Crownline questions. Love the boats.

[BMWboatski]

In my most recent research and boat show visits I have become very attracted to the style and quality of the Crownline line up of deckboats. I am a first time boat buyer trying to make a great decision. Anyone have any feedback on crownline. Where does the quality and price of Crownline line up with Hurricane, fourwinns, rinker, larson, and Tahoe?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

crownline and four winns are top imho.

 

[BMWboatski]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

Thanks I have found some great deals on both makes. I just wanted to make sure these weren't the same grade as bayliner. Not that there's anything wrong with Bayliner or Tahoe just looking for something a little bit better.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

The format of this probably won't look great.

This is a just a list of a few brands and how I an average boat type rates them.


Brand Quality Price Company Drives

Four Winns **** $$$$ Genmar VP & Merc
Larson *** $$$ Genmar VP & Merc
Glastron *** $$ Genmar VP & Merc
Hurricane **** $$$$ Godfrey VP & Merc & OB
Rinker *** $$$ Godfrey? VP & Merc
Crownline *** $$$$ Independent Merc
Tahoe ** $$ Tracker Merc
Bayliner ** $$ Brunswick Merc

 

[mphy98]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

ah must read fully befor i make a reply. i thought you were talking about CROWN ROYAL. that's something for a cold winter day!!!

 

[DJ]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

Have a 26' Crownline bowrider-love it.

 

[BMWboatski]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

The format of this probably won't look great.

This is a just a list of a few brands and how I an average boat type rates them.


Brand Quality Price Company Drives

Four Winns **** $$$$ Genmar VP & Merc
Larson *** $$$ Genmar VP & Merc
Glastron *** $$ Genmar VP & Merc
Hurricane **** $$$$ Godfrey VP & Merc & OB
Rinker *** $$$ Godfrey? VP & Merc
Crownline *** $$$$ Independent Merc
Tahoe ** $$ Tracker Merc
Bayliner ** $$ Brunswick Merc

This is perfect.

 

[tmh]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

That list as pretty good. I'm not sure it's a true consensus though. I'm not sure, but I think most would put Crownline quality well above Larson and Glastron, not equal to them (both lised as 3 stars in this list). Maybe the same with Rinker.

Personally, I also love the look of the Crownlines, but looks and layout are personal choices, not one better than another.

 

[NCLakeboater]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

Also check out Azure boats if you ike the look of the Crownlines since their designer came from Crownline.

www.azureboats.com

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

That list as pretty good. I'm not sure it's a true consensus though. I'm not sure, but I think most would put Crownline quality well above Larson and Glastron, not equal to them (both lised as 3 stars in this list). Maybe the same with Rinker.

Personally, I also love the look of the Crownlines, but looks and layout are personal choices, not one better than another.

I put the list together on my own from my own experience. I agree that it may not account for everything. I think your last sentence may have something to do with it. There is a lot of subjectivity in grading boats.

I added a few more brands and attached it as a pdf for easier viewing.

I'm planning to go to some boat shows and just spend some time going over the different brands to confirm or adjust the levels I have placed them at.

 

[KCook]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

I agree that there will not be universal agreement on boat brands. Here are links to more threads on the brand subject -

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=219273#post1469702

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=289672

Kelly

 

[BMWboatski]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

I agree with most other than fourwinns being higher in quality than crownline. I hve been around four winns and I like them a lot, but The crownline seems to be like an Escalade compared to a Tahoe (fourwinns).

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

Yeah, I'll admit that I haven't spent a lot of time around Crownlines. My experience with them dates to the mid 90s. They are probably better than they were back then.

I have admitted here in the past that I am biased towards FourWinns also. However, I have tried to fairily evaluate each brand and I will continue to try and keep this list updated.

You also have to keep in mind that an entry level Four Winns is built to a price point. When you get up to the mid level Four Winns I think the quality really shows. If you look at their premium SL (222, 242, 262) series of boats the fit and finish is top notch. In my mind quality is more than just visual fit and finish. It is also durability and maintainability. I have a 1981 FourWinns that was built to last and has held up extremely well. As a kid we had a FourWinns that I personally put 1000s of hours on and it also held up very well.

It is very possible that Crownline is every bit as good. I just don't have the same experience with them so I reverted back to the dated knowledge that I did have. I am actually anxious now to go out and look at some new CrownLines.

 

[BMWboatski]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

And I admit you know more than I do lol. Both of them are in my top 3 as far as my first boat goes. It's all about what I find and at what price since i will probably be buying a 2002-2006 model.

Right now I've got it narrowed down to the Crownline 220 EX and the Four Winns Funship. Hurricane is also in the running if i can get the right boat for 23k or less

 

[superpop]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

I just purchased a 2006 Chaparral 204SSi and I would check them out as well. It is Cobalt quality for a lot less money. I was amazed at the quality and fit and finish that these boats have.

 

[BMWboatski]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

Very nice boat SP! Do they also have a line of deck boats as well?

 

[tmh]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

I just purchased a 2006 Chaparral 204SSi and I would check them out as well. It is Cobalt quality for a lot less money. I was amazed at the quality and fit and finish that these boats have.

Not to be disagreable, but ...... Chap is NOT Cobalt quality. They are very nice boats though.

If you're looking at 2002-2006 Crownline, 4Winns, Chap type boats, you're looking at all nice boats! Certainly a big step above entry level. For me, it would then come down to layout, power and price. the brands are all very good. Oh, of course when buying used, current condition is #1. For those boats in that age range you should be able to get one that is almost like new. Most don't buy a $40k+ boat then treat it like crap.

 

[BMWboatski]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

I agree with the spending 40k then beating the **** outt o fit, not something most people do. I'm looking to take advantage of the current makrket and find one for under 25k.

Anyone ever purchased from a REPO site?

 

[jkust]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

Crownline is a very nice boat. I looked at some when I bought my Chaparral. I wasn't very informed when I started shopping but figured the lay of the land quickly after looking at lots of brands. Some brands clearly relied on reputation and others were nicer than expected. Funny thing the Crownlines never had the snap out carpet option which was out of place for such nice boats. No snap out carpet was a deal killer for me. Another really nice boat not mentioned is a Bryant. They don't get much attention because they build only a fraction of what the big builders do (only 400 per year) but they are absolutley top notch from what I saw. They also have the in-gel graphics which is really nice. After I bought my used Chap, I happened upon a dealer selling them when I needed some supplies. They were blowing them out the door and that was before the economy problems became such a big deal.
I also noticed that the Chaparral was denoted above as on same the same level with Glastron, Larson, Rinker and Maxum. That is truly just is not the case at least for the small bowrider class but you should be the judge. I actually bought used because many of the brand new boats I looked at were either the same or not yet close to the ammenities of my 03 Chap which cost a lot less than new.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Crownline questions. Love the boats.

I also noticed that the Chaparral was denoted above as on same the same level with Glastron, Larson, Rinker and Maxum.

Quality and value are two different measures. Chapparral offers more ammenities than other builders for a compareable price. That is value. More ammenities doesn't make the quality better. In my opinion quality is a measure of the design, how well the design is implemented and how well the boat stands up over time.

The reason I rated Chap low on quality is the bad taste I had in my mouth after looking at the new pickel fork/Widetech boats at a boat show last year. The design requires that the rubrail follow the contour around the front of the boat. That requires the aluminum piece to take a sharp negative bend. On one boat it was cracked on the bottom side and it did not fit in that area very well on any of the boats. Compared to a MasterCraft accross the aisle that has a similar design, using stainless steel, the difference was very noticeable. Other than that I was impressed with the design and functionality of the Chap in general. They are fine boats that are built to a price point.