Cant Decide and need your help

[danny9696]

Hi all thank you for taking the time to give me your input, I have always had boats with outboards, now I am looking to buy a boat with an i/o, and I need your help to decide between two that I have found, the first is a 1997 Regal 2100 lsr regal 2100lsr 8-Cylinder 1997 Boat ARIZONA the other is a 1996 Maxum 2100 1996 Maxum 2100 350 V8 OPEN BOW both meet my needs, the Regal seems to be the better choice, it has new interior and a sun deck but just not sure, please give me your thoughts and opinions.

Thank you all very much

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Cant Decide and need your help

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Maxum out of business? All things being equal I'd choose the boat that has had the best care. After all, an 18yo boat is only as good as it was cared for. Now, the Regal looks abit weathered and the framing around those side windows has a tendency to crack from the stress...poor design.

Why do you want an I/O if you've had OB's?

 

[further]

Re: Cant Decide and need your help

Yep, looks like the brand was discontinued by Brunswick in 2009

Brunswick discontinues production of Maxum brand | Boating Industry

 

[thumpar]

Re: Cant Decide and need your help

Usually I would say Regal because of quality over Maxum but the side window on the Regal looks kind of weird to me. My friend had an 18' Maxum and it was a good boat. Make sure you look at as many boats as you can that fit what you want. Don't get stuck on 1 or 2 unless they meet all your hopes and requirements. It is not like buying a car/truck that does it function to get you from point A to point B. This a pleasure thing and you want to find a boat with the things you want and not have to change it.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Cant Decide and need your help

My vote would be for the Maxum. It just looks better cared for and the windshield on the Regal looks like it could be a source of trouble in the future. It really doesn't matter that the brand is no longer made because after 18 years the company would no longer make the same boat or any parts for it.

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Cant Decide and need your help

My friend just bought that exact same regal last year, $7k is a good price in my area. He has the cracking issues mentioned here with that plastic windshield molding, it looks bad and there is no fixing it (no feasably anyway). The ad you linked does not say it's a 5.0 or 5.7 V8 - big difference.

I am not a fan of the back to back seating in that Maxum.

If one has fuel injection over the other I'd lean heavy that way, probably a 3-$4k upgrade back then. As others have said condition of each will be the biggest factor.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Cant Decide and need your help

Condition should be the deciding factor followed by preference to one if fuel injected but with that said I would go Regal all of the way. Maxum was a rebranded Bayliner. Also don't be afraid to walk if something is amiss. There are other boats out there. These two are not your only option.

 

[ssoper]

Re: Cant Decide and need your help

My friend has this type of Regal, it is a nice boat, but it also has stress cracks around the port side window. He bought it new, hit some waves hard the first year and bingo the cracks appeared. They have not gotten any larger over the years though.

 

[danny9696]

Re: Cant Decide and need your help

Thank you all very much for your opinions, they have given me new eyes, and I have now seen both in person and the Maxum was will maintained and the floor is solid, The Regal does not seem to have ever been covered, they did have all the interior redone and its a beautifull boat, but there is two soft spots in the floor and it looks to have a cracked manifold judging by the jagged rust line, I have mad a deal on the maxum and cant wait to take her for a test drive, this will be my first I/O and am excited and scared to death also!

again thank you all very much

Danny

 

[tazrig]

Re: Cant Decide and need your help

Good luck! I think you made the right decision.