Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

[newboatbuy]

Okay folks. I know this may be the ultimate in anal analysis, but I've got to make a decision on a used boat this week. If you have the time, take a look at this link and please give me your input on which boat you would buy (the new one or the used one) considering all of the issues.<br /><br />Thanks again for any help you can give me. This is obviously our first boat, so I just want to make the very best decision and I know that all of you out there have the expertise and the willingness to share.<br /><br />Here is the comparison grid <br /> Comparison Chart <br /><br />Looking forward to your insights. Have to make a decision on the used boat this weekend.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

I, Personally, Wouldn't spent $68.00 on a Bilgeliner........ <br />Much Less $68,000.00..................... <br /><br />But,<br />If you've come this far,+ Are going to buy a Bilgeliner......<br />I see a Better Value in the boat with 15hrs on it.................<br />That's One(1) Days Use.............Or, $1000.00 per Hour(Bottom Line)..........<br />The Biggest Hit with depreciation on a boat, Is when the Original Owner, signs on the dotted line.............<br /><br />Good Luck.......

 

[KCook]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

And what prices did you find for Maxum, Monterey, and Rinker?<br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

This is a trick question right????

 

[1730V]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

A very legitimate question. IMHO the 04 is the better buy. Much more equiupment. I do not think you can get the 05 for what you want to pay for it. I do not believe there is that much mark up in the 05.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

I don't think I would buy a 100K boat without putting 8hrs on it as a test drive. Throw in a generator, bow thruster, radar, and various other features and oh yea, its 15K cheaper for an identical boat and where is the decision? If the design changes a good engineering team would insist on a different designation of some sort for identification and warranty issues. <br /><br />As the question was between two identical and outlined boats, (no others mentioned or requiring comment) I guess I would only have one question, Is a one year additional warranty worth the extra 28-30K? Without busting on Bayliners or discussing loan eligibility why would anyone make any other decision?<br /><br />Is the new one safer, I would assume no based on 15hrs.<br /><br />Is the new one better set up? No, in fact less.<br /><br />No information was given on the powerplant so I have no choice but to assume they are the same.<br /><br />I would like to hear someone try and support paying more for less. What questions would make one lean towards the rig with 15 less hrs. <br /><br />If you want to spend more money - great! The question here is would you pay 25% more for a car with less features vs. an identical used car with essentially 150 miles and one extra year that you would drive once a week for 30 weeks a year?<br /><br />Where is the question?

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Bondo, NewBoatBuy / NewBoatGuy had any fears of Bayliner issues put to rest on the other/new boating forum. There were some good points made about Bayliner then vs Bayliner now and the improvement in quality.<br /><br />Kcook - I agree with the idea of shopping other brands and doing serious water trials. I also recommend vacating the “need” to buy a luxury item.<br /><br />Anyway, welcome over to this forum, NewBoatGuy. <br />I read your posting this morning (on the other web site) and didn’t respond yet there, so I will here. I also noticed what Pointer pointed out … the big diff is the warranty. Anytime you feel a “need” to purchase a big ticket item you are lined up to allow yourself to be taken advantage of by the dealer. But, if you just “need” to buy one of those two boats from that dealer, save yourself $10K and get the used one…your original description of the boat led me to believe it is like new. I’m presuming the dealer didn’t go for the idea of taking a down pmt and holding the boat for you until spring so you could do an accept/reject water trial?

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

I don't see any option here other than buying the 04. You get more, you pay less, and the boat has already been run in and if any problem had cropped up during run-in, it has been fixed. You can't even really consider it used. More like really well test driven. No question here, get the 04. Good luck....

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Sticking to just the two options, I would go with the 2004. While there is something to be said for having a newer model year at re-sale time. The added cost pretty much wipes out that advantage.<br />The "biggy" that I see is the generator. I can say from personal experience that whether or not you ever need or want a genset, when the time comes for you to sell the boat many people will not even consider a boat without one.

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Bondo, do you desperately search the site for "Bayliner" every day, just so you can spew forth your inaccurate drivel?<br /><br />THE FACTS: Many old (70s to early 80s) Bayliners had issues and many were crap. New Bayliners are of no worse quality than any other mainstream boat.<br /><br />Maybe you should start doing your homework Bondo, you'd find this out for yourself and stop living in the past. <br /><br />Don't worry folks, I'm not gonna drag this out. Just the one post.

 

[newboatbuy]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Thanks to all for your input. <br /><br />Stratocaster - I'm not familiar with Bondo but at this point the only company that makes the classic look book like the 288 is Bayliner. In fact I like most of the Bayliners over most of the other midrange brands. To each his own I guess.<br /><br />18rabbit-thanks for your input. I haven't approached the dealer on that idea yet. I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row so when I am ready to go, I'm ready to buy. <br /> <br />POINTER94, 1730V, JasonJ, Waterone1 - thank you all for your input and your willingness to help.<br /><br />Frank

 

[Bondo]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Stratocaster,<br />My Opinion has been formed by crawling in,+ around the bilges of Many boats for the last 30 years..... <br />From Bayliners to Bertrams...........<br />From Very Old, to Fairly New............<br />Actually Looking at the ways they're Built.........<br /><br />Right, Wrong, or otherwise, I'm Not guilty of what You have just done................<br />

THE FACTS: Many old (70s to early 80s) Bayliners had issues and many were crap. New Bayliners are of no worse quality than any other mainstream boat.

That is Your Opinion .........<br />It's Not a FACT ........<br />And,<br />If you do a search, You'll find all kinds of links,+ other Evidence that this is Not a Fact ,<br />But a Fallacy ........................<br /><br />So, Even though My Opinion is Much Closer to the Truth ,<br /> I'm Not spreading My Opinion AS the Fact ..........................<br /><br />BTW,<br />

Don't worry folks, I'm not gonna drag this out. Just the one post

Same Here..................................

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

I have to go with Bondo on this one. Bayliners are great ENTRY LEVEL BOATS. For anyone to say that they compare to a Bertram, Ocean, or even a Sea Ray, Cruisers, Carver or a Regal is a joke !<br /> Bayliners compare to a Maxum, a Four Winns or a Larson. They (bayliners) are under powered, have poor fit and finish, and are built on a budget...and it shows!!

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

I have to agree with Bondo on this one. Bayliners are a great ENTRY LEVEL BOAT. They cannot possibly compare to a Bertram, Ocean, or even a Sea Ray, Cruisers, Carver, Regal, etc. Bayliners are in the same company as a Four Winns,Maxum or a Larson. Bayliners are underpowered, have a poor fit and finish and are built on a budget....and it shows.

 

[1730V]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

He did not ask about Bayliners in general. He asked which one is the best deal. If he likes what he sees that is his choice. I still like all the goodies on the '04'. Bow thruster, generator, etc. The thruster makes docking easy and the generator makes it self contained.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Eeks, they're both Bayliners!!<br /><br />For that kind on money you could buy a top of the line 5-8 yr. old boat that won't depreciate a dime at the time of purchase. Realize this will be a $40,000 boat in a couple of years.....

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Originally posted by Luna Sea:<br /> Realize this will be a $40,000 boat in a couple of years.....

Luna Sea, is that so? Try a YachtWorld search and go back even more than "a couple of years". Go back to 2000. I just did that and couldn't find any selling for less than 60 grand. So why will his boat be a $40,000 boat in a couple of years?

 

[one more cast]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Come on guys, The man just ask a simple question. It sounds like he did his home work and decided on a Bayliner.I can't be of any help because I can't even comprehend spending that much on a boat. The End

 

[newboatbuy]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Thanks all for your continued input. I had done what Stratocaster suggested and couldn't find one much less than the $60,000 as he said. <br /><br /><br />Now why this boat and size - he's the reasoning -does it make sense?<br /><br />We have been motor home folk with a 34 foot Rockwood, which was sold recently. <br /><br />Originally we were looking at purchasing a 24 foot express cruiser, but quickly realized that we are more likely to hang out on it as much as driving it. With our teenage daughters, mother and mother-in-law, etc...we figured living in the cave environment of most 24 footers that we just wouldn't use it as much while at dock. Also the difficult access getting into the cabin would be difficult for the older folks and my wife who has arthritis.<br /><br /> My wife is the one that actually talked me up from the 24 to the 28 command bridge (which is a first - usually I have to convince her to spend more mony on something! I know I'm a lucky guy!!)<br /><br />So...with this boat, we figure this will keep us from having to trade in so quickly when we discovered that a 24 footer just won't work in the long run. <br /><br />Our ultimate goal is to go even larger and to live 1/2 year on it in Newport, RI...and I knew I surely didn't want to have a 34 footer as my first boat. The 28 command bridge seemed to be a good compromise..and gives us enough space for everyone and with sleeping for six, we can use it to even live on it and sleep on it when we visit my sister's place on Goat Island, Newport, RI for three weeks each summer.<br /><br />So that's the reason for the first boat being a little larger than most would recommend, and for the choice of the Bayliner. It is the only command bridge in the size/price level that I've found.<br /><br />Make sense?<br /><br />Thanks again for your continued input. Keep it coming!<br /><br />Frank

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Comparison of Two Boats - Help Needed Please

Newboat, I spent a little more time looking over your chart and stick by my first post (of the two that you selected, the 2004 would be my choice).<br />With that said I noticed something that I didn't see the first time. Am I correct that it say's engine, as in single not twin ? <br />Please, please, reconsider this choice.<br />As someone who has owned several cabin cruisers over the years (28ft and over) I would not think of purchasing anything larger than a runabout with a single engine. If you are putting the whole family in it...AND going coastal cruising or anything other than a lake you are asking for trouble. Something as simple as a clogged fuel filter or a bad alternator or starter means you are 100% stranded, furthermore with a boat that size, not just anyone can tow you. with a twin engine you will at least get home if one engine dies. As another thought, you will be pushing that engine pretty hard to get that size boat moving, twins will last longer.<br />As a final note, the ads on yachtworld are what BROKERS are ASKING for these boats, the sales prices will be SEVERAL thousand less.