Ordering a 32 - any input

[gecko]

As a previous owner of a 36 I am in the process of spec-ing out a 32 to order through Buzzards Bay yacht sales up here in MA. Rob from BBYS was very helpful with my last YF purchase.

I seatrialed the 32 with twin Yamaha 350s and really like the performance of the boat. Thinking of

Hardtop
Coffin Box
Extra fuel
Small console with tackle station
Twin Furuno 12" displays
Bunch of smaller stuff like extra rod holders, FW washdown, etc

Any input on thef350 power package and options would be greatly appreciated.

[b1tuna]

I have an '09 32 and can comment on some of your questions.

Hardtop - I have the soft top and I'm pleased with it. The hardtops do look nice though.

Coffin Box - I do not have one and think the front deck of a 32 would be a bit crowded with it. We keep bean bags and excess tackle etc. on the bow and that works well.

I have the extra fuel option ( 2-50 gal saddle tanks) and personally I wouldn't be without it. However, your situation may be different since I don't know how far you usually run in MA. I know much of your tuna fishing is fairly close (I hear the Fall run just arrived), but not sure what a long run would be in your area. See the performance numbers below and you can calculate your needs.

Console - I have the small console with the the tackle station and would go the same route if I buy another 32.

Electronics - Furuno makes great stuff (particularly fishfinders) and I don't think you could go wrong with them. I have a Northstar 6100 and Furuno FCV585.

Extra Stuff - I don't think you can have too many rod holders and, in my opinion, the FW washdown is a nice option - it's nice for cleaning saltwater stains off your sunglasses and rinsing rods/reels at the end of the day.

F350 power - I have twin F350's and love them, but might consider the F300's if buy another 32. I think the weight savings on the new motors might result in better performance than the F350's. I generally like to cruise at 4000 rpm where my speed is 43-45 mph (depending on load and wind/current conditions) and the fuel burn is 1.4 - 1.6. WOT is 6000 rpm and top speed is 63 to 65 mph, again depending on load and wind.

This engine/boat package is a joy to operate and I think you would be very pleased.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have other questions I'll certainly try to answer them. Have fun with the build and post some pics when they are available.

[SirFer]

I have a 32' as well and will chime in on what you asked about.

I have the hardtop and definitely like it. I had a soft top on my previous boat and didn't necessarily have a problem with it, but I'll never own a boat without a hardtop again. I personally think it looks better but that's personal opinion, and I also like being able to stand up there and get a higher vantage point.

I also have the coffin box. I don't find it crowded at all actually and have never had a problem working around it. In addition, I have yet to even use my fishboxes, because I've never been able to fill the coffin box completely. The coffin box holds ice better than the cooler under the seats in front of my console as well so I find that I tend to use the coffin box for both fish and for drinks and food for the day.

I also have the extra fuel option and for what I do it's a necessity. I think the standard fuel option is plenty, but the extra 110 gallons is nice for even more piece of mind on longer trips.

I have the standard console with the seats/cooler in front because I take family out a lot and they like sitting up there and they also don't like me mixing food and drinks in with fish so I use the coffin box for fish and the cooler under the seats for food and drinks. I have plenty of rod holders in my hardtop and along the gunwales so I didn't need the extra rod storage that the Key West console offers. I also got the leaning post with the aft facing seats/livewell under the seats because I use my boat just as much for cruising with the family as I do for fishing so I like having the extra seating, and the extra livewell has been a godsend on trips when we've brought lots of bait.

I can't comment on the Furuno's because I've never owned anything from Furuno, but if you're not set on them I have Raymarine E 120 Widescreen's and love them, when they're working. The when they're working part is a long story for a different day and I think it's all sorted out now. So that said, I love my Raymarine setup when it's working. Garmin and Furuno make nice stuff as well, but the Raymarine is at least worth a look.

Freshwater washdown is incredibly nice to have. I have a mister system tied in to my freshwater tank that has heads all around my hardtop which is really nice when you're anchored up on a hot day. I have a grand total of something like 43 rod holders on the boat, and that's definitely adequate, but I wouldn't want anything less because I'm one of those people who likes to go out loaded for bear and would rather have the tackle and not need it than need it and not have it. I got a saltwater washdown put midships which is also nice because then I can reach the entire boat with a shorter hose. You may not need them for fishing, but even if you don't the underwater lights are awesome, which is why I got 2 facing down and 2 facing aft. I also got 2 tri-color lights in my hardtop than can light up one of the three colors, or they can cycle through all colors which is a cool effect. I also got an anchor locker door, because it's nice to be able to sort everything out in there without having to reach way down from the top. On that note, I have a Maxwell 500 anchor puller on my boat as well. It's not a full windlass which is nice because it stays out of the way, but it definitely helps pull the anchor up. My boat has an extra brace from the piping of my hardtop down to my leaning post as well. Not only does it look cool, it also just helps make it a little stronger. I'm no SKA guy, but it can't hurt to have. Richard also integrated some steps into the brace, which helps get up onto the hardtop. And adding the brace pushed the hardtop back a little bit, so there's a little less shade up in front of the console, but that means more shade for the helm and the aft-facing seats in the leaning post. Those are all the random small options I can think of for now but as I think of more I'll throw them up here.

I can't comment on the F350 power package because I have 300 Verado's on my boat, but I'm very impressed with the performance of my boat so I imagine another 100hp would be even better.

[gecko]

B1tuna and Sirfer,

Thanks for the thoughts. It confirms a few things I thought.

B1tuna - do you find the noise from the softtop at speed an issue? I noticed this a lot on long runs on my 36 with softtop. Anytime I had a headwind at cruise it did a sort of rapid flapping thing.

Sirfer - Sounds like your boat is pretty loaded. What is your cruise with v300s on speed and burn if you don't mind me asking. I am guessing that will be similar to f300s.

[b1tuna]

Gecko: I haven't noticed any flapping noise with the soft top. The fabric is fairly tight and I don't think it moves much at speed. The hardtop is definitely a nice addition if the additional cost is not a problem. I know you will be happy regardless of your decision. As you know, they are great boats and the factory support is unsurpassed. Enjoy!

[SirFer]

My boat is definitely one of, if no the heaviest 32's out there...

My optimal cruise is right at 35mph, where I get somewhere around 1.4-1.6mpg.

Normally, I cruise more in the 40-45mph range just because I can and get more like 1.2-1.4 depending on load.

If im just cruising with family I can drop down to 30mph and get into the 1.8mpg range which is pretty nice.

Being so heavy, my boat has never seen 60mph. Im spinning 21p Mirage 3 blades right now, I switched over from 21p Rev 4's. I can get up to like 59.4mph top end without trying real hard, so if I really wanted to I could probably take it out alone with low fuel, and a little bit of chop in the bay with a tailwind to get over 60 just for bragging rights but realistically I almost always have a ton of people or a ton of gear and I don't fish the SKA so top end isn't quite as important.

[billythekid]

are you getting out of the lobster boat?

[gecko]

Billy,

I think you are thinking of waterdog. I am in an albemarle 36 now, prior had a yf 36 twins, downeast was b4 that.

[billythekid]

thats right, I knew you had lobster boats at one time! are you keeping the albemarle? 32 is a great boat

[gecko]

Albemarle is for sale. Love the boat but looking for more mobility and less cleaning required. Also, just not doing as much overnight canyon fishing as I hoped and more family stuff. Or maybe it is just the two year itch....

[t-bone]

I have had 4 yamaha 350's since they came out and over 400 hours on them. Motors have been awesome and honestly they are the only motor I have yet to have a problem with. I've had 275 and 300 verado's and 250 yamahas(only had one serious issue with them out of 9 motors). I had a 32 with 300 verado's and I would go with the 350 yamaha's if I did it again.

[b1tuna]

I have almost 1000 hours on my F350's and, other than the flywheel factory bulletin that was repaired early on, no problems. They appear to be bulletproof to me.

[The Deep End]

Gecko,
Just curious why you got out of a 36YF to order the 32? I am considering the 32 because I like to trailer to the Keys alot and the 32 would seem easier (had a 31 and it was no problem on the F250). Curious why you are going 32....

thanks

[gecko]

Mainly just because I want to run twins not triples for simplicity and really like the speed. If there were 400 HP outboards I probably would go 36.


Gecko,
Just curious why you got out of a 36YF to order the 32? I am considering the 32 because I like to trailer to the Keys alot and the 32 would seem easier (had a 31 and it was no problem on the F250). Curious why you are going 32....

thanks

[matt279]

SirFer

Do you find it crowded in the back of the boat with the aft facing seats? I am trying to decide what to order. Also is there enough tackle space in the sides?

[SirFer]

On the tackle space in the sides, I think its enough for me. I'm rarely fishing for the same thing two trips in a row so I just store essentials in there and bring the rest in a tackle bag because that way I can switch out whatever is in the tackle bag.

The aft facing seats definitely aren't a problem space wise. There's plenty of room back there even when I have my removable rear seating in if you're just cruising. The removable rear seat would be in the way for fishing so I take it out and it opens up a ton of room. Even with a bean bag stuffed in each corner there's still a generous amount of room and I can have 3-4-5 people working and moving back there without too much trouble.