Choosing Between a Sport Cruiser or Sport Bridge

“Do I need a Sport Cruiser or a Sport Bridge?”

Over the past 30 years in boat sales, I been asked this question many times, and the answer is definitely different for everyone.  The best boat for you really depends on several determining factors.  So, to start, you’ll need to answer a few questions for yourself:

1. How do I plan to use the boat: day cruising and an occasional evening, or extended cruising in my “floating condo”?
2. What is more important: comfort or speed?
3. How much do I want to invest in a new or used boat?

How do I plan to use the boat?  In many cases, how far you live from your boat will make a difference in which style you choose.

Living close to your marina may mean a spur-of-the-moment boat ride downriver in the evening, or a longer boat trip to a nearby river town to spend a night.  In this case, a sport cruiser may be your best option since you will not be sleeping on the boat as much.

But, the opposite would hold true also – if you live a few hours away from your marina, you’ll probably spend a couple of nights in the marina and take boat rides during the day.   Or, regardless of how near or far you live from your boat, you may want to head out for a week-long trip to explore waterfront locations.  A sport bridge boat will give you more comfortable living space.

Which is more important, comfort or speed?  For day cruising, speed is typically the more crucial factor, and as a result, most people lean towards a sport cruiser.  Sport cruisers perform better, and will get you from point A to point B in a shorter amount of time, leaving more time to enjoy the sun and the water.

However, what a sport cruiser gains in speed, normally they will lack in comfort.  They will have a smaller cabin, smaller beds and sometimes fewer creature comforts such as air conditioning and heat.  While sport bridge boats take a little longer to get where you are going, I think this is where the phrase “Getting there is half the fun” came from.  Sport bridge boats will feature a larger cabin space and bed, along with the comforts of home.

How much do I want to invest in a new boat?  I often get asked, “How much do I have to invest in a new boat?”  My answer is always that it’s better to get what you want even if you have to spend a little more now, rather than sticking to a set amount and getting a boat that isn’t quite what you wanted.

What I mean is, if you invest in a boat and it doesn’t go fast enough, isn’t big enough, isn’t reliable, or just plain not what you wanted, it is going to cost you more to trade it in and get what you want than it would have cost you to get the boat you wanted to begin with.   You want your time on the water to be relaxing, and not a constant source of frustration.

Boat financing is a lot more flexible than other types of financing, and financing a boat is NOT a problem.  For most of the boats we finance, the banks are flexible and not asking an exorbitant down payment, but that’s a different post altogether.

When purchasing a new boat, the dealer you choose can make a lot of difference in how much you enjoy the boat you choose.  If you find a boat dealer you are comfortable with, that has a good reputation and has been in the marine business for many years, you’ll most likely find sales people who are interested in building a relationship with you.  As a result, they will work with you to find your perfect boat, instead of just selling you a boat.

Think spring, and we’ll see you on the water!

Choosing a Marina

One of the first questions many buyers have after purchasing a boat is “Where am I going to put it?”.

Unlike purchasing a car, boats don’t always fit easily in a garage or yard.  If your boat purchase is small enough to fit inside a building on your property such as garage or a barn, or you have plenty of room, congratulations!  Consider yourself lucky.

For everyone else though, the most popular answer is to put your boat in a marina.  But, to many, choosing a marina is much like choosing a house.  Here are a few tips on narrowing down your choice:

• Location: Where your marina is located (and even the slip within the marina!) will have a large impact on your enjoyment.  Looking for excitement? A downtown location or a marina near a busy beach may be the answer.  Want peace and quiet?  Look for one off the beaten path.
  Similarly, even the location of your slip within the marina can change the atmosphere greatly. Slips located near a restaurant, beach, or parking lot will generally be louder than those located further away. Many marinas will allow you to visit a slip before choosing it. If you go down on an evening or weekend, you’ll have a better idea of the noise level, and how busy your neighbors would be.

• What size slip do you need?  Make sure to take into account the width of your boat as well as the length.  Also, if you are looking into an exclusive marina, make sure it is a slip length that will suit you for many years, or you may have to wait – again – to be able to use your boat because your slip is too small for your new boat.

• What type of slip are you looking for?  The two main types of slips will be wet and dry with several options between them.
  Wet slips are located in water, but may not be along a shoreline.   The most common type of wet slip is a space along a central dock where a boat may tie up.  In big cities, “can docks” and “star docks” are popular because they do not take up premium shoreline space.  (A “can dock” is similar to an anchored buoy with tie space, and “star docks” feature a central hub with several slips coming off of it, similar to an asterisk *.)  Both “can” and “star” docks require a customer to get a ride out to their boats via dinghy or kind neighbor, and though inconvenient often cost less and have more availability.
  Dry docks are typically in a rack configuration, and are also known as drystack or racking. Instead of your boat staying in a specific slip, it is given a rack space. To use your boat, you either call ahead to have it put in, or use a mechanized system to have the boat put in for you.

• Is there a waitlist for a slip?  In busy municipalities and big cities such as Chicago or Miami, marinas can have extremely long waitlists, up to 10 years or more!  The running joke in Chicago was, if you’re a boater, put your children’s names on the harbor system waitlist when they’re born so they’ll have a slip by the time they’re 21.  If you enjoy the location or exclusivity, this may be a good match for you…if not, you may want to look somewhere else!

• What amenities do I NEED?  What amenities would you consider a deal-breaker if they were missing?  For many people, an onsite bathroom and shower facility is a “must”, given the alternative of port-a-potties.  Power and water at the slip are two more.  Parking near your slip may be more important to you at some times than others.  Sit down and make a list of what you would like to see in your marina, then narrow down from there your “absolutes” and “wants”.

• What amenities do I WANT?  In your ideal world, what would you have at your marina?  These are typically things that would be nice, but you can live without.  Some customers prefer slip ownership (such as a “dockaminium”) to rental.  You may want the marina to provide dock boxes or boat lifts.  A private clubhouse, playground, WI-FI or pool may be important also.

• Covered or uncovered?  Some marinas offer a choice between covered and uncovered slips.  A covered slip is similar to having a carport that protects your boat from the elements, and may even have a boat lift underneath.  This will keep your boat in peak condition longer, and even allows you to sit down on the boat during inclement weather.  However, it often comes at a premium.

• Cost?  Last but certainly not least, how much do you expect to pay for your slip?  Depending on your location and the marina you’re looking at, your slip could be anywhere from $500-$5000 seasonally.  (MORE if you have a “dockaminium” or live somewhere that year-round boating is a possibility.)  This is one place where your NEEDS and WANTS come into play as well – quite often, a more rustic marina without many amenities will be far less expensive than a full-service marina with everything.

There are many, many more things to consider when searching for a marina, but hopefully these will help you along your way.  To many boaters, the marina is a second home, with a large extended network of friends who become family.  Taking the time to consider your choices will pay off in hours of enjoyment later.

Choosing a Pontoon

So, you’ve decided you want to purchase a pontoon. Great!

Ok…now what?

One of your neighbors has a Brand X pontoon.  Someone at church has Brand Y.  Someone at the office has Brand Z. They all want to give you advice.
Get this!
Don’t get that.
Stay away from this!  Etc…
Some of this information will almost assuredly be contradictory. Who do you listen to? Where do you look for pontoons? 2-toon? Tri-toon? Big motor? Small motor? Fishing configuration? Cruising configuration? Questions, questions and more questions!!!

Let’s slow down and start over.  So, you’ve decided to purchase a pontoon. Great!

Ok… now what?

There are a few basic questions that will help you and your salesperson narrow down the style, and size of pontoon that will fit your needs and budget.  Try to be prepared with answers to these 5 questions.

1.)    At a MAXIMUM, how many people do you want to have on the boat? The more people, the bigger the pontoon needs to be. (length and diameter of each pontoon) At it’s most basic, a standard 18′-20′ pontoon will hold 8-10 people.  You can typically gauge from there approximately how many people a given pontoon boat will hold. 

2.)    Do you plan on using the boat primarily for Fishing?  for Cruising?  Or pretty evenly split between the 2?  There are different layouts and configurations available, depending upon your use.  Smaller pontoons may work better for fishing to get into back areas, while a larger pontoon may be better to fit all of your friends and family for cruising.  Make sure you discuss this with your salesperson and they may be able to help point you in the right direction.

3.)    Do you plan on using the pontoon for any water sports?  This is a very important question to ask, so you can get an idea of the size engine and how many pontoons, or” logs” you need.  No need to put a 200HP engine and a 3^rd log on the pontoon if you are generally using the boat for bird watching and fishing in the backwaters.  Maybe you’re enjoying your favorite glass of wine and some cheese while taking a relaxing sunset cruise to unwind.  A lower HP engine would probably work just fine for you.  Or, maybe you are planning on taking your pontoon out for an action-packed day of tubing and other water sports? If so, you don’t want to be disappointed with the performance of your 50-60HP engine.

4.)    Do you need a trailer? If you are planning on taking your boat to different bodies of water and have the appropriate vehicle for towing, you probably want a trailer. If you have one body of water that you use and you don’t feel like waiting at a busy landing on a summer Saturday, maybe you should use a FULL SERVICE marina or find a slip. No trailer needed!

5.)    BUDGET! Try and come up with a budget. This will determine how many of your “wants” that you can have on your new boat, and in some cases may even adjust a few of your “needs”.  If you can’t make the numbers match up for a new boat, a used boat may be the answer.  If you take a smaller engine size now, you can upgrade later. Or, your dealership can typically offer extremely competitive financing.

Most importantly, find a dealership that is capable of taking the time and treating you with the respect and quality of service you deserve.  The dealership should be able to provide you with FULL service. It should have a knowledgeable sales staff, a service department with certified technicians, a parts department and ship’s store.  If you’re lucky enough, the dealership may have an accommodating marina with gas dock and a variety of summer and winter storage options.

Ask for a tour. Is the sales staff professionally dressed? Or, are they wearing jeans and t-shirts? Does the service department look clean and neat? Or, does it look like the junkyard from Sanford & Sons?

Your salesperson can be your best friend and ally in your search for your new pontoon. Do your homework; go to your dealership prepared with questions. Trust your instincts with your salesperson. Most importantly, create enough time in your busy schedule to have fun on the water after you purchase your new pontoon. Time on the water is good for the soul.