Advice on Center Console Brands

[SJBrit]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I just moved to Florida (right near Sarasota) and we are in the market for a boat. We've boated our whole lives, and sold a lovely Sea Ray 210 Bowrider before we headed down here. That was a great lake boat but not at all what we want to be running now that we are back by the ocean. For our lifestyle down here we are definitely looking for a center console.

Here's the thing: I'm just not at all familiar with center console brands. There are tons on the market of course, but I need a little help narrowing my search. I'm looking to spend about $10k for a boat around the 20' to 22' mark, single outboard (most likely). For that I think I'm going to be looking at boats from the late 90's, early 00's just from an initial sift. The Sea Ray I just sold was a '99 and it was in near perfect condition - Sea Ray just know how to make a boat that holds up over time.

So the question is: what are the center console brands I should be looking for to have confidence that a 15 year old boat is sound and has a good number of years left in it? I'm not looking to buy the best of the best, just to stick to a manufacturer known for building quality boats that stand the test if time. I realize a 15 year old saltwater boat might need some cosmetic work and updating, but I do want something solid.

Thanks! ~Adrian.

 

[jbcurt00]

Even the best of the best built center consoles will succumb to the elements if neglected.

Start looking at boats that fit your needs, I suspect it'll take quite a few Go Sees to find 1 you'd consider buying.

Buy used boats on 3 criteria:
Condition
Condition
Condition

Not brands

 

[ondarvr]

First decide on the exact type of CC you want, which will depend on exactly how you plan to use it, then look for the condition of the boat, and the motor is a huge part of it. Don't buy anything because it's "close enough" or "it's a great buy" look for exactly what you want, the market in FL turns over quickly and there'll be new boats available every week.

 

[SJBrit]

I definitely plan on kissing a lot of frogs - as you say: there are so many to choose from around here that there's really no need to rush into something almost-right. I guess I was just wondering about "you can't go wrong with" vs "I wouldn't touch" brands. I suppose one thing about looking at older boats is that anything that has remained in good condition was a quality boat to start with.

 

[dingbat]

Condition and quality have little to do with each other.

 

[SJBrit]

Condition and quality have little to do with each other.

I'm not sure I agree. A quality built boat will hold up much better over time and ought to retain its condition if well looked after. A bad layup will stress and crack, for example, where a quality layup can look like new for many years. Same goes for materials - just the grade of stainless selected for fittings will start to manifest over many years of use.

Now I 100% agree with you if you mean that even a quality built boat can be in very poor condition if it's abused.

 

[robert graham]

I see a lot of Key West center consoles in Florida....my brother in law had one for years in Amelia Island and liked it very much....

 

[dingbat]

I'm not sure I agree. A quality built boat will hold up much better over time

Agree.

Let me restate. Condition is not an indication of quality.
A garage kept El Junko will never match the quality of a Super Deluxe that is ridden hard and put away wet.

 

[SJBrit]

Agree.

Let me restate. Condition is not an indication of quality.
A garage kept El Junko will never match the quality of a Super Deluxe that is ridden hard and put away wet.

Totally agree. Condition <> quality, but quality -> condition (all other things being equal).