Is a 30' boat too big for a beginner?

[Pineedles]

I was only 12 years old Bill, and was a mere 6 feet at the time.

OMG, that was 50 years ago. Seems like yesterday.

[NoBozo]

In Real Life, One who wants to fly an "Airliner".... Starts out... learning to fly a Cessna. That's just the way it is. Is this boat discussion any different..?

YES: You need an earned License to fly a plane.

You ONLY need money to buy and drive a Big Boat.

Start small and work your way up to bigger things via experience. . NB

[Island Girl]

I have only had an 18' Larson and the current 20' Grady. Both very used. I am on the broad side of Rattlesnake. The smaller boat is easy to get in and out of my dock, slip and all of the ports on the lake. Though we usually take the jetskiis to the ports.

My boat has a lot of deadrise and a cuddy cabin. This means big waves do not deter travel. I will not, however, go out in very big waves. I think the boat would be fine, but I would be too nervous. I still remember crossing the broads trying to outrun a storm from Wolfeboro to Welch island in 1999. I am not anxious to do that again.

Do you folks with really big boats spend a lot of time on the broads on windy days?

If your real goal is an island property, my suggestion is to rent the various boats to get a feel for what you really want and keep looking for property. If you want the marina life style, then the bigger boat the better for comfort. Just remember the cost of fuel when you and your wife go shopping! (by the way, shopping never gets old for women).

I think my ideal boat size would be 24' for a Rattlesnake Island person.

Enjoy the process... you can always change your mind and sell what you bought and try something else.

[Rich]

I'm jealous of you with the island life! My second choice is my boat and dock life.
If someone wants to stop by and see what weekend living on a boat is about, look me up next season!

As to crossing the Broads when it's windy, some things don't deter me, where in the past I would have sat out the crossing. I don't go looking for big water, but I have more options now.

As an example, one weekend this past July it was incredibly windy, but we wanted to cross the Broads to get to the fireworks show that was being put on by a family in Wolfeboro. Almost no one was out on their boats due to the wind and the waves, but the ride across the broads was almost fun for us. I can still remember getting hit in the face with warm water at the helm several times from crashing waves off the bow being blown back at me.

I would not have taken this trip in a smaller boat.

Is it ice out yet?

[Phantom]

Made the trip to the same spot that night in our 25'

AWESOME night !


.

[Woody38]

When we lived on Cape Cod we had a 22' Boston Whaler Revenge. The one with a cabin, v-berths. Great boat for cruising and fishing. There was a chine that went around the bow which would cause the boat to rise when it hit a wave. If my wife ever saw me out in 25-30 kt. winds jumping the chop she would have killed me. Thinking with my ageing body I need to return to that boat.

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic.

[depasseg]

No, a 30' boat (with twin engines) isn't too big for a beginner. I have 2 friends who did that and were fine (they needed a bit of tutoring and practice, but that's the same for a 20' or a 30'). And as was mentioned, a 30' with twins is easier than a 26 with a single.

Now there are other issues with a 30' boat, like finding a slip at a marina and at town docks. But those are a different conversation.

[trfour]

Absolutely not... My early Captainship began with a 41 foot Sonic High Deck SE, with twin 750 HP engines and seeing that all of my many passengers and sometime crew are still around, no broken outdrives or props, or other damage, I consider myself Very fortunate, and rewarding experience here at the Lake, and many other Atlantic seaports. Then if you should ever decide to go with a smaller craft, the learning curve is less. Twin engines are much easier to dock, and you can do a 180 degree turn in place.
As said, on the Lake, make docking plans ahead of time, when possible..