Looking at these two boats, need opinions

[lets_fish]

http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/boa/800138254.html

and

http://allentown.craigslist.org/boa/802169691.html

Are these prices in line? both at the higher end of my budget but seem like they are negotiable.thanks.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Looking at these two boats, need opinions

Can't tell you on price (I'm in Canada and the prices are a bit different) but I looked at a 2007 Glastron new 2 months ago and the price was $17,000 so I'd say your prices are very reasonable.

As for which I'd suggest, I'd go with the Sea Ray. The sole reason is that when i spoke with the Glastron dealer, he recommended 4.3 or larger for their 185 and 195 boats as the 3.0 would be under powered for that size boat.

But, if you need a larger boat based on your needs, keep looking if you think the 175 is too small. Boat are great boats, but I simply think the Glastron would disappoint you with the motor option on it.

 

[Firestar]

Re: Looking at these two boats, need opinions

I like the Glastrons manufacturing process.

http://www.glastron.com/us/technology.html

Our MX Series makes all the benefits of VEC technology fit your family budget. VEC? means that we build every MX model to a level of quality unheard of in this category?quality so superior that we back every MX with a transferable lifetime limited warranty on structural components?a warranty that?s better than the warranty other builders offer on their top-of-the-line models. Add our unitized two-piece construction and you get a great performing boat at a very sensible price. Comparison shop if you want, but there really is no comparison. Our MXs are clearly the best value in the ?value boat? category.

 

[lucky7]

Re: Looking at these two boats, need opinions

i have a 2006 sx195, really like the size with 3 kids, handles chop and rides better than expected, just test out that 3.0, loaded with your crew and fuel and gear. i have a 5.0, maybe overkill, as im seldom over 3000rpms, but 3.0 might not be enough for a 3000lb boat. dont buy any used boar without a sea trial.

 

[sportsnut87]

Re: Looking at these two boats, need opinions

I have a 175 searay with a 3.0. Fully loaded the boat still moves right along, but I cant amagine that motor on the 195. thats a lot of boat for that motor. I dont think you will like the performance and the bow will take forever and longer to plane out.

I love my 175 but looking for something bigger, not sure you could ski in the 195 with a 3.0

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Looking at these two boats, need opinions

slugs, if you want to do water sport. 175 needs a 4.3, 195 needs 5.0 or bigger.

 

[jkust]

Re: Looking at these two boats, need opinions

First I can tell you those prices in MN are unheard of at any time of the season. It is almost bizarre to me to see prices that low on boats like that. You would likely get a 2001 or 2002 with matching hours/use for those ages for that kind of money but vehicles of all types up here are almost always more expensive. I was tempetd to go for the 3.0 option on my first boat but found they were underpowered loaded up and towing and did not want to regret a major purchase. My 183 Chaparral weighs 2900# dry so about the same as the 195 and is has just acceptable top speed at 49mph as set up with a carb 190 hp v6 but pulls like there is nobody back there. If you care about top end speed and a less expensive engine option on your budget, consider a lighter and narrower Stingray. The 4 cylinder 18footer will match or beat my v6 for top end get and get a little better mileage being it is lighter. The v6 on the other hand will beat most any other brand out there for top speed but is not available on the 185. The Stingray is a less expensive brand compared to the Sea Ray which is considered a premium brand and close to the Glastron with maybe a little less build quality IMO. I shopped for Stingrays nationwide on dealers websites since they were so expensive locally and a new 185 is just a little more than your two examples in the southern states. The local dealers only explanation was that the prices on the internet at bonified Stingray dealers had to be bait and switch compared to their MN pricing because the price difference was so dramatic. I verified that was not true but whatever. Now a couple of years old and a Stingray depreciates like crazy and would likely be less than the two you mention as I found. I shopped for two years before buying and last year you could not unload a 4 cylinder boat in MN as easily as a 6 while this year the ads like to toubt the fuel economy of the 4 cylinder but in reality there is very little difference from the 4 to the 6 cylinder and this is especially true for the MPI (multi port injected 6 cylinder). My 6 cylinder sips gas compared to what common sense would have told me. Boattest.com has charts and graphs to verify gph and mpg differences between engines.

With all that said, I would go Sea Ray over the underpowered Glastron.