Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

[getinmerry]

A friend of mine purchased a 2 year old 19ft rental boat at the beginning of the summer at a local marina. The price was good and they give a lifetime motor and outdrive warranty. The boat was in and out of the shop all summer (about 9 out of 12 weeks). Is it worth the good deal?

 

[QC]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

I am really not afraind of any boats except a few outdrive models and a few OB models. I don't really care too much about their history either. The question is, is it what you want, and can you make it right economically enough to be worth it? If they are fixing it when it is in the shop then it should be improving . . .

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

Would you buy a used car? Would you buy a rental boat? Depends on the history and condition. Some rental companies probably keep their boats in better shape/condition than private owners....some not.
Its usually pretty obvious and you should be able to get good or reasonable maintenance history info. They should keep better records. If they appear shady...no records, not sure...and the boat and their general operation is a bit dubious....walk. If everything is in order.....and the price is right...buy.
Pretty simple.

 

[rentalguy1]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

I would, but only if it checked out ok.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

I would. Also, I wouldn't check it any more, or less than ANY other boat I buy.

 

[mikey.himself]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

Heck, if the boat was maintained well, and it was still in good shape with a lifetime powertrain warranty, I'd have no problem buying it!

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

It might depend on the type of boat...

Let's use a rental car example: Who rents cars? Mostly business people and vacationers visiting another town.

Who rents a van or truck? Someone who needs the vehicle to work - runs to the dump, camping trips, etc. I'm guilty of this. "Heck, it's a rental - I don't slow down for no little rut!" "Why wipe my feet off? The car cleaners will get the stuff out of the carpet." etc, etc.

The rental car companies all maintain their vehicles well, but I wouldn't buy a truck or a full-sized van from them.

So a rental fishing boat might be OK, but I'm not so sure about a boat that lots of people have been "hot dogging" in...

 

[Philthyphil]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

I have bought a rental car, and it's been great. It was better maintained than most people maintain thier own cars. Still had the rest of the factory warenty and a print out of all the service done. Bought a rental snowmobile, same dael it was a great buy only had one season and again better maintiance than most people do. Lets face it when you rent something they have your credit card number.....you want to do something stupid? I never do I'm always real careful with a rental. So I would look at a boat and not be afraid if it and the rental company looked good.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

I have bought a rental car, and it's been great. It was better maintained than most people maintain thier own cars. Still had the rest of the factory warenty and a print out of all the service done. Bought a rental snowmobile, same dael it was a great buy only had one season and again better maintiance than most people do. Lets face it when you rent something they have your credit card number.....you want to do something stupid? I never do I'm always real careful with a rental. So I would look at a boat and not be afraid if it and the rental company looked good.

I agree with this. I often rent vehicles for work, usually full size quad cab pick-ups. I don't use them for trucking/haul work purposes tho'. My impression of them is that to everything I have seen they are spotless and very clean. They are kept a fixed (relatively) brief period of time by the rental company and then sold usually to dealerships as high quality low mile vehicles. They are apparently very well maintained and they are heavily scrutinized both on check out and check-in. If you damage them, scratch them, etc...you pay and I believe they don't rent them to anyone under the age of 25. All good, I'd buy one based on everything I have seen.
Same for the boats.....rental history to me does not necessarily mean beaten to death.

 

[getinmerry]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

The lake I boat on is chock full of rental boats. They are all easily spotted because of the giant signs that are all over them. At least 5 different times this season I watched non-boaters doing extremely stupid things with/ to them while on the water.

One of the things that sticks out in my mind is a rental pontoon boat with a Honda 150 on the back. They were coming into a shallow to swim. The driver lifted the motor full tilt (totally out of the water) and proceeded to let it run at about 1/2 throttle for about 5 minutes while he anchored the boat off. Everyone around was screaming at him to shut the motor off, but he was oblivious.

Another rental was run aground on a partially submerged stone point. The driver and passenger were thrown clear of the boat and had to transported to the hospital. The hull was smashed the outdrive was blown apart. Yet, 2 weeks later rental #15 went cruising by me when I was fishing.

Another rental was moored out front of a place just down from my place. The renter didn't bother to put the cover on it. That night the boat sank from heavy rains and high waves. Later in the summer, the same boat went zipping by all fixed and pretty looking.

These are the boats they're selling to unsuspecting people!

Anbody can drive a car well with little effort. It takes experience, diligence, and intelligence to run a boat properly so as not to damage the boat or others around. Most people that rent boats are renting them to party on, and could care less about the boat itself.

After watching my friend sit on shore most of the summer, I think he got rooked. He keeps saying that all the work didn't cost him a penny, but he also only put about 4 hours on the boat in total in 3 months.

 

[QC]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

It takes experience, diligence, and intelligence to run a boat properly so as not to damage the boat or others around. Most people that rent boats are renting them to party on, and could care less about the boat itself.

After watching my friend sit on shore most of the summer, I think he got rooked. He keeps saying that all the work didn't cost him a penny, but he also only put about 4 hours on the boat in total in 3 months.

He may have got rooked, but that is not an indictment on the soundness of buying a rental boat.

Anything can be fixed. Frankly a bare hull with everything ripped out of it is a great boat to buy. The point is I don't think it matters how it was previously used. It matters what shape it is in when you buy it, or what you plan to do to get it right. In this regard I am less concerned about an abused boat than an abused car. Waaaaaaaay fewer things to worry about.

Does it float? Check.
Does it run? Well kinda, OK, we'll get back to that.
Is the floor good? Check.
Interior? Check.

OK, I'll pay $1750 bucks because it needs a new water pump impeller and power head. Done.

 

[amynbill]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

I have posted before...I wont ever buy anything mechanical as used, not even a lawn mower, but I am a psychopath.

I want to know I am the one who has maintained the machine since the beginning, and I just can't help but love that "new car smell."

Going today, the whole family actually, to order our 2008 Sea Ray 205 sport.

 

[bamafutbal]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

we put 50k on the 2001 lexus rx300 rental with no problems before we traded it in on another rental, a 2006 caddy with 19k miles and it looks and runs like new! i bought a rental yamaha gp760 jet ski (no hr meter) but it ran like new (compression within limits) and cosmetically looked about a 7/10 which was ok with me
3 for 3 on rentals for me
also purchased a 03 honda crf450 in 03 and in 06 bought a 05 yamaha yz250, also in 06 bought a 03 honda pilot off ebay
3 for 3 off ebay too!
bought (santa actually got it) a new 2006 hummer bicycle from toys r us for our 6 year old, had to take it back twice for a new one, maybe i need to buy a rental or a bicycle off ebay

 

[burroak]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

Rental boats are just objects to provide income for the marina or sport shop. They are not someone's dream or family treasure. When the two lines on a cost/benefit graph cross or near it(depending on the time in the season) that boat will go. They are kept in service for as long as they provide a profit. When the ongoing expense or potential expense becomes unfavorable, the boat will be sent down the road. There are no "cherries driven by a little old lady on Sunday for church" in the rental business. Under certain circumstances, bankruptcy, liquidation, foreclosures, and settlements of estates, may be the exception. But, from my experience, dealers and wholesalers know of these situations long before the guy on the street. What is left will be what the car dealerships call the "back row" trade-ins.

That being said, I would buy a rig for what I think is a fair price, minus any value for the mechanicals. Now you have wiggle room to completely repower or get paid for your sweat equity in bringing the unit back to dependable service.

 

[beerrun]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

I used to work at a place that rented 19' bow riders.All that was required to rent a boat was a valid drivers license and proof of auto insurance(I dont know what that was supposed to do). I was always shocked at the shape they came back in. They were run aground, slammed into docks, basically just abused. The company I worked for fixed motor problems if it could not be rented but would wait a really long time to fix what they considered minor hull damage. The lower unit was replaced twice on one of them.They sat out in the rain and snow in the parking lot getting hit by shopping carts when they werent being abused by people.The boats were brand new in 1995 and the company got out of the rental business in 96.
But...I guess that if you know what youre getting and you checked it out as you would any other boat then its all the same anyway.

 

[Double J 300]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

A boat club near me uses only new Sea Ray models. They use them for maybe a year and sell them at a decent discount. They are well maintained and they don't get many hours on them. I think most renters go out nearby for fun or fishing. They are very well maintained to keep them "good to go". The club is pricey and those members have to pay for abuse or stupidity.

Another boat club only has used boats in their fleet. I bet the members beat the daylights out of them. Well, they look that way.

 

[gcais]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

I've been checking out the Sea Ray models and while I don't like the smaller beam in the 18 ft size they look OK. Why have you chosen your's and do you mind telling me your cost and where you are? Thanks. Gcais

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Would you buy an ex-rental boat? Poll

If they are going to warranty the motor and drive, then your main concern will be the hull.
Was it ever crashed? Look for signs of past repairs. Any signs of careless use?
The type of boat might also make me look harder at certain areas.
People generally don't worry as much about a rented boat as they would their own. Things like running aground and hitting the dock a bit hard don't bother a guy who rented the boat. Look close at the rub rail areas, gunwales, and keel.

As with any boat purchase, I'd go over it with a fine tooth comb. The fact that they will warranty the motor and drive, provided that it's a reputable dealer, would make consider it, but I'd stay away from it if I found any hull damage.

The engine and drive warranty won't matter if the boat's sitting on the bottom.