Vote now, help me pick my boat!

[stormin94]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

If gas prices don't spoil your fun, then go for the V8, but the V6 is much better on gas, and that's better if you'd like to spend your time out on the water rather than the marina getting gas. My dad's 21ft Bayliner (190horse V6 Mercruiser) pulls even the biggest people up on a wakeboard. He's also got a propeller for cruising, and that he can swap for torque/low end pulling(skiing). It will pull a 200 pound person out of the water with 4 people on board, and a full tank of gas.

To put it this way, I'd get the Four Winns if I was in the market for a new(er) boat. It seems to have the best balance of size, power, economy, and the best price for the value. Consider that many people are forced to sell their toys in this economy also, so that is probably why the price is so low.

 

[superpop]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

I just checked out both ads and the other point worth mentioning is that both the Crownline and the Four Winns have snap out carpet. That is a big deal as it means that the sole (floor) of the boat is sealed fiberglass, that typically prevents a lot of the rot you find on older boats. Most boats of this vintage typically have a sheet of marine grade plywood that has been sealed minimally and then carpet glued over it. Water soaks through the carpet and rots the floor and stringers.

 

[1badhusky]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

I just checked out both ads and the other point worth mentioning is that both the Crownline and the Four Winns have snap out carpet. That is a big deal as it means that the sole (floor) of the boat is sealed fiberglass, that typically prevents a lot of the rot you find on older boats. Most boats of this vintage typically have a sheet of marine grade plywood that has been sealed minimally and then carpet glued over it. Water soaks through the carpet and rots the floor and stringers.

I had thought snap out carpet would be better, but didn't know the floor construction was diffent...thanks!

I'm definitely concerned about fuel consumption - and the Crownline is a heavy, heavy boat. But wouldn't i potentially use a lot more fuel if I'm killing a i4 or v6 to pull a skier out, vs just lugging them out w/ a v8?

I'd think general cruising would be where the smaller engines would save gas, but boarding is where the v8 would pay off - but I'm just pulling that out of my arse. Any real world experience w/ this?

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

I'm definitely concerned about fuel consumption - and the Crownline is a heavy, heavy boat.

No its not. Its heavy compared to the few you are sampling, but take a look at some of the other 19 to 20 footers out there that come with V8s. Then look at the weights of some of the wakeboard boats that only have a V8. Its not that heavy of a boat.

 

[superpop]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Unless you go to an MPI motor, there is not going to be a huge difference in economy between the V6 and V8. I have had both a V6 Carbed VP and a V8 MPI VP motor and I have not noticed a huge difference in consumption, and I have a much heavier boat now. Gas is really impacted the most when you have your fist slammed on the controller at WOT. The longer you hold WOT the more you will burn lots of gas. The bigger the motor the less it has to work but it also uses more gas so I think it more depends on how you drive and the weight of the boat and load to a lesser degree. If you are buying a boat, gas should be a small concern compared to all the other costs you are going to have. In fact if you add up all the costs, compared to how many hours a year you will use it, you will be shocked by the cost per hour just to run a boat.

 

[1badhusky]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Well, checked out the Crownline 196 today and it was absolutely stunning. It looked like it was maybe a year or two old.

The carpet was spotless, the fiberglass was spotless, the trailer was spotless, serviced twice a year, recent water pump added to the outdrive (didn't know they had water pumps) the engine was replaced three years ago and has 180 hrs, the boat has 250hrs, the engine and outdrive were spotless, even the bilge was spotless and dry...everything worked but the speedometer and the reverse relay on the trailer's pressure brakes (forgot the name of this).

Deck, chairs and fittings all seemed quite solid...no wiggle or even spider cracks around any of the fittings.

Dude said he took it out to show it to another person yesterday and he was smelling fuel vapors in the engine compartment...wasn't sure if it needed new jets or what.

Any clue what that might be? I thought maybe old gas not burning cleanly? The engine compartment didn't smell like gas to me. But we didn't run the engine.

The plan is I'm going to take it to a mechanic and get them to do a once over on the engine/drive unit, then if no problems, I'll buy it. If problems, we'll discuss who'll fix - he said he'd pay for new jets or things like that.

I'm pretty stoked. It's more than you'd think of paying for a 1992, but again - just an immaculate boat. Hull and paint look brand new. This guy and the first owner obviously loved this boat.

Comes w/ two covers, a dual axel trailer w/ matching paint and new tires.

I think for $7k, which is what I'll have into it after the inspection, this is a pretty sweet boat - especially if you see what else is available around here. Am I crazy?

Hope the mech doesn't find anything serious!

 

[1badhusky]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

In fact if you add up all the costs, compared to how many hours a year you will use it, you will be shocked by the cost per hour just to run a boat.

I know that is the conventional wisdom on boats, but after owning 4 of them, from 16-37 feet, I've found if you do your homework in choosing the right one, don't mind getting your hands dirty working on it, and you have some luck (I know this is pretty key), you can actually make money on boats. I"ve sold two of my boats for $10k more than I bought them for, and put less than $2k of work into either of them.

I've never bought a new boat and never would - that is the biggest money loser.

Hopefully, my luck w/ boats holds!

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

If the boat is as nice as you say it is, I don't think 7k is asking too much. Boat prices are what they are: A compromise between what the seller and buyer think the boat is worth. It's not about resale, necessarily, especially on a boat that old...it's more about replacement value.

I just bought a new boat, for example. I got a helluva deal. MSRP was $34, I got it for $18.5. But that's still well over twice what that boat is going to run you, and mine is a foot shorter and 2 cylinders lighter.

What am I trying to say? I dunno...I guess if it's worth it to you, then it's worth it!

 

[1badhusky]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Well, I'm pretty pissed off. After spending an hour looking at the boat last night, making a deal w/ the guy to pay him his asking price, and offering him a retainer in cash (which he didn't take), and agreeing that I'd schedule an appointment today to get it checked out and buy it if it passed inspection, and then shaking on it and the fact that he told me he wouldn't sell it, and me calling two places to get an inspection today, then calling him to tell him I got an appointment today - the son of a ***** sold it out from under me. God damn some people suck!

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Well, you know there's a chance that it had all sorts of underlying problems which would have shown up in a examination, but that normal folk wouldn't have even noticed until it was too late.

 

[superpop]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Have you ever heard the term, a bird in the hand. The seller probably got a cash offer on the spot because someone showed up with some tools and cash, checked it out and payed for it then and there. There are also plenty of dumb dumbs out there that will buy a boat without any type of mechanical inspection. Either way, if I was the seller I probably would have called you and said, I have a cash buyer now, come get it now or it is gone.

 

[chadelliott]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Just look at it as a possible blessing in diguise. It might be he didnt want an inspection done on it?

Keep looking, you still have some time before the season starts.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

The majority of things I had to by right then & there or no deal have been curses. Most of the things I have been able to take my time and research have been the opposite. That "G-D" person likely saved you from lots of hassles and headaches.

 

[lucky7]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

its lots eaiser and more fun to buy a boat than sell one....
there are plenty of deals out there.

 

[JimMH]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Had the same thing happen to me on a Master Craft about 12 years ago. I decided that it was a good thing! Most of the things I have "missed out on" haven't been the best thing that could have happened. Keep looking a lot of fun can be had during the chase.

 

[1badhusky]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Thanks everyone. Well, I ended up finding a 2007 Bayliner 185 w/ the 220 hp mpi, tower, extended swim deck and sport seating for 11k. Seems like a pretty good deal, and I jumped on it quick - even that one was almost gone before I got to look at it - and I called about an hour after it was posted to craigslist - i'm tellin' ya, it's a crazy sellers market in boats right now...pent up demand from two years of worrying about the economy, tax refunds, relatively affordable gas prices, and crazy nice weather in the pacific northwest early in the season. If you want a good deal, you need to take some risks because other people seem all too willing to do so. W this one, I figure even if the boat needs a new engine, I'm $15k into it, w/ a brand new engine - so I'm ok w/ it as the boat retails for $25k new. It ran great on the test ride and also on the ride I took after buying it.

It was a lot more than I wanted to spend, but 11k for a 3-year old boat seems like a much better investment than $7k for a 18-year old boat - and it seemed like anything in the 6-8k range was gonna be 10+ years old.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Sounds awesome! You got about the best engine for that size boat, a tower already, and from what I understand Bayliner is a great builder nowadays.

Pics?

 

[1badhusky]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Thanks - well, it is pretty awesome...took it out for the first real ride yesterday w/ 6 people on board on it was just great - just feels very smooth - handles boat wakes w/ a nice solid feel, plenty of room inside, very quiet, and lots of power...yeah, there's some build stuff that you prolly wouldn't see on a nicer boat - some areas where glue or caulk was oversprayed, but overall, it is a very solid boat, and seems like a great deal considering the cost.

 

[reap182]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

four winns nice as well as glastron, but may be under powered.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Vote now, help me pick my boat!

Every day this thread sneaks into my unread threads and fools me into thinking I've got something fun to read.

I vote to close the poll!