Think this would be a good boat???

[SS194]

I'm in the market for a used and am looking in the "under 10K" range. But I want a really nice boat for under 10. I want an all around boat that I can ski behind, take a load of people, actually take a day trip in, and I also want it to be fast. I went for a ride in an early 90's bayliner with a 4 cylinder. It wasn't bad, but not what I'm looking for.

I'm going to look at this boat on Tuesday. I know Larson is a good name.

I'd appreciate any opinions,
Thanks,
Steve

Here's the link..
http://roanoke.craigslist.org/boa/1132559688.html

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

Looks like a nice boat, the 4.3 is a carbed version (somewhere around 190hp?). I've got the merc version on my 20' boat, it does approx. 50mph with three light people and a full tank of gas. However it doesn't come out of the hole super fast...so you might not be super happy for skiing action. Although it might suit you just fine.


Ian

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

Sure looks like a nice boat. One thing I did for a few months (you may not have that much time) this last Fall was to check out Craigslist and Ebay every day or so for runabout boats in the 18' - 20' range. Then I put those into a spreadsheet and started narrowing down the various boats, year, engine sizes, "extras", and also noted their asking price and selling price. That really helped me - a guy that knew next to nothing about boats - start to dial in a reasonable price range. Sorry, I deleted the file once we bought our boat.

I too wanted something for under $10k. We wound up purchasing a 2005 Bayliner 185 runabout with a 4.3L Merc (carb, not EFI). It also came with a trailer and GPS/fishfinder unit. There was no hour meter on the boat but the guy selling it estimated it had maybe 50 hours on it. I will be using it for me, my wife, two kids (9 and 10) and maybe a few guests from time to time (rare).

This weekend we took the boat out on the lake across the street. It was sweet. Again, I'm no boating expert but that puppy was quick. We did not test drive the boat when we bought it in November (in MN) but it turned out to be a great boat. Good luck with your research and purchase!

 

[SS194]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

Fishy, so you like the boat? Quality of construction and stuff like that? I would love to have a V8 Merc, but I can't be too picky.

Here's another picture.

 

[superpop]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

Thats a great deal. Larsons are a good brand and it looks like it has a Volvo behind it. The snap out carpet is great with kids and it looks to be in nice shape. I would grab it while you can.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

It's 8yrs old, and I don't see any back seats? Is it a sport coupe? Or don't you plan on having a cockpit to move around in? You won't fit alot of people in this boat, even the bowrider looks way short. Anyway, it sounds like a lot of money for what it is If I were you, I'd pass on this one.

 

[SS194]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

I think it's got plenty of room....here are the rest of the pictures. And I think it's got a sunpad in the back.

 

[SS194]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

Here's another possibility that I'm looking at. I love how this one has a V8. But it is MUCH older...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987...45&_trkparms=65:2|39:1|240:1318#ht_500wt_1216

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-...t_50 0wt_1216 OMC Drive, RUN, RUN VERY FAST AWAY.

 

[SS194]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

Oh man, check out this Chris Craft!

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/1141270053.html

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

stay away from OMC engines and drives, you are just asking for headaches. they are no longer built, and parts are getting scare and expensive.

 

[SS194]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

I've heard that. Is it really that big a deal to pass up a nice boat?

If you found the exact boat you were looking for, except that it had an OMC, would you walk?

I'm just asking.

 

[DukesFin]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

If you found the exact boat you were looking for, except that it had an OMC, would you walk?

I'm just asking.

No. I wouldn't walk. I would RUN!!!

(I didn't walk or run on my first one and God, I wish I had!) What was worse than the $$ I had to dump into it was what all the work did to my wife's view of boating in general. It took over a year after I sold the old one to get her talked into letting me get another boat (NON-OMC of course).

 

[SS194]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

That's disappointing. What kind of problems, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

I walked away from an OMC a couple of months ago. At first I regretted it. Now Im I glad I did. When the Mercruiser I ended up buying needed a new impeller I noticed the local boat parts store only carried Merc and Volvo parts. Some people can keep the OMC's running because they don?t mind looking for parts online. It?s nice to be able to just walk in and buy my parts.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

no factory support, no parts (at least no new oem parts), no dealers willing to work on them, no service manuals available, less and less people that know how to work on them since they've been gone for a long time... those are a few that i've been made aware of from here.

when i was buying. i saw some good looking boats with omc's too. in the end, it didn't matter how cool they were. i just didn't think i needed the headache. to me, boats are hard enough to keep operational. why add all the extra grief to an already challenging task.. there's plenty of cool boats out there that got mercrusiers or volvos too.. i got one with a mercruiser... not what i envisioned for the boat i'd get, but now that i've got it. i'd not part with it. nor do i wish for any other type of boats. the boat i got is most unique but has a common engine drive package. i got lucky i guess... there's one out there waiting for you too, you've just not found it yet..

 

[SS194]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

I keep thinking that Larson would be a great boat for the money. I'm just not sure I'm going to be happy with a V6. I'm going to go look at it tomorrow and talk with the guy. Just doing my homework.

And that Chris Craft....it's too bad, because that's one of the best names in boating. It's really too bad it's got an OMC. But, if he's willing to go even cheaper because of it, then maybe it'll make it worth it.

Dunno...

Thanks for all the opinions though. I love looking for a boat...just sucks walking away from them!!!

 

[MikDee]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

Here's another possibility that I'm looking at. I love how this one has a V8. But it is MUCH older...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987...45&_trkparms=65:2|39:1|240:1318#ht_500wt_1216

Yes, this being almost a 20footer is a lot more boat for the money, for 4-6 people, but as others here have said, walk away because it's an OMC.

There's really nothing wrong with an OMC, BUT, you'll have to search for parts, and they may not be available anywhere! Then you'll have to do your own work on it, because no one else will want to, or be able to, if you find someone to fix or replace something, that you can't do wthout special tools, it will cost way too much to fix! I've been there, done that!

 

[SS194]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

It's the lower unit that's the problem, right? The engine's are probably a Ford?

 

[MikDee]

Re: Think this would be a good boat???

Most marine engines are Chevy's, 4.3V6, 5.0V8, 5.7V8, plus the big blocks, that 4.3V6 is great in a boat up to about 20'! Just ask many happy owners on here. That V6 larson is probably a 50+ mph boat, if it had a 4bbl, it would probably be 55+mph, but it is a little tight for 4 people, and from experience Larson is not one of my favs.

By the way, replacing one small leaky oil seal in the drive on my last boat with an OMC cost me $300 after I took off the drive, and did most of the work, but I had to have it put together by an OMC mechanic with special tools!