Would you buy a rental boat?

[JohnL60]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

Thanks again to all that have taken the time to chime in on this one.We are starting to move away from this rig.The high hrs.,possible lack of power and the unknown, even with the warranties are a little scary.As far as the 1000's of used boats being out there,I've been surfing these classifieds and others for a late model 5L., lightly used 20' bowrider conveniently located and found the fishing tough to say the least.Maybe it's time to low ball the dealerhip again on a new one John

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

Aw jeez -- John -- I hope it wasn't my story of this very same marina trying to slip me a salt-water boat til I spotted the faint outline of a former Florida reg was it?

Actually, I'm glad to hear you're looking around some more. Have patience -- I know it's tough but your boat is out there right now just waiting for you to find her. I'll check the inventories of a couple of marinas I do know and would deal with again. How far you willing to drive?

 

[JohnL60]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

Mainly the 5 yrs. of use in 1 season Scout.Also your surveyor guy is more into structural things rather than motors and sterndrives.From all the reading I've been doing on here, a V8 with a 4 blade ss prop is probably the ticket for all the pulling this next boat is going to do .Those kids are growing up fast.The Montana is getting a little long in the tooth for towing ,as I am so convenience is a factor.

 

[sc_shane]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

My two pennies...

I wouldn't buy a rental boat for the same reason I wouldn't buy a rental car. Much different than a leased car. A rental car is simply a speed bump jumping go cart for idiots (like me) to ABUSE for a short period of time. A leased vehicle must go through a fairly thorough inspection upon return. When is the last time you had a rental return inspection consist of more than a walk around to make sure it was still in one piece? Something to consider...

 

[slia67]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

John,

Don't know how far you are willing to drive, but there is a guy on here in Salisbury, MD that sounds like he is pretty desperate to sell his deck boat. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=240249

Good luck.


Doug

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

My inlaws who live about an hour south of Ottawa are not thinking about selling the seldom used boat they have.
Like many others up that way, they are busy dealing and thinking about that 7 feet of snow in the yard.

Wait until spring when people start thinking about weather to use the boat this summer with gas at $4.00 per gallon or to sell it.

I suspect the reason some dealer in Toronto has had those four boats is due to a weak U.S. dollar and that the Lake Geneva-Milwaukee used boat market is saturated with used boats of simular size and price.
Which, if they are in fact from a Lodge in Lake Geneva they probaly bought them very reasonable.
If they have sold three, they have made their profit. I you really want it, offer them a rediculously low amount.

I don't think Lake Geneva is what a Canadian would call a traditional Canadian fishing Lodge area. Mostly a playground for the Milwaukee and Chicago area suburbanites to spend weekends at and party all week.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

I wouldn't buy a rental. Too many high RPM hours. I am sure renters just run the throttle as high as it will go all the time.

 

[dcg9381]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

I wouldn't buy a rental. Too many high RPM hours. I am sure renters just run the throttle as high as it will go all the time.

At ~400 hours, I'd consider it if it had records of being maintained.
Beyond about 600 hours, I'd probably pass...

 

[fuzzeywiggler]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

Hi John,

As has been said... it seems that the reason that the price is good is that there is the equivalent of several seasons worth of use (or abuse?) on the rig already. Personally I think dock scuffs and ripped upholstery etc are more an indication of how the thing was used than a major problem in themselves. This unit has indications of being used without much consideration/respect/pride. The skeg and prop show you the drive train hasn't been treated any better.

I'm not sure of the steps for whole rigs, but I just bought an outboard in the states and picked it up last week. I spent less than 3 minutes in the customs depot at the border... They made a bill for PST and GST, which I paid, and then I was on my way. If you're OK with a used rig (which you seem to be)... I agree with the idea that was already posted... maybe look at bringing a rig up yourself. With the US economy the way it is, and the strength of our dollar, I think there are bargains to be had. Especially when you compare to the prices of Cdn dealers. Ditto that somewhere, sitting in a nice garage, there is a cherry, barely broken in 1 or 2 year old boat that the owner has decided they'd rather not be making payments on.

that's my $.02

Yeah thats what I feel if the american economy keeps falling as it is. there are some reel steels to be had keep an eye out!

Fuzzey

 

[JohnL60]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

My math was a little wrong the first time I mentioned prices.The Marina is asking about 80% of a new Regal 1900, a bit high for sure with those hrs.I've asked them to contact the lodge owner and possibly fax up any maintenance records.I also have an e-mail with the hull # into Regal to confirm warranties and investigate any history they might have on that boat.
A little obsessive maybe but I'd rather exhaust every detail with a boat in my backyard before I drive into the US and deal with border officials

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

Actually, importing a boat yourself isn't all that bad. In fact, the biggest hassles happen once you have it back here and have to register it and the trailer in Canada.

As long as you have the title and sales contracts for both boat and trailer (assuming it comes from a state that titles boats) you drive back across the border, stop at Canada Customs, show your paperwork and pays your taxes. The logistics of insuring and towing a trailer through and out of the states is a bit of a pain too but certainly not insurmountable.

Oh, and don't let anyone tell you US border officials need advance notice of your departing the States. That's only for self-powered, land-based vehicles...i.e., cars, trucks, busses, etc. Boats and trailers don't count.

 

[JohnL60]

Re: Would you buy a rental boat?

I don't really want to beat a dead horse with this post anymore ,however customer service from Regal got back to me and confirmed there is absolutely NO Warranty on this boat from them.A far different story than what the dealership was feeding. There are lesssons to be learned here!!

John