Looking for a New/Used Boat.

Pretty sure I mentioned here that the Wife and I are shopping for a Lake House so of course that also means a New/Used Boat.
Holy Crap!!!
We figured we could find something in the $50k range.
Turns out thats gonna be on the low end for what we want!!
I've had a Skeeter Bass boat as well as a Bay Boat that we could take Offshore.
It's been probably ten years since my last boat and the prices have gone through the Roof!!!
Really want a Sea Ray since they're known to be quality Boats.
Now I gotta tell the Wife were gonna have to Ass up a bit more Cash....
I'm hoping She's gonna be okay with it considering She's going to be in it as much as I am.
I hate getting old!!!
Used to be able to estimate the cost of most things and be pretty close.
Not anymore!!!

 

Which lake?

primary use?

 

Either Livingston or one of the Chain of Lakes in the Texas Hill Country.
Most likely LBJ.
The water quality in the Hill Country is way better than Livingston as are the views.
While the Hill Country is going to be a longer drive the Wife is getting close to retirement and i'm already there.
It's going to be used mainly for tooling around the lake and some skiing/tubing.
Comfort is our main concern. Livingston can get pretty rough it being so big.
I've had to turn around in my old boat.
Plan on getting a good sized Jon Boat and building it into a fishing rig.
While I'd Love to get another Skeeter those things can run you $80k for a nice one.
Or maybe find a used one.
On the plus side our house is paid off so it can go right into the cost of the Lake House or the Bank.
Probably the bank since our savings will be more than enough to buy the lake place out right.
My only concern with LBJ is it's gone dry years back,but it always comes back.
Need to find out the last time that happened.

 

As far as the Lake House goes...
I dont want anything fancy. Our Neighbor and His brother built a cinder block cabin on LBJ years ago.
Loved that place as a Kid!!!
Of course the Wife is going to want something nicer but I'd be fine with a place like that myself.
It had a certain rustic charm to it.
And i'll never forget the acrylic toilet seat....
It had Scorpions,Rattlesnake tails,Tarantulas and other weird Texas critters in it.
I'd pay good money for one like it today!!!

 

We have a painting done by Joan Egan the Wife of John Egan who was the Head Coach of the Rockets at the time.
It's of an old line cabin that was across the Lake on some Ranch Land.
It was used by the Cowboys during round ups waaaaay back in the Day!!!
It looked like it was from an old Cowboy movie.
We of course had to go look inside when we were kids.
The inside was every bit as cool as the outside!!
A Pot Bellied Stove,a Rocker and other rough hewn furniture.
As a Kid it Fascinated Me!!!
I hope it's still there and hasn't been replaced by Lake Houses.
If I were to buy the place I'd insist that they build around it and not touch it!!!

 

I'll see if I can take a pic of the painting and post it.