thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

[justhavnfun]

i was looking to purchase a sport yacht and my budget is $45-50,000. i really like the look of Maxum's 3000 scr 30 ft'r. i showed a buddy of mine a few piks of the boat and he said Maxums are cheap boats. as in poor quality. he does have alot of experience in that he has owned fishing boats for the last 15 yrs but they are smaller than what i'm looking at. is his assessment of the 3000scr correct? any insight would be greatful. here are some specs of the boat:

only 300 hrs, loaded, stored in covered slip, new canvas, new sun pad, two staterooms, full head with shower, stainless steel props, 4.5kw generator, AC/heat, Merc 225 hp/Bravo II, updated Raymarine color radar & GPS/plotter, Fishfinder, auto trim tabs, swim platform w/shower, TV, Stereo/CD.



thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

you don't state the year, and a 30 footer with a 225 is not going to be a speed demon. probably will just get on plane. really sounds underpowered.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

I'll assume the 225hp you stated is really twin 4.3MPIs (220hp each) with Bravo 2 drives. It'll still be a little underpowered, but not too bad. For comparision purposes, my Dad's Chaparral Signature 30 had twin 240hp 5.0EFIs with B2, and it performed well enough. A switch to Bravo 3s really livened it up, though.
You are opening a can of worms with the "Are Maxums cheap boats?" question. Guys who have them, I'll bet love them. Guys who don't have them say they are cheap. But in a factual sense, they are the next boat up from Bayliner in Brunswick's boating stable. But I have looked at a couple of Bayliner cruisers and thought they were fine. Personally, I don't think the Maxum is worth the price they charge over a Bayliner. So either the Bayliners are way underpriced or the Maxums are overpriced.
A marine survey wouldn't be a bad idea on a boat like that. It would answer structural deficiencies. The things that can be "cheap" on that class of boats are galley surface, head compartment components, trim pieces, drawers and storage doors, seat cushioning, windshield supports, door latches. You know the little detail things. Go aboard that boat you found, look at that stuff, then go aboard a Chaparral, a Sea ray, a Crownline, a Formula, really any other boat of that size/class of the same vintage and see how they are finished off. And note what their asking price is too. Comparison will give you some idea of quality and if you can live with it. Good luck.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

thats your fault.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

Sorry wrong Post!!! LOL

 

[tommays]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

Salt Or Freshwater is a big part of the question on theses boats

Most of the original owners do not spring for FRESHWATER COOLING which really kills the life span of the motors in saltwater


IMHP all the boats in the same price range of the Maxum are pretty close in quality and while there is ALWAYS a better boat with good care and reasonable expectations it will be fine

You could spend 400,000 dollars on a 30' boat without a problem if you go UP the quality chain far enough


And some of the bigger Maxum Yachts are very highly rated




Tommays

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

as the Four Winns, just looked at one that was over 100,000. mind you just looked. wasn't big enough to live aboard.

 

[justhavnfun]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

you don't state the year, and a 30 footer with a 225 is not going to be a speed demon. probably will just get on plane. really sounds underpowered.

i'm looking at two. one is a 1998 and the other is a 2000. one has twin 4.3's and the other has twin 5.7's with a bravo 3. thanks

 

[justhavnfun]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

I'll assume the 225hp you stated is really twin 4.3MPIs (220hp each) with Bravo 2 drives. It'll still be a little underpowered, but not too bad. For comparision purposes, my Dad's Chaparral Signature 30 had twin 240hp 5.0EFIs with B2, and it performed well enough. A switch to Bravo 3s really livened it up, though.
You are opening a can of worms with the "Are Maxums cheap boats?" question. Guys who have them, I'll bet love them. Guys who don't have them say they are cheap. But in a factual sense, they are the next boat up from Bayliner in Brunswick's boating stable. But I have looked at a couple of Bayliner cruisers and thought they were fine. Personally, I don't think the Maxum is worth the price they charge over a Bayliner. So either the Bayliners are way underpriced or the Maxums are overpriced.
A marine survey wouldn't be a bad idea on a boat like that. It would answer structural deficiencies. The things that can be "cheap" on that class of boats are galley surface, head compartment components, trim pieces, drawers and storage doors, seat cushioning, windshield supports, door latches. You know the little detail things. Go aboard that boat you found, look at that stuff, then go aboard a Chaparral, a Sea ray, a Crownline, a Formula, really any other boat of that size/class of the same vintage and see how they are finished off. And note what their asking price is too. Comparison will give you some idea of quality and if you can live with it. Good luck.

thanks for the reply, yes one boat i was looking at has twin 4.3's and the other has twin 5.0 or 5.7's with a bravo 3. great advice on the interior details.
sounds like i should look for the 5.0 with the bravo3's. instead of the 3.4's. where do find a survey for this boat? my friend had mentioned a survey. is this a survey of other maxum boat owners? thanks for your help.

 

[justhavnfun]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

Salt Or Freshwater is a big part of the question on theses boats

Most of the original owners do not spring for FRESHWATER COOLING which really kills the life span of the motors in saltwater


IMHP all the boats in the same price range of the Maxum are pretty close in quality and while there is ALWAYS a better boat with good care and reasonable expectations it will be fine

You could spend 400,000 dollars on a 30' boat without a problem if you go UP the quality chain far enough


And some of the bigger Maxum Yachts are very highly rated




Tommays

i will be using the boat in salt water. i'm buying a waterfront house in port charlotte fl. i'm someone who takes car of what i have. my money doesn't come easy to me. i wonder if things that break are from abuse, neglect, poor quality, or all of the above. some folks are just harder on anything the own. but if this manufacturer has a reputation of building "cheap" boats, i would rather look elsewhere. thanks for your advice. it definatly helps!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

When I say a "survey", I am talking about an inspection by an accredited Marine Surveyor. If you google "marine surveyor" you'll see what it's all about.
I'll waive to you on Jan 19. We'll be aboard that Chap Signature 300, as we go by Port Charlotte on our way from Sarasota to the Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda.
The 4.3s "might" do a good job. But they'd be better with Bravo 3s.
Maxum is closer towards the "value" end of cruiser builders, than they are towards the "premium" end. But by looking at 7 to 9 year old boats, you're probaly going to run into some wear/tear issues, no matter what brand you are looking at.

 

[justhavnfun]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

When I say a "survey", I am talking about an inspection by an accredited Marine Surveyor. If you google "marine surveyor" you'll see what it's all about.
I'll waive to you on Jan 19. We'll be aboard that Chap Signature 300, as we go by Port Charlotte on our way from Sarasota to the Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda.
The 4.3s "might" do a good job. But they'd be better with Bravo 3s.
Maxum is closer towards the "value" end of cruiser builders, than they are towards the "premium" end. But by looking at 7 to 9 year old boats, you're probaly going to run into some wear/tear issues, no matter what brand you are looking at.

great advice. thanks for your help. sounds like a fun trip. i've never been to any of those destinations. i live in maryland but will be flying out next weekend to inspect the house i'm buying in port charlotte. i have been to clearwater and the sunsets and beaches are unbelievable. we're real excited to see the area. again thanks for your help.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: thinking of purchasing a maxum 3000 scr 30ft'r

Port Charlotte can be nice. It can be a little suspect in certain places too. (I lived in Venice & NorthPort for 2.5 years total) I wouldn't pay the premium home prices, and then the very high homeowner's insurance costs to live there. But you're in Maryland where home prices (at least around Annapolis) are already insane.
Charlotte Harbor gets very rough. So a 30 foot cruiser is a good choice if you plan to go boating on or through it. There is so much to do or see down there, you could spend most of the rest of your life trying to see it all.