New Boat Owner

[scubatrooper]

Hello all. First let me say thank you for this great web site. I was trying to research boats before taking the plunge so to speak. I learned much browsing this site, it answered many of my questions and gave me ideas of what questions to ask at the dealership. <br /><br />This afternoon my wife, Leigh, and I bought our first boat. It's a new (left over model year) red 2004 Caravelle 187LS Bowrider. It has the Mercury 4.3L V-6 and the Mercury Alpha Drive. It seems to be pretty loaded although I don't have any boat buying experience to go by. It came with an upgraded color matched (red) Tennessee trailer with surge brakes, premium package (carpet, bow filler cushion, bimini top, depth finder), transom platform with swim ladder, bow cover and a cockpit cover. <br /><br />Now for my first question to all the experienced boaters out there! As I said, this is my first boat purchase so I have no idea if I got a good deal or not. I know they say a deal is good if you feel good about it. My wife and I feel like we got a good deal after looking at other boats from other manufacturers that had about the same set-up. We paid $18,500 out the door. <br /><br /> Did I do okay for my first boat purchase or did I pay way too much? Be honest, you will not hurt my feelings. Thanks for your advice and feedback. Again, great website and information for boat owners. Especially new and first time boat owners like me! I hope I will be happy with this boat. Happy boating! <br /><br />Regards, <br /><br />Steve (scubatrooper)

 

[one more cast]

Re: New Boat Owner

Sounds like a pretty good deal. I did a quick check and came up with a MSRP of around $27,000 without the trailer.

 

[scubatrooper]

Re: New Boat Owner

Dear One More Cast:<br /><br />Thank you for your feedback. I was very nervous buying the Caravelle 187LS since it is my first boat. I used to go out on friends boats all the time when I was younger but never owned my own. My wife and I plan on taking the boaters safety course in March to get ready for what I hope is a busy and fun boating season. Thanks again for your feedback. I feel much better about my purchase. Take care.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Steve

 

[LubeDude]

Re: New Boat Owner

This is actually an 05, but they are probably about the same.<br /><br />Is this like your new ride?<br /><br />

 

[scubatrooper]

Re: New Boat Owner

Dear LubeDude:<br /><br />The picture you posted is from the 2005 Caravelle catalog. I purchased the 2004 model but they are identical except mine is red. I don't think there were any changes to style or equipment between 2004 and 2005. I don't know how to attach pictures or I'd attach a couple of what our boat looks like. I don't have buyers remorse or anything. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I'm really excited about having a boat! I just felt a little naïve about the process since this is my first boat purchase and was looking for some feedback to see if I did okay.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Steve

 

[one more cast]

Re: New Boat Owner

Scuby, Your among friends here, you don't have to be so formal. You can call me OMC

 

[Bondo]

Re: New Boat Owner

Ayuh,............ What OMC said..........<br />

Dear LubeDude:

That's the Politest Way He's been addressed in A Long Time............ <br /><br />By Your posting Steve, I'd say you got a He!! of a Deal.............<br />I'd say you bought a Real Boat, at the out the door price of a Bilgeliner.......... <br /><br />For your Safety Course, Check out This One............ It's a fully Certified Course that you can take at your leisure..... A little Now,+ a little Later........<br />When you've completed it,+ Got enough Right Answers ,..... They'll send you the Proper Paper Work to go with the Knowledge..... The Price is paid After you complete the course,+ before they send you the Diploma(suitable for Framing )... Pretty Reasonable... I took this 1 to be Legal.......$35.00 if I remember right.......

 

[LubeDude]

Re: New Boat Owner

Originally posted by Bondo:<br /> Ayuh,............ What OMC said..........<br />

Dear LubeDude:

That's the Politest Way He's been addressed in A Long Time............ <br /><br />

Somewhat true!!!<br /><br />I think you got a great buy, nice boat, you and your family will have many years of use with that boat given proper maintainence. Follow your owners manual, and stay tuned in here if you have questions, "Any questions". The only dumb question is the one you didnt ask and screw something up. With over 50,000 members, there is probably someone here that already made that mistake and can keep you from doing it. <br /><br />Oh, and welcome to Iboats.

 

[scubatrooper]

Re: New Boat Owner

Bondo & LubeDude:<br /><br />I really appreciate the comments and support as a new boat owner. <br /><br />Bondo, I looked at the on-line boaters safety course you mentioned. That's a neat idea to be able to complete it at your own pace. I may do that but the dealership offered to pay my enrollment fee for the Nebraska state certified boating safety course being taught at his dealership a couple times in March. It's taught by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and is NSBLA approved. I figure since the dealership offered to pay the enrollment fee and it's the responsible thing to do as a new boat owner I'll take the dealership up on his offer! Plus, I hear some insurance companies will give a discount on the premium if you complete this course. It's two three hour sessions taught in the evening. I figure it would be six hours well spent from a safety standpoint. <br /><br />LubeDude, thanks for the feedback about the boat and your welcoming me to Iboats. They say boaters are a friendly bunch and are always willing to give advice and help. It's nice to know people like are out there to assist as I begin my boating career . <br /><br />Have a good night all.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Steve

 

[scubatrooper]

Re: New Boat Owner

Well, the financing came through! We were waiting for this weekend to see if the banks were going to offer any special financing deals since the Omaha Boat and Sports Show is this weekend. The dealer said they usually do something and the wait was worth it. They dropped the rate 1/4 off the APR. Better than nothing. The dealer gave me a couple free tickets to the boat show this weekend so I will now start nickel and diming myself with some new supplies needed to start boating. They said they would store our boat until there is no more chance for snow.<br /><br />All is good as I enter into the boating world. I have also signed up to attend the state safe boaters class at the dealership in early March. I'm looking forward to a fun summer.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Steve

 

[tommays]

Re: New Boat Owner

now thats a what a good dealer should do see that there buyers get off to a safe boating life by getting them good training<br /><br />good luck i am sure you will like boating<br /><br />tommays

 

[scubatrooper]

Re: New Boat Owner

Tommays:<br /><br />Yeah, I agree. I thought it was nice of the dealership to not only host the training at his place of business (well lets face it, it gets people in his doors so it's a win/win) and even pay the enrollment fee for me. I've been real happy with the information, financing help and their overall willingness to help me get a positive start in boating.<br /><br />This topic started by me asking if I got a good deal on a boat since it was my first boat buying experience. I've enjoyed reading the feedback and feel good about my purchase. I've also found some great information on this web site and am glad I found it! Lets hope we all have a great upcoming boating season.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Steve

 

[garycinn]

Re: New Boat Owner

Two great things you have and don't have in the boat. You have the 4.3L vs. the 3.0L that is the base engine in that boat; and you have a very decent quality boat that doesn't have any wood to rot in it -- transom, stringers, and floor are all wood free.<br /><br />Also, the price is VERY good. <br /><br />Enjoy!

 

[scubatrooper]

Re: New Boat Owner

Garycinn:<br /><br />Thank you for letting me know what you think. The wood free design of Caravelle is what finally sold me on that brand. The fact I got a good deal on a left over 2004 model made it even sweeter. I agree about the 3.0 liter versus the 4.3 liter engines. Everything I read indicated the 3.0 just does not have what it takes to get up and out of the hole fast. I was also thinking if I ever trade up to a bigger boat in the future it might be easier to sell and/or have a higher resale value.<br /><br />Thanks again for your feedback.<br /><br />Steve

 

[scubatrooper]

Re: New Boat Owner

This weekend is the Omaha Boat and Sports Travel Show being held at the Quest Center. My dealer was kind enough to give me two tickets to go saving me about $20.00. Although I bought the boat I wrote about earlier. I'm looking forward to heading down to the Quest Center to see what other boating information is on the market. Hey, if its too cold to boat at least I can check out the new stuff and pick up some equipment!<br /><br />Regards,<br />Steve

 

[ziggy]

Re: New Boat Owner

yer gonna have fun steve. where ya planning on running yer new rig. assuming the river comes up, the missouri real exicting. (too exiciting, maybe even dangerous at times, but that's part of the fun for me, what adventure) i'm in lincoln so get over there once in a while. great yer takeing that class. sporting of the dealer to foot the bill too. they should. i'm doing the power squadron thing. i've been boating since i was knee high. and i find that i don't know anything aobut boating after takeing some classes. . that's ok. i'm learning thru education. sounds like yer on the richoeous track too. real nice hip new boat, new classes. boating sure is fun. have a great summer mon.

 

[scubatrooper]

Re: New Boat Owner

Ziggy:<br /><br />Yeah, I'm looking forward to having some fun. I don't really know where I'm going to go yet. I've heard Branched Oak out by you in Lincoln isn't bad. There's Lake Manawa across the river. And I'm not opposed to going out on the Missouri River but I think I want to get a little experience before doing that. I’ve heard Lake Calamus is pretty nice and there are a couple big lakes/reservoirs in southern South Dakota that might be worth the two o three hour drive. Do you have any favorite places around these parts to recommend? <br /><br />After going to the boat show in Omaha today I feel even better about my boat purchase. I really couldn't find 18 foot boat similarly equipped and anywhere near the price I paid ($18,500) for my Caravelle 187LS. The dealer said he would hold the boat until after any chance of snow or a hard freeze so we are looking at picking her up in late March sometime. Take care and have a great week.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Steve

 

[ziggy]

Re: New Boat Owner

steve, ya shouldn't have asked if i got favorits, . 1st off, hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we got a drought around here. , but we're aware of that. brached oak is where i usually go. 1/2 hour from my front door. it's low. like probably drive yer trailer off the ramp. i hope it comes up. usally does in the spring. if ya can get lauched yer ok i think. all salt vally lakes are low. don't know about manawa, but got some buddys do there sailing there. bet they draft more that you will, though havn't heard about the level there. river is way down 9.4 feet, flood stage is 29 feet. . corp of engeneers will raise it in the summer so they say. lewis and clark, last time i was there was pretty good.(last fall) that's a good one for a nice big boat like ya got. you will need it there on a windy day, big ol rollers. good facilitys too. like a shower. the one ya said i aint been to is calimis, heard its real nice. sand beached in the sand hills. don't know the levels of that one. if ya do the river, you'll get a good chance to put your boating education to good use. but man it is fun. i agree, do start out in a lake for a first run. ya won't need the added drag of the current. pun intended. oh and try to get out to launch yer new rig prior to memorial day. it will be a lot less stressfull at the ramp. most lakes are a lot less busy before the start of boatin season. and on weekdays too. i could go on,,,,,,, enjoy your new boatin tan this summer.

 

[scubatrooper]

Re: New Boat Owner

Ziggy:<br /><br />Yeah, I've read the news about the drought but I thought most of that was way out in western Nebraska. It sure seems like here in Omaha we have gotten plenty of rain and snow. I've heard Branched Oak Lake is a nice place and there's supposed to be a decent place around Freemont. I heard a few people mention Lewis & Clark at the boat show this weekend. I think I'm going to try and get up that way sometime soon. Thanks for the tips on getting out before Memorial Day. I may take a couple days vacation during the weekday here and there this summer to get out when the water is not so crowded. <br /><br />I used to live in Lincoln when I worked at UNL. I transferred to UNO and moved back to Omaha in 1999. Lincoln was a nice town to live in. What do you do there? Take care.<br /><br />Steve

 

[beezee28]

Re: New Boat Owner

Welcome onboard to iboats. First thing first.. congratulation on your new boat and also for taking the boating saftey class. You will learn something there that you never knew existed. If you are ever bored boating up in the north there is always the south mainly TEXAS..big country here and will be able to accommodate you. Good luck and have a pleasant time enjoying your new boat.