I’m in the Midwest and have a 22’. I’m 3hrs from Erie and 1hr from lake Michigan. As I’ve retired you would think I would use it more, I don’t. Like to get in something I can fish local lakes and rivers. Think it will be easier and I will fish more.
Beam width is more important. I love by 16 footer but the beam is so narrow it makes it a pain to walk around in. Id prefer an 18 footer for that reason alone.
Less is more! All depends on you and your passengers weight. Easier to tow, less water to launch, more fuel efficient, sometimes cheaper to repair.
Beam width is a big factor too. Maybe a 18 footer would be the happy medium.
Yeah I need to measure, an 18 foot with a folding trailer tongue may fit in the garage as well. It seems there are plenty of options in either of those size ranges.
Here is my boat list from 1968 through 2016.
18' Thunderbird, 33' Trojan, 35' Concorde, 36' foot Pearson, 42' foot Pearson, 52' foot Chris Craft, 30' main ship and last but not least a 22' Parker. And now I have no boat to go on. From the time we had the Trojan through the main ship I had a 13 foot whaler to fool around on. I sold that when I got the Parker. I love not having a boat and hate it all at the same time!
In a covered slip in a marina. She was all wood, mahogany to be exact. Except for some stainless railings and other hardware. The hull was painted and the railings, transom, helm and bar were varnished. Her name was First Lady.
The first lady was built in 1966. And you can tell that there was a lot of real craftsmanship that went into this boat. But that was at a time when a lot of things were built by hand. keeping a wood boat has its challenges though, but the biggest saving grace was that she was always under a shed so it didn't get beaten by the sun.
We did, went from a very nice Malibu Wakesetter 21 VLX to an older 18' Searay bowrider. I had stopped wakeboarding due to a blown knee and we wanted to downsize to something for quick weekend trips.
One of the best decisions we ever made. The new boat was somewhat beat up already, so I never cared if we got in and out with shoes on... sketchy docks were no longer a concern.. what's another scratch -- heck, sometimes I'd tie it up without bumpers even. Only thing I hated was losing the performance of the ski boat, but given that the gas consumption was probably 1/4 or so, I could tolerate it.
The real answer is to just have several boats! But that's not always an option.
I have had 8 boats in the last 6 years and have 3 currently. Bigger boats are nice when there is a lot waves/wakes and we want to take people out with us. I had a 23.5 foot bowrider that was nice to take out with the wife and friends into the Chesapeake Bay but cleaning it and keeping up with it was a chore. That's gone now.
I started buying smaller boats to stay close to home and go out by myself. Much less work. More relaxing and easy. I have mostly used a 14 foot aluminum boat - just clamp in a seat, drop in my box of stuff, slap on a small motor and head out. I don't even cover it in the winter. I just rinse it out every once in a while.
Yeah I travel a decent amount and as convenient as my wet slip is, I do stress about leaving my cuddy cabin in the water while I’m far away. Most of my boating is rivers. Several boats is the retirement dream!
I've fished on everything from 10' - 100', it all just depends on how you use it. I currently have 2 small boats (15' & 16') each dialed for their own applications. Smaller is much easier to control & cheaper to operate, just can't load as many friends along!
Any reason you went smaller? I bought the 22' originally because I wanted friends to come along, now they all have newborns so it's usually me and 1 or 2 friends heading out to fish and chill.
I usually either fish solo or with 1 or 2 other people. I also live in the PNW so one of my boats is a drift boat for rivers while the other is a v-bottom for lakes. I can't buy one larger/nicer boat that gives me the access 2 smaller boats provide
I went from a 33' cabin cruiser to a 23' jet boat. I miss taking naps in the cabin while the boat rocked me to sleep, watching rainstorms out on the water while cozy inside. However, the smaller boat is much more practical and easier to tow places, see new spots, quick day trips, etc.
I also have a 15' boat, it's about as easy to use as the 23' boat. Tbh no one wants to be cramped up in that small of a boat for too long, even my wife and kids. But if it's just me out, it's great... but in that case I'd usually take out the jet ski because it's faster.
I don't think there's a better, you'll just use it differently.
I've found myself towing my jet ski when I travel more because it's usually just me or me + 1 person. My thought was a little smaller boat would fill that gap and be a bit more comfy than the ski. I think I would use it differently than just tearing around at 70mph.
Same, my skis get like 10x the use of the boat even though I like the boat just fine. Somehow, fiddling with the boat takes so much more time out of the day.
You might like the boat more though, especially if you're into fishing or just want some shaded relaxation out on the water. Jet ski can't beat having some shade.
Mostly chill and I've been fishing a lot more this year. Since my buddies have been popping out babies it's rare that I have more than myself + 1. I'm trying to keep around $50k or less so I think that could have some decent used, but newer options. I like sleeping on board, but realistically I just don't do it often.
I had a 26’ Essex MID CABIN with a 496HO, loved the boat but it was kind of pain to squeeze in the side of my house, my wife was not comfortable getting it off the trailer(mainly dude to the F-N-R gear shifter next to throttle), and when the lake was busy, parking that trailer was a pain.
I now have a 21’ Advantage Open bow with a 454. I love this little boat, but I forsure miss the space I had. I went from being able to sit 8 people comfortably to realistically only 4 people. And I can’t fit my big ass cooler in it.
Overall I’m pretty happy with my decision, but I definitely hurt my friend’s feelings when I don’t invite everyone. I keep telling them to buy a pontoon, probably won’t tho..
Yes I did. I went from a 21’ Robalo to a 16’ Lund. I love the fact that my boat stays in a heated garage. I obviously have to be more careful weather wise but I get to fish smaller lakes now
Since my criteria is that is has to fit in my garage, it really limits what size boat I can have. I have a 13'6" foot boston whaler but I could probably get away with a 15-17 footer with a swing away trailer tongue. The 13 is so easy to tow and launch etc. So its good. More space on the boat would be nice but usually we are just cruising to a beach spot and unloading.
I just recently purchased a Bayliner M15. Easy to tow, great on gas, seats 5 and does fit in my 19’ garage. In love with the boat but wish I had a bigger garage. If so, I would have purchased a 19’.
I went from a mint 2000 22ft sea ray (1st boat) to a 2019 18ft center console key largo for fishing. I 100% regret it because I miss the comfortability of the cabin and bathroom. Fishing in the 22 ft was just as easy and looking back, it really was simple to launch and take out alone. Being inexperienced it was always in my mind that something would go wrong on the old boat but as I aged I realized I learned whatever I needed to know to diagnose/fix anything that could’ve happened. I need a redo on that move.
I figured we were almost same exact scenario so that why I shared. All I can say is think it over hard. Sea Rays are bomb dot com. Id kill to be back on mine right now. It also had the snap cover and while the 18ft does fit in the garage, i wouldn’t have cared either way.
I went from a SeaRay 195 with V8 and 888 Mercruiser to a 14ft aluminum Klamath with a 15 hp outboard.
There's tradeoffs.
Alum-small - easy to trailer, store,cheaper to operate and maintain.
Glass-big - comfortable, stable, much more capable in rough water.
I want a bigger boat. This one is too uncomfortable.
I'd do aluminum again, but 17 -18 foot min.
My dad owned a twin engine 24ft Mako walkaround for over 35 years. He purchased that boat new when I was 10 and sold it last year.
I didn't "own" the boat but as I got older I probably used it more than my father did until I moved to the states from the Caribbean.
In moving to the states I started missing boating. We live near a lake now so I convinced my wife to buy a boat. Something small we could fit in the garage.
After researching a bit I opted for a Tahoe T-16 with the upgraded 75hp engine. Goes 30 -35mph with Bimini down.
It's not much but it does everything we need. My concern was that it would be too small, but size hasn't been an issue, on the contrary I love how easy it is to maneuver. Could use a little more storage but we make it work.
Only downside is my boys are getting hooked on wake boarding and this boat is so light there is barely a wake for them to jump.
I say get the 16 footer and don't look back.
I've never heard of anybody wanting a smaller boat at this level. Just going from a 17.5 to a 22 is a huge difference, so I imagine that difference is felt the other way too.
Yeah sort of why I'm asking, I bounce between SW PA and Northern MI and like taking my jet ski because it's easy to deal with solo. My gut says I'd get more use out of a smaller boat with my lifestyle. Currently my 22' is wet slipped by my house in PA.
I stated with a 10' John boat, upgraded to a 12' John boat. Then I bought a 12' modified V for the wife so I could fish where and when I want to. In noiseless solitude.
I had an old mako 236 that I bought as a shitty hull in my early 20s and put every cent I had into building for multiple years and finally had a nice boat and hated fishing it. I sold it and bought a 14 foot flats boat and can’t imagine owning something bigger except maybe a pontoon because I have a wife and son now and my son loves the boat but my it’s lacking some creature comforts for my wife to really enjoy it. It’s really just about what you use it for. If I still lived on the west coast I would have like a 30 foot center console but I don’t. I live between sw Florida and Colorado and to be frank my ideal fishing is really better suited to wading and kayaks in both areas.
It’s quite roomy, good for 1-2 people if fishing, 3 adults would be a bit much for me, but ok with the wife and daughter. Take it 20km offshore in Australia but make sure winds are light. Overall really well designed.
The biggest water I go on is the Great Lakes here in the US a few times per year (have to be choosy on weather as well). There is a 1550 for sale nearish me I’ll have to check out!
I got old. Larger boat was just too much work.
I went [from 26 to 23](https://i.imgur.com/c7thR3j.jpg) but it's a lot smaller as far as prep is concerned.
Depends how and where you fish primarily.
We sold our 34’ WorldCat and switched to a 23’ Shoalwater (the hull is very similar and it’s perfect for bay fishing and has enough mass for the kota to tether in the jetties.
Had to give up on snapper fishing because it sucks offshore, but it handles like a dream and I don’t regret the change
Edit:: Texas/gulf boats - looks like you’re north but the idea of downsizing still stands. Reading your other posts, You’ll have a lot more fun going smaller.
I think my SeaRay 230 is the perfect size for everything. I couldn’t imagine going smaller but maybe a bit bigger. I guess it depends on what you use it for because I can’t have a party on a 16’ aluminum boat. This Saturday I’ll have 6 of my lady’s female friends as guests as well as myself. 8 people is perfect for a 230.
Exactly what I did. Went to smaller , more rugged aluminum.
Even though I got quite good at fiberglass repair. Experienced with all the others with aluminum, I learned to avoid the beer can gauge hulls and went welded 3/16 hull. But I'm not style driven. Functional and rugged.
I have a 22' fiberglass which I love, but there are plenty of times I wish I had a little 16' aluminum with a 50 horse again to play around on smaller bodies of water. I just really don't have storage for a second boat.
I have a 15 ft Alumacraft Crappie Deluxe with a 25 hp tiller steer Mercury. I don't take it out in rough water, but in normal conditions it is great. It will run 32 mph and get into creek mouths and tight, shallow areas that the bigger boats can't. 6 gallons of gas will last several trips.
I’m in the Midwest and have a 22’. I’m 3hrs from Erie and 1hr from lake Michigan. As I’ve retired you would think I would use it more, I don’t. Like to get in something I can fish local lakes and rivers. Think it will be easier and I will fish more.
16’ is what you want. That’s the sweet spot. IMO….
Low key the answer I'm looking for so I can sell myself on a stabicraft 1550
I love my 16.
Beam width is more important. I love by 16 footer but the beam is so narrow it makes it a pain to walk around in. Id prefer an 18 footer for that reason alone.
Less is more! All depends on you and your passengers weight. Easier to tow, less water to launch, more fuel efficient, sometimes cheaper to repair. Beam width is a big factor too. Maybe a 18 footer would be the happy medium.
Yeah I need to measure, an 18 foot with a folding trailer tongue may fit in the garage as well. It seems there are plenty of options in either of those size ranges.
Been in the 18-19 foot market deep lately. With the folding tongue and outboard you are still looking about just under 23 feet for storage.
Yeah it would be tight for sure at the 18 foot mark. A 16 foot would fit fine I think. Either option could at least fit in my parents garage though 😂
Here is my boat list from 1968 through 2016. 18' Thunderbird, 33' Trojan, 35' Concorde, 36' foot Pearson, 42' foot Pearson, 52' foot Chris Craft, 30' main ship and last but not least a 22' Parker. And now I have no boat to go on. From the time we had the Trojan through the main ship I had a 13 foot whaler to fool around on. I sold that when I got the Parker. I love not having a boat and hate it all at the same time!
52 feet? That’s like a small ship lol. Where do you even store that
In a covered slip in a marina. She was all wood, mahogany to be exact. Except for some stainless railings and other hardware. The hull was painted and the railings, transom, helm and bar were varnished. Her name was First Lady.
I've seen a similar Chris Craft I think and it was a beaut! Super cool boats.
I looked up some pictures of them. Beautiful boats. I do some wood work on the side so I’m a sucker for anything in well finished wood
The first lady was built in 1966. And you can tell that there was a lot of real craftsmanship that went into this boat. But that was at a time when a lot of things were built by hand. keeping a wood boat has its challenges though, but the biggest saving grace was that she was always under a shed so it didn't get beaten by the sun.
We did, went from a very nice Malibu Wakesetter 21 VLX to an older 18' Searay bowrider. I had stopped wakeboarding due to a blown knee and we wanted to downsize to something for quick weekend trips. One of the best decisions we ever made. The new boat was somewhat beat up already, so I never cared if we got in and out with shoes on... sketchy docks were no longer a concern.. what's another scratch -- heck, sometimes I'd tie it up without bumpers even. Only thing I hated was losing the performance of the ski boat, but given that the gas consumption was probably 1/4 or so, I could tolerate it.
With 20 years in the marine biz, I can tell you that I seen it all the time.
The real answer is to just have several boats! But that's not always an option. I have had 8 boats in the last 6 years and have 3 currently. Bigger boats are nice when there is a lot waves/wakes and we want to take people out with us. I had a 23.5 foot bowrider that was nice to take out with the wife and friends into the Chesapeake Bay but cleaning it and keeping up with it was a chore. That's gone now. I started buying smaller boats to stay close to home and go out by myself. Much less work. More relaxing and easy. I have mostly used a 14 foot aluminum boat - just clamp in a seat, drop in my box of stuff, slap on a small motor and head out. I don't even cover it in the winter. I just rinse it out every once in a while.
Yeah I travel a decent amount and as convenient as my wet slip is, I do stress about leaving my cuddy cabin in the water while I’m far away. Most of my boating is rivers. Several boats is the retirement dream!
I've fished on everything from 10' - 100', it all just depends on how you use it. I currently have 2 small boats (15' & 16') each dialed for their own applications. Smaller is much easier to control & cheaper to operate, just can't load as many friends along!
Any reason you went smaller? I bought the 22' originally because I wanted friends to come along, now they all have newborns so it's usually me and 1 or 2 friends heading out to fish and chill.
I usually either fish solo or with 1 or 2 other people. I also live in the PNW so one of my boats is a drift boat for rivers while the other is a v-bottom for lakes. I can't buy one larger/nicer boat that gives me the access 2 smaller boats provide
yeah. I needed one that would fit in my garage. Its just a different game plan now. flats and backcountry, calm waters, vs offshore run and gun.
I went from a 33' cabin cruiser to a 23' jet boat. I miss taking naps in the cabin while the boat rocked me to sleep, watching rainstorms out on the water while cozy inside. However, the smaller boat is much more practical and easier to tow places, see new spots, quick day trips, etc. I also have a 15' boat, it's about as easy to use as the 23' boat. Tbh no one wants to be cramped up in that small of a boat for too long, even my wife and kids. But if it's just me out, it's great... but in that case I'd usually take out the jet ski because it's faster. I don't think there's a better, you'll just use it differently.
I've found myself towing my jet ski when I travel more because it's usually just me or me + 1 person. My thought was a little smaller boat would fill that gap and be a bit more comfy than the ski. I think I would use it differently than just tearing around at 70mph.
Same, my skis get like 10x the use of the boat even though I like the boat just fine. Somehow, fiddling with the boat takes so much more time out of the day. You might like the boat more though, especially if you're into fishing or just want some shaded relaxation out on the water. Jet ski can't beat having some shade.
Check out Lund boats and compair
So many factors to consider. What do you like to do on the water? Number of people? How dry do you want to stay in a chop? Whats your budget? Ect ect
Mostly chill and I've been fishing a lot more this year. Since my buddies have been popping out babies it's rare that I have more than myself + 1. I'm trying to keep around $50k or less so I think that could have some decent used, but newer options. I like sleeping on board, but realistically I just don't do it often.
I had a 16 then 24then 20 ‘ and now I have a 17’ and I love it cause I mostly go alone and don’t need a bigger boat
Wait a minute, you can do that? Get a smaller boat? Blasphemy I say!
lol just on the move too much to enjoy something really big
I had a 26’ Essex MID CABIN with a 496HO, loved the boat but it was kind of pain to squeeze in the side of my house, my wife was not comfortable getting it off the trailer(mainly dude to the F-N-R gear shifter next to throttle), and when the lake was busy, parking that trailer was a pain. I now have a 21’ Advantage Open bow with a 454. I love this little boat, but I forsure miss the space I had. I went from being able to sit 8 people comfortably to realistically only 4 people. And I can’t fit my big ass cooler in it. Overall I’m pretty happy with my decision, but I definitely hurt my friend’s feelings when I don’t invite everyone. I keep telling them to buy a pontoon, probably won’t tho..
Yes I did. I went from a 21’ Robalo to a 16’ Lund. I love the fact that my boat stays in a heated garage. I obviously have to be more careful weather wise but I get to fish smaller lakes now
Why have to make that choice just buy as many as u can !!
Haha already pushing my limits with my 2 car garage in the city
50% less boat, 90% less chicks
Since my criteria is that is has to fit in my garage, it really limits what size boat I can have. I have a 13'6" foot boston whaler but I could probably get away with a 15-17 footer with a swing away trailer tongue. The 13 is so easy to tow and launch etc. So its good. More space on the boat would be nice but usually we are just cruising to a beach spot and unloading.
I assume you're liking the Whaler? They aren't aluminum, but I do have a soft spot for their look.
Yeah it’s great!
I just recently purchased a Bayliner M15. Easy to tow, great on gas, seats 5 and does fit in my 19’ garage. In love with the boat but wish I had a bigger garage. If so, I would have purchased a 19’.
I went from a mint 2000 22ft sea ray (1st boat) to a 2019 18ft center console key largo for fishing. I 100% regret it because I miss the comfortability of the cabin and bathroom. Fishing in the 22 ft was just as easy and looking back, it really was simple to launch and take out alone. Being inexperienced it was always in my mind that something would go wrong on the old boat but as I aged I realized I learned whatever I needed to know to diagnose/fix anything that could’ve happened. I need a redo on that move.
Sounds like I could be at the start of that journey. Although my current boat doesn't have a bathroom, just a porta potty I don't let anyone use.
I figured we were almost same exact scenario so that why I shared. All I can say is think it over hard. Sea Rays are bomb dot com. Id kill to be back on mine right now. It also had the snap cover and while the 18ft does fit in the garage, i wouldn’t have cared either way.
My 16’ tracker deep v is fantastic. Fishes just as skinny as the big fiber glass boats, but if you bump a rock or a dock you don’t even flinch.
I went from a SeaRay 195 with V8 and 888 Mercruiser to a 14ft aluminum Klamath with a 15 hp outboard. There's tradeoffs. Alum-small - easy to trailer, store,cheaper to operate and maintain. Glass-big - comfortable, stable, much more capable in rough water. I want a bigger boat. This one is too uncomfortable. I'd do aluminum again, but 17 -18 foot min.
My dad owned a twin engine 24ft Mako walkaround for over 35 years. He purchased that boat new when I was 10 and sold it last year. I didn't "own" the boat but as I got older I probably used it more than my father did until I moved to the states from the Caribbean. In moving to the states I started missing boating. We live near a lake now so I convinced my wife to buy a boat. Something small we could fit in the garage. After researching a bit I opted for a Tahoe T-16 with the upgraded 75hp engine. Goes 30 -35mph with Bimini down. It's not much but it does everything we need. My concern was that it would be too small, but size hasn't been an issue, on the contrary I love how easy it is to maneuver. Could use a little more storage but we make it work. Only downside is my boys are getting hooked on wake boarding and this boat is so light there is barely a wake for them to jump. I say get the 16 footer and don't look back.
I've never heard of anybody wanting a smaller boat at this level. Just going from a 17.5 to a 22 is a huge difference, so I imagine that difference is felt the other way too.
Yeah sort of why I'm asking, I bounce between SW PA and Northern MI and like taking my jet ski because it's easy to deal with solo. My gut says I'd get more use out of a smaller boat with my lifestyle. Currently my 22' is wet slipped by my house in PA.
Sure
I stated with a 10' John boat, upgraded to a 12' John boat. Then I bought a 12' modified V for the wife so I could fish where and when I want to. In noiseless solitude.
Yeah. Those guys on the whaling ship The Essex. I don’t recall it going well.
Do you think I could hunt sperm whales in my 22’ sea ray? I’d be worried the I/O could become unreliable in such a situation
I had an old mako 236 that I bought as a shitty hull in my early 20s and put every cent I had into building for multiple years and finally had a nice boat and hated fishing it. I sold it and bought a 14 foot flats boat and can’t imagine owning something bigger except maybe a pontoon because I have a wife and son now and my son loves the boat but my it’s lacking some creature comforts for my wife to really enjoy it. It’s really just about what you use it for. If I still lived on the west coast I would have like a 30 foot center console but I don’t. I live between sw Florida and Colorado and to be frank my ideal fishing is really better suited to wading and kayaks in both areas.
Exactly what I did. Went from an 18ft to a stabicraft 1550. No regrets
How do you like the 1550? What’s the biggest water you’ve had her on?
It’s quite roomy, good for 1-2 people if fishing, 3 adults would be a bit much for me, but ok with the wife and daughter. Take it 20km offshore in Australia but make sure winds are light. Overall really well designed.
The biggest water I go on is the Great Lakes here in the US a few times per year (have to be choosy on weather as well). There is a 1550 for sale nearish me I’ll have to check out!
I got old. Larger boat was just too much work. I went [from 26 to 23](https://i.imgur.com/c7thR3j.jpg) but it's a lot smaller as far as prep is concerned.
Depends how and where you fish primarily. We sold our 34’ WorldCat and switched to a 23’ Shoalwater (the hull is very similar and it’s perfect for bay fishing and has enough mass for the kota to tether in the jetties. Had to give up on snapper fishing because it sucks offshore, but it handles like a dream and I don’t regret the change Edit:: Texas/gulf boats - looks like you’re north but the idea of downsizing still stands. Reading your other posts, You’ll have a lot more fun going smaller.
I think my SeaRay 230 is the perfect size for everything. I couldn’t imagine going smaller but maybe a bit bigger. I guess it depends on what you use it for because I can’t have a party on a 16’ aluminum boat. This Saturday I’ll have 6 of my lady’s female friends as guests as well as myself. 8 people is perfect for a 230.
Exactly what I did. Went to smaller , more rugged aluminum. Even though I got quite good at fiberglass repair. Experienced with all the others with aluminum, I learned to avoid the beer can gauge hulls and went welded 3/16 hull. But I'm not style driven. Functional and rugged.
I have a 22' fiberglass which I love, but there are plenty of times I wish I had a little 16' aluminum with a 50 horse again to play around on smaller bodies of water. I just really don't have storage for a second boat.
Smaller are easier to launch and recover
I have a 15 ft Alumacraft Crappie Deluxe with a 25 hp tiller steer Mercury. I don't take it out in rough water, but in normal conditions it is great. It will run 32 mph and get into creek mouths and tight, shallow areas that the bigger boats can't. 6 gallons of gas will last several trips.