Best Current Brand of Boats

[jimbo36]

This is fun, Grady-White, Maridian, the new power line of Beneteau. For volume builders Regal is on top and is one of the only builders who never stop building. Nice boats. I would take one over a Sea Ray every day of the week.

[BarryL]

If I were in the Market and couldn't find a nice Trojan it would have to be a Tiara. But then again I would need a boat full of cash for the purchase. I'll gladly run my 10 Meter mid cabin for another 10-20 years

[Commissionpoint]

Viking, Black Watch, Post, Formula, Sea Swirl, Crapbalt (they're good I'm just a hater)

I can agree with most mentioned except Sea Swirl, really? our Police Marine Unit just dumped their fleet and dubbed them "Sea Squirrels" handled like a POS. Went to Boston Whalers. Now there is a good boat. lets not forget Hunt, Bruckman, Limestone, Pearson, to name a few more. I have seen some bad Sea Rays as well.

I had one I thought it was a good boat, and I got it based on a reccomendation from a member of the marine patrol here. Thats what they use. Maybe its an issue not of handling but of handler.

[MattSC]

I would add Cabo, Duffy, and Wilbur

[jimbo36]

Viking, Black Watch, Post, Formula, Sea Swirl, Crapbalt (they're good I'm just a hater)

I can agree with most mentioned except Sea Swirl, really? our Police Marine Unit just dumped their fleet and dubbed them "Sea Squirrels" handled like a POS. Went to Boston Whalers. Now there is a good boat. lets not forget Hunt, Bruckman, Limestone, Pearson, to name a few more. I have seen some bad Sea Rays as well.

I had one I thought it was a good boat, and I got it based on a reccomendation from a member of the marine patrol here. Thats what they use. Maybe its an issue not of handling but of handler.

All 10 guy's? Some with many years experience. They were replaced before their term ended because they were deemed dangerous for Georgian Bay waters. Maybe the Model? Let's add Nortic Tugs and Gozzard to the list.

[BobCT]

I'm with Barry, probably a Tiara but a huge jump in cost. And, surprisingly they have had quite a few hull/coring issues.

Bob

[aaronbocknek]

two of my favorites.... the american tug 365, and the greenline hybrid 40......

http://americantug.com/content/american-tug-365

http://www.greenlinehybrid.com/index.ph ... eenline_40

[Commissionpoint]

All 10 guy's? Some with many years experience. They were replaced before their term ended because they were deemed dangerous for Georgian Bay waters. Maybe the Model?

Yeh. You make valid points for sure. I had the 2601WA, which is what the cheese around here uses. My dads buddy is the Lt. and he was the one who told me about them. Frankly I never paid them much attention before that. I liked the thick hull and loved the modern MPI small blocck. It was a little top heavy with the factory hardtop for sure, but there was no way it was going to turtle. Believe me, its not for a lack of trying. The salesman clearly had to change his shorts after the test ride.

[guglielmo6160]

if money was not an issue, I vote for Grand Banks, my buddy has one and its outstanding, for a trawler.

[jimbo36]

Hinckley Yachts, of course

[jimbo36]

Hinckley Yachts, of course

[gettaway]

I have thought about this question a lot, the one thing in the question is "affordabiltiy"

so, that being said, my dream boat is out, and, I take the question is what would realisitically replace our current boats.

I love the lines of Viking and Ocean, however, for the way I use a boat, I really dislike how the newer sportfisher boats have eliminated the front windshields, so , that alone will never get my wifes approval
I think my heart still belongs to the trawler style of a boat, but I like the looks of the sportfish

That being said, if I were to replace LARK today, I would seriously look at the Bayliner 3888 , the 32 is too small.

If you haven't been aboard one of these boats, they have two large staterooms, two heads, one with a tub / shower, high mounted settee / dinette so there is visibility when seated, full galley down, decent sized flybridge , nice cockpit with transom door and most have diesels, the exhaust parts are getting expensive and difficult to find, but Hinos are good engines.
I have been looking, and early 90's models are on the maket in the 50,000 range and are equipped
The new Bayliner and now Meridian, 34 and 38's are nice, most have cummins diesels and a lot of the used on the market have the dock on command feature... very nice.

heres my reality and not so reality list, but all will fit in my current slip

1. Bayliner 3888
2. Albin 37 palm beach
3. Ocean Supersport 38
4. Sabre 38
5. Riviera 37

[Big D]

Scott, I like the 3888 also. Have worked on quite a few of them. I really like the layout, and would really fit the family's needs. As long as it's the Hinos and not the Chrysler diesels though. Wish they were a little faster too.

[DOUBLE R]

Chris Craft, Fleming, Whaler, Key West, cobia, Grand Banks, Robalo.

[LLCD]

Well this is interesting, I made a recollection of all the mentioned brands and put them on a table to see which brands would rank higher.
Brand Mentions
Vicking 6
Hatteras 3
Paul Mann 3
Buddy Davis 3
Grand Banks 3
Tiara 2
Carver 2
Formula 2
Post 2
Marquis 1
Tolley 1
Krogen 1
Sea Ray 1
Black Watch 1
Sea Swirl 1
Ricky Scarborough 1
Tiffany 1
Cabo 1
Duffy 1
Wilbur 1
Hickley Yachts 1
Bayliner 1
Albin 1
Ocean 1
Sabre 1
Riviera 1
Chris Craft 1
Fleming 1
Boston Whaler 1
Key west 1
Cobia 1
Robalo 1