Help with boat choice!

[BlueDart]

My first boat buying experience did not go well so not feeling confident as I head that way again.

I'm trying to stick around the $4000 to $4500 range and something along the lines of 16 foot bowrider.

This is what I'm seeing:

16 Ft 1998 Bayliner Capri with a 90 HP Mercury Force outboard ,
a 1990 16 ft Sunray Aruba with an 85 HP Evinrude OB,
a 1991 17 ft Cadorette Nouva with a Mercruiser Alpha One,
an 18 ft 1988 Sunray Allegro with an OMC Cobra.
a 1989 16 ft Sunray Express with a 115 Hp Mercury OB

All would be in the $4000 to $4500 range.



What say you is the best bet assuming all comparably equipped and conditioned.

 

[jbcurt00]

I'd avoid the Capri and the Allegro, both have motors that are no longer offered by defunct company/divisions.

A 17ft I/O can get crowded depending on interior layout and passengers.

Honestly, at 4-5K and @ 25yrs old, most boats are going to be risky, IMO.

My suggestion is to get out and see as many boats as possible, read and study up on rebuild topics posted here, and learn to see and hear what used boat sellers arent telling you about their boats.

Its absolutely going to come down to condition and how well the boat was stored/maintained, not brand.

Find some boat ads and post pix of the boats.

Good luck

 

[BlueDart]

Thanks there is a 1989 16 ft Sea Ray with the Mercruiser Alpha One that is claimed to be low hours at $5300.
Still an older boat and we would use a boat for short spins in the local lakes and bays.

 

[Bkok33]

I have a Bayliner Capri with a force engine. Some people hate them and some love them. I would recommend go with the largest boat you can get. It gets very crowded on the boat with people. How many are you planning on taking out at a time?

 

[thumpar]

Where are you located? In your price range you should be able to get something in the late 90's maybe even 2000's. Around here you can get a mid 90's 18' for those prices with a decent engine.

 

[BlueDart]

Thanks for input and we being retired and not expecting to use the boat more than a couple hour outing the occasional Sunday are keeping it modest.
We boat in protected waterways so don't see much in the way of rough water and usually just the two of us and small dog.
I'm leaning to an outboard Yamaha or Mercury in the 90 to 115 HP range on a 16/17 foot bow rider.

 

[Bkok33]

Either motor would be good. For just the two of you that size would work well.

 

[BlueDart]

Thanks and the Yamaha seems to be in the best condition but is a 2 stroke with the oil injection system.
Is that something to avoid and does one need to get a compression check to know if motor is in good condition?

 

[Drew220]

I found a 95 sea ray 175 with fish and ski package in great condition for about 6000 with a 125 mercury outboard. The 125 works really well on the 17.5 foot boat. I can get up to 40 mph, 35 fully loaded.

The engine is in great shape for being 20 years old, but I had the oil injection system removed since if it fails so does the engine. I just mix the oil in with the gas. I bought a pre measured bottle that makes it really easy.

Always do a comprisession test on anything you buy or see if how well it runs on muffs if a sea trial is not possible. Sea trials are best so you can really stress test the engine. I would also like my engine to crank easily and not smoke like a steam engine.

 

[youmansjason]

For a boat in the 20-25 year range, it's really going to come down to which one is still in the best condition. Boats that age are very prone to have wood rot in the transom and/or flooring.

 

[Newbie@boats]

Wow, the prices seem super HIGH! I bought my 2001 Bayliner Capri I/O for $3,000

 

[jkust]

On price, everythign is regional and of course seasonal. People in the southern states and some midwest but less robust states would call you a liar if they realized the price differences for the exact same things in other non-california, non-east coats states. Cars, trucks, houses, dealer service, boats, etc. Canada excluded becasue of course it is a completely different system. That is one reason I buy all my cars from southern states and just ship them back to me.

 

[thumpar]

That is why I asked where he lives. I am in eastern WA (almost in ID) and we have a pretty high market but even for here those prices seem pretty high.

 

[BlueDart]

Thanks all for the advice on my decision making. I live in the south east of Ontario about 90 minutes from Toronto.
The outboard is a deciding factor for me over stern drive but that is coming from a very green and non mechanical person.
Price of this seems common in my area and do remember we are talking Canadian dollars.

 

[R055]

Thanks there is a 1989 16 ft Sea Ray with the Mercruiser Alpha One that is claimed to be low hours at $5300.
Still an older boat and we would use a boat for short spins in the local lakes and bays.

Are the boat prices that High in your market? Maybe wait till end of summer/fall. My boat market(seattle) has pretty high prices, I was able to get a 2003 maxum 1900sr with 4.3 mercruiser for $5500 this winter.

 

[R055]

That is why I asked where he lives. I am in eastern WA (almost in ID) and we have a pretty high market but even for here those prices seem pretty high.

Nevermind

 

[64osby]

For the age and cost of the boat you are looking at I would consider using a surveyor to inspect the boat, unless you are fully knowledgeable on the perils of rotten FG boats.

 

[jkust]

For the age and cost of the boat you are looking at I would consider using a surveyor to inspect the boat, unless you are fully knowledgeable on the perils of rotten FG boats.

On that survey comment..again likely regional. I had a boat surveyed this spring and the base price was $2,000 USD for a certified marine surveyor of which there were less than a handful in my entire state. We throw survey around all the time on here as the go to for buying any price point of boat and so you can imagine my surprise when I actually had it done.

 

[64osby]

There is a guy by me whose base cost is $250 for boats under 21'.he will also travel 2 hours one way for that cost.