Deciding between two Reinell 184BRXLs. On with Volvo, one with Mercury

[cheburashka]

I'm ready to buy, and I'm looking at two Reinell 184BRXLs, same model, different year. One is a '95 with a Mercruiser 4.3 set-up and it's around $4500 with a wakeboard tower (which I had planned to get anyway.) The other is a '97 with a Volvo Penta 4.3 and Cobra SX outdrive and no tower. I can probably talk him down to $6500. They are in similar condition, they both start and run well and have only minor issues like upholstery and some electrical issues on the newer boat. Is it worth the extra $2000 (almost $3000 once you count the tower) to get the Volvo engine and outdrive?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Deciding between two Reinell 184BRXLs. On with Volvo, one with Mercury

In this particular case, if both boats are in the same condition, I'd go for the Merc.

That Volvo Penta/Cobra SX setup was made during the time that V-P and OMC were in a joint venture, producing the same/similar I/O packages under both OMC (Cobra SX) and V-P (SX) logos. That's before OMC went bankrupt around 2000 or so. Now, I BELIEVE that the late Cobra SX is essentially the same outdrive as V-P's own 'SX' series of drives, but I don't know if anyone can guarantee that ALL the parts are the same. If there are differences, you may be buying an orphan. Hopefully one of the techs will chime in.

In any event, as much as I like my own V-P's, I wouldn't pay that big a premium for one. Mercs are good drives.

My .02