Looking for personal experiences for dayboaters that enjoyed bowriders and moved up to a cruiser. What say you?
My wife & I have a 2014 R5 (arch/bimini, no enclosure) and love it on the Potomac River and on occasion trailer it to Smith Mountain Lake. The biggest detraction from our boating experience is lack of a cabin which would be useful to hide out from a sudden thundershower or take a break and enjoy the AC on a scorching day. I want to explore the Chesapeake Bay and parts of the Carolina ICW but I'm worried I'm limited with a bowrider. Conversely, I recognize there are several shortcoming I'm concerned about with a cruiser:
- losing bow seating area
- aft cabin may not be conducive for a good nights sleep (2 & a dog)
- big boat isn't trailerable
Found a FSBO 2012 Cobalt 323 (arch/bimini has enclosure) in another state and I'm being tempted in the offseason
Share your move from bowrider to cruiser experience
Share your move from bowrider to cruiser experience
2014 Cobalt R5 with VP 380hp
2014 Chaparral H2019 previous
1991 Wellcraft 186 Eclipse previous
Home: Tyme N Tyde Marina, Woodbridge, Virginia (Potomac River)
Home away from home: Beech Hill Pond, Maine
2014 Chaparral H2019 previous
1991 Wellcraft 186 Eclipse previous
Home: Tyme N Tyde Marina, Woodbridge, Virginia (Potomac River)
Home away from home: Beech Hill Pond, Maine
Re: Share your move from bowrider to cruiser experience
I switched to a trailerable day cruiser with a bow cabin. The entire boat is enclosable, and now I can enjoy exactly what you want to do.
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Re: Share your move from bowrider to cruiser experience
Make sure it has a Genset capable of running AC.
Re: Share your move from bowrider to cruiser experience
Not sure what Genset is? The boat I'm considering is 2012 Cobalt 323 with twin 8.1 400 HP VP, it has A/C, 1600 BTU - 5 kW generator. I've only had bowriders with the "breezy AC" option, current is 2014 R5
2014 Cobalt R5 with VP 380hp
2014 Chaparral H2019 previous
1991 Wellcraft 186 Eclipse previous
Home: Tyme N Tyde Marina, Woodbridge, Virginia (Potomac River)
Home away from home: Beech Hill Pond, Maine
2014 Chaparral H2019 previous
1991 Wellcraft 186 Eclipse previous
Home: Tyme N Tyde Marina, Woodbridge, Virginia (Potomac River)
Home away from home: Beech Hill Pond, Maine
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- Captain
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 2:16 pm
- Location: KS
- Contact:
Re: Share your move from bowrider to cruiser experience
Genset = generator.
The 323 is a much different boating experience compared to an R5. I don't know your situation, but unless you have the 3/4 ton or above truck to pull the 15k lbs. 323 around, you'd be best to keep it at a marina for easy launching. Downside is it may limit your range to visit other lakes and locations.
We have a 360 on Lake of the Ozarks on our own dock & lift. Easiest launching configuration in my opinion... pull the cover, drop the lift and go. I can get the notice "we're taking the boat out" to pulling out of the dock in 10 min or less. Fortunately, LOTO has all we need as I cannot take the 360 to other lakes.
The 323 is a much different boating experience compared to an R5. I don't know your situation, but unless you have the 3/4 ton or above truck to pull the 15k lbs. 323 around, you'd be best to keep it at a marina for easy launching. Downside is it may limit your range to visit other lakes and locations.
We have a 360 on Lake of the Ozarks on our own dock & lift. Easiest launching configuration in my opinion... pull the cover, drop the lift and go. I can get the notice "we're taking the boat out" to pulling out of the dock in 10 min or less. Fortunately, LOTO has all we need as I cannot take the 360 to other lakes.
2005 Cobalt 360, 496Mag HO's with Bravo 3X drives
LOTO - Lake of the Ozarks
LOTO - Lake of the Ozarks
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