help me buy a boat !!

[masongardner]

Hey guys and gals,
I have a couple of question with some boats I am looking at and am hoping to get some valuable feedback from you guys. A little background, I sold my 1987 bayliner 2150 and the end of the last boating season in hopes of find a direct drive or vdrive boat this winter. Myself and a couple of friend mostly wakeboard, really are excited to get into wakesurfing, hence the dd or vdrive, and maybe occasionally water ski. We have kids with us ranging from 2 years old to 12 years old most of the time. I have narrowed down the search now that we have a little bit of spending money. Keep in mind that I was to get a good all around boat for mostly surfing for the adults to tubing for the little ones, and safety is of course key. We stay in the same medium sized lake 98 percent of the time and when weather comes in we bail out to our slip. So weathers doesnt play a factor too often.

Option #1.
2001 aztec sunstar. 350 mercruiser, direct drive, has about 700 hours on it. beautiful boat!! good seating! I have not found anything great about the wake that the boat makes, and worries me about being able to surf with it.great for everything else.

option #2
1993 Mailibu Euro. Direct drive, 500 hours, beautiful interior and well maintained.

option #3 1998 Malibu, direct drive, 1000 hours, decent interior but the trailer would need to be replaced.

All these boats are about the same price. $11,500.

Whatcha all think?

Thanks,
Jason

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: help me buy a boat !!

Jason

I see you're in Colorado Springs (Black Forest anyway, saw your ad on CL)...I too am in C/S. If you're gonna wake-surf, the the v-drive/direct drives are your best choices? The stern drive out-drive sticks out too far and if someone bails riding the wake they might risk falling into the drive itself...especially given how high the trim has to be on a stern drive to get the right wake/bow lift.

As far as which ones are the best, there's a checklist somewhere as a sticky for what too look for (decks, drives, engines, hull, gelcoat, etc...) use it on any boat that fits you needs...having already owned a previous boat, you'll have a better idea of what that entails?

Good Luck on the search, feel free to post up the ones you're considering...the guys on here are happy to point out the goods/bads!

Happy Boating!

~Brett

 

[dan02gt]

Re: help me buy a boat !!

I think you're going to want a v-drive for wake surfing. The extra weight of the motor in the back will aid in making a bigger wake. Also look into how much ballast each of them have. You're going need a lot to make a big enough wake to surf on.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: help me buy a boat !!

One word -

SURVEY!

 

[masongardner]

Re: help me buy a boat !!

I wish I could afford a v drive. But spending 16 to 20 grand on one is just not in my budget right now. Direct drive is going to have to do. I was just really wondering the difference or build quality between the boats I had one there. Thanks guys!

 

[tazrig]

Re: help me buy a boat !!

I wish I could afford a v drive. But spending 16 to 20 grand on one is just not in my budget right now. Direct drive is going to have to do. I was just really wondering the difference or build quality between the boats I had one there. Thanks guys!

With that age of boat it becomes more about how the boat was cared for then what the original build quality was. I would personally inspect each boat your self that you have already found along with ones you will find and you should be able to tell fairly quickly which ones have been cared for. Then, as Bob pointed out earlier have it professionally surveyed. For the money your spending on the boat it will be money well spent.

 

[masongardner]

Re: help me buy a boat !!

With that age of boat it becomes more about how the boat was cared for then what the original build quality was. I would personally inspect each boat your self that you have already found along with ones you will find and you should be able to tell fairly quickly which ones have been cared for. Then, as Bob pointed out earlier have it professionally surveyed. For the money your spending on the boat it will be money well spent.

Thanks!

 

[dan02gt]

Re: help me buy a boat !!

I wish I could afford a v drive. But spending 16 to 20 grand on one is just not in my budget right now. Direct drive is going to have to do. I was just really wondering the difference or build quality between the boats I had one there. Thanks guys!

Unless you add 1 to 2 tons (literally) of ballast to it in the stern, it's never going to make a big enough wake for wake surfing. Wakeboarding will be fine though. Direct drives are more for skiing where a really large, crisp wake is not desired.

 

[agallant80]

Re: help me buy a boat !!

Just remember if you keep on looking you will find other boats. The ones you listed are not your only option.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: help me buy a boat !!

Unless you add 1 to 2 tons (literally) of ballast to it in the stern, it's never going to make a big enough wake for wake surfing. Wakeboarding will be fine though. Direct drives are more for skiing where a really large, crisp wake is not desired.

Agreed, been there, done that, well, tried! That is exactly right, you need as much ballast as you can possibly stuff in the boat and then a couple heavy friends if you want to wake surf behind a direct drive. It is far less than ideal. I think if you keep searching you might be able to find a V drive close to your price range. In any place that has snow on the ground, boats are in storage... There are very few boats moving on the used market. Wait till spring.