Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

[Shawk]

Ok guys... planning to hit the road within the coming week to pick up our next boat. My needs are typical water sports, family of 5 with capability to seat 7-8ish comfortably, SS prop, possibly add waketower down the road... one of my biggest concerns is resale. If we find ourselves wanting to go bigger again down the road... I want a boat that will sell easily like our last Winns did. Personally I really don't have a huge preference.
Finalists are....

1) 04' Crownline 202br, green, bimini top, full snap cover, tandem trailer (new in 2007 when current/2nd owner purchased), 5.0 mpi , Alpha One w/ SS prop, excellent cond, 100 hrs, updated at $16,800. Negative is no swim platform (others all have),

2) 04' Monterey 200, was left over not purchased new until spring 2007, white w/ grey & blue decals (nice looking boat), 2010 Shorelander tandem trailer, 5.0 GXI, SX w/2 alum props, one owner, clean, 60 hrs, extended swim platform, $15,750 (possibly a tiny bit less). Including jackets, cheap wakeboard, ropes, skiis.

3) 03' Regal 2000, navy/wht, tandem trailer, 5.0 GXI, SX w/ SS prop, swim platform, walk thru transom, 120 hrs, $16k

4) 04' Four Winns 200, Red/wht, single axel trailer, 5.0 mpi, Alpha One w/ SS prop, 70 hrs, swim platform, clean, $16k (possibly a few hundred less).

If all were priced the same... I think my pick would be the Crownline. Initially I budgeted for $20k... but now with the boats on the table I'd like to stay as close to $15k as possible which makes me lean toward the others instead. Very few Montereys in my area... which makes me question it even though it appears really well built.

Posted on my phone... internet is out and I wanted to some feedback asap. Thanks guys!!

A few pics added 1-3-2011 here... PICTURES below of the finalist and I know they're long over due....

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums...202 Monty 200 Regal 2000/?albumview=slideshow

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

I vote #3.
Its blue...

 

[Shawk]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

I vote #3.
Its blue...

Funny... I... guess... that's helpful.

----Chalk up one vote for the Regal because it's blue...

 

[MTribe08]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

I'd look really closely at that Monterey.. I own an older mid 90's 21' 5.7 and really like it, very similar to the Sea Ray of the same vintage. I take 9 people on it all the time, no problems. The newer models like you are looking at are really nice, we have a dealer here in town and I've gone down and walked through them. Price seems high compared to what Nada.com is saying, but they may not be including the trailer.



Here is what Nada.com says.

List-$27,665

Average retail $13,405
Low Retail $11,940
With swim step, stainless prop and 5.0 engine.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

They're so close in price I would go with whichever you like best.

Personally, I have a 2003 Crownline 225 which has been an EXCELLENT boat and still looks brand new. Very high quality materials and construction.

Look closely at each boat and you'll probably find out why the original sticker price on the Crownline started at $35K, the Regal and Four Winns started at $32K, and the Monterey started at $28K.

 

[Shawk]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

Thanks Mtribe & 45...

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

Crownline, but I am biased I have loved both of mine and I would put the quality at the top of any list. you can have a swim platform and a tower added but the quality of the boat is second to none and you can't add that

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

Funny... I... guess... that's helpful.

----Chalk up one vote for the Regal because it's blue...

My thought was, they are all so close you may as well choose the color you like. For me, Blue.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

I'm votin Monterey or the Regal if he'll come down a bit. I'm not a huge fan of Merc drives (I have an Alpha 1) so the Volvo drive is swaying me a bit.

My 02.

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

I would lean toward the Crown line, it is by far going to hold its value better, very desirable boats.
But look further...what has your ideal color? What about seating configuration?
Remember future buyers look for the following:
Color....green is the least desirable, reds and blues more popular...
Full bench with captains chairs over back to back and jump seats
How easy to get at motor to winterize and replace parts?
Longer the boat better the ride
What boats have good support? Dealer near you?
What covers and tops...binimi? Full cover? Cockpit cover?
What trailer? Bunk or roller, what are you fond of?

Just some thoughts

 

[Shawk]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

Thank you!!

Dellsboater.... I'm actually curious what others think about the green.... I used to be a red fan but not as much now. My fav now is black...

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

I thought about the red crownies but after awhile I just thought it would be obnoxious, finding a two tone tan over white was a wonderful find for us. The green if its the Emerald Green I am thinking of would be beautiful, and unique, harder I think to maintain (if your a fan of black your a masochist!) although the finish on a crownie is hard to beat and easy to maintain. Keep her waxed, polished and I bet you will love the color in short order. I think the best part is the return on your investment, crownies hold their value very well if they are maintained properly, and if you don't like the color love the boat until another the color you really like comes along. Once your in a Crownline your probably done with other makes.

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

My wife dislikes green boats, I guess it is because we have a ton of green pontoons on our lake...and a lot of teal boats. I personally like the dark green, I think it looks rich, but she said if we get a bigger boat it can not be green. As we began our search, it was so obvious all the boats that were newer and clean, and in our price range, were green! It just seems a red, black, blue, boat being of equal year and such, were higher in price....

 

[thesledhead]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

Id maybe look at a larger boat now since you already think you may want to trade up. I just bought my new boat a few weeks ago and I dont think I have ever seen so many good deals out there. It looks like you are in the same price range I was in and there is a ton of 21-22 foot open bow's out there. Plus then you have a lot more options of power and drives.

But I think Id sway to the crown or the or the monterey (even though it has a volvo drive) if you had to stick with the 20' boat's.

 

[mtrainTurbo]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

Easy - The Volvo boats. I also don't like Merc. Like, at ALL.

I also think Regal is a higher quality level than the others, though not by much. I like the Monterey too, they are popular around here (Chicago) and are built really well, though make no mistake, its not Regal- levels of quality.

Out of all of them, the Regal would be my first choice, and the Crownline would be my last choice, and the others fall somewhere in between.

 

[jkust]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

Tough to say without pictures. I too dislike green and think it makes boats look dated. Those are some smokin deals though. If you're looking for opinions, a few pics would go far. If you had a Chaparral in there, I could say without pics.

 

[riverkeg]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

They all sound like nice boats. I'm not a fan of the green either but it's better than teal/purple/pink boats out there. I have a merc 350 mag but I like what I hear about Volvo drives.

Without pics, my vote would be the Regal or Monterey. Good Luck!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

Also may want to consider avaliable mechanics in your area, seems to be alot of merc bashing in this thread to each his own I guess but merc does make a solid proven drive. When time does come to have some work done on the drive(yes even volvos break down) the price of volvo parts can be way high depending on whats broken. I currently have a 20' Crownline and love the boat, very solid, fit and finish are good, 5.7 merc alpha one. No issues so far but I do take the preventative maint. pretty serious. The walk thru transom of the Regal is a sweet option to have if you do alot of water sports. Look closely at how each has been maintained and choose the one thats recieved the best care cause even a 100 hr boat thats been thrashed is still thrashed.

 

[Shawk]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

Incredible feedback! Thanks all for the time taken to reply...
I like the Regal and everything it offers except for the price. It's the least valuable according to NADA (and when/if I sell people in my area will be looking at that).
Crownies are popular in our area.... the holdback is color and I'd like to see it come down a bit more (he may, talked with seller today). He's had it for sale for a while now though at a MUCH higher price.... could be the color.
I like the Monterey and this could end up being our boat. He's a little flexible yet....
I like H200 a lot.... but unsure about getting that particular boat in red. Hmmm..... nicely setup though.
The beauty at this point if of course we have nothing to sell. So while I'm planning a run at the end of the week, if I'm not absolutely sold on one I will sit tight...

Btw... I'll try to get some pics posted too.... thanks all!

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Pick my boat-Crown 202, Monterey 200, Regal 2000, Four Winns 200

I'll toss in my 2 cents. With out seeing them, my pick would be the Regal. It has a stepped hull (faster, more efficient) and they just plain look gorgeous, IMHO.

In the end, only you will be looking at the condition, maintenance, color, etc. so pick the one that jumps out at you AFTER going to look at each one. Good luck, we should all be so lucky to have that kind of decision!