Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

[mnypitboat]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

The 07 and newer Volvo's are as good if not better than Bravo drives. Chap is definitely the better of the two but I would as suggested above look at Cobalt and perhaps a Regal. Once you check either of these brands the others will not look same anymore. Before buying my latest boat I looked seriously at the Sea Ray and was very disappointed in the materials they use to build them, so much so I did not get one.

If I were buying new, I would certainly look at all brands available in that size, but the used boat market is extremely limited right now for some reason. Actually, these 2 are the only used boats in this size that I have seen at a dealer that I can trade my boat and get financing. The other option is a brand new Tahoe, because it is in the same price range as these 2 boats. I am not gonna find a new Cobalt, or Regal or Chap for $25k. I cant justify spending more than that right now because once my daughter is 18 in 5 years we plan to buy a 30plus footer or a livaboard.

 

[zagger]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

I cant justify spending more than that right now because once my daughter is 18 in 5 years we plan to buy a 30plus footer or a livaboard.

LoL, nothing better than a good exit strategy. If you are on a five year plan then resale value would be very important. Looking at the two choices and as much as I like the Chap I would say go with the Sea Ray. At 5K less, and one year younger, the cost of ownership will be much less after resale.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

We sold our boat today, so that is no longer a factor. We can buy from private, or dealer. I started discussing a brand new Bayliner with the dealer and they tried quoting me about $1500 above what the Bayliner website has as MSRP, then tried to tell me they already factored the $1k rebate in. So basically $2500 above Bayliner's own MSRP. Not that I was gonna buy a new Bayliner, I just kinda wanted another comparison. Well this is unacceptable and when I questioned her, she tried every excuse in the book. WHY do they try playing these games with people.. Clearly I am checking on this stuff myself, and not buying just because of emotion. So I think they are not worth dealing with any more. I was sticking with them due to the trade in they promised, but now that my boat is gone, my options are way open.

What do you guys think of Monterey?? I found an 08 215FS locally for $24k. It is mint, with a 5.0 Mercruiser MPI and loaded up with cool options. Or we can go with a brand new 2011 Tahoe Q7 with the same options for about $33k. I am thinking the Monterey is the better boat and should hold value better than the Tahoe.

Any other ideas? We have sold our boat, and obviously would love to have another boat immediately, but I am in no hurry and want to find a nice boat this time around.

I have searched for any and every boat out there. I love Chaparral, but they are expensive. The Sea Ray looks cheap inside, but I know it should prove to be a decent boat that holds its value. I havent found any Regals in the 20' range. I dont want a Bayliner. Tahoe is a decent entry level boat, but I think I would rather have a couple year old higher quality boat. I have looked at so many boats, I bet I am missing some. But the object of the game is to find about a 20' bowrider that is good quality and holds its value.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

Tahoes are bottom of the barrel. The Montereys I looked at at the boat show were amazing.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

Tahoes are bottom of the barrel. The Montereys I looked at at the boat show were amazing.

My 01 Q7 was a good boat for the money. Much nicer than a comperably equiped Bayliner. But as I said, an entry level boat. The Monterey reminded me of the Chap in quality. Like you said, it is amazing. Everything about it just looks quality. We are going to try to work a deal tomorrow.

 

[andyk2]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

In 2005, I was looking for a boat, my first. I found a 1999 Searay, 21 foot mint condition for around 20K. Put down a deposit pending sea trials. Well we went out and about 15 minutes in, the 5.7 merc threw a rod. Not a knock on searay, it just happened. The dealer tried to tell me they would have to charge me $3500.00 more for a new engine. Then they said they would give me a good deal on a new boat. I looked closely at the quality of the 2005 vs the 99 and it was obvious to me it had gone downhill. I said give me my money back and went looking again. I found a 2000 Chap 216SSI Sport in mint condition for 25K and have loved it ever since. That said, my 216 has a 270 HP 5.7L and it works fine in that size boat. I don't think I would be at all happy with less power though, especially with a load of people onboard while pulling a tube. I think the Chap is worth the extras cost.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

In 2005, I was looking for a boat, my first. I found a 1999 Searay, 21 foot mint condition for around 20K. Put down a deposit pending sea trials. Well we went out and about 15 minutes in, the 5.7 merc threw a rod. Not a knock on searay, it just happened. The dealer tried to tell me they would have to charge me $3500.00 more for a new engine. Then they said they would give me a good deal on a new boat. I looked closely at the quality of the 2005 vs the 99 and it was obvious to me it had gone downhill. I said give me my money back and went looking again. I found a 2000 Chap 216SSI Sport in mint condition for 25K and have loved it ever since. That said, my 216 has a 270 HP 5.7L and it works fine in that size boat. I don't think I would be at all happy with less power though, especially with a load of people onboard while pulling a tube. I think the Chap is worth the extras cost.

That dealer gave me a shifty feeling, trying to sell us a new Bayliner for $2500 more than the MSRP right on Bayliner's website, so we ended up buying a 08 Monterey 214 FS at Atlantic Marine in Port Orange. This thing is nice, as nice if not nicer than the Chap, and definately better colors. Plus its 3 years newer and less money. We tested out a Sea Ray 205 someplace else and to be quite honest, it rode about the same as my Tahoe Q7 and the Bayliner we tested. I just dont see the value in a new Sea Ray being over $10k more than a comperably equiped Tahoe, or Bayliner.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

I think the low-end SeaRays are way overrated.

 

[jkust]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

You almost never see a Monterey here in MN but when I bought my Chap I was looking at a one owner same year Monterey and it was nice. I think Monterey is in the group of boatmakers that started to make a nice product in the late, late 90's before a lot of others started improving. I'd have no problem with a Monterey at all.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

You almost never see a Monterey here in MN but when I bought my Chap I was looking at a one owner same year Monterey and it was nice. I think Monterey is in the group of boatmakers that started to make a nice product in the late, late 90's before a lot of others started improving. I'd have no problem with a Monterey at all.

According to the Monterey dealer, Chaparral and Monterey are in the same family. A brother or cousin or something from Chap started Monterey in the 80s. They are made about 2 hours from here right in Florida. I am really happy with it. I cant wait to get it home and get it cleaned up(LOL, its spotless now but I am a phanatic).

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

Pics or it didn't happen

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

Here ya go.

 

[jkust]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

According to the Monterey dealer, Chaparral and Monterey are in the same family. A brother or cousin or something from Chap started Monterey in the 80s.

Kind of like the Bee Gees and Andy Gibb.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Sea Ray or Chaparral bowrider?

Kind of like the Bee Gees and Andy Gibb.

HA, I dont know about all that. LOL.