Thanks for the tips all. I'll be on the look out. For far I have been looking at
Either the 18 or 29 foot CC, or the 210 sportsman due to the family and fishing options. I'll see if I can find a good entry level V20. Only issue isn't don't see many in Michigan. Most are down south and I'd prefer to avoid a salt boat.

Personally speaking, if it's going to be a family boat, then a cuddy cabin is really the only way to go. Women seem to have some kind of a problem with letting it hang over the side when mother nature calls. They like privacy, and you won't find that in a smaller center console or a bow rider.

Really, there's nothing wrong with a salt boat. Fiberglass doesn't care if it's sweet or salt water that's it's floating in. What matters far more is how the boat was taken care of.

Of course, the engine of a boat is a different story. Then salt vs fresh is a consideration due to the corrosive nature of salt water. So if you're looking to buy a whole package... boat, engine, trailer... then a freshwater, if you can find it, is probably a better way to go. Just keep in mind what I just said about maintenance. A well maintained boat, either fresh or salt, is much better than a boat left out with no cover over it, never washed, never vented, etc etc.

YOU must do your homework when picking a boat.

Similar to what Destroyer said, is "low hours". Just because the hour meter says it only has 200-300 hours it isn't necessarily a good thing. I'd rather have a rig with lots of well maintained hours on it than one that got used once or twice a season and then sat neglected for a year or three.

Rookfish you may look at the boats for sale post. I have a 1994 v20 center console that is for sale.ck out the post and see if it would fit your needs or not. Welcome to the sight!!!

I took my wife to the boat show and she was clausterphobic a bit in the cuddy, even in a larger cabin cruiser. I'd hate to "waste" space if it was only for a very occasional potty break; or get a porta potty and towel or a potty in the counsole. I like the V20 Cubby due to the larger deck space for a comparable boat. The wife liked the 20 foot CC's that had seating in the bow. Need to get one on the water.

Daydreamer. I'll check out your post again.

Seating in the bow can be a tough place to be unless its fairly calm waters