'98 Larson 5.0L or '02 Maxum 4.3L ????

[rauch0812]

CHANGE: Sorry - thought I had my mind made up but the hubby and I just figured out we don't... see many posts down...


Alright... now that we've seen atleast 15 boats we're down to two... I'd love to hear the pros and cons... We'll be boating on the Upper Chesapeake Bay and rivers. The hubby wants to fish, the kids are planning to tube and wakeboard, I just want a decent ride. Which should we buy, we need help!

Boat #1
1998 20' Larson 206 LXi Bow Rider 5.0L I/O Mercruiser Engine.

Boat #2
1997 Pro Sports 21' Deck Boat with a Suzuki 140 DT EFI outboard.

Thanks!
Des

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

deck boats usually dont offer as much protection from wind/waves as a bowrider does. i.e. bowriders at least have windshields to duck behind if it gets cold/water is spraying, most deck boats dont. other than that i think deck boats are really neat if you boat mostly in good weather.

 

[superpop]

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

The larson, you can do both with it, but the other one will only serve your fishing needs. The motor is way to small for a 20 foot boat, if you expect to tow a wake boarder or skier.

 

[Damien.]

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

Bow Rider.

Much more universal.

 

[rauch0812]

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

You couldn't get faster advice anywhere! Thanks for the input, now i just have to hope they accept my offer...

 

[JimS123]

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

I concur with the others about the choice. But remember that is a 12 year old Mercruiser. If its been used in salt water, you better have a marine survey done first.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

The hubby wants to fish, the kids are planning to tube and wakeboard, I just want a decent ride. Which should we buy, we need help!

Boat #1
1998 20' Larson 206 LXi Bow Rider 5.0L I/O Mercruiser Engine.

This would be my choice.Plenty of power for everything.

 

[rauch0812]

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

Re: Deck Boat or Bow Rider - can't decide!

Help me decide again...


Boat #1
1998 20' Larson 206 LXi 5.0L Merc w/ 161 hrs on boat

Boat #2
2002 19' Maxum 4.3L Merc w/ 37 hrs on boat

 

[Damien.]

Re: '98 Larson 5.0L or '02 Maxum 4.3L ????

No brainer here, Maxum.

 

[superpop]

Re: '98 Larson 5.0L or '02 Maxum 4.3L ????

It all depends on the condition, maint history and features along with the price. I would probably lean towards the Larson just because of the V-8 but that is just me, plus it is bigger by a foot, maybe not a big deal but could mean more room.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: '98 Larson 5.0L or '02 Maxum 4.3L ????

If you look at my signature, you will know my opinion. 100% satisfied with boat, engine and performance. But mine was bought new. All depends on how each was maintained and their condition. Also, I'd question the 30 hours on a 2002. Could be good could be not so good. Engines need to be exercised. Good luck.

 

[rauch0812]

Re: '98 Larson 5.0L or '02 Maxum 4.3L ????

The Larson is being sold under a brokerage so I don't know anything about it, other than the seller traded up for a bigger boat.

The Maxum (per a mechanic at the marina where it's stored) the owner bought for his wife who never used it and it just sat. Apparently the back end sunk in the muck and water got into the oil but the boat was never run. The marina let him know the situation and he had them pull the boat out, change the gimbal bearing, changed oil several times, so the problem was corrected before any damage could be done to the boat. So essentially it's a great boat with no hours. The mechanic seemed honest enough and did not seem to be on the "sellers side" one bit. We asked him if it was currently winterized and he said yes. No knowing anything about boats, could he have done the gimbal bearing and oil stuff with it winterized? Does that make sense?

Des

 

[MTribe08]

Re: '98 Larson 5.0L or '02 Maxum 4.3L ????

The Larson is being sold under a brokerage so I don't know anything about it, other than the seller traded up for a bigger boat.

The Maxum (per a mechanic at the marina where it's stored) the owner bought for his wife who never used it and it just sat. Apparently the back end sunk in the muck and water got into the oil but the boat was never run. The marina let him know the situation and he had them pull the boat out, change the gimbal bearing, changed oil several times, so the problem was corrected before any damage could be done to the boat. So essentially it's a great boat with no hours. The mechanic seemed honest enough and did not seem to be on the "sellers side" one bit. We asked him if it was currently winterized and he said yes. No knowing anything about boats, could he have done the gimbal bearing and oil stuff with it winterized? Does that make sense?

Des

That doesn't sound good...might want to get that boat checked out really good.

FWIW..My next door neighbor has a 19ft bowrider, and I have a 21ft bowrider..the size and feel of the two boats is quite a bit different..Much deeper cockpit and a deeper V in mine. Don't get me wrong..both boats are really nice, but in my boat you sit up off the water and in his, you are much lower. Its amazing what a ft or 2 will do for a boat.

He could have done the gimble bearing with the boat winterized, same with the oil...Generally mechanics will warm up the motor oil before taking it out, to thin it out a bit, but he could have done it with out doing that.

 

[rauch0812]

Re: '98 Larson 5.0L or '02 Maxum 4.3L ????

We're leaning toward the Larson (we decided to go for the larger boat).. we put in our offer of $7000 pending sea trial and including a tandem axle load rite trailer... he said he thought it would happen. So, we should hear back on that tomorrow...

 

[MTribe08]

Re: '98 Larson 5.0L or '02 Maxum 4.3L ????

We're leaning toward the Larson (we decided to go for the larger boat).. we put in our offer of $7000 pending sea trial and including a tandem axle load rite trailer... he said he thought it would happen. So, we should hear back on that tomorrow...

That sounds like a good deal to me..hopefully it all checks out. I think you will be much happier with the bigger boat and engine. Throw up some pics when you get it all done!

 

[rauch0812]

They accepted my offer!!!

They accepted my offer!!!

Ha! We settled at $6800, not too shabby! We go out for a sea trial on 4/3 and if all goes well we'll bring her home. I've never been able to figure out how you guys get pictures on here.. I have a week to figure it out... help?

Des

 

[ezmobee]

Re: They accepted my offer!!!

Re: They accepted my offer!!!

Best way is to create an account on a site like photobucket.com and upload your pictures there. Then link to them from here. You can size them to the forum-acceptable size of 640x480 right on the photobucket site.

Good luck on the boat. Hope it all checks out.