1997 Wellcraft 210SX

[ggundersen3]

I'm owner of my 4th bowrider boat. I've had Crestliner (1981 w/90HP Evinrude OB), a 1987 Sea Ray 17' w/3.0L Mercruiser IO, 1988 19' Bayliner w/5.0L OMC IO and now recently a 1994 Bayliner 19' w/120HP Force OB. I wanting to upgrade to larger boat and a higher "brand". My first idea is to look at Sea Ray again of course because of resale and reputation as opposed to Bayliners reputation as an "entry level" boat. Where does Wellcraft fit in as far as quality/reputation/resale etc??? Knowing Bayliner is entry level, Sea Ray is near the top and Crownline, Regal, Bryant etc are the top. Where does Wellcraft fit in. Looking at a 97 Wellcraft 210SX with 5.0 L Volvo Penta IO? Thanks.

 

[tpenfield]

Well, I would not put Crownline at the top . . . I guess it depends on what brands you are including on your list.

I would go like this of the ones you mentioned . . .

Bryant
SeaRay
Regal
WellCraft
Crownline
Bayliner

 

[ggundersen3]

Thanks for the information. One more opinion needed. Where do Four Winns and Cobalt fit in that list?

 

[tpenfield]

Cobalt at or above Bryant, Four Winns along side Crownline

 

[garbageguy]

I've had a 1998 Wellcraft 240 SE for about 5 years, and find the build quality pretty good - not top, not bottom, of the barrel. Of course, with boats of that vintage, condition is most important. I am not familiar with the boat model you're considering. Got any pics, I'm very interested - and enjoy all boat pics

 

[ggundersen3]

No Title

Heres a pic. 1997 Wellcraft Excel 21SX

 

[jkust]

On the Sea Ray comment, their smaller boats as in their Sport Series are about as spartan as can be and because of that I put them much farther down. I consider them to be the bottom of the bottom of the barrel because of their new pricing is inconsistent with their small boat offering. I like to call them the Bose of the bowrider world....marketing over substance that can be handily beat for less money. Used market cures the ill but most people don't know enough to know what they don't know. Sea Ray larger cruisers are nice and can't be compared in the same sentence. Bryant is so unknown that their used boats tend to not get the same buyers attention as the more well known brands even though Bryant is a good product but I wouldn't want one if I had cared about resale however unfair that is. I dislike the outdated and seemingly never gonna be updated Bryant helm design however. Cobalt hasn't made a small bowrider since 2002ish or so so they can hardly be compared to other smaller bowriders because cobalt plays in a different echelon of expectations plus their early up to mid 2000's bowriders don't quite stack up in some areas but do in others. Not a big fan of the early and mid 2000's Regals but like their newest iteration of boats. Crownline is interesting because they held on to some older style cues and characteristics longer than others such as the extended swim platform that isn't part of the hull which I like because it makes my sig boat seem not so outdated. Of course you didn't mention it but Glastron has also held onto the add-on swim platform however Glastrons are what I consider to be entry level but want to look like they aren't entry level. I'm ok with some Crownlines but if buying newer, I wouldn't want their dated designs because others are way beyond in design. Bayliner is what it is...a cheap entree into boating and not trying to be something that they are not at an applicable price point. Wellcraft is so dated, I rarely see one though your subject version looks unfairly dated with the light blue colors. As a qualifier, I have a house on a large lake and raft up and sand bar with literally every lake boat you can imagine and have seen, driven and ridden in just about every bowrider out there it seems. I call it as I see it.

 

[ggundersen3]

Thanks Ted/Tpenfield your list and opinion was kinda what I thought but you confirmed it. We don't see that many Colbalt or Bryant here in Wisconsin, a few here and there but they are a little rare. I'll probably pass on the Wellcraft I saw and pursue a Sea Ray I also saw.

 

[ggundersen3]

So Im still shopping around for an upgrade to a different boat while still enjoying boating on my Bayliner. I came across a 1994 19' Marada w/4.3L Vortec and Mercruiser Alpha one drive. The boat and trailer are spotless. What is the story/ reputation and most importantly the quality of Marada boats?? I know the company folded around 2002 but dont know much more and where they fit in on the list of top quality boats down to entry level.

 

[jkust]

So Im still shopping around for an upgrade to a different boat while still enjoying boating on my Bayliner. I came across a 1994 19' Marada w/4.3L Vortec and Mercruiser Alpha one drive. The boat and trailer are spotless. What is the story/ reputation and most importantly the quality of Marada boats?? I know the company folded around 2002 but dont know much more and where they fit in on the list of top quality boats down to entry level.

The Vortec 4.3 came out in 1996 so it would mean the engine has been replaced in that 1994 or that they don't know what they have. Changes to the Mercruisers were far and few between and the Vortec was a notable change in the slow moving world of marine I/O engines. I suppose you could have a 1996 in a 1995 boat or a 1995 engine in a 1996 boat but two years difference seems far fetched to have it not be a replacement but I suppose stranger things have happened. Just out of curiosity, why are you shopping for such old boats?

 

[ggundersen3]

It is definetly a 4.3L and its definetly a '94. Was there a 4.3L before there was a 4.3 Vortec? Because I see 4.3L on much older boats also, such as late 80's and early 1990's. I'm looking at that age of boats because of price as I don't have $10k to spend, more like $5k in my pocket.