Thinking About A New Boat

[dakota4ce]

LOL, same. I have to use all that money I save for something......

I like a good discussion. For sure.

BTW, @rensink and I will be picking your brain regarding Z3 tweaking here in a week or 2 for sure, if you will have us.

[Germaine Marine]

But you're definitely right, it is for sure a matter of opinion. This really touches on more far reaching financial and social philosophies in general. I am a very objective, value minded, conservative guy. Boring maybe. Boring probably. My stuff looks great, runs great, performs great. BUT, its old. 2013 Tomcat. 2008 Sequoia. 2012 Honda Odyssey. 2008 335i. Combined value, less than a new surf boat. Of course, I bought it all used and at good deals after a decently long patient search. I decided what I wanted before I looked. But they're all cherry except the van, which my wife and kids have destroyed. Its a sacrificial lamb.

And, I completely understand if boat salesmen don't like me. Car dealers don't really either. Its because I just can't bring myself to go that route. One of these days, I might get stung! Hopefully not, but it for sure could happen.

So my opinions are boring and always angle toward the "bang for the buck" goal. In my opinion. Which, really if I/we think about it, is worth about as much as I charge for it.....nothing.

All I am saying is, a $65K anything vs the $38K 24Ve with regard to utility and surf wave quality is a no brainer--according to my boring old philosophy outlined above. The difference is negligible to minor, and the savings are substantial. But, its not a Z3--you aren't going to find diamond stitch.

I think you have hit on it... It really is all opinion.

I love heaters, a big stereo, taps 3 and many of the countless other options which include just the mere fit and finish of some of the newer stuff. To "me" those few things are worth every bit of the 30K. Doesent mean you cant find a bad *** newer boat for a steal like your tomcat, to be honest its mostly always timing.... When I was looking had a seen something that was what I wanted hardly used I would have bought it...... Just didnt work out that way..... with a purchase like that I didnt want to spend 50K and have regrets and feelings of settling, to me it was a lot of money regardless and I mine as well get exactly what I want.

As to my specific boat. I think its a good machine, and in my opinion wave quality and tech worth the money, but again thats just me and nearly everyone that has been on it

[Germaine Marine]

LOL, same. I have to use all that money I save for something......

I like a good discussion. For sure.

BTW, @rensink and I will be picking your brain regarding Z3 tweaking here in a week or 2 for sure, if you will have us.

Phone is always on...

[dakota4ce]

BTW, I will eat crow if someone feeds it to me. We will see what that baby will do tweaked elevated style!

[Germaine Marine]

BTW, I will eat crow if someone feeds it to me. We will see what that baby will do tweaked elevated style!

maybe my hull is one of those special ones... who knows but it kills thats for sure.

[boonecragun]

I think we should start a new thread "Philosophy Corner" by Dakota. I would subscribe. Seriously. Like your style.

[Bakes5]

The secret to having a great time on a boat is 1) Put hours on the boat. 2) Don't get stranded. 3) Don't get hurt or hurt others. Cost of the boat is irrelevant if your putting 30hr per year on a newer boat vs 150 hours per year on an older boat.

Also, way too much getting wrapped around the axle on getting the perfect surf wave. So many fun things to do behind a boat that are not surfing. Will always be chasing that 1 day when the moon and stars aligned to get that perfect wave.....unless your Elevated who gets that every day. I would say that 9/10 people I see surfing are just kinda standing there. Sure surfing is low impact but so are other things. That wakefoil looks way more fun than surfing. Important thing is to get out on the water, have a great time and not get hurt. If your boat surfs....surf. If it's a pain in the butt to surf then do some of the 15 other things that are just as much fun.

Anywho, I love every the $40k boat. Just the right bang for buck with reliability. It is hard to find one with a modern surf system for that price though. Hopefully you will get into something sweet soon. The good news is that the weather totally sucks right now. Seriously...6 inches of snow can n my backyard.

[Bakes5]

^^^and yes....I do love me some heater, shower, big engine, silver flake, sweet LEDs and diamond stitch in a boat rated for 16, holds 6-8 comfortably and sleeps 5 in the cove. So while I love the $40k boat...in the end I just threw that aside and got what really made me happy. But I would probably be in the $40k boat if I had not gotten the brother discount.

Boats are emotional decisions not logical ones. Which is why my posts are often not logical...so don't bother pointing out the flaws in my logic.

[Germaine Marine]

The secret to having a great time on a boat is 1) Put hours on the boat. 2) Don't get stranded. 3) Don't get hurt or hurt others. Cost of the boat is irrelevant if your putting 30hr per year on a newer boat vs 150 hours per year on an older boat.

Also, way too much getting wrapped around the axle on getting the perfect surf wave. So many fun things to do behind a boat that are not surfing. Will always be chasing that 1 day when the moon and stars aligned to get that perfect wave.....unless your Elevated who gets that every day. I would say that 9/10 people I see surfing are just kinda standing there. Sure surfing is low impact but so are other things. That wakefoil looks way more fun than surfing. Important thing is to get out on the water, have a great time and not get hurt. If your boat surfs....surf. If it's a pain in the butt to surf then do some of the 15 other things that are just as much fun.

Anywho, I love every the $40k boat. Just the right bang for buck with reliability. It is hard to find one with a modern surf system for that price though. Hopefully you will get into something sweet soon. The good news is that the weather totally sucks right now. Seriously...6 inches of snow can n my backyard.

Yep. For alot of people surfing isnt important. If it isnt I doubt I would buy a new boat. I think Josh and his family will be primarily surfing, not to say they cant have a blast on a 24ve, I love TheGermans boat..... Awesome listed wave.

But I too am like you......... I love the new vinyl smell, touchscreen's and all the stuff you listed. Love it, love it, love it.

[bsreid]

The new vinyl smell! Ahhhh don't bring back the memories. I loved those days. 300hrs later still looking pristine though, now I just get to smell babes cleaner.

As everyone has said above it doesn't matter how much your boat costs to have a great day on the water with the family, as long as things run smoothly there will be smiles. We started out with a 15k I/O and made some pretty amazing memories. Yes the fancy features are nice but they aren't needed. On the other hand if you can afford them, totally go for it. You only live once!

I say find a used Z3 and add taps 3 and follow @elevatedconcepts advice on wave setup. Has the hull changed over the years on the Z3? I'm wishing these boats down south were a little closer, I wouldn't mind a upgrade too.

[boonecragun]

Bakes5, you sleeep 5 people in your boat?

[UNSTUCK]

My old one is an 8+ out of 10 and even has the POS Tige SpeedSet eliminated so as to never cause a crappy surf speed again (I installed a brand new Hydrophase GPS speed control). And the sound system absolutely slams.
Gel coat is very good, seats are very good. Motor is rock solid. I purchased a brand new cover.

I would guess it is under 40K easily. I guess the only thing I cannot account for is what has happened to it since it left my house 16 months ago. From what I hear, it has basically not moved.

I would give it a look? As far as surf waves go, it absolutely could not be set up better for a listed 24Ve. I copied every move Ragboy made on his.

Basically what I am saying is, I had a bunch of extra money in that hog and someone should be using it! LOL

Only two major problems at this point with your old boat: #1, and most important: find me the "for sale" ad. #2: Listing. We would buy it and try to set it up for level/near level surfing. It was never intended for that. Better it goes to someone who doesn't mind.

But you're definitely right, it is for sure a matter of opinion. This really touches on more far reaching financial and social philosophies in general. I am a very objective, value minded, conservative guy. Boring maybe. Boring probably. My stuff looks great, runs great, performs great. BUT, its old. 2013 Tomcat. 2008 Sequoia. 2012 Honda Odyssey. 2008 335i. Combined value, less than a new surf boat. Of course, I bought it all used and at good deals after a decently long patient search. I decided what I wanted before I looked. But they're all cherry except the van, which my wife and kids have destroyed. Its a sacrificial lamb.

And, I completely understand if boat salesmen don't like me. Car dealers don't really either. Its because I just can't bring myself to go that route. One of these days, I might get stung! Hopefully not, but it for sure could happen.

So my opinions are boring and always angle toward the "bang for the buck" goal. In my opinion. Which, really if I/we think about it, is worth about as much as I charge for it.....nothing.

All I am saying is, a $65K anything vs the $38K 24Ve with regard to utility and surf wave quality is a no brainer--according to my boring old philosophy outlined above. The difference is negligible to minor, and the savings are substantial. But, its not a Z3--you aren't going to find diamond stitch.

I must say our philosophies line up pretty close. Too bad you're so far away. We could be good friends. At least we have forums now, because I would have made a terrible pen pal.


We have it narrowed down to a couple boats now. A 2012 Z3, a 2013 Z3, a 2015 B52 23, and way out in left field is still the original F24 we were interested in. We should be getting mama's new (2012) Armada today. That will put things in motion for the boat purchase in a week or so.

[dakota4ce]

Roger that. So you're intending a surf system of some sort. It would work fine for that, you would just have "extra capacity" on your ballast system .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dakota4ce]

Those Z3s will be sweet!

And you know how I love my big cat! [emoji78]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bakes5]

Love the direction this thread has gone. Here is what I've gleaned

$40k boat: Gets you out on the water and doing whatever you want but don't get a surf system.

$70k boat: Bottom threshold of a boat with a surf system...luck required

$75-85k boat: Gets you into a surf system easily

$100k: gets you into a new surf system boat

$120-140k+: gets you whatever you want

If your looking at a reasonably priced 23 foot, no list surf boat then you are looking at a Z3 with TAPS 3 and your gonna pay $70-85k. Anything else is just gonna be an expensive experiment. Having seen all the work even getting a proven performer consistently great would give me serious pause about spending 59-60k on something hoping to get a non listed wave. Just look at the GSA experiment going on in the other thread.

My take..be happy with a sweet $40k listed wave or else pay another $30k and get the system you really want.

As long as you put your 150 hours a year on it, it will turn out fine in the end. Surf, ride, ski, scooter, foil, skate....it really doesn't matter as long as it puts a smile on your face.


In regards to how I get 5 sleeping in the Z3: 1 in bow, 1 on observer bench, 1 on back bench, 1 on the floor and me on the sun pad. You can fit 2 80-90 pounders in the bow in a crunch. I'm trying to figure out a platform from above the trash can to the subpad. That would give us 6 or move someone off the floor. Spending nights on the boat are my favorite thing...and doesn't require a surf system.

Y16_5293.jpg.jpg

Y16_5279.jpg.jpg

Y16_5297.jpg.jpg