New boater here! Opinions please!!

[ramos45]

Looking to get my first boat. Below are my current choices all from private sellers.

1. 1992 ARRIVA 19 " - $6600 v8 225 hp seats 8. No major upholstery issues based on pics,

2. 92 Four Winns Horizon 200 21' excellent condition 5.7ltr OMC King Cobra - $8000 seats up to 10. lady says it's perfect and she will not budge on price due to the awesome condition it's in.

3. 1992 Chris Craft Concept 187 Bow Rider - $5000 seats 7. Outside looks good but upholstery needs some attention(rips and sun cracked).

4. Crownline Open Bow v6*** - $7500 4.3lt v6 200hp seats 7. Looks good in and out based on pics.

5. 2001 Four Winns 200 Horizon - $7995 5.0 v8 volvo seats 8. 1055hrs but guy says motor is clean and does not burn oil. He says upholstery is worn but no rips.

This is all I know without physically seeing nor test driving them. Please advise as to which model/year combo is the best option for a novice. At first I was gunho for the 92 four winns but now the 2001 sounds appealing for the same price.

 

[ramos45]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

The Crownline is year 1994

 

[QC]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

My opinion is that we don't like New Boaters here . . . Kidding, welcome aboard!

OK, forget the OMC, no parts, long stories, search for threads. I assume those not listed are Merc Alphas?

I like the Four Winns and Volvo a lot. The hours are high, but still relatively young, so those hours are probably not the same as say 10000 hours on a 20 year old boat. Very few pleasure boaters would rack up 1100 hours in 6 seasons, so I 'd want to know what it was doing. Many don't do 25 a year. I guess we go a about 100 a year, so probably not a rental . . . Hmmmmmm.

 

[45Auto]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

Welcome aboard Ramos!

Hard to tell the true condition of a boat from pics. Best thing you can do looking for a used boat more than a couple of years old is go look in person and take someone with you who knows about outdrives, soft transoms, soft floors, etc.

As QC says, OMC is long out of business and some parts or someone to work on them is hard to find sometimes.

The 2001 sounds good, although 1000 hours on a 7 year old boat is a little high. Any maintenance records available?

The care the boat has recieved will make a huge difference on the older boats. For example, if the Crownline has been freshwater only, garage stored, maintenance records from new, and looks new it could easily be the best deal. On the other hand, if the outdrive is corroded, gelcoat is faded, no records of any maintenance, etc, then you probably want to run away from it!

 

[cbavier]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

WELCOME ABOARD MATE!!!!!
The 2001 sounds like the best to me at the best price. I think the 92's are over priced. You can check out the values at nadaguides.com. It may not be exact but it's real close. I think the 2001 Four Winns has awful high hours so it has really been used. Stay away from the OMC as they are no longer in production although you can still order most parts for them from many different Marine parts suppliers. With my luck the part I would ever need would not be available or very hard to find so . I think it's just best to stay away from them. Seriously take your info to Nadaguides.com. Good Luck and Happy Boating.

Only you can make the decision however. You must see the boats and should have marine Surveys including a long and thorough Test Drive.


I put 35 hours first year, 50 second year and 85 hours on mine last year and it's a 1986. My third year to own the boat a 1986 Four Winns Horizon 190, 4.3 Mercruiser 185 HP. It has 635 hours on it today. I thought that was high hours. I have $3,600 in this one and you can check it out at the web site below. We love it and if you do the slide shows you will see the condition it's in. Of course read the captions I did a lot of Color Restoration because it was kept all summers on a Hoist and the sun really took it's toll, but it looks like Brand New now.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24589494@N00

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

Another vote for the '01 Crownline. I'd look at that one first and take it for a water test if possible. Since this is your first boat purchase, take someone along who knows about boats and what to look for.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

you don't say power on CC or size of crownline. not having this, 4 winns w/ volvo.

 

[cbavier]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

Another vote for the '01 Crownline. I'd look at that one first and take it for a water test if possible. Since this is your first boat purchase, take someone along who knows about boats and what to look for.

The 2001 is a Four Winns, the Crownline is a 1994. He still needs to look them over closely and do at least an on the Water Drive test. Pictures can be deceiving.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

Don't forget to take into consideration the condition of the trailer, wheels tires brakes, also the accessories and safety equip. life jackets oars anchors and rope, ski equip, all these little items add up fast and you need to have them before you can go out, spare tire and wheel extra prop the list goes on.

 

[ramos45]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

The 94 crownline is a mercruiser 4.3 ltr v6 with 375 hours

 

[cbavier]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

The 94 crownline is a mercruiser 4.3 ltr v6 with 375 hours

HMMM Low Hours. Might pay you to check it out. Still like the 2001 Four Winns though inspite of the high hours . Like someone else said as long as it wasn't a rental. You'll know by looking at it. It's easy to help someone else spend money.

 

[ramos45]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. I only have this weekend to test them out so I need to bring it to just a few. I think the 01 four winns or the 94 crownline with 375 hours.

 

[cbavier]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. I only have this weekend to test them out so I need to bring it to just a few. I think the 01 four winns or the 94 crownline with 375 hours.

Those are good starting points. Just be sure to Water Test on the lake before you lay out any money. If the boats check out good. You probably won't go wrong with either one. Also check the trailers, tires, brakes and Equipment that goes with the boat. Bimini tops are $550 or more and Bow and Cockpit Covers run about $500 + so these are all things to take into consideration as well as any Electronics.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

I vote for.........

The 94 Crownline.
The 4.3 V6 is just fine for a 19 footer. Does everything you could ask of it, as long as you "prop" for the occasion. And if it does in fact have only 375 hrs on her, well then she was just a family/pleasure use craft. That's only about 30 hours a year, use average. As long as she was maintained....This could be the one.

Now the 2001 Four Winns on the other hand.
My take on that is.......
Rode hard and put up wet!
If you catch my meaning.

 

[ramos45]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

I just spoke to the owner of the 94 crownline 4.3 ltr 375hrs and over the phone it sounds pretty good. I'm taking a look at it tomorrow when I get back to Vegas. He will even go down to 7200 which makes it more appealing. The 2001 four winns sounds alright but I'm worring about the 1055 hrs in 6 seasons and the lack of response from the owner.

Everything else being equal(except the hours) which one is the better choice? The 01 four winns is valued at 14,000 and selling for 8000. The Crownline is valued at 7200 after addons and is selling for 7200.

 

[cbavier]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

I just spoke to the owner of the 94 crownline 4.3 ltr 375hrs and over the phone it sounds pretty good. I'm taking a look at it tomorrow when I get back to Vegas. He will even go down to 7200 which makes it more appealing. The 2001 four winns sounds alright but I'm worring about the 1055 hrs in 6 seasons and the lack of response from the owner.

Everything else being equal(except the hours) which one is the better choice? The 01 four winns is valued at 14,000 and selling for 8000. The Crownline is valued at 7200 after add ons and is selling for 7200.

You have to look at them both,all the extras and compare condition, Layout and quality. Does it meet your needs and wants in a Boat?
Probably the price of the Four Winns is reduced because of the high hours. Nobody can say what is best. That's a choice you have to make. Probably the Four Winns is a better Quality Boat but that too is a matter of opinion. If the Crownline looks good. Floor and general Condition good. Sea Test it and if it checks out go for it. Like someone else said 375 hours is low hours. The boat should look like Brand New. No tears in the Upholstery. You just have to look and compare the two. I wouldn't buy one without looking at the other though. That's just me. Good Luck. I hope to hear soon which one you chose. Welcome to i boats

 

[ramos45]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

What would the 4.3ltr 190hp cruise at on water assuming 1000lbs of people and gear?

 

[ramos45]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

New info just in. The 2001 four winns was once a rental. The owner says his mechanic told him the motor was rebuilt. Now what does everyone think?

 

[QC]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

Still not enough info to tell on the Four Winns. I would have to look at it. I don't care if it was a rental, or a sunday driver, with boats either could be good or bad. I would want to see receipts on the rebuild.

The Crownline (do we know her length?) will probably run about 45 tops loaded like that and I'd cruise around 30 depending on the water. Where you going to run your boat when you get her?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New boater here! Opinions please!!

Agree with QC. A rebuild with no receipts is not a rebuild at all. Someone could have put a couple new rings in it and called it a rebuild.