Boat Dilemma

[curling_coach]

Hello everyone, I joined iboats last October and have been cruising through the forums as much as I can. Great people and great advice from my take on this community and I have had a few laughs also. To my dilemma and I will try to make it short:
1) Have talked about purchasing a boat for about 10 years now. A relative newbie by the way. Driven other peoples but have never owned. On the advice of this community I would say about a 30/70 to a 40/60 split between water sports & fishing.
2) Being in Canada I have looked at used, again on advice from this community for a first boat, but used boats up here are not a good option IMO to pursue so after searching & searching what seems to be a zillion websites it is not conducive for me to look at used boats that are in Florida or Georgia or Texas or wherever in the USA. Thinking of getting a surveyor to look at possibly numerous boats could be a big hassle. Trying to find even something 3-5 years old in what I want has been tough also. Maybe not looking at the right sites? Have tried the iboats/boatrader/craigslist/dealers and so forth.
3) Leads me to buying new. After having perused so many different manufacturers catalogs, fiberglass vs aluminum, I/B to O/B, fuel inj. to carb I have settled on the Glastron ski & fish model. Started out with the GT185 with a 4.3 and again after advice from this community on ensuring you have enough room/power etc. (I don't want to be going up to a bigger boat in two years, my 3 kids are all young adults and I want to make the right decision now given my half a century+ age) have settled on the GT205. Feel real good that this 20 ft'er in the GT ski/fish will give me everything I need for a first & final purchase. May not be the very best but it will meet my needs.
4) Looked at whatever remaining '07s & '08s I could find but dealers still want a pretty penny for them, again the reasons why have been explained in this community, and if I have to ship from Indiana or Pennslyvania any savings are lost in freight. Markets are a bit cheaper out there for sure than say Utah or Nevada.
5) I found one '09 GT205SF with the VP 4.3Gxi in the US and found one GT205SF with the 5.0L carb Merc with a Canadian dealer. The US dealer has been superb in dealing with me and designing this boat for me I would love to give him the business. I would not even mind the travel to get it in the spring.
6) US dealer price - $31,800.00, Cdn dealer price - $39,600.approx BUT with a boat show coming up here in Feb. he will let me have it for $36,700.00 Cdn and I would have to do things like upgrade to a tandem trailer and some additional small stuff.
7) Current Cdn-US exchange is sitting at $1.2339 as of a few moments ago making the US boat just under $39,500.00, should be a no brainer eh? Oh I should mention that if I was to order the '09 205 with the 4.3Gxi I would have to pay in the neighborhood of $44,000.00 Cdn, still a no brainer eh?
8) Here is my dilemma, I prefer to have the Volvo based on what I have read and the fuel inj is a good feature, quieter motor, a better motor and probably numerous other positives. US dealer will take me for a demo spin. For the Merc, possibly easier to maintain and it will have some other positives I am sure and the Cdn dealer has no real demo boat so I just buy and hope I made the right choice.
a. The exchange difference sucks and I don't think that it will come down to the 1.12 to 1.15 level that would make the US one affordable.
b. I would have to finance the boat. I could put 15-20% down BUT though the job seems secure right now (in the Oil & Gas industry) I would be more comfortable having extra cash in the bank in the event something was to happen. Then again maybe I should hold off with the continued economic uncertainty that '09 may bring but I am thinking I have also held off for 10 years and when is there ever going to be a good time. I have already missed out on a number of years while the kids were growing up.

The above is my problem and my dilemma. I apologize if it is too long but would appreciate some sagely advice.:redface:

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Boat Dilemma

try looking at www.yachtworld.com they have a lot of used listings in canada.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Dilemma

personally i would rather have a VP drive system.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Boat Dilemma

b. I would have to finance the boat. I could put 15-20% down BUT though the job seems secure right now (in the Oil & Gas industry) I would be more comfortable having extra cash in the bank in the event something was to happen. Then again maybe I should hold off with the continued economic uncertainty that '09 may bring but I am thinking I have also held off for 10 years and when is there ever going to be a good time. I have already missed out on a number of years while the kids were growing up.

The above is my problem and my dilemma. I apologize if it is too long but would appreciate some sagely advice.:redface:

I too just bought a boat, a small three year old 18.5' runabout. I too considered new, for a price of about 2-3x what we paid for the boat used. I too think my job is pretty secure. For me - and only for me - I determined the more practical financial option was one that allowed me to sleep well at night, so we bought used and paid cash. If I was 10 years younger it would probably kill me to be on the water and see all the new, shiny boats while we tool around in our used boat. But now I just love being able to put as much money in the bank as possible while still living a comfortable life. This usually involves buying large assets used, and shopping at discount places galore for our other stuff. I don't know much about the Canadian used boat inventory, but one would sure think you'd be able to find something acceptable given how much water there is up there!

Best of luck to you.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Boat Dilemma

Thats a lot of money for your first boat.

So what i say might sound brutal, it will be honest.

I would buy a used 2-3 year old fresh water boat if i were you and i will go thru the reasons.

1- The boat you get will be a learning curve and you will dent it, scratch it, and learn how to trailer it. A lot is involved with trailering and driving with a trailer and upkeep on the trailer. All best done with a used boat.
You will mess up props that is a given so get a boat with a single prop, a lot cheaper then duo props.

2- A 3-4 year old boat will have all the things that you will have to pay extra for like a depth finder, fish finder, and such.

3- You will pay less than half, off compared to new.

4- You will still have cash in the bank and no one knows what tomorrow will bring, being prudent is never wrong.

5- I would buy the drive and motor combo, that has a dealer near where i live.

6- Buy a boat with a porta potty in it. Open bow boat is nice, but a cuddy is more versatile, and can do everything a open bow can do. I have both.
But if you ever decide to go on the ocean you will appreciate the cuddy.

Good luck !

 

[salty87]

Re: Boat Dilemma

since you're asking, i'd say you should keep looking for that great used boat. new boats are a bad deal unless you won't have to worry about making the payments. sounds like you're a little hesitant, go with your gut feeling. there will only be more and more boats on the market, this economy is nowhere near the point of turning around.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Boat Dilemma

Those that are proposing purchase of a "used boat" base their decisions on learning how to operate and haul the boat with the biggest issue being cost. While you may be a new boat "owner" that does not mean you are not a capable "boat operator". There is nothing wrong with buying new if that's what you feel comfortable with. There is a great deal of comfort and pride in buying a new boat with a factory warranty and that you are not buying someone elses problems. Also be aware that just because the dealer says he will "let you have it for $xxxxx" does not mean that's his lowest figure. Use the current economy to your advantage and low ball them. The most they can say is No! Then walk away and wait a week. There is a high probability you will get a phone call. Make sure when they say "come on in -- I think we can work something out" -- that they are not just trying to get you back into the store. Ask them, "does this mean you accept my offer?" If you don't ask that question you will simply be presented with the same deal in the hopes you will have weakened and accept their price. Check on-line sites carefully for comparison pricing purposes. Congrats on whatever you buy, enjoy it and boat safely.