Best family / fishing boat

Doulos said:

I have been pondering the 282 Sailfish and other cuddly cabins but I’m looking for suggestions

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Please do your self a favor and go out on a cuddy cabin boat when it's sunny and hot and try to stay in the cabin for more than 10 minutes.
Most smaller than 30ft cuddy cabin or WA boats i know of have the cabin looking like a warehouse, but if you your your wife is very orderly and you carry only minimum boating and fishing stuff the space below can be usable if not too hot and stifling.

Would a dual console Freedom model not be the better choice?

Chris

I have a 1997 268 Islander which is basically a narrow beam Sailfish. Twin F150 Yamaha's. It is the smallest GW made with an enclosed head. It is a cuddy cabin that I use primarily for fishing so the cabin is a big tackle box. The built in rod holders are great. Microwave removed and converted to a tackle box. No A/C or generator so cabin can get hot - but there is a forward hatch. Also replace enclosure to get more air into helm area. Most of the time I don't use side panels. If this model appeals to you I would look for a 270 Islander with a little more power - 200's or 225's straight 4-cylinder no V-6's (beam too narrow).

I would stay away from the older Islander and Sailfish models. GW was still using plywood/Greenwood the transom's. Seeing a lot of $10,000 transom replacements on this site and many more in "denial".



I think Chris's point about looking at a Freedom model is a good one. More open layout, a little smaller, trolling motor capable. You can add aft and forward cockpit shades if you are not running around too far or fast.

Good luck!

If you're looking specifically for a walkaround model of Grady White with a cabin, hardtop and so forth then I'd recommend a 232 Gulfstream. It's a big "little boat" at 23' but it has a 9'3" beam and sounds like it'll check off all of the boxes you have listed above for a boat. You could also always go up to the 282 Sailfish as you mentioned as well but that might start to become a bit bigger of a boat than you want, if you go out by yourself. If you're going to just be cruising 60% of the time, you could always look at a 235/255/275/285 Freedom as well. Of which the family might like something like that a bit more as it's an open bow boat and the kids/grandkids/wives could sit up front. They also have a hardtop available on them to keep people at least somewhat out of the elements and I imagine you could still fish just fine with one, even though they're a dual console style of boat. Good luck with whatever you decide on doing.

My biased opinion... I personally love my 232 Gulfstream. The weight and beam makes it seem and perform like a much larger boat. It's a nice ride on even a shitty day and easy to go solo. We love the cabin too but it's a lot hotter in NC your experience could be different. Freedom's are also really nice boats if you can wrap your mind around a dual console. configuration.

id go 270 islander. it will be the largest that still has an 8'6" beam so you will never have to worry about over width permits for trailering. its a great riding hull, same as the chase which i have, but with more weight forward, so it should be better.

if you dont mind going over 8'6" and have the truck for it, definitely look at the 282 or even the marlin. the bigget the boat the better for a good ride for the little ones. a mom with an infant will be "very aware" of every single little bump that she wouldnt have noticed before

also, i recommend getting a bean bag chair for mom and baby. thats where my wife sat with my little ones, it really helps.

I can add my experience. Got a 226 Seafarer. Too small. I smiled at some of the comments. We got a porty potty, but its mostly burried with life jackets, fishing gear, net, mooring buoy, cleaning supplies, cushions.... And while I guess its technically a walk around, thats only if you got size 3 feet....LOL Boat is good enough for our purposes of on shore half day fishing trips in Nantucket Sound and it was a pretty good purchase five years ago, so no complaints. From my experience, if I win the lottery, I would buy a 23'-24' dual console model that allows easy bow access with still having some good storage. With my experience now, if I were to buy another boat, I'd spend time walking around the prospective purchase doing the activities I would want to do with the new boat. Maybe some are easy, some are OK, some are show stoppers? I think that is the way to get close to what will best fit your needs

I wouldn't not get a 232 Gulfstream or something similar solely because of the additional width and the potential of worrying about trailering concerns, especially if the boat is moored and you aren't going to trailer the boat. Plenty of people around here trailer their 232 Gulfstream's, or larger boats, and I've never seen one with a wide load sign or any other added restrictions to them. My neighbor has a 270 Islander and while it's a decent boat, he doesn't like it. It's a 2005 with twin F175's I believe on it, of which I've gone out with him a few times and even when going in a straight line, the boat will grab and pull to one side or the other. I'm not sure if this is because of the outboards and the drag, or if they're mounted in the wrong position or whatnot, but this is something he's been fighting since day one. I've got a 228 Seafarer and it's perfect for what I need it for, though I've oftentimes considered moving up to a 232 Gulfstream just because, though I've yet to find a smoking deal on one to justify the additional costs. That being said, I imagine most families, moms, parents and so forth would feel much more comfortable with having their kids/grandkids walking straight up to the bow and sitting in actual seats, especially while cruising. As opposed to walking around the walkaround portion of the boat and then having the kids/grandkids sitting on 3 cushions, because there aren't any seats up on the bow in a walkaround. I'd think that for what the OP has stated will be his primary uses for the boat that a 235/255/275/285 Freedom might be the better option. To each their own.

Mustang65fbk said:

My neighbor has a 270 Islander and while it's a decent boat, he doesn't like it. It's a 2005 with twin F175's I believe on it,

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that sounds terrible. my chase is the same hull, lighter, and i have twin 250s on it

Ekea said:

that sounds terrible. my chase is the same hull, lighter, and i have twin 250s on it

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Not everyone needs a 50+ mph boat