I wouldn’t rule out the right bay boat. I have a 24’ Blue Wave and it will do anything a 24’ deep v boat will do plus a whole lot more. It will float in 11 inches, gets great fuel mileage and runs 60mph with a single 300. Not to mention fully loaded with all electronics, hardtop and power pole and trolling motor for around $70k. If you are going 27-28’ with twins then I get the deep V, but for a single engine that is easily trailerable I couldn’t find a better riding boat for the money. Not to mention the construction and fit and finish is by far the best I saw and I looked at pretty much everything in the 60-80k+ range.
I saw the 24 Blue Wave at the boat show and I just don’t know a lot about them. I think I remember hearing that they’re really popular in the gulf coast area.
2002 Key West 1900CC
quote:
Originally posted by DewqasI wouldn’t rule out the right bay boat. I have a 24’ Blue Wave and it will do anything a 24’ deep v boat will do plus a whole lot more. It will float in 11 inches, gets great fuel mileage and runs 60mph with a single 300. Not to mention fully loaded with all electronics, hardtop and power pole and trolling motor for around $70k. If you are going 27-28’ with twins then I get the deep V, but for a single engine that is easily trailerable I couldn’t find a better riding boat for the money. Not to mention the construction and fit and finish is by far the best I saw and I looked at pretty much everything in the 60-80k+ range.
Really, your BW can go offshore, blow a lower unit, and make it home under it’s own power?
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
I have no doubt that a blue wave 24’ is an impressive boat in it’s own right, and you’re right it can do several things a 24’ deep V boat can’t do. However, it will NOT do anything a 24’ deep V boat can. Can’t change the laws of physics with 16 degrees of variable/transitional deadrise. Put me offshore in snot, and I’ll take any seaworthy 24’ deep V over a 24’ bay boat with low freeboard and shallow deadrise.
Not all might think I am sane on this one, but I bought a 24 sea chaser new in 2004 and kept it for 3 years for the same uses you mentioned. Best boat for the money I have ever owned, and still people talk about it.
What i liked:
massie fish box in the forward floor (7’). Used to keep fish in it alive, cobia on down (sounds strange but it had a shut off and would drain after cleaning).
T-Top/boster and rod holders were all placed where you needed them.
Tons of storage
Seated 10 for crusing
livewell was ample
good fit and finish
I pulled every wire and sealed connections with wicking, had to crawl inside the hull and the entire inside was gel coated smooth.
Bad point, not quite enough deadrise for a head sea, road great in everything else.
That Intrepid sold this week for an incredible price. You missed out on that one,of all the boats commented on this thread, the Regulator, Contender, and Albemarle are the only offshore rides that could compare
There’s about to be another local 23 Intrepid up for sale soon, or so I was told.
Might want to look at the Blackfin for sale on the Swap shop on this site!
Whatever you buy, look at the access to the bilge area. You will be in there often fixing stuff.
quote:
Originally posted by jwsWhatever you buy, look at the access to the bilge area. You will be in there often fixing stuff.
That’s almost always the first thing I check. I’ve spent a good bit of time in mine.
2002 Key West 1900CC
Well I hate to say it but I’m just going to have to enjoy the old boat for a bit longer. Don’t want to jinx anything but we’re under contract on a house at the moment so bye bye toy money.
On the other hand the Key West is going to have to start getting to know Shem Creek very very well 
2002 Key West 1900CC
Congrad on the new house! Your wife will be happy and that my man means alot! My wife call my off shore boat THE LASTSTRAW when I didn’t let her buy a new livingroom suit!
We’ve finally started to get settled in the new house. Taken the boat out 3-4 times and I know we’re going to love this area, especially if it’ll ever stop raining.
So coming back to this thread now, my question is, do you think I would have any problem navigating from say the public shem creek ramp (our neighborhood landing is across the creek from the dry stack actually, so close enough) in a 24-26ft CC? Aside from having to dodge all the SUP’s and Kayaks. I know we need to hug the right side on the way out and there’s actually a submerged rock kinda behind the landing we watched a bunch of people run into over the memorial day weekend.
I want to say I remember an old coworker telling me he used to fish out of that landing with a ~27ft Grady so I don’t assume it’s going to limit me based on what I’ve been looking at, right? I haven’t really been up this way much in the past so I didn’t know if there were any other well known ‘hazards’ out there (like the rock!).
2002 Key West 1900CC
You’re over in Cooper Estates? You’ll be fine in your boat through there. The paddleboard crowd will by far be the biggest hazard, as I’m 99% sure they don’t hear, speak English, understand hand signs or have any common sense. anyway… It’s navigable all the way out. At the mouth of the creek, stay to the left - to the right can get really dicey over by Crab Bank and PP. If you go through that cut, stay as close to Crab Bank as you can, especially at lower tides. At extreme low tides, it’s pretty shallow under the bridge (2.5-3.0’), but you’ll make it through okay, so long as there aren’t paddleboarders hanging out blocking the passage.
But plenty of decent sized boats come through there. Your only true obstacle is the bridge clearance (watch your rods/antenna) - beyond that you’ll be fine.
Yup. Cooper Estates.
2002 Key West 1900CC
Speaking of which does anyone know what the clearance is at high tide on that Coleman Blvd bridge?
I’ve been looking at lot harder at the Cobia 237 to bring things back to the original topic. Anyone have an opinion on that boat? Or maybe a used 256?
2002 Key West 1900CC