Help me decide... (New boat question)

[artwork37]

Hi all.. I'm new here and am in the market for my first boat... after a few weeks of research and actively searching, two options have become available. Looking for any feedback, advice, suggestions, etc... Thanks in advance for your time...

Option #1

1996 Four Winns Horizon 180
4.3 Volvo engine (190 hp)
Very Clean
Not sure about the hours
asking $9k

Option #2

2003 Larson 180 SEI
3.0 Mercury (135 hp)
Also Very Clean
Very low hours
asking $10k

I can see the advantages of the price, and the bigger engine in the four winns

but the age and hours of the Larson is also attractive but the price is higher.

Uses would just be tooling around the lake, pulling tubers, and the occasional attempt at wakeboarding.

Any advice for a first time boat buyer?

 

[artwork37]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

Also... neither boat seems to have an hour meter. Is there anything specific I should look for enginewise? Any tests that can be run?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

If you are doing water sports, the 4.3 is highly desireable. I would chose it over the 3.0 in any scenario since the 3.0 is a basic power plant in most boats that size. In my view it's an acceptable performer, but marginally so.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

Ditto what Silvertip says.You will be much happier with the 4.3 Volvo setup. The 3.0 is kind of under powered for that boat.
Either one you choose look it over good. Transom,stringers,drive oil ect..
Were these boats stored inside or used in saltwater..

 

[KCook]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

Tough call. The 3L will work for mild watersports, but may well need a short pitch prop for this. That said, I can certainly see the appeal of a boat that is only 4 yrs old over one that has 11 yrs on it!!!! See if you can get demo rides with both.

Kelly

 

[troypolla]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

Def. try to drive both of them and make your des. It is which ever one you like better and feel is the better deal cost vs. age. etc... Like others you may like the larger engine better, but hard to pass up an 03.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

And please take a boater's safety course.8)

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

volvo better set up. your talking 55 hp difference. on the same type hull.

http://www.nadaguides.com/Values/Va...&Letter=F&Com=0643&Year=1996&Model=1600071602

http://www.nadaguides.com//Values/V...&Letter=L&Com=0931&Year=2003&Model=1600102353

 

[artwork37]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

ok, so its been another day and I'm really no closer to making my decision than yesterday. I'm going to see the four winns tonight and I will most likely have a better idea of where I stand at that point. I'll keep you all posted.

 

[tommays]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

The 4.3 is the way to go other than the age factor and water type

Were the boats in fresh Or saltwater ?

Are there matiance records as the 96 boat could have had a LOT of things not done that could just be ready to catch up





Tommays

 

[artwork37]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

they both have only been in fresh water... the guy with the larson lives pretty far from any lakes so I'm pretty sure he hardly used it. and the guy with the Four Winns lives about 15 miles from a lake. The age of the Four Winns really does concern me... for a first boat I'd really like to have some piece of mind.

Can anyone confirm that there was in fact a 180 model in 1996? I looked in the Nadaguides and all I see are 170 and 190 models for the horizon.

Also, I was told that "all" boats have some sort of hour meter... not sure how true it is, but the guy who told me said sometimes they are by the engine?

Also, I do plan on taking a boater's safety course

 

[KCook]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

The FW brochure for '96 does not show any "180" model either. Possibly the boat was purchased in '96 but is actually some other model year?

Kelly

 

[pjrogers]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

What the other posters said about preferring the 4.3 over the 3.0. I've had both in similar bowriders, and would take the 4.3 every day of the week. The only thing going for the smaller motor, IMHO, is that it is reasonably fuel efficient.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

I'll toss in my $0.02 because I have a 4.3L VP and you axed for it. It really depends on what you want to do with your new boat, but consider the difference in top speed (in my estimation):

4.3L => 45 MPH
3.0L => 30 MPH

Not that you would cruise at WOT, but it speaks to capabilities.

 

[mike176]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

I've got a 3.7 and i cruise at an easy 30-35-love it. go with the 4.3 and you will not find yourself sayin i wish i had gone for the 4.3. A friend of mine has a 3.0 and hes gettin 35 at WOT with no1 in tow. If you like to ski you will want the power, i profer to ski at 35 or faster. If your more into wakeboarding 18-20 is a good range, tubes are fun around 15, and knee borders will like 15-20. I like to do all of that and normal all in the same day pluse if your able to do all of that every1 on the boat can have there thing. Don't forget if you have people out with you or your pullin some1 that WOT is going to be slower. on the other hand if your just into fishing the fish don't care how fast you get to the hole.

 

[artwork37]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

well the guy with the four winns had some kind of emergency come up and had to reschedule, so now I'm gonna see the boat on Thursday or Friday. Still have till Saturday to decide on the Larson.

So it would seem that all signs point towards the Larson (age, peace of mind, age, peace of mind) except that the engine is lacking and unfortunately that is a huge negative... So I'm really still stuck at square one.

as far as the bigger engine, the thing is 11 years old... that makes me nervous. Anyone have any suggestions about how many hours is too many hours? I haven't seen it yet, but that is a big concern... If I want to upgrade in two or three years, a 6-7 year old boat is gonna be far more attractive than a 13-14 year old boat right?

Maybe I just need to go out and wait for a better opportunity?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

as far as the hour meter is concerned tell you friend, 'he's full of bull' many many boats don't have hour meters. the 4.3 is a GM truck engine. 200 hours on a truck engine is nothing. how many hours does it take to put 100,000 miles on a truck. with either boat my concern is whether the manifolds have been changed, the last time the out drives have been off and serviced, bellows replaced, and alignment.

 

[artwork37]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

Ok, a new possibility has come up...

2001 Glastron 175sx
Volvo 4.3

Anyone have anything to say about Glastron boats? I've heard mixed reviews

 

[tommays]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

In all reality NOTHING in this price range is all that well built MY MAXUM included

But it is 12 years old and doing fine because i keep it dry and protect it from the sun when its not being used and do 100% of the required engine /drive matiance

There is a boat with a really bad quality rep , i know many people that own them and take good care of them and dont have any problems at all

I think you will find if you buy a clean boat and keep it clean and dry it should be fine

If you park it in the driveway bow down and dont cover than it will have problems no matter what you buy even a Cobalt

Tommays

 

[KCook]

Re: Help me decide... (New boat question)

Glastron SX and Larson SEi are very nearly the same boat. Made in the same plant. There are differences, but none major.

Kelly