Looking at 2004 185GX ?

[LightngSVT]

Hello, first post here! I'm fairly new to boating, last year we bought an 07 Bennington pontoon and that was my first boat, but we had been riding jetskis for 3-4 years prior. Anyway, we live on an inland lake and decided it would be nice to have a runabout also to use for tubing / skiing.

My delear just took in on trade a 2004 Glastron 185GX in black/gold, the boat looks to be in great shape overall and has about 240 hours on it. It has some big ticket options like wakeboard tower with racks and the Volvo 4.3 MPI V6 w/220hp. Asking price is $17500, but I believe I could get it for $16000-16500 with trailer. Does this sound like a good deal?

What should I be looking for before purchase? Im an average garage mechanic familiar with motorcycles and cars but new to boats other than changing plugs and winterizing the jetski's. Is this a good, reliable boat? Also curious what this boat would have cost new?

 

[dcg9381]

Re: Looking at 2004 185GX ?

Check the value of that boat on NADA.
Now consider that NADA is usually a bit low.
Search for "boat value BUC" - if you register, you'll get to run a value on one particular boat for free. BUC bases it's value on actual dealer sales.

Consider that for the high dollar accessories, you won't want to pay more than about 50% of what it cost them to be put on.
That boat will pull a skier just fine as well as a wakeboard, but it's not a true wakeboard boat and the towers are something of a fad.


Last, have a look at boattrader.com - see what similiar boats (year, make, and length) are selling for nationwide.

If you buy it, ask for minimal service - mainly impeller and out drive service.. unless they know it has been done.


When looking at it, inspect the cosmetic- it's only a few years old so it should be in very good shape. If the cosmetics have issues, you can bet that it wasn't maintained properly.

Ask if they've run compression on the boat - it's hard to tell what condition a boat is in without water testing it. Boats can get freeze damage that doesn't show up until on the water. Insist on a water test if you're purchasing it or write it into the contract that you've got 48 hours to return it without purchase.
Get it in writing.

Inspect the bottom of the boat, prop, skeg.
Make sure everything works.
Run it on "muffs" if you can't get it to the lake.

It's important to have the boat gone over, some sort of minimal conditional guarantee made (in writing), or to have it water tested.

In all likelyhood it's fine.. You've just got to watch out for bad boats and unethical dealers.

Good engine choice, BTW. Reliable, proven, enough power without being a gas hog.