I know this question has been asked a million times on the internet and I can Google and find them all. But, I want yalls opinion. I am in the market for a boat. I want a boat for inshore boat and to about 15 miles out. Will also use in river. My question is, if I go with a 22-24 foot bay boat, can I safely do 15 miles in 3 foot or less seas. What if they jump to 4 am I sunk? Should I just get an offshore and use in bay and forget river all together?

Get a Boston Whaler Dauntless and rest easy...toughest boats in the world, and unsinkable!

Here's a link to Young Boats in Inglis, Fl. Robb Young is a custom builder, so you can get your boat set-up exactly like you want it. This is a turn key deal. Boat, motor, trailer, electronics, accessories, everything! You will not be disappointed with one of his boats. http://www.youngboats.com/
TomJ

How about something that cost less than two legs and a kidney. Sorry should have said my budget is under 50k.

Defenitely a Dauntless, post-'97 model. They hold their value extremely well, so you'll pay a little more than you would for some other used boats, but if you take care of it, it'll take of you. With its' wide beam and shallow draft, it's suitable for the river and the bay, and in Puerto Rico we used to take a 19' Outrage with a 140hp Johnson as much as 40-50 miles out, depending on conditions when we left.

Post '97 because up until then, Dauntless was a side-console bowrider. After 97, the bowrider became the Ventura and the name Dauntless was moved to a center-console line. You can also look for the Wildcat and Outrage lines...those were the parents of the Dauntless.

You can do offshore in an inshore boat, but you can't necessarily do inshore in an offshore boat. I would look at something like a used 25' Carolina Skiff sea chaser. My grandparents had one that we took out 35 miles on a regular basis. It handled chop well and could get shallow if it needed to. You don't really want to be offshore in anything bigger than 3's unless you're in a BIG boat. Even in a 31' Contender, 4 footers are unpleasant for those who aren't seasoned.

Look at:
25ft Sea Chaser
24ft Kenner
24ft Blazer Bay
24ft Pathfinder

If I had my choice, I would get a 2006ish 24ft Kenner, put a newer 4 stroke on it, t-top, navigation of choice, trim tabs, and I-pilot trolling motor. You would be set for life.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions.

SBS was spot on. I would like a 22-24 Blazer Bay.
My only issue with his post is about the 2006ish Kenner.
I would double check the exact year that the Kenner Brothers actually built the boats. I was thinking it was 2005 and then they sold.
They now build Frontier boats.

The versatility of a bay boat is hard to beat. With that being said, anything can happen offshore. Plan accordingly, try to have another boat with you and watch your radar.

I could be off a year. That was off the top of my head. The pre-sell out Kenner boats were some fineeeeee boats.

Take a look at older Grady Whites.

I bought a Crevalle 26 bay best purchase I made been up river bass fishing and been out over 50 miles no problems

A good high sided 22-24 ft. bay boat will be fine offshore. Watch the weather, pick your days, don't be greedy (i.e., run at the first sign of thunderheads in the vicinity) and you will be fine. I've been over 25 miles out in my 24 ft Sea Pro many times. The sailfish in my avitar was caught out of my 22 ft Sea Pro bay boat. The Blazer Bay is a great choice. Other nice boats out there too. If I had the money, I would look hard at the newer hybrid Cats.

true dat. i told Pete to never sell the kenner and i sold my blazer bay to his son. kenner is more user friendly and better built. Pete removed the 2 stroke yammy and replaced it with a 4 stroke yammy. now we can run forever with no exhaust to kill me on those 100+ degree summer days.

crevalle 25 can do it all. Blazer Bay 24 can fish bay or offshore I fish regularly on both these boats.

OK guys. I have narrowed the search down to 3. Any suggestions or opinions on them? Sea Hunter RXR 24....Robalo 246....Crevalle 24 Bay

Well damn you didn't take anybody's advice lol.

If I had to choose one of the three, it would be the Crevalle, but if it were me, I'd look at other options.


Also, what are the engines on the respective boats?

Forgot to add it must also be family friendly. Thats how I got those 3 boats. You can get a 300 on either one but a 250 Yamaha is standard. Could drop down to a 200 but not going to.

What makes you say they're family friendly? Not saying they aren't, just wondering what your criteria are.

It needs to have a good bit of seating. Needs to have the option of bow cushions and flip up seat in the back.

The bow cushions are what will limit you in most boats. Flip up seats in the back are common, but the cushion up front isn't. You could also go with a little bigger boat and get bean bags instead of front cushions.

Whatever you do, sea trial the boat before you buy it.