Need help - looking at 2 different boats

[drakus]

Evening al, I am comparing 2 different boats to by for the new season, I was wondering if you all could give me some feedback on to which is the better deal.

1 of them is a Crestliner (1 owner) Nordic
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/boa/2841960474.html

and the other is a Searay - not sure on model
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/boa/2842836134.html

I haven't looked at them in person yet but will this weekend.

The pics they have sent me look great.

Any help would be appreciated, upgrading from a 76 Thomson fisherman (21 footer) that I am restoring this winter and upcoming summer.

Thanks

Ted

 

[evolution1985]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

G'day, just to ask before all the others do, do you know what motor/drive is in the searay?

what do you plan to use the boat for the most? i mean to me a boat that is set up for fishing is never going to be a good deal because i wouldn't use it for what it was set up for, whereas a boat set up for ski/wake/tube would be.

from what i can see in the photos they both looked to have been looked after, but because the layout is different in both, you should ask yourself what would work better for you.

plus the crestliner does have the omc, so i probably would skip that one..... way to hard to get parts for

 

[drakus]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

The Searay has a Mec with an Alpha 1, so that is good there. The boat will be used for fishing and cruising/relaxing. The Crestliner is setup for fishing which is a +, but the OMC, eww.
I am going to look at them this weekend unless we get this lake effect white crap, than will have to wait a few days.
The owner of the Crestliner has offered to show me all the maintainence records from the marina he keeps it at and I know the marina pretty well.

So I guess it comes down to looking at them and see which I am more comfortable with.

If any one else has anything to say please do..

Thanks

 

[evolution1985]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

The searay has got the merc and alpha which is a huge upside over the crestliner.The service records are a huge bonus, Although no matter how well you maintain something parts still wear and break. I would pass on that one based on the lack of available parts. im sure oops,jb or others will chime in and give you better detail on that soon enough. The searay does look quite well maintained from the photos, but it is little to go off with just the four that were posted to CL. I'm going to try and use some magic abilities and hazard a guess tho that although the crestliner has been set up for fishing that when something goes on the omc it will cost more to repair (if you can) than setting up the searay with the same fishing gear. I would request as much info, photos and try to assess the character of the owner of the searay and see if its worth a visit to check out the boat.

P:S; the searay is cheaper too.

cheers mate i hope i haven't steered you the wrong way and im sure if anything i have said needs correcting that someone allot more knowledgeable of your market will chime in due time.

best of luck with it all.

 

[drakus]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

NOt at all and thank you for the info. I agree. And after speaking to the previous owner of the Searay last night I feel more compelled to buy that one. The current owner bought it this past fall because good friends of theirs upgraded to a bigger one so he bought and it is to big for him LOL. So I am going Sunday to look at that one as well (unless this white crap comes in - supposed to get upto 18inches now) plus all maintanence records as well, so that just tipped the boat so today LOL..

I am still hoping the pros will jump in and say something.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

The searay has got the merc and alpha which is a huge upside over the crestliner.The service records are a huge bonus, Although no matter how well you maintain something parts still wear and break. .

That, to me, has always been the bottom line when considering obsolete and no longer manufactured components. While basic maintenance parts may still be plentiful, what do you do when a no longer available bracket, sensor or other doohickey breaks on your second outing?

I'd rather be out boating than hoping for some rare part to appear on eBay.

Best of luck in your search!

My .02

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

Bummer about the OMC because I LOVE that Crestliner. I might still consider it because at least it has the 4.3 and a Cobra isn't AS obsolete as some of the older varieties. SEI has a conversion kit for that to change it to a Merc Alpha. If you could wheel and deal on it, might be worth pursing.

 

[evolution1985]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

SEI has a conversion kit for that to change it to a Merc Alpha.

g'day ez, I didn't know that, is it a full kit? I had looked at a boat here that i really wanted but passed because of the cobra drive. its still for sale 12 months later and i think i may be able to get it for a song.

ps, sorry to hijack your thread drackus

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

Evening al, I am comparing 2 different boats to by for the new season, I was wondering if you all could give me some feedback on to which is the better deal.

1 of them is a Crestliner (1 owner) Nordic
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/boa/2841960474.html

and the other is a Searay - not sure on model
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/boa/2842836134.html

I haven't looked at them in person yet but will this weekend.

The pics they have sent me look great.

Any help would be appreciated, upgrading from a 76 Thomson fisherman (21 footer) that I am restoring this winter and upcoming summer.

Thanks

Ted

Ted, this is Ted with some advice . . .

the Sea Ray looks like a better thing to pursue. Condition is the key and we cannot really tell from the photos. But the Sea Ray is a better boat.

 

[drakus]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

ps, sorry to hijack your thread drackus

no problem. gotta learn some thing new everyday. i am a firm believer in that.

Ted, this is Ted with some advice . . .

the Sea Ray looks like a better thing to pursue. Condition is the key and we cannot really tell from the photos. But the Sea Ray is a better boat.

I will maybe find out more on Sunday, depending on how much of this white crap we get. I do know the Sea Ray has fiberglass floor in the stern which would be great for fishing and just lay a rug down for relaxing.

plus after doing some research. I cannot find a 24ft Crestliner of that model, only seeing a 22ft, so thinking, if condition is great on Sea Ray, I might be able to wheel and deal with it since he has OBO and needs to get rid of it to get a new house. for a few hundred less and 3 - 5ft more, would definately be worth it..

So long as we do not get this 18inches of this white crap up here off of Lake MI, I will be going to look at it Sunday.

In the mean time, any one else, please feel free to chime in.

Thanks every one!!

Ted

 

[pmillar]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

Good luck with the snow. It's blowin' and snowin' over here in SE Michigan and you generally get a lot more than us courtesy of the lake effect. Take a good look at both boats... the stringers never rot on a tinny ;-)

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

Man, your talking two TOTALLY different boats here. The crestliner is a no frills fishing boat that looks like it was fished hard by all the downriggers mounted on her. This probably means it was well maintained mechanically or maybe not.

A boat that is used is better than one that sit. Alot of searay type boats don't get used and sit in the water for long periods of time. Not a good thing. The searay will have more systems aboard that will have to be maiintained and will be obviously more comfortable. But its not a fishing boat!

We reallyneed more info on what your plans are. Are you planning on more family time or more fishing time? Cruising can be done in anything. Doing it comfortably is a different story.

The omc doesn't scare me if the boat is worth it to you. Just plan on putting a mercruiser in her or the coversion kit. Need more info on both boats really and what your really wanting.

 

[Pete104]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

Either one can have issues. As stated earlier, OMC isn't really the way to go! Maintainance only goes so far. Plus being aluminum,?

 

[pmillar]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

Some of us see the aluminum as a plus.

 

[drakus]

Re: Need help - looking at 2 different boats

Well I survived the lake effect snow, only got about 8 inches and 2 - 3 foot drifts, time for some 4 wheeling LOL.

The boat will be used for both fishing or cruising round the lake shore. You never know, may want to take a cruise up to MI or WI and visit some friends.

The downrigging gear does not bother me one bit, I have all new stuff any ways. I guess you can say that the comfort & mechanically in great condition will be the main thing I look for.

Both boats are 1 owner & both have upgraded to New 36 footers. Well the Se Ray is a 2 owner in a sense, the 2nd owner just bought it last fall after it was winterized, but he has been on it several times with the original owner. Both owners have stated that I can take a look at the records to see what has & has not been done mechanically & so forth.

I see aluminum as a plus as wel, but not a fan of OMC (which can be converted, but more $$$). So I guess it boils down to when I go to look at them, which I feel more comfortable in & what has and has not been done.

Thank you all again..
Ted