shibbs wrote:jcwads wrote:Haha, it depends! My mere 27ft boat can't compete with all the 30ft+ showboats out there!!!! None the less, its a nice boat, I have to admit!
A mere 27ft...!

still in my future dreams!!!
Size isn't everything ...
In truth it depends what you use your boat for ........... mine is purely for towed watersports ... (also a Monterey), and around the 20' size is ideal .... big enough to move around inside the boat, particularly wide in beam, lots of kitting up and moving kneeboards, wakeboards, SkySki ... etc.
20' give a good performance and excellent hole-shot which is what is needed. (not top end)
Has to be a bow rider ... so people can get in over the bow at slipway.
Also with only a medium inboard, if propped right get good fuel economy.
The absolute key thing for me is towablity - I don't moor .... so anything bigger than the 20'6" overall length of boat .... around 23' including trailer would not be so easy to tow & reverse, and also wouldn't fit nicely in my boat shed.
However you can start a lot smaller - my first fletcher was 12'6" with 50hp outboard, though smaller than 18'does becomes an issue when going over chop can be like riding along corrugated tin sheet.
It's all about what do you want your boat for.
Mine works for me:

FourWinns H210, Volvo 280-C-N duoprop, Monster MTK tower, SBS 2600 twin axle trailer
Tow Vehicle - Landrover Discovery Sport