posted 07-18-2008 10:56 PM ET (US)        

The Eastport comes with a trailer; the Ventura does not so if I went that direction I would need to get a trailer.

If you ski or wake board behind either of these boats, give me an opinion.

Assuming both meet my needs, am I better suited going for the newer boat and newer engine? Or for the bigger boat with the deck plan a little more favorable to how it is going to be used?

Any idea which would hold their value better over time?

Any opinions or guidance would be appreciated.

posted 07-19-2008 12:33 AM ET (US)            

You will need a dual-axle trailer rated for 4,000-lbs to 4,500-lbs for the Ventura.

posted 07-19-2008 06:38 AM ET (US)            

If I were in your shoes, and I didn't have small children, and I liked to tow skiers, and I fished near shore, but could see myself venturing offshore, I'd go the Ventura route. You will need to spend $3,000 for a trailer, though. By the way I hope the 205's trailer that is included is a dual axle.

posted 07-19-2008 07:29 AM ET (US)            

quote:

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Either boat would primarily be used for some skiing and tubing with the kids, and some light fishing.

---

Sounds like you ought to get the 2120 VENTURA.

posted 07-19-2008 11:24 AM ET (US)            

The biggest attribute I see for ski is it affords terrific 360 visibility and has easy access to get back aboard from the water. It also comes with an optional ski pole.

It's easy to tow and launch.

posted 07-19-2008 11:44 AM ET (US)            

Just a little more info. Both my kids are under 10. My tow vehicle is a 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4x4.

My gut is at this point that the Ventura 210 is the better fit and the more versatile boat. It will be interesting to see how motivated the sellers of both boats are as I think the 205 is a good enough fit where if the money was right, it would make sense to go that direction. It doesn't appear that I can go too far wrong regardless of the direction that is chosen.

Any additional comments or input is greatly appreciated. Now I'll have to figure out if my Tacoma is able to tow the Ventura 210.

posted 07-19-2008 07:53 PM ET (US)            

I have three kids. 16, 14 & 11. They all love to ride in the front. In fact, this weekend all of them had friends join us at the cottage. They took turns waiting to be in the front. I had to do this because they all wanted to be in the bow - all day. Your kids will be my kids age very shortly. Case in point, I asked my 14 year old if he wanted to drive, he said no, he wanted to chill the bow with the air in his hair.

I like Tombro's point about quick accress to the bow when docking. I second that, I just sold a 24' Bayliner with a cabin. A bowrider is far more convenient as it is all about the kids at this point.

posted 07-20-2008 12:23 PM ET (US)            

To that weight you must add the trailer's weight, which I would estimate (for a trailer suitable for that load) to be around 1,300-lbs. This implies that the total towed weight would be in the range of 6,300 to 6,800-lbs.

When calculating the towing capacity of a vehicle you have to reduce the stated capacity by any load in the vehicle itself, such as passengers, gear, or in some cases even fuel. In my experience it is best to allow at least 1,000-lbs of margin, that is, to de-rate the towing vehicle capacity by 1,000-lbs to get to a realistic limit for maximum weight of the trailer.

Using the figures above and including my allowances, I would prefer to have a vehicle rated for at least 7,300 to 7,800-lbs for towing a 210 VENTURA. My method is based on my own experience with towing. I have a boat whose dry hull weight is 700-lbs less than the 210 VENTURA. In actual measured weight on a calibrated scale I found my trailer and boat weighed almost 5,400-lbs. When calculating the maximum axle weights on the towing vehicle I discovered I was close to the maximum. This is on a towing vehicle rated for 7,000-lbs. From many thousands of miles of driving, including several trips across major mountain chains, I can tell you that I have never felt like my tow vehicle was too big, and, if fact, just the opposite--I wish I had more tow rating for my truck.

In many cases people have towed and continue to tow with seriously under-rated vehicles, but they pay the price in frequent transmission problems, very squirrelly handling, marginal brake power, and too much edge-of-your-seat driving.

posted 07-20-2008 03:48 PM ET (US)            

This discussion has been so great because it has really brought to light an element that I might have missed (tow vehicle).

We valeted our boat this year at a facility on the trailer (no lift). Using this year as a guide, we drove the boat and trailer the 10 miles or so from our house to the marina, and then have made a few trips from the marina to the gas station. At the end of the season, I will trailer the boat back to my house.

It sounds as though I might be able to sneak by with my present vehicles and a 210 if I trailer in future years as I have trailered this year. We likely will take a few trips on the road, so when we do that I might need to rent a bigger truck as opposed to towing it a long distance with either of my tow vehicles.

Decisions....Decisions.....

Thanks

posted 07-22-2008 11:52 AM ET (US)            

Picture of the Tacoma at the ramp launching our Dauntless 160

http://cdn-2-service.phanfare.com/images/4892322_2160384_37982317_Web_3/ Image-4892322-37982317-2-Web_0_d4fb60833f2bf4bf2689b8d3bfac94c0_1

Picture of the Tacoma connected to the Ventura 210

http://cdn-2-service.phanfare.com/images/4892322_2160384_37982320_Web_3/ Image-4892322-37982320-2-Web_0_3741d6c9b477e24b9410919039c0c6c5_1

OK just for fun ..... anyone do this before? That's why I bought the Ventura .... not really.

http://cdn-2-service.phanfare.com/images/4892322_2160384_37982318_Web_3/ Image-4892322-37982318-2-Web_0_4412417d346b540ac6b8cdfd6d924d64_1

posted 07-22-2008 12:42 PM ET (US)            

For short tows, either truck is up to the task, and launching and landing should be no problem. Trailer brakes on both axles will handle the stopping just fine, and handling should not be an issue. I towed my Outrage 22 Cuddy with T-top with a 4.3 liter V8 Grand Cherokee for several years, including towing over a 2000 foot mountain range to get just about anywhere. Not ideal, but not unsafe. Take it easy and you'll be fine. When it's time to replace the truck, you can get something a little heavier and more powerful.

posted 07-23-2008 08:28 AM ET (US)            

To install the curtains release the tension on the bimini top then zip the side and front curtains onto the bimini. Disconnect the back support poles from the gunnel and push the bimini forward. Align the forward snaps and secure them in place then move the bimini back into place. Secure the side curtains onto the sides of the windshield. Finally, connect the back support poles back to the gunnel and re-tension the bimini top.

posted 07-23-2008 03:38 PM ET (US)            

I tow with a 2002 Tundra V8 now but before changing trucks I towed the boat to Kittanning, Pa (western part of the state) using the the Tacoma to boat on the Allegheny River.

I installed a second axle of disc brakes and lighteded the Ventura as best I could. I was more concerned with stopping the rig than I waas having enough power to get over the mountains. The stretch between Breezewood Pa to Kittanning was the most interesting.

Great trip that's where my parents were raised some great memories.

posted 07-24-2008 07:09 PM ET (US)         

There seems an obsession with power and axle capacity.

Both of which have little to do with stability when towing.

As you have mentioned brands that are not US and are equally available in Europe and elsewhere.

Most of these vehicles are more restrained by there tow hitch/ball (tongue) vertical load capacity. Most tow weights stated by manufactures are for braked trailer, un-braked are considerably less.

Although having the grunt to pull your load and braking power to stop it makes towing easier and of course safer.

By far the most towing accidents occur due to induced swaying either from external forces such as passing trucks, wind or high speed braking during decent on hills.

Given that the profile of boats without cabins or Tee tops are more streamlined than that of higher profiled caravans where it is recommended not to exceed 95% of your vehicles curb weight (Usually weight of vehicle with normal fluids and no passengers/luggage) for experienced towers, it may be possible to exceed this slightly with boats.

Therefore to avoid/minimise snaking (i.e. tail wagging the dog) it best to have a vehicle with a curb weight greater than your combined trailer weight without exceeding the hitch and/or the axle or the braked towing capacity, when the vehicle is fully loaded.

Additionally, sufficient nose weight should also be part of the overall stability to avoid excess pitching. This is harder to achieve with multiple trailer axles as there is a tendency to overload one or more axels. The boat should be balanced level first then adjusted to suit the maximum hitch and or axel weight which ever is the lower of the two (usually the hitch).

Fortunately when meeting these requirements for heavy boats most vehicles have large engines and high hitch/axle capacities, but not all.

(e.g. Nissan Armada 4wd LE curb weight = 5675lbs and tongue capacity of 650lbs with tow pack 900lbs and maximum braked tow weight of 6500lbs.

Therefore using JimH rule 6500-1000 = 5500lbs i.e. 100% of the curb weight would be sensible for long distance towing and a bit more for short trips at low speed with maximum hitch weight.

Fuel tanks should be preferably empty (or full if you have the towing capacity) to avoid free surface effect which also can induce snaking and pitching.

posted 07-24-2008 10:12 PM ET (US)            

We'll see what happens.