Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

[FredGarvin]

First, I am new here, so....hi!

This will be my first boat. I grew up with friends who had boats but never owned my own. Now I have a young family with two kids and want to get out on the water with them. I live in Florida and have access to both fresh and salt water to put a boat in.

I'm looking for a used bowrider, something that I can use to cruise around in, hit some local islands, maybe pull a skier/board or tube, etc and just generally have fun in. I don't really fish, so that's not a big deal for me.

I found a boat on Craigslist that looks decent, if a little old. It's 18'2" 96 Regal Valanti 182 SE 3.0 i/o. The guy who owns it is the second owner and has receipts for all the work done it. It's pretty clean boat, and this guy obviously takes a lot of pride in ownership. He's also a mechanic and did an engine overhaul on the thing this year, with 32 hours on it since the overhaul. For 13 years old the boat has very few of the things you'd expect to see....not much wear and tear, etc. The only obvious negative is an underside hull repair. I haven't looked at the stringers yet, but the floor and transom appear solid.

The boat comes with a nice trailer, and some decent add-ons like a Hummingbird and stereo, and he's asking $6995.

I'd love to hear opinions from this forum....thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

13 y/o with a 3.0 over priced, i would want a 4.3 minimum in an 18 ft boat. Regal is a great boat.

Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame. You walk all over the deck, that a mallot, or hammer with wooden handle, using handle, tap all over the transom, a shape rap is good solid base, a thud, is questionable base.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. (This part for outboard motors Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,)
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.
boat motor combo, A 30 year old may be in better condition, than a 3 year old.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

I agree with tashasdaddy.

Specifically for you, as those two small children get bigger, you're gonna need more power than a 3.0 can provide.


Where in FL are you located? And where do you think you'll boat at more often?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

It's 18'2" 96 Regal Valanti 182 SE 3.0 i/o.

Ayuh,... Who's I/O,..??
Hopefully not an Obsolete Marine Campany....

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

I agree with tashasdaddy.

Specifically for you, as those two small children get bigger, you're gonna need more power than a 3.0 can provide.


Where in FL are you located? And where do you think you'll boat at more often?

No he isnt...

I have a 20ft Bow rider with a 3.0 and it pulls a 1000lb jetski out of the water like nothing. It's a great hard working motor! I've had 5 people in the back of the boat and it also jumps right up on plane..

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

Then your boat must be really light, and only run about 25mph top speed Jeff. Yes the 3.0 is a good motor, but it can not be powerful enough to use for both watersports and for fast cruising. And some Regals have stepped hulls, which would definately help. But if the 3.0 worked so well in every boat, why do they sell boats with 4.3s, 5.0s, 5.7s, etc? Because they need more power!
Now maybe he'll want a bigger boat in the future, and the 3.0 will get him by until then.

BTW, what are you doing pulling jetskis out of the water behind your boat? I haven't heard of this activity? It doesn't sound logical.

 

[FredGarvin]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

I live in Tampa and will use the boat on the bay and intracoastal, and a little here and there on rivers like the H-boro, Cotee, etc and maybe on occasion lakes.

Do you all agree that the engine is too weak? It puts out 190 hp. And the price is too high, even with the trailer? NADA estimates this boat at $5520 without a trailer. I was thinking about offering him $6k and hoping to settle at about 6300.

But I'm off to look at a few other boats as well. Almost scored a used 06 Tahoe 4.3 for 9k yesterday but...oh well...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

Do you all agree that the engine is too weak? It puts out 190 hp.

Ayuh,... No it Don't,... It'll put out maybe 140hp,... On a Good day....

NADA estimates this boat at $5520 without a trailer.

It's a Buyer's Market with the economy being Down,....
It Might be worth $5500..... On a Trailer in today's market...

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

I live in Tampa and will use the boat on the bay and intracoastal, and a little here and there on rivers like the H-boro, Cotee, etc and maybe on occasion lakes.

Do you all agree that the engine is too weak? It puts out 190 hp...

Fred, I don't want to try to scare you, but you know that Tampa Bay can get mighty rough, right? Not Charlotte Harbor rough, usually, but plenty rough for an 18' boat. As long as you are aware of that, buy accordingly.

A 3.0 is rated at 135hp. Has been for a long time. It might work well for you. You would have to sea trial it with all your anticipated gear/passengers aboard, and see how it runs.

As far as the Tahoe goes, check it out real closely. Tahoe is definately a value priced boat. Any boat can turn into a piece of junk if not cared for.

The Regal is WAY overpriced. The rebuilt motor sounds great, but why did it need rebuilt in the first place? If it was neglected, then what else was neglected?
This hull repair... why was it done? Was it done right? What does it look like?
I'll assume the boat has been used in saltwater, right? What are the exhaust manifolds like? What shape is the outdrive in? What outdrive does it have?

Lots of factors to consider.

 

[FredGarvin]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

I'm ok with being on the bay....I'd only go to places like Beer Can Island and places fairly close to the shore, so not worried about too much roughness.

The guy bought the boat for 2k and put about 4300 worth of work in to it...complete rebuild with new manifolds...looks really well done. It's been used in saltwater but the outdrive looks really clean...and the guy had two empty cans of saltwater engine flush that he'd recently used. It was obvious that he was meticulous about washing everything after saltwater usage.

The hull repair...he said he got the boat with the repair done. It looked....ok I guess...wasn't sanded smooth but I couldn't see anything that made me think it might leak...but then again...it is a concern. It looked like someone had probaby hit a rock or something and punched a crack in the fiberglass.

I have another post coming up because I just saw two other boats that have me thinking and want opinions...

THANK YOU ALL FOR CHIMING IN. I want my first boat experience to be a good one but I have a fairly limited budget (under 9k), so all your help is HUGELY appreciated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

Regal is one of the last Florida Owned and Built boats. great boats, but as i said the power is lacking. 18 ft will be fine in Tampa Bay, and there are many protected waters off the bay for water sports.

 

[Bilgamesh]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

I bought a used '98 Regal 17' with the same motor about three weeks ago. Regal is a good quality boat, and the 3.0 pulls my boat fine. I weigh 240, and the boat pulls me right up on skis.

I think with the condition you describe, the NADA value is about right. I think you would be overpaying at $6300. IMHO, that boat should sell for less than 6K. I would hand him the printout from NADA, express you are only after a fair price, and see where you settle from there. It might be worthwhile to walk away and get the next one.

 

[FredGarvin]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

I bought a used '98 Regal 17' with the same motor about three weeks ago. Regal is a good quality boat, and the 3.0 pulls my boat fine. I weigh 240, and the boat pulls me right up on skis.

I think with the condition you describe, the NADA value is about right. I think you would be overpaying at $6300. IMHO, that boat should sell for less than 6K. I would hand him the printout from NADA, express you are only after a fair price, and see where you settle from there. It might be worthwhile to walk away and get the next one.

I'm just about where you suggest, to be honest...already thinking about and looking at two other boats, actually. Do you mind if I ask what you paid for your 98 and what condition it was in?

 

[Bilgamesh]

Re: Thinking about buying a used Regal Bowrider...what do you all think?

7K in great condition; it was listed on Craigslist for $8500 with a newly rebuilt motor. I had only 7K to spend, sent an e-mail saying I would not waste their time unless they could consider that. They replied they would, but the negotiations ended there. I left work and rushed right over.

I think I got a fair price. I have had to tinker with the boat to get the carb tuned, but otherwise, I have been thrilled with the quality and performance. I would use NADA as a reference. They are not entirely accurate, but give a good relative sense of value.