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New member to the site, but I have been doing a lot of reading over the past few months. I'm looking into purchasing a 150 super sport year 2009-new. I'm not completely sold that this is the right boat for me. I'll be using the boat in the Barnegat Bay located at the jersey shore in NJ. I've been around and on boat for 15+ years and I have no doubt that the boat can handle the bay which is generally flat with occasional chop. I've been out in the open water on a kayak before without problems.

I plan to use the boat for various boating activities with none of them really outweighing the other. Crabbing, fishing, lounging around, and water sports. Obviously price is a factor with larger whalers being in the 30k price range and saveral years old still costing 20k and up for something 15+ years old. Using the boat would be my wife and I. Currently a 1 year old that would be with us to use the boat as he gets older to do the above listed boating activities. My wife is interested in a bow rider style boat. More "relaxing" and offers more dedicated seating and not just the padded cooler or bow. She's concerned about kids as they get older not being seated properly with only 2 real seats. She's looks at worst case senario I say we'll figure it out. I know the Whaler itself is an excellent boat and it will be a 10-20k purchase if I buy used to new. I know I can maybe find a larger older boat in that range but I want low maintenance and minimal cost. The 150 sport will fit in my garage and is towable with my vehicles weighing about 1500+ pounds with trailer. (I think that weight is correct). A larger boat I can't tow or store adding to cost. 2016 RAV4 and 2014 Subaru Crosstrek.

So the advice I'm looking for is this boat going to be a boat I can keep for 10+ years using with 2 adults and 2 kids/teen in the future? Maybe the occasional extra person on board. Or do I look into a 17 foot bow rider maybe a bayliner brand boat just because of its multiple comfortable disignated seating. I need to sell the idea of the Whaler to my wife. I watched tons of YouTube videos and reviews but I want to hear from actually owners of this boat and see what they find great and don't like about it.

Thanks
Marc.

(Edited topic for specificity)