www.iFourWinns.com

Hi,

I recently relocated to SW Florida and am lucky enough to have moved into a house with a boat dock. I have been looking around a bit at what boats are available and after doubting long between a bow rider or cabin cruiser, I now am looking at a nicely prized 2005 Vista 248. Is this a good boat for a beginning boater or would it make sense to start with something smaller?

Thanks

It makes a great first cruiser, it's probably not too much to handle for a newbie either. I know that 05 is nice but surely you don't want one without a windlass!!

Lets make a deal! viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1455

Get the boat you feel most comfortable about owning. Look at cruisers in this size range, decide what you like best about what you have seen, then make your decision from there.
Do not just look at one boat, one model, and one manufacturer.

There about 43 other suggestions that can be made, I'll let others take care of that.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Agreed. And I started out with my horizon 220 but it's a whole new experience with a cruiser. I think you'd be fine.

Hi ric71 and welcome aboard!

I agree that the 248 could be a great first cruiser if you are responsible in how you go about educating yourself about boating. Boating, for those who are new to it, should never be a 'figure it out as you go' activity (not suggesting that was your plan). Those who have been at it for our entire lives are still constantly learning. I would encourage you to do lots of reading. Definitely pick up a copy of Chapman's which is considered the boating bible and has more info in it that most of us will ever use but is a superb resource. Then browse the bookstore shelves for a book targeting new boaters - there are several of them out there. You should look into taking a course with your local Power Squadron and you should absolutely hire a captain to spend a few days at the docks and on the water with you. It will be an invaluable investment.

Keep us up to date and keep the questions coming!

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

I am going to be the voice of reason here... Yes that 05 248 on ebay is a steal (assuming the previous owners whom it was Repo'd from, did no damage to it purposely).

With that said, a cruiser as a first boat? You will need to take all the boating courses you can! Docking an open bow boat is much easier since you can have someone up in the bow to help you with a Boat Hook, throw dock lines out, etc.. The Cruiser has way more freeboard and will catch the wind and can be a handful to dock, it is my opinion as a 248 owner that this is not a single deck hand boat.

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Brett DiMichele

Hey Ric, welcome aboard! The 248 is a great boat and just fine if you follow the advice above. Where in SW Florida are you? I am across I-75 in Miami.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

Thanks everbody - it is nice to see this is a very active forum.

I am doing a lot of reading and will follow a couple of courses down here. I also plan on learning from people that have boated for a longer time.

By the way - the boat I am looking at is not the Repo on EBay - somehow I don't find Repo items very attractive. The owner of the boat I am looking at showed me around for 2 hours last week, was very friendly and it was obvious that the boat is very well taken care of.

Walter - I am in Cape Coral - really just a stretch across Alligator Alley. Your boat looks very nice (as do most others that are posted)...

You sure you don't want a big bowrider since you already have the house on the water??

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3117

Just a thought. I'm looking to sell it outside of ebay now.

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

ric,

Before you close the deal you may want to hang back and see what the Repo 05 goes for on ebay, might give you some more leverage on the one you are looking at. Welcome aboard by the way!

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Brett DiMichele

I didn't get into boating till about 7 years ago and started with the boat we still have, the 20 foot Horizon bowrider. It depends on what you are expecting from boating, learning curve for a smaller boat is a bit shorter, they are easier to dock, get on and off of trailers, and are cheaper to run and store. BUT, most of us know that those who started with smaller boats pretty much all wanted to move up in size, seaworthyness and comforts. So if you took a boating course, and hired a captain for a day to teach you the skills you have to learn, then starting with a boat this size may not be a bad experience. But if you want to jump in and just go....well the smaller boat is just easier. Its the docking and close quarter manuvering that spooks most new boaters the most.

I learned how to dock my moored boat out of necessity. It had about a 1/4 of a tank (10- gallons) left and I had to either go to the gas dock, or put it on the trailer and pull it out to gas up. Well I drove to the gas dock, circled around till there was no one there, and came in as slow as I could, not realizing that the attendant would be happy to take the lines and pull the boat in! After that it was no big deal as long as it wasn't really windy, or on a crowded holiday weekend. Take the course, hire the captain....make it fun!!!

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Depends on intended use.

I love our 248 vista. Do I think it would make a great 1st boat, ????? The boat is tall and wind affects it greatly, coming from the 245 sundowner, I thought that it would handle and maneuver similar, I was wrong. There are days I miss our 1st boat, a 19' cuddy with a 5.7L, this was a little hot rod, very easy to maneuver at the dock.

There are pros and cons of each:
Cruiser, great to have everything you could ever need while out enjoying the day, poor for towing the kids skiing, but can be done.
Open bow, great tow boat, limited on conveniences, bathroom, sleeping quarters for kids, somewhere to sit out of the sun.

No matter what you end up with do take the boat safety courses.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Powell is right on the money!

I came into my 248 (which yes I love by the way) from a Stingray 230SX which is by no means a small boat nor a light one. I assumed they would handle the same.... They do not! The high profile of an express means that the slightest breeze will move you! Docking procedures are best done with the canvas stowed! I remember the first time I went to dock my 248 and I had all the canvas up and a gentle breeze came along and dang if I wasn't pointing the wrong direction right quick!

My first boat was a wee little 16.5' Stingray Bowrider and I have to say, I miss the convenience of single person launching and being able to beach the boat and hop out of the front. You certainly won't do that with a cruiser, even a small one!

A wise man once said: NEVER approach a dock, any faster than you are willing to hit it!


I also agree with Cap'n Morgan that you need to make sure the 248 is the right boat for you, a boat is not a cheap purchase and you need to make sure the 248 is what you want in a boat. I LOVE my 248, and I think most of us 248 owners love them. But there are so many boats out there, always good to make sure your heart is fully in it before you pay out the bucks.

Also make sure it has at least the 280 horse 5.7 duo prop drive!

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Brett DiMichele

One other observation, if you plan on spending ANY time in the cabin during the day in SW Florida, you WILL need A/C. And thus a gen-set/portable gen. if you leave the dock. Both of those are difficult to find on most 248 Vista's. And they are expensive to add after the fact.

So in that respect, a bowrider with a large bimini top, head, and entertainment center (sink,fridge etc.) would be a viable alternative in the humid climate that you live in.

If it were me, and I lived in "paradise", I would either have a larger cruiser with all the amenities, providing I could afford it, or be more than happy with a home on the water
to get out of the elements, and a CC or large bowrider on a lift to get my boating fix.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Thanks everyone.

Reading through your tips this boat looks more and more perfect. It does have AC and the owner throws in a Honda 2000 generator. It is true that it is nice to be leaving on the water, but the water at the house is only a canal and I want more open surfaces to look at sometimes

I'll post some pics if the sale goes through...

Thanks again!

Richard

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Richard - FL - 2005 Vista 248