Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

[reimelss]

I am down grading in length to an easy to trailer boat. Im looking anywhere from 18-21 ft. something that is fun to cruise around with some family and friends..a little tubing maybe some wake boarding. mostly lake use and sometimes bay.
I have found these all near my price range.
If the engines on each of them were in relative condition, which of these boats would you recommend?

Boat 1-Wellcraft=
1994 Wellcraft bowrider, 19'6" 4.3 v6 MercCruiser eng, alpha 1 drive, 205 hp
Trailer- 200 loadrite
Price- $6000

Boat 2- Crownline
2001 crownline 180 BR bowrider..has a 3.0L engine
Trailer- Yes
Price- $6000

Boat 3- SeaRay
1995 180 SeaRay 4.3 LX V6 Alpha one
Trailer- Yes, shorelander
Price- $4800

Boat 4- Monterey
18.5' 1997 Monterey bowrider with a 3.0L Volvo Penta I/O
Trailer- Yes,
Price- $5400

Boat 5- Crownline
94 Crownline bowrider 18'ft with 193hrs / I/O 5.0 merc criuser
Trailer- Yes,
Price- $5800

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

My thought is that the prices are all over the map when you look at the ages of the boats. For example, boat 3 looks like a way better deal than boat 5. But doesn't it all come down to "condition"? If you are focusing on pulling tubes etc. you might want to exclude the 3.0 l. stuff just because. But you are going to have to take a peek at them at the end of the day.

My other thought is . . . boy, you can certainly get some pretty nice boats for great prices if you look around and are wise enough to look back a few years!

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

Wide boat with a V8 for a party group & tubing. When you want to head home with 6 adults & kids & coolers. You can get up on plane & scoot home. 5L is perfect size. My 10 year old Chap /5 L is still a 50 mph runner with 2 people. It has a 38 gallon tank so I pass a lot of gas pumps all week.

 

[BlkY2k]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

If that 94 crown is in any decent shape at all I would grab it.

 

[DC20]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

I would rule out Boats 2 and 4 and go with the one in the best condition.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

I would rule out Boats 2 and 4 and go with the one in the best condition.

^^^^^Ditto^^^^^ Anything but the 3.0's and you'll be just fine. I am leaning toward the crownline.

 

[chris.j.marshall]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

If it were your $6000 in my pocket, I'd be leaning toward the Wellcraft. The extra space could go a long way depending on how many friends and family you'll have on board. The 4.3 will provide more than sufficient power.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

If you plan on taking "family and friends", which I'm not sure if that means at the same time or separate, I would think finding the capacity plate for people/weight may be a factor to narrow your search in that size boat. I would also rule out the 3.0 boats and if the condition and capacities are about the same, the Sea Ray puts the first few years worth of maintenance costs in your pocket at the get-go.
Mark

 

[minx163]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

WOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! There's only one choice there. The SeaRay hands down, lighter faster better built. If you want to ski behind it dead rise is important as well as weight .Frankly Crown lines are tanks that's why there's a V8 in it .I'll guarantee , the Sea Ray will walk all over it with less motor

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

WOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! there only one choice there the SeaRay hands down, lighter faster better built. If you want to ski behind it dead rise is important as well as weight .Frankly Crown lines are tanks that's why there's V8 in it .I'll gaurentee you the Sea Ray will walk allover it wth les motor

If it were older or a couple classes larger then maybe, 18ft searay bowriders are nothing special - same power plants as anyone else and the interiors are not any nicer than any other 18ft, they just carry a name premium. For the money I'd go for boat #2 as long as you only care about tubing and wakeboarding. If you want to ski then skip the 3.0L

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

If that 94 crown is in any decent shape at all I would grab it.

Ditto. The more power the better, and regardless of age (sorta) condition, condition, condition.

Mark

 

[Maclin]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

My hierarchy based on mechanicals is...:
Boat 3
Boat 5
Boat 1


Based on the size and capacity from your statement of requirements the list goes like this...:
Boat 1
Boat 5
Boat 3


This is all based on the condition being relatively the same between these choices.

 

[reimelss]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

This is all good info.
Sounds like #5 is a solid choice based on the reactions, but man i like the price of that sea ray.
so it seems the 3.0s are out..I like the age of some of them, but i know once i get it and have it under load im going to want more power.
Seems like it will really come down to condition and price...
thanks for all the help!

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

That year Sea Ray has a history of rotting floors. Look it over VERY carefully. I agree that #5 is probably the best choice, and definately would consider it over the Sea Ray every day of the week.

 

[minx163]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

That year Sea Ray has a history of rotting floors. Look it over VERY carefully. I agree that #5 is probably the best choice, and definately would consider it over the Sea Ray every day of the week.

Sorry I can't find any evidence to substantiate your claim.
As with any boat it is always recomended to get a survey done.
I did find this which I thought was insightful tid bit about Sea Ray.

Welcome to the world of everyone's an expert.
Unfortunalely, some of them don't know what they are talking about and they make it up as they go along.

First let set the record straight.

Sea Ray, Maxum and Bayliner are owned by the same parent company: Brunswick.
They make bowling balls and other sporting equipment.
They are a holding company.
They own Mercury Marine, Mercruiser, and two separate boat divisions.

USMarine,(which builds Bayliner, Maxum, Robalo, Wahoo and Trophy fishing boat)

The other is Ray Industries; which owns Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, and Baja performance boat.

*PLEASE NOTE* Neither of these two divisions share design, technology and manufacturing facilities.

Now to answer your question:

1. The quality systems of all Sea Ray manufacturing facilities are registered under the ISO 9002 standards.
Sea Ray was the first pleasure boat manufacturer to achieve this for quality assurance.

2. All Sea Ray's Sport Yacht and Yacht, and Product Design and Engineering(PDE) facilities are located on the water with ocean access.

3.Sea Ray has been building boats over 30 feet for more than twenty years.

4. Sea Ray has invested more money into CAD/CAM technology in the last ten years than any other boat company.

5. Manufacturing is state of the art, using robotics, and RTM technology.

6.Has the largest patent portfolio, for utility and design.

7.Designed more new boats in the last year than any builder in the world.

8.Has the highest rate of repeat customers in the industry.

9.Theur product innovations are copied by other builders.

10.Launched the Master Dealer program in 1997. This is a intensive certification and audit process that insures world class standards of customer satisfaction.

11. The average dealer has been serving customers for over fifteen years. And the sales and service people go though extensive training every year.

12. Sea Ray CSI (customer satisfaction index) has been the highest in the industry for over ten years.

13. The Sea Ray Owners Club is a comprehensive ownership benefits package developed to provide the Sea Ray owner with goods and services.

I hope this helps give you some insight. If you want more info on Sea Ray or to locate the closest dealer you can go to their web site

 

[oops!]

Re: Which of these boats would you get? Help me decide please.

i am a big fan of the ray also....

its the biggest bang for your buck on the list......

boat 2 would be ok except for the 3l.

the crownline is grossely over priced for a 94..

and as far as the deck of the ray.....lol....they will hold up better than the crownline..

but if any boat is kept well....they all will hold up