Good price for boat in winter

R

R055

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Hey guys, I'm looking to buy an entry level open bow boat this fall-winter for use next summer. Im looking for 17-19 open bow, that has an inboard/outboard motor(3.0 or the 4.3 is fine). And I want it to be around 2003-2004 or newer. My budget for buying the boat is about 5k (kinda low but that's because I'm also paying college tuition costs). I live in Seattle wa.
Is it realistic for me to find the boat I want for 5k this fall/winter? I've been eyeing boats on Craigslist (mostly bayliner, Glastron, four winns, maxum, etc but all the boats seem to be overpriced at around 8k+ for what I want.

I just want it for cruising fresh water, pulling on tubes sometimes, and I wakeboard(155 pounds).

Would I be able to find something like this for ~5k?
 
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sub2010ss

sub2010ss

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Apparently somewhere, cheap boats live. Not here in Iowa if you want something that'll float. I'm guessing the Seattle market isn't much better. Best chance would be find something sea worthy and even if it's outside your budget, go in with a wad of cash and say this is all I got. You might get an eager buyer. Or use the Internet and search out where these cheap boats are.
 
roffey

roffey

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Up here in Canada, 5k in the year range you are looking at would get a 12 foot fishing boat with a 9.9. Now that I said that you will find exactly what you want, lol. Good luck and welcome to Iboats
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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You have to keep looking. The best deals may not be advertised. Craigslist is one source, however so are the local papers, eBay, and even just driving around. Best time to buy a boat is fall when people start putting them away. Worst time to buy is spring and early summer.

Good luck
 
oldjeep

oldjeep

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5k seems at least 3k too low for what you are describing if you want one that has been cared for. Beware of looking for that underpriced boat without really going through it and finding out why it is underpriced. Late fall is a good time to look, people trying to sell before having to winterize and pay storage. Still have the opportunity to water test then too. Over winter you are taking a chance if you cannot test.
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

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Spring and early summer CAN be great times too... About 3 weeks after the owner discovers the cracked engine block...
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

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It seems that you are asking if the seasonality of the boat market will take you from $8K down to $5K . . . Maybe not that much, but you may be about $1K closer. The seller will be weighing keeping the boat over the winter and hitting a very good market in the Spring, versus selling in the Fall in less of a market.
 
jbcurt00

jbcurt00

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IMO, trying to find a 'good' 10yr old +/- boat that fits your wish list for $5K puts you in the danger zone for sellers dumping boats w hidden problems. Esp those w less then sufficient repairs like a new plywood deck and carpet laid over soft or rotten plywood. Same w a new interior.

Lots of Oh carp, what did I just buy topics posted in the resto forum

They are out there, but you need to go see LOTS of boats to find one, and then you'll still need to get lucky.

Good luck
 
JASinIL2006

JASinIL2006

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One thing you might start doing now is to look at as many boats as you can... nice ones above your price range, rotters that have been sitting out in the elements for years, and everything in between. Develop an eye for what a nice, well-kept boat looks like (especially in areas where problems lurk, like the engine compartment, bilge, storage areas, etc.). That way, if you do come across a steal in the Fall, you'll recognize it and can move quickly. If you don't start looking until you're ready to buy, you may pass up a boat with real value and not realize it.

Also, I'd never get a boat of that size with a 3.0 in it, but that's personal preference.

Good luck!
 
R

R055

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Thanks for the replies guys, I check Craigslist 3 times a day and am looking to buy locally only. I will reply to this thread if I buy something although that probably won't happen for another month or two.

I also have a friend who is great with boats and 3 years ago he bought a 23 foot bayliner 2002 for 5k.
 
R

ricohman

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roffey said:
Up here in Canada, 5k in the year range you are looking at would get a 12 foot fishing boat with a 9.9. Now that I said that you will find exactly what you want, lol. Good luck and welcome to Iboats
Click to expand...

LOL! So true!
I just bought a 1995 Lowe 16 ft console fishing boat with a 40hp outboard. $6000.
We pay so dearly for things we use only 2 months of the year.
 
R

R055

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Hey can you guys give me some more keywords to use while searching Craigslist? I currently search "bayliner" "Glastron" "maxum" "four winns" and "ski boat".

Can you guys give me some other entry level boat brands to search for? And maybe other keywords?

I was also debating if I should put up an ad that I'm looking for a boat... That might make me get a very good deal as the person may have not posted their ad yet or that may give me a bunch of people trying to dumb their problem boats on me, what do you guys think about it?
 
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Grub54891

Grub54891

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be a bit careful buying in the fall/spring. freezing temps will freeze any water in the hull/transom,they will seem solid till things thaw out, then the problems show up.
nobody needs them problems.....
 
roffey

roffey

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If it were me I would search on stuff like bow rider or bowrider .... and leave out the make as it would most likely limit your search, unless you want that make or brand. When I was looking for a boat I looked through all the ads as you never know when you see that boat you never know you wanted, LOL. Good luck, I love shopping for boats and vintage cars.
 
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J

jkust

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Getting in on the discussion here...5k to me at best you are in 16 foot Bayliner territory with a small outboard. Even an ultra low end Glastron SX175 that comes only with a 3.0 is going to be over your budget. 2003/2004 for a lot of manufacturers is when they really started modernizing the hulls and interiors of their boats and so what you will see is that a 2007 or 8 will be nearly identical as a 2003/4 because boat design change moved as a snails pace. I'm thinking though that you could maybe get a mid to late 90's previous generation for your budget.
 
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