Sea Ray Question

[rochester]

Very seriously considering a 2001 Sea Ray 180 Bow Rider with Mercruiser Alpha 3.0. Boat appearance is exceptional. Outdrive looks almost new. Prop is in great shape. Motor looks clean. No milkiness in oil. Boat has only 123 hours on it. Will use mostly for wife and I and dog touring lakes/rivers at slower speeds. Occasionally pulling younger adults or grandchildren on tubes. Owner wants NADA average selling price. Question: Any inherent problems with this boat, year of boat or motor?

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Sea Ray Question

Odd they're selling it for average NADA. Mn/WI boats usually sell for above NADA. 123 hrs? That's only 10/11 hours per year. Even for WI and our short season that's very low....... Not sure if any lakes are open in your area to test it... Do you know if it was stored indoors?

 

[rochester]

Re: Sea Ray Question

Stored inside. He has two boats, and uses his fishing boat most of the time, so the hours are probably legit. I put money down on it, and he is willing to wait until the ice goes out for a test run, or I can pay for a mechanical inspection and still back out without forfeiting my cash. If the hours are legit, I am kind of concerned that lack of use may have caused some problems.

 

[jkust]

Re: Sea Ray Question

As to the hours, I am in MN and 10 engine hours a year is absolutely not unheard of. You may float 4 hours for every one engine hour or some other ratio depending on the size of the lakes, etc. Add on bad weather, busy schedule, cold spring, early fall and on and on and it can add up to a lightly used trailer queen of a boat. My only issue I suppose is that I dislike Sea Rays in the 2000's more than most other small bowriders out there that tout themselves as a premium boat when that isn't the case. Even the 2013, 19 foot sport model is the lightest in it's class (the weight being a metric of the build quality) but the price doesn't reflect it. You may not care however as many folks do not since they are an everyday sight on the lakes.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Sea Ray Question

Stored inside. He has two boats, and uses his fishing boat most of the time, so the hours are probably legit. I put money down on it, and he is willing to wait until the ice goes out for a test run, or I can pay for a mechanical inspection and still back out without forfeiting my cash. If the hours are legit, I am kind of concerned that lack of use may have caused some problems.

I would do both. Pay for an inspection and do a lake test. Big plus it was stored inside. You might have just found yourself a great deal.... Sounds like he's a straight up guy. Good luck.....

 

[Begester]

Re: Sea Ray Question

Looks like you found a dream seller...wish I had luck like that.

Two worst things you can do to a boat Mechanically:
1. Beat the heck out of it
2. Never use it

That being said, if the seller is letting you hold it, getting a survey is the best ~$200 or so you'll ever spend and will tell you the story.

Sea Rays are great boats, I've owned 2. Their customer service is excellent as well.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Sea Ray Question

Two worst things you can do to a boat Mechanically:
1. Beat the heck out of it
2. Never use it

As a former F-111 avionics tech, I can say that this applies to most things mechanical.

If we flew a bird every other week, it would fall apart every sortie. If we flew it once or twice a day, it never broke. Once we got up to four sorties a day, it started complaining.