Please help us decide which boat to buy...

[PaxnChris]

We recently decided to buy our first family boat in which we can enjoy skiing, tubing and leisure rides. We are looking at used and intend to keep the boat for a couple of years and then trade up once we gain a little knowledge of all the details boat ownership requires. We live in Utah.

Today we looked at two boats by private owners and both appeared to be well maintained and in very good condition:

1. 2000 Rinker Captiva 20ft open bow. The ad states: "This is a 2000 20 foot Rinker Captiva open bow with a stainless four blade prop. The prop is a 17 pitch for better pulling. The boat is in great shape and very clean. It holds eight people and it is a great boat." The asking price is $13,500.00 but in doing research it appear to be high and we intend to offer less.

2. 2005 Reinell 205. The ad states: "2005 REINELL 205 20ft V8 260 HP 155 Hrs
Bimini Top
Stereo AM/FM CD player W/4 speaker
Batteries-Dual W/Switch
Fre Ext 75-100 CU
Fuel Injection
Swim Step
Extented Pylon
Wake board Racks
Wake board Tower
Wake board Speaker

Dual axel trailer. Very Clean Boat. Must See" Asking price for this boat is $16,000 firm.

We will also be looking at a 1997 Four Winns 200 Horizon and ad states: "I am selling my 1997 Four Winns 200 Horizon. It has only 220 Hours on the original motor. It has a 5.7 Liter V8 Volvo Motor. With a Volvo Penta Outdrive. Has all the extras. Bimini Top, Custom boat cover, Battery Charger, Stereo, Docking lights, Trim indicator, Stainless steel prop... many more. It is in extremely good condition" This boat is listed at $11,000.

Simply based on the brands and specs listed, can you please offer advise as to which boat may be the better bet and why?

Thanks so much for any help and input,
Christie

 

[Carso]

Re: Please help us decide which boat to buy...

A wake tower would be a nice feature!

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Please help us decide which boat to buy...

They all sound like good boats, if they have been maintained. The fuel injection on the reinell might be worth it, as fuel injection over a carburetor engine is a real plus. I would want to see how the tower was installed and how it looks. That adds the ability to get gear up off the floor, which is also a great benefit. Its new age, tower, and fuel injection are all real pluses to me.

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: Please help us decide which boat to buy...

Well.....there are a TON of assumptions that one must make in order to choose between those 3 boats (with the limited info you have provided)

The better deal "sounds" like the Reinell - Like you stated, the Rinker is overpriced IMO....The Four Winns is a nice boat - good brand.....however, the price is a little high....

The assumtions I am making are that the engine is in fantastic shape, the interior has been taken care of, and there are maintainence records for all of them.....The Four Winns and the Rinker should have a stack of them.....IF they have been properly serviced. (again....I understand that there are DIY'ers that can take care of items....I am assuming....alot! )

 

[Purecarnagge]

Re: Please help us decide which boat to buy...

Negotiate with the Rinker, sounds like a good boat, its newer, its probabally the best bang for the buck, newest out of the 3. If you can't get him down mention the competition above him and all the features it has.

Sounds like you aren't all that excited about the four winns... Just from the way you wrote your post. You didn't really give an opinion on it, like the others.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Please help us decide which boat to buy...

A couple of general comments. Overall, boats in the 20+ foot class are substantial boats as far as lake boats go. Are you sure you're prepared to tow, launch, recover and store a boat of this size?

Do you have boating experience such that you are confident in your ability to safely operate machines of this weight, power, and size?

More specifically, have you looked at all 3 boats in person?

When it comes to buying used boats, condition is EVERYTHING. Many people do not properly store or maintain their boats, so condition deteriorates rapidly. The consequences of bad maintainance can be very severe. My guess would be that if you look at all 3, you will eliminate at least one because the condition will be poor or suspect in ways that were not evident by the description or pics.

Because condition and maintenance varies so much, it's not possible to make blanket statements such like Brand X is always better / avoid Brand Y. A brand with a great reputation can be ruined in a matter of a few years through bad storage and maintenance, where a brand with a lesser reputation of the same age can represent a good buy if it's been properly maintained and stored.

There's no way to tell you everything you should consider about all the boats you're looking at. I'd say first narrow your choices down to one that you think represents your best choice based on an in-person visit and then it'll be a lot easier to get specific on the things to check out.

Grouse

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: Please help us decide which boat to buy...

Negotiate with the Rinker, newest out of the 3 .

You mean the 2005 Reinell right? Not the 2000 Rinker.....

 

[PaxnChris]

Re: Please help us decide which boat to buy...

Thank you so much for all your advice and insight. We have now narrowed our selection to the Reinell or the Four Winns, in part to all your comments. My husband said both have been kept in great condition but we are leaning toward the Reinell because it seems to be priced at average market value, fuel injection, wakeboard tower and service record. My husband does like the Four Winns because it seems so much roomier but it appears to be about $1500-2000 overpriced and is 8 years older.

When I run a NADA price check, all boats in this area are far higher than the "average" that is stated on the websight. I've been doing an internet search in conjunction with the NADA price check to try and determine a fair price. Is there any other way to figure out the fair market value in Utah?

Thanks again,
Christie

 

[HD Fatboy?]

Re: Please help us decide which boat to buy...

Did I miss it, the ad never gives size of the Rinkers motor that I see.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Please help us decide which boat to buy...

Thank you so much for all your advice and insight. We have now narrowed our selection to the Reinell or the Four Winns, in part to all your comments. My husband said both have been kept in great condition but we are leaning toward the Reinell because it seems to be priced at average market value, fuel injection, wakeboard tower and service record. My husband does like the Four Winns because it seems so much roomier but it appears to be about $1500-2000 overpriced and is 8 years older.

When I run a NADA price check, all boats in this area are far higher than the "average" that is stated on the websight. I've been doing an internet search in conjunction with the NADA price check to try and determine a fair price. Is there any other way to figure out the fair market value in Utah?

Thanks again,
Christie

A few things I noticed about NADA that seem to make a difference; they don't take geographical area into account on boats, if you don't check a box for every item included with the boat (VHF, Depth Finder, etc.), and if you don't pay attention to the little asterisks, the prices can be way off. When I was shopping for a boat, and would check NADA before seeing it, NADA was always low. After I saw the boat, and added in the extra equipment, most 'booked' at about the asking price.

More importantly then the NADA value, is what does your regional market reflect for similar boats? Is the price a comfortable one for you? Do you think you'll 'get your monies worth' in use and enjoyment in the boat at the price paid? I think those things are more important then what NADA says.

My wife is a very cautious purchaser of anything, especially of things that are expensive. She lives and dies by Kelly Blue Book when looking for a car. I must admit, she's found better cars at fantastic prices, better then I probably could have done. However, when we're looking for boats, she doesn't feel any value in NADA's opinion, because condition and maintenance, usefulness, and potential are not reflected in NADA.

Good luck with whichever you choose! And welcome to iBoats. Bookmark us, you'll like it!