Looking for used outboard Bow Riders

[Gryph]

This is comical: boat sold instantly. I emailed minutes after posting, asked a few questions and tried to set up viewing and just got a response "boat is Gone". This has happened 3x to me now lol, not sure what to say. I guess just email these guys saying I'll pay full asking pending inspection right off the bat?

 

[dirtninja]

That 18' Doral looks like a really nice boat. I would recommend telling the seller that you have the cash on hand and willing to buy upon inspection. It's probably a good idea to have the money very readily available imho.

 

[Gryph]

Ah OK the Thundercraft guy just wrote me back and said the other buyer showed up but backed out.

So what's the consensus on here between those too now guys? Also is that 175 outboard going to eat gas? Am I nuts to consider a 20yo inboard - said it had a water pump in '99 otherwise has needed nothing.

 

[Gryph]

Hey I know I'm getting annoying but this one may be it. It's from the glory days of Mariah boats from what I know, sounds mint.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-motorboat/kingston-on/bowrider-mariah-diablo-18ft/1080944987

 

[dirtninja]

I like outboards for ease of maintenance. The gas should not be a concern when owning a boat. The diablo is a cream puff with less than 40 hours.... I would hurry and try to test drive the diablo for sure. BTW, the outboard will have more room than the I/O. condition is key and the diablo still looks new.

 

[batman99]

Me thinks it's time to reduce internet searches and take a few boats for "on water" test drives. re: See what physical size, engine size and hull design you like. Yes. Boats (like: http://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-mot...ard/1080932721 ) look great in pictures (and selling price / for your region) but if they don't fit majority of your needs/wants, then you'll be selling it soon after. Yes. 115 OB looks great but if it slaps on the minor waves or cannot physically fit your family + their friends, or doesn't have enough bottom end power for high torque / high stress on its engine water sports, then it isn't the right fit "for you". Time to visit a few of these boats and ask for on water test runs... Hope this helps.

 

[cdnNick]

I hear you about missing out on boats, they sell so fast that they are gone before you can even email them. We had a deal fall through because the owner wouldn't wait for us to get a compression test done, he had 7 other offers behind our so I can't blame him for not wanting to wait but it sucks for us. That Mariah is in Kingston which is getting close to my neck of the woods.

Our big problem is we have seen so much junk we wonder if it's worth our drive out to view it if we can even get to that point of the deal. Drove 1.5 hours to see a "very good" condition boat which turned out to be covered in blisters. Another one had huge scratches, chips, missing the ski locker door and the canvas was ripped almost in half and had the wrong model number listed that was another "good" condition. I'm not sure who buys this junk but there are a lot of suckers in the area because all of these boats have sold.

I'm off to look at a Seaswirl today lets hope that doesn't sell lol.

 

[Gryph]

Great advice Batman I totally agree. This is actually a joint purchase for my family cottage and I'm the most experienced boater (lots of time in low power outboard runabouts, as well as with my father in laws Mariah R18 4.3l MPI), the others aren't quite as comfortable so now we've settled on getting one of the smaller outboard options as potentially an intermediate boat for now which we can likely resell. Going to test a 2000 Larson Flyer 166 with 115hp Evinrude at a dealer on Saturday. No wood construction and an Evinrude outboard makes a lot of sense to me.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-motorboat/oshawa-durham-region/2000-larson-flyer-16/1081018164

 

[Slip Away]

No trailer with the Mini-Larson.

 

[Gryph]

Have this lined up for $400. Should work I think. Tilting boat trailer on Kijiji http://www.kijiji.ca/v-boat-parts-trailer-accessories/hamilton/tilting-boat-trailer/1079900542

 

[cdnNick]

Did you put a deposit on the Larson? If not they can sell it before you get there.

I actually found a boat I wanted to put a deposit on, today. I'm pretty pumped, it took a long time to get to this point. Just need to get the wife's approval, we have a sea trail setup for Saturday. It's about $600 over budget so hopefully we can close that gap, but it's not too bad.

 

[Gryph]

That's great nick hope it works out, what's the boat?

 

[cdnNick]

2005 Seaswirl 170 it has a Volvo 3L, the outboard I was supposed to see sold before I could get there.

 

[Gryph]

2005 Seaswirl 170 it has a Volvo 3L, the outboard I was supposed to see sold before I could get there.

Good luck with the purchase, seems it's common to sell before lol. The marina pulled the ad for the Larson for me so I think I'm good, buying that trailer today and doing the water test tomorrow morning cash in hand. If it falls through I have a new trailer for my 1972 15' Grew SS150 w/ Evinrude 65hp (usually we winch it up in the boathouse and store on beams so we don't have a trailer, another thing that sells me on the little Larson is that it's barely over 1000lbs so we should be able to do this for winter storage and likely couldn't with the bigger boats).

 

[cdnNick]

The sales guy said if he had more stock he could sell a bowrider every day, I don't think that was a lie. If we wanted a cruiser we would have endless choices in that segment.

Good luck to you, hopefully we will both be boat owners by lunch time tomorrow. Our sea trial is at 10am.

 

[batman99]

Gryph

Scared about Bayliner brand? If wondering, I have a Bayliner. 1996 Bayliner 1700 OB. IMO, Bayliner is build with minimum features and minimum materials/workmanship. There are other brands (like Sea Ray and Glastron brands) that are much better built. But for the entry level bowrider design market, the Bayliner is ok if kept double covered (re: they don't like consistent water entry), their screws/nuts/fasters tightness are checked every year, etc. etc. On a good note, Bayliner is a common name. And, OMC/Johnson is a common name. If one needs general maintenance/replacement parts, their parts are readily available.

Just noticed that your above listed Grastron brand is sold. Man, they sell very fast on you!!!!

 

[Gryph]

Yah everything is selling fast. So my dad just called (he's in on the purchase) and he was chatting with our marine mechanic about the potential purchase - guy has scared him off because he said to check if it is an Evinrude FICHT motor as they are trouble, I think from the cowling pictures it probably is a FICHT and I wasn't aware of Evinrude/Johnson issues - seems mixed as to whether this reputation is truly deserved but does seem people avoid these motors, anyone have any insight?

Thanks,
Craig

 

[cdnNick]

How did it go?

We bought the boat yesterday, took us 10 months but we finally got one.

 

[Gryph]

Congrats nick! I ended up testing the Larson and as said I needed a water test and to get off the internet. The boat was too small for our needs, really kind of scary the way it handled at speed.

Juat found out that family friends are selling their 2001 Four Winns Horizon 180 with 4.3 Volvo Penta - marina maintained - so this will likely be the one. However I've also found a 2005 horizon 180 with 4.3 mercruiser that has been marina maintained and has many options including matching trailer and he has come down to $10,500 so I'm tempted by that pending the deal on my friends boat.

Any thoughts on the two and mercruiser vs Volvo? One foolish thing is that I measured my boathouse slip width and it's only 8' - the beam of the Four Winns is the same so I likely can't use it and my virtually worthless old runabout will be in there instead I guess lol.

 

[cdnNick]

We looked at a few Four Winns and really liked them, if the condition is good it should be a good boat especially with a 4.3 in it.

I can't comment on the engines as this will be my first experience with them but I think either choice will be fine never really heard anyone say anything bad about either one.

It was kind of comical, hours after we bought the boat 3 owners had contacted us and had dropped the prices of there boats. We went from not being able to see any cause they sold to having to refuse some.