If you were going to buy a powerboat, or if you have one...

[AlanH]

What would you get...or do you have?

I've always been partial to New England lobsterboats. That's probably because I spent a significant part of graduate school gathering relatively deep-water samples on one, at the Moss Landing Marine Lab. Because of that I would prefer a diesel, keel drive boat over an inboard/outboard, but I could pretty easily be convinced that something in the 24-foot range, powered by an outboard, would be nice. Outboards are easy to get serviced and you don't have the potential electrolysis issues. I have no need to go past displacement speed, 7-8 knots is just fine.

Shamrock Mackinaw...very pricey, and it will plane.



and the very nice Cape Dory 28 "trawler"... without the flybridge...This is the only model I think I could convince Joan to spend time on, and they're some sort of affordable.



In the outboard/hardtop category, something like the Seaway 24 Hardtop appeals, though I would probably enclose the bottom half of the space behind the wheel, and then have roll-down cloth/crystal window. They are insanely expensive for a 24 foot boat.



Or a Devlin SurfScoter, which I like a lot...and it's wood, built in Olympia, WA...it's trailerable, which is nice.

 

[BobJ]

When the sails no-workie on a sailboat, we start the engine.

When the engine no-workie on a powerboat, which appears to happen a lot...

Nah, I'll stick with my sailboat.

 

[AlanH]

When the sails no-workie on a sailboat, we start the engine.

When the engine no-workie on a powerboat, which appears to happen a lot...

Nah, I'll stick with my sailboat.

Not that I'm contemplating swapping, you know?

I'd probably put a Hydra 4.0 trainer, water re-launchable kite on board, partly for fun and partly to drag the boat somewhere if the engine poops out. And an 6-8 HP hand-start outboard on the transom, aka " a kicker".

 

[AntsUiga]

Late 1950's Dolphin Cruise (16 foot) by West Coast Fiberglass with very early Volvo Penta I/O. I am a sucker for interesting projects and have too much storage space to get into trouble.

Who could resist? Not me.

Ants

 

[breezetrees]

We sold our Laser 28 Firebolt a couple of years ago because the boys spent so much time sailing dinghies (RYC juniors plus high school program at EYC) we didn't use it enough-- and when they had a free weekend no one wanted more sailing. We wanted to be able to get out on the bay but not have a slip or storage so we bought a Boston Whaler that lives in the driveway next to the laser trailer. I am sure I'll own another keelboat before too long but the "mommyboat" is easy to use and go places in.

 

[Dazzler]

I kept this boat in the Delta for about 7 years. Very quiet 35 hp Honda inside shroud; cruises at ~6 kts. Sort of Van Life on the water.

 

[todd22123]

When I was in So Cal a few months ago, I admired this power boat. Not sure what type, it had a mark on the side of the cabin, but I could not read it from outside the marina gate.