First boat help

[jbgdbg01]

Hi all,
I'm new to the forum. I have been doing some research but would like to ask. I'm looking to get a the best boat I can for the price. I have a limited budget. I have found a 1993 Crownline 182 BR from a local dealer.
Its listed as "Extra clean 18' Crownline 182 Bow Rider with a 3'0L Mercruiser I/O. This is a high end boat in great condition. New bow and cockpit covers, Bimini top, and a galvanized trailer. "
I guess my questions are
1) is a 17 year boat worth buying
2) What should I look at or problem area's
3) Good questions to ask
4) older Crownline vs newer Bayliner
5) is $5000 for a boat something worth doing or should I hold out and save up more

Thanks for you help
Joe

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: First boat help

Hi and welcome to iboats. There are alot of very knowledgeable people here. There is a checklist posted at the very top of the forum check that out. I'm sure it will answer most of your questions.

 

[jbgdbg01]

Re: First boat help

Thanks, somehow I missed that in my preliminary searches. The article is very good and I will study it.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: First boat help

Boats rot from the bottom up. Usually at the stern around the engine(s) and transom. At 17 years old the make doesn't matter...more important is how it's been maintained. Your profile doesn't say where you are from but beware...there is alot of shiny junk out there.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: First boat help

My only comment is that if you have a 5K budget then make sure that you have another $500-1K set aside for repairs/maint that will may come up in the first year. Nothing wrong with starting out with an older boat, but like an older car there is usually something that needs some love.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: First boat help

I'd also be looking for a lot more pictures. Pretty easy to find that boat with google and the only picture they have looks decent but its just the boat on a trailer with the cover on.

 

[southkogs]

Re: First boat help

Welcome aboard Joe:

1) is a 17 year boat worth buying

Maybe: if the condition is good, why not? My boat is 40 years old in very good condition. I've seen 3 year old boats in terrible shape. Condition is key.

2) What should I look at or problem area's

You've already been shown that REALLY good thread.

3) Good questions to ask

See above. Also, do you have much experience? Maybe renting a couple boats once or three times may help you get some clues to personal tastes and experience.

4) older Crownline vs newer Bayliner

Again CONDITION (at least in used boats). New, Crownline would be considered a nicer brand than Bayliner. But give me a well cared for 15 year old Bayliner over a 4 year old used and abused Crownline any day. While the differences may be very subtle, it's rarely ever a like-for-like (two used boats in identical condition) situation.

5) is $5000 for a boat something worth doing or should I hold out and save up more

A $5k boat should be "lake-ready" or turn key. But, it's also been used quite a bit - so expect some maintenance. However, by their very nature boats can be expensive. A more expensive used boat MAY be less costly as you go along, or it may be more costly. When buying it's about the condition it's in when you get it, and in owning it's about the condition you keep it in.

I've personally never spent $5k on a boat. Mine have all been cheaper than that.

 

[pckeen]

Re: First boat help

If the boat is as described - genuinely in good condition, then the price is probably fine. As for additional questions - ask for the hours on the boat. Consider paying an independent marine mechanic to do a once over of the boat, if you don't feel comfortable checking it yourself. $100 spent on an hour's labor will do one of three things: give you peace of mind that the boat you are looking at is in good shape; tell you the minor repairs you need to put in it (and the approximate cost of those repairs; or save you money by avoiding a bad purchase that would cost you substantially in repairs.

 

[jbgdbg01]

Re: First boat help

Hey everyone. yes I haven't set up my profile yet. About me, I live in Vermont, Right now I have a 1990 Bayliner 170 I think. It's a small bowrider with a 50 hp Force OB. It was given to me a few years ago. I've shined it up a little and given it a tune it up every spring. I started looking to upgrade and realized how little that I knew, like wow! So, I guess it is not really my first boat, but it will be the first boat that I had to buy.
I have heard bad things about certain brands like Bayliner and good things certain brands like Four Winns and Crownline. I guess what I'm hearing is in used boats of a certain age it matters more that they were taken care of, right?
I'm not apposed to just keeping my boat, it's just half of the wind shield was gone when I got it and it could use some upholstery touch-ups. I tried to find parts for it when I got it but hit a wall. I see some of the members hear have restored boats from the ground up. Maybe I should look into restoring what I have? Thoughts?

 

[jbgdbg01]

Re: First boat help

well maybe restoring, its too much and its too old. Thanks for your advice on buying, I'll put it to good use.

 

[NYBo]

Re: First boat help

Welcome to iboats!:welcome:

Crownline is a few cuts above Bayliner in terms of build quality, but as has been stated, it's all about condition, condition, condition.

 

[thumpar]

Re: First boat help

I own a Crownline and love them but they are pretty heavy boats. A 3.0l is going to be a dog in one.

 

[NYBo]

Re: First boat help

I own a Crownline and love them but they are pretty heavy boats. A 3.0l is going to be a dog in one.

Excellent point. A sea trial is a must to see if the boat will satisfy your need for (modest) speed.

 

[jbgdbg01]

Re: First boat help

Well, I have taken the 1st step. I emailed the marina, asking for more info and pictures.
I am curious, do you think it will be more of a dog than the Bayliner? Yes the Crownline has deeper and wider hull and is a foot longer than my Bayliner but it also has almost 100 more horses. Maybe I will have to take it for a spin, but that will have to wait. The ice has only been off the lake for a couple of weeks.

 

[Natesms]

Re: First boat help

I have a 92' crownline 196 BR. Great boat, took it out today, but the stringers and floor did rot and I had to do a partial restoration of it last year so be careful.

I think the 3.0 will be under powered. Cownlines are wider and a bit heavier (helps with the ride) than some other boats of the same size. I have the 5.7 liter in mine and it's great, enough power to get out of the hole with a full load, but it still tops out at ~55mph. So it's not screaming. I believe a 6 cylinder would labor especially with a load of people. It will probably be better than your bayliner, but not significantly better.

 

[pckeen]

Re: First boat help

I guess what I'm hearing is in used boats of a certain age it matters more that they were taken care of, right?

Yup.

Maybe I should look into restoring what I have? Thoughts?

Depends - a full restoration (new floors, stringers, upholstery, plus repairs to mechanical systems and motors) can run you several thousand dollars, if you do the work yourself, and it'll take 1-2 years on evenings and weekends, unless you can devote a long solid block of time to it. Typically, at the end of that process, for most boat restorers, the finished product won't be worth what you will have into it. The upside at the end of it is you know what you will have, and it should last for years.

Having said all that, it looks as though you want a bigger, larger HP boat - so restoring this one is probably not a great idea.

 

[jbgdbg01]

Re: First boat help

I would have to say yes, I would like a little bit bigger boat. Wider mostly, I think. Although I love the fact that I can put around all day with the Bayliner on 12 gallons of gas. I won't be able to do that with a bigger boat!

If I was to consider keeping my boat. I would want to fix the windshield. Where would you guys start? I'm missing a couple of pieces.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: First boat help

Boats rot from the bottom up. Usually at the stern around the engine(s) and transom. At 17 years old the make doesn't matter...more important is how it's been maintained. Your profile doesn't say where you are from but beware...there is a lot of shiny junk out there.

OH YEAH !!

Even seasoned boaters can be taken by shiny outsides and some quick cover ups. A boat not properly maintained/stored can rot beyond cost effective repairs within 10 years.

One benefit of an aluminum boats is that it takes a lot longer for them to rot beyond being able to be repaired for reasonable amounts of money.

 

[southkogs]

Re: First boat help

If I was to consider keeping my boat. I would want to fix the windshield. Where would you guys start? I'm missing a couple of pieces.

... for a Bayliner, I'd actually start on eBay / CL and then call a couple of salvage yards. Those windscreens should be kinda' all over.

Going up to an 18 or 20 with an I/O will be more gas, but as long as you're not feeding a v8 shouldn't be that much more. I've got an I6 and it's reasonable to feed for a day.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: First boat help

I have a 92' crownline 196 BR. Great boat, took it out today, but the stringers and floor did rot and I had to do a partial restoration of it last year so be careful.

I think the 3.0 will be under powered. Cownlines are wider and a bit heavier (helps with the ride) than some other boats of the same size. I have the 5.7 liter in mine and it's great, enough power to get out of the hole with a full load, but it still tops out at ~55mph. So it's not screaming. I believe a 6 cylinder would labor especially with a load of people. It will probably be better than your bayliner, but not significantly better.

Making sure you realize a 3.0 is a 4 cylinder. So if he thinks a 6 cylinder would labor a 4 definitely will be way underpowered.