Could some of you ol' salts tell me the differences between the 23.5 and the 240. Where there improvements in this change? Thanks
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Ken Koons
Hi Ed, I'm a 240 owner. The boat is pretty much structurally the same. There are some cosmetic changes to the 240 versus the 23.5. The 240 cockpit does not have a seating ledge in front of the companionway door, I like the 240 arrangement better. The stern rail seats are more readily available on the 240 than the 23.5 The stern rail seats really give you a big boat feel. The life line stanchions on the 23.5 are beefier than that of the 240. As the 23.5 is older you can find them quite a bit cheaper. If you can find a 23.5 with rail seats buy it.
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Frank Ladd
Three things
As Ken mentioned the 235 has a bridgedeck and the 240 does not. I really like having the bridge deck on my 235 and I would miss it. For me that is a plus in the 235's favor. Stern rail seats were an infrequent option on the 235 but they are common on the 240. To add them to a 235 is around one grand. A big plus for boats that have them (mostly 240's) The 240 has a much better storage for the gas tank. Smaller differences are as follows: 235 baby stays 240 mast struts: plus for 240 240 has diamond stays. A stronger rig that doesnot weigh too much more. I think this is overkill added to appease folks who are concerned about the lack of a backstay. Still is is stronger so it is a plus for the 240. many/must 240's have a hatch under the cockpit seat above the rear bunk. Nice ventilation plus for the 240. The 240 is slightly longer so it has a slightly better hull speed. Wow I never added it up. It looks like they really improved the 235, too bad they got rid of the bridgedeck.
As Ken mentioned the 235 has a bridgedeck and the 240 does not. I really like having the bridge deck on my 235 and I would miss it. For me that is a plus in the 235's favor. Stern rail seats were an infrequent option on the 235 but they are common on the 240. To add them to a 235 is around one grand. A big plus for boats that have them (mostly 240's) The 240 has a much better storage for the gas tank. Smaller differences are as follows: 235 baby stays 240 mast struts: plus for 240 240 has diamond stays. A stronger rig that doesnot weigh too much more. I think this is overkill added to appease folks who are concerned about the lack of a backstay. Still is is stronger so it is a plus for the 240. many/must 240's have a hatch under the cockpit seat above the rear bunk. Nice ventilation plus for the 240. The 240 is slightly longer so it has a slightly better hull speed. Wow I never added it up. It looks like they really improved the 235, too bad they got rid of the bridgedeck.
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Rick Webb
Stern Rail Seats
The seats are $650 from Hunter another $100 to shorten the lifelines add pelican hooks and for the stern lifeline gate. Not a difficult job to install them if you are handy at all. The aft berth in the 240 is across the boat vs. in line on the 23.5 I prefer the one on the 23.5. The first person is way back in the hole on the 240. It seems like the cockpit is larger on the 23.5 but that may be an illusion. I was looking at a new 240 when we bought our 23.5 the only thing on the 240 that I liked better was the cloth interior and the stern rail seats. I have since decided the vinyl interior was better for us on a boat this size and have the stern rail seats so I am glad we did not spend all of that extra money.
The seats are $650 from Hunter another $100 to shorten the lifelines add pelican hooks and for the stern lifeline gate. Not a difficult job to install them if you are handy at all. The aft berth in the 240 is across the boat vs. in line on the 23.5 I prefer the one on the 23.5. The first person is way back in the hole on the 240. It seems like the cockpit is larger on the 23.5 but that may be an illusion. I was looking at a new 240 when we bought our 23.5 the only thing on the 240 that I liked better was the cloth interior and the stern rail seats. I have since decided the vinyl interior was better for us on a boat this size and have the stern rail seats so I am glad we did not spend all of that extra money.
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Ed
Wheel steering?
Thanks all. Just wanted to find out if there where big errors on the 23.5 before I buy one. All things considered looks like I am outta power boating and into a 23.5. The one I have spotted does have the rail seats. Oh one other thing this one has wheel steering. Any comments on that? Is it better to learn on? Thanks
Thanks all. Just wanted to find out if there where big errors on the 23.5 before I buy one. All things considered looks like I am outta power boating and into a 23.5. The one I have spotted does have the rail seats. Oh one other thing this one has wheel steering. Any comments on that? Is it better to learn on? Thanks
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Ken Koons
wheel steering NO
I think the 26/260 is the smallest boat with wheel steering as an option. I love the feel of the tiller. The switching from high side to high side during tacks makes me feel very nautical. Plus you can lift the tiller straight up for more cockpit room where as a wheel is permanently there.
I think the 26/260 is the smallest boat with wheel steering as an option. I love the feel of the tiller. The switching from high side to high side during tacks makes me feel very nautical. Plus you can lift the tiller straight up for more cockpit room where as a wheel is permanently there.
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Ed
Wheel steering
Well don't know but it is there in the pictures. Haven't seen the boat yet. But my thoughts where that it would take up a lot of space and that as a newbie I might be better off learning with a tiller. Still it seems to be a nice boat. Could it be converted back to tiller?
Well don't know but it is there in the pictures. Haven't seen the boat yet. But my thoughts where that it would take up a lot of space and that as a newbie I might be better off learning with a tiller. Still it seems to be a nice boat. Could it be converted back to tiller?
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Glenn
Wheel Steering
We are moving up from a 23.5 to a 26 and would not consider wheel steering for either. One of the great things about the 23.5 is the cockpit room, it's even bigger than the 26. Why give up all of the cockpit room to cram a wheel in the middle. I know this will probably start the wheel vs tiller debate, but you also loose the feel of the boat with a wheel. When at the dock or on an anchor, you can easily push the tiller to the side and have all of the cockpit open to move around. Why would you want to give up one of the best features of the boat?
We are moving up from a 23.5 to a 26 and would not consider wheel steering for either. One of the great things about the 23.5 is the cockpit room, it's even bigger than the 26. Why give up all of the cockpit room to cram a wheel in the middle. I know this will probably start the wheel vs tiller debate, but you also loose the feel of the boat with a wheel. When at the dock or on an anchor, you can easily push the tiller to the side and have all of the cockpit open to move around. Why would you want to give up one of the best features of the boat?
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Gary
In my opinion.......
I agree about the wheel steering, but to each his own. I owned a 23.5 for 9 years before trading (up in my opinion) for the 240. Ken and others mention most of the improvements but the redesigning of the rudder/tiller assembly is at the top of my list. Stress issues(cracks)began to develop on my 23.5 and the improvements on this area of the boat will result in less potential problems....I love my 240 without exception....
I agree about the wheel steering, but to each his own. I owned a 23.5 for 9 years before trading (up in my opinion) for the 240. Ken and others mention most of the improvements but the redesigning of the rudder/tiller assembly is at the top of my list. Stress issues(cracks)began to develop on my 23.5 and the improvements on this area of the boat will result in less potential problems....I love my 240 without exception....
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