com/showthread.php?315787-21-rally-sport-300xs

Go to the Criags List link a few posts down to see BIG pics of the boat.

There is also a RS with Twins for sale in the for sale forums as well.

[Euroski]

Going to be limited with a #3500 limit as most trailers alone weigh #1000. Have U considered a Bayliner(just kidding), I would suggest something like a STV or 21 Liberator/Cougar type boat. Both can do well in reasonable rough waters.

[JPEROG]

A friend of mine has a 21 cougar with 2.5L 200 that would do the trick, we will know if he has it sold this weekend and if not, I will send you a P.M.

Joe

[Sutphil]

https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/bod/5538703529.html
The blue windshield is a bit much but the rest looks pretty good.

[Baja170]

My trailers are both single axle and maybe the Shadow trailer weighs 1K. The galvanized trailer the Intimidator is on is a lot less, I can tell how much less the whole package weighs because I move them around my tight and steep driveway with a 89 Kawasaki Mule with a trailer hitch on the front. But a NICE painted solid steel trailer with a spare that is nice is a lot heavier than a minimalistic galvanized or aluminum trailer for sure.

[TooStroked]

My 22 Progression fits your specifications quite nicely - except it's not for sale. And don't believe everybody who says you need 250-300 HP screwed to the transom to have fun. With a Diamond Marine modified Mercury 2.5 / 200 (more like 240 right now) on the back, I can run 77 on GPS. I do almost all of my boating on Lake Ontario and it too gets pretty snotty. Nothing the P 22 can't handle though.

[Dave Strong]

Cougar 21 MTR with a 225 Pro Max would be a good choice. Cougar made a real nice family boat called the 20.5 Skier. 350 Mercruser would run in the low 60's came open or closed bow. They handled up to 1 1/2 -2' chop well, great ski boats. Checkmate another good call, BAJA also.

Dave

[282]

21 starflight or starliner, checkmate boat, can be bought pretty cheap. Can handle chop and won't break the bank. With a 150 you would run near 60. This is a turn key 56mph boat i paid 6k for with a cover and trailer in December. I changed a bunch of stuff but it will hold 4-5 easy and fit your needs. Look for something like this, they are pretty cheap if you look around.

[Baja170]

1. I guess it all depends on how much chop do you expect to run in? Unless you are flying over the waves for instance, some cats drive better than others depending on how much chop than high deadrise V bottom boats designed to run in snotty water.
2. The thing is speed is relative depending on what you are driving. Some boats running 50 feel like you are going 70, some feel like you are going 50 when you are going 70. Your answers to teh other questions will help people help you.
3. Do you want a windshield and how much of one do you want? How much wind do you mind in your face or do you want to be completely blanked out of the wind in the driver's seat at all speeds.
4. Do you want strictly Outboard for sure or would you consider I/O? There are some very good deals on I/O boats that can definitely handle chop but getting one under 3500 might be tough but man there are so low priced I/O boats for sale right now.


I know this is a lot of questions but I am thinking this could help narrow down the search pretty close.

You just missed an awesome couple of checkmates, one that had no wood in it and was completely rebuilt with newer power that sold for I am pretty sure 12K. I would have loved to have that boat for my son, but it was out of my price range at the time. I also missed another that was really cool and only two hours from me because of snow and the fact that I would not put down a deposit before I looked at the boat. It was a great deal as well and if the guy who bought it ever sells it and it is still dry, it might be under my shed at some point. Bad thing about Checkmates are in a very good chop they will beat you to death at your weight limit. I have owned 3 checkmates and a Baja and beat them so hard especially the Baja racing, things like my anchor flew out from under a seat and out over the splashwell and bye bye in pretty snotty water. As you know, you would have to go pretty slow and make sure and find the right model checkmate with the most deadrise. A baja like my 170SS would not be a good choice for big chop. If you are in big chop, you also want some freeboard so if you stop, break down or just tie up at a dock broadside to the wind you won't get swamped.

Good luck with your search.

[Baja170]

This is a hell of a boat for the money. Not sure what it weighs. IF you can deal with an I/O. There is no telling what you could buy this boat for.

http://www.screamandfly.com/showthread.php?315675-Maelstrom-23-525sc

[Greg G]

I've owned a supercharged Donzi Classic 22 and a Grady White 226. Both were awesome in their own ways. So I'm asking the impossible:

Under 3500 pounds with fuel on a trailer.
I have to be able to launch and recover myself
Prefer outboard power
Seating for 4

What should I be looking into? Oh I'm on a budget so used and under $15k would be best.

If the budget is $15k maximum there are many, many, more options in I/O go fast boats. Some interesting stuff out there right now in fact. If you can raise to say $25k, there is a Howard 220 Offshore coming up for sale with Mercury power.

[fvetere]

I've had an Apache, Checkmate, Scarab, Superboat and Progression and my Skater blows them all away.
Cannot believe the water & speed that it goes through - and Effortlessly!
You cannot compare the V-Bottom to a Cat - my opinion anyway.

Was fortunate to be in 388 Skater down in the Keys this winter - 180mph boat - cruising at 140mph - just insane.
And there where long V-bottoms there - like 50+ - no contest.

[tb2054]

I went out in the 21checkmate pulsar on Friday// lot of boat traffic ,,,,great ride a little slow but ,it will go over 2-3 ft chop at 50 like nothing with the top up lol !!!!! still 63-65 1-2 ft I also have a euro great on the river ,,,but no chop please ,,, well a little I guss.,,,,,, it depends on the ( cat ) so if the wife and kid aren't good at 140 try a deep v id get a open fish center console !!!!!!

[Greg G]

https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/bod/5538703529.html The blue windshield is a bit much but the rest looks pretty good.

That is a really interesting find Sutphil. That's a Scarab 1 factory outboard. The O/B configs must have been very rare as this is only the second one I have seen. These boats have a little cabin and are built really well. I would give 'ol Ray a call on(231) 510-6196 and find out exactly what the 250 on it is all about. For $7k that could be a home run for Mr Zimm.

[Greg G]

I've owned a supercharged Donzi Classic 22 and a Grady White 226. Both were awesome in their own ways. Now I find myself in a bit of a bind. I'm boat-less. I have two kids (3 and 5). The wife doesn't like boating. My tow vehicle is a 2015 wrangler JKU with a 3500# weight limit. I boat on the Potomac river which can get really snotty. I'm finding myself wanting a small, budget boat to get back on the water this summer.

So I'm asking the impossible:

Under 3500 pounds with fuel on a trailer.
I have to be able to launch and recover myself
Prefer outboard power
Seating for 4

What should I be looking into?

Oh I'm on a budget so used and under $15k would be best. Maybe an old 18-20' outboard like a checkmate?

How close are you to Frederick, Maryland?