Question about buying my first boat.

[jmmdawg]

I'm in the market for a new boat and I want to get one before spring so I can have everything ready to go buy the time that it's boating season.(I'm in GA so it starts around early April). I've looked at a few boats. I want a bowrider around 18or 19ft. Just a pleasure boat. I might pull a skier or two but mostly cruising. looking to stay under the 7k range. I have found a few. I'm looking at boats that are ready to go, good floor, good uphostery. I've seen a couple that look excellent but have had the motor replaced. Would that be a deal breaker or something that should concern me? Both boats i see like this are stingray 180's. One is a 2000 model that had a new 3.0 put in in 2009. Guy has all documents to show the replacement but my question is how was the boat treated if it had to have a motor replaced? Also i'm looking for 1995 to 2004 or so. Any certain boats or motors i should stay away from in that range?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Question about buying my first boat.

Avoid anything OMC and the Mercruiser 470 (also called the 480, 488 and maybe others but they're all 3.7L 4 cylinders). Although, you shouldn't run into too many obsolete power packages in '95 and newer boats. I would not be real concerned about a boat that had a new motor put in. Improper winterization takes out a lot of blocks. You should be able to find a very nice boat in for that price range in your desired size. Rot is your biggest concern, so check carefully.

 

[jmmdawg]

Re: Question about buying my first boat.

Yea... I'm trying to be very picky with which boat I purchase. Another question I have is most boats i'm looking at are winterized. I'm going to make whomever I purchase the boat from take it for a test run. If i do that do I need to re winterize the boat until say late march. I don't forsee the temperature getting back below freezing but you never know?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Question about buying my first boat.

You're in the "down south" like me ... especially if you can keep it in the garage, I would probably not worry too much about winterizing it this year. We're almost through February and most of us this way are already on the water if not planning to be out in the next month or so. We're probably due for another cold snap or two, but if it's in the garage and the water's been drained out you should be fine.

BTW - $7k for a used bow rider right now should be like pickin' lobsters out of the barrel.

Welcome aboard!