Choosing between a few manufacturers

[realmasa]

I hope to buy a new boat in a nearby future, but i have little experience with the different makes. Please share your experince and give me some pros and cons about the following makes, all in the 24-25feet class:
Sea Ray
Regal
Chaparral
Monterey
Features that are important are, climate control, plenty of room in cabin, cooker, sink, fridge, WC, shower and overall quality.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

Sea Ray makes a really nice boat; very well constructed from the hull layup on up. They are a bit pricy, but sounds like that is not your main concern. You usually get what you pay for.

HTH,

Mark

 

[KCook]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

All of those are decent quality. I'm a little surprised so many US makes are available in Finland!

The criteria you listed would be on my list too for a 35' boat. But that list implies high expectations for a 25 footer. In the 25' size my preference would run toward Monterey. However my needs would be very different, more for a day boat than one to live aboard.

This is an antique thread on another site. Does discuss a lot of the issues to consider in this size boat -

http://boards.trailerboats.com/cgi-bin/trailerboats/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000907

Kelly Cook

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

I have a regal ..... I love it ....

 

[realmasa]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

All of those are decent quality. I'm a little surprised so many US makes are available in Finland!

If i buy, i buy through an organisation called hansaboat www.buytor.com, they import boats from US east coast and sell them in europe. Included in price are transportaion to Finland and tax, they also take care of the customs. Pretty convenient.

Thanks guys, it seems like they are all good boats, perhaps buy the boat that has what i need and don't care about the make.
One thing that would be nice is a targa arch, but i can't find one in the 24-25foot class. The reason i want one is that i want to have radar.

 

[KCook]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

While they are all good makes, the details of how each model is designed will vary significantly. I would not select one of these based on photos alone. Really need to inspect the boat yourself.

As for the radar arch - If not listed as an option, you could always have a custom tubular arch made up for your boat. Example -
http://www.oceanmarinesystems.com/o1_otherradar.html
Very likely there are shops in your country that could do this after the boat is delivered.

Are Aquador, Nimbus, and Windy all that much more expensive than importing a US boat? I find those boats much more attractive than any of the US designs.

Kelly

 

[realmasa]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

Yes, it's a bit risky buying a boat without actually see it. There are plenty of these boats in Sweden and Finland, and they cost about the same.
Nimbus and aquador are great but way over my budget, i can't find an aquador that costs less than 40000e and that's a 21' WA.
Good idea with custom built arch, will look deeper into it.

 

[tommays]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

Given the amount of current boats that have problems with normal service DUE to poor engine comparment desgin i would really want to look in that area


There is nothing like pulling a motor to service the water pump or starter :devil:

Tommays

 

[realmasa]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

tommays, agreed.

Anyone have an idea of which boat that has the largest mid cabin? Between Sea Ray 240 sundancer and Regal 242 Commodore?

 

[KCook]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

In this country Sea Ray typically is higher in price than the others. By mid-cabin are you referring to the main cabin or the little berth located aft under the helm? With this size boat that aft berth will be quite cramped. Really just for children.

In the US we also have fishing designs in this size with a cabin. Not nearly so popular as the cruisers, so not so easy to find. Here is one example -
http://www.seasportboats.com/ss1pgs/f/Fexp.html

And here are some more threads on other US sites -

http://my.boatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=50646

http://www.boatingabc.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/1/2780

Kelly

 

[realmasa]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

Hi KCook, i am thinking about the main cabin, would like to have as much space as possible. There's no major difference in price between Regal and Sea Ray and their counterparts. Is Sea Ray's higher price justified, i.e. is the quality higher or/and more equipped?
As an example a Sea Ray 240 sundancer -96 costs about 45000USD here.

Thanks for the links.

 

[skibug]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

Typically here in the US, Sea Ray is considered to be one of the best quality boats, especially when you are getting up into the larger boats. Sea Ray seems to pay attention to detail when laying out their boats etc... They are a bit pricey, but their quality construction justifies the cost, at least to me. My next boat will be a sea ray.

 

[realmasa]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

Thank you skibug, my next boat will probably be a Sea Ray too, a sundancer 240 or 250, would love to have one with diesel engine, gasoline is expensive these days.

 

[statefedrl]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

with reguards to buying a boat. kindly consider its purpose and avg. type of seas you'll encounter. ive built boats of all sizes up to 110 and find that the capt has to know his exact intentions of craft to be satissified with results of purchase. theres a boat made for every wave.

 

[KCook]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

In a cruiser this size cabin space will be a double edged sword. In that a boat with an oversized cabin will also be a poor design for sea keeping. As hinted at in the post by "statefdrl".

Strange pricing you found. In the US Sea Ray prices are usually quite a bit higher than Regal. Either you found a good deal on a Sea Ray, or your Regal dealer is greedy.

Sea Ray does use better grade appointments. Also stronger dealer network and marketing. Both are effective in building the demand for Sea Ray, along with a higher price. Quality of construction is a different topic. Here is another thread on Sea Ray versus other brands -

http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=1;gtid=749360

Kelly

 

[realmasa]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

Interesting reading, someone wrote that sea ray 240 doesn't have A/C but 260 does have as an option, how is it with 250? Some Regal 242 have A/C. A/C or even better CC is a must have for me. I think 24' would be enough for me, does the overall size increase alot when going up one foot?

 

[tommays]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

You will find you go from the 8'6" beam to a wider NON trailer beam just above 24' on many but not all boats some run up towards 28' before going to the wider beam that allows so much more room


Long Island Is Searay land to the point that it is hurting there used value because there are so many on the market here

Tommays

 

[ruizsantana]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

realmasa,

It seems many people here feel Sea Ray is a higher quality boat than Regal. Honestly, I would rather buy a Regal any day of the week, and it will be up to you to decide which boat you like better. My opinion? Here it is:

1. I like Regal appointments and finishes better. Sea Rays get better above 35' or so but their smaller boats are not at the same level IMHO. This is completely subjective.
2. I would rather buy from a small company that really cares about the customer, and works hard to earn your business. I haven't heard of a single serious complaint from someone with a Regal regarding how the company responds and supports their product... not so with Sea Ray.
3. Sea Rays don't come with Volvos. That crosses them out from my list. Some people still care for Mercruisers, I don't. Too many lemons out there.

Monterey is also a good small company, but I'm not too familiar with their boats. Surprised no one has brought up Four Winns, they have this smaller cruiser market covered with several really nice models!

 

[KCook]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

Interesting reading, someone wrote that sea ray 240 doesn't have A/C but 260 does have as an option, how is it with 250? Some Regal 242 have A/C. A/C or even better CC is a must have for me. I think 24' would be enough for me, does the overall size increase alot when going up one foot?

Here is the accommodation plan for a 24' cruiser -
http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/company13008/54020_d_t_270x360_image01.gif

Notice that most of the cabin is taken up by the V-berth. With just enough room left over to squeeze in a cramped head compartment and the most compact of galley units. As you move up through 25', 26', 27', etc that V-berth size stays the same. The extra room goes to a head compartment that is less cramped (usually) and a more practical sized galley unit. The ladies especially appreciate the extra room in the larger size boats. Of course the larger boats are heavier, which can be an issue if you are trailerboating.

Kelly

 

[realmasa]

Re: Choosing between a few manufacturers

Ok, thanks guys for all info, this has narrowed my search to Sea Ray and Regal. You're right Kelly, ladies do like extra room, that's one reason i'm planning to upgrade to a larger boat I really don't have any need to trailer my boat, so size is not limited by that, it's rather the budget.

ruizsantana, why do you prefer Volvo over Mercruiser?

When do you think there's a need for a bow thruster, i.e. how long boat? I certainly do not need one now, though it would be convenient sometimes.