Invest in my current boat or buy new

[dDDay]

Hi Everyone..

Need some insight. I have a 2000 20' proline walk around and the engine is shot. Wife gave permission to buy a new boat, but I was budgeting for around 45k and nothing more. Seems like anything in that range is not going to get me anything past 20' and nothing I can take off shore, unless you have some boats in mind that are new down here in Florida.

How insane would it be to invest around 18k in my proline? I know it's old, but I really like it since I can't find anything else within my price range.

 

[Stinnett21]

You will likely get much input on this topic. Lot of good reading to do in the restoration category of this forum. I've learned a bunch there. Even if you never intend to engage in a huge project as some of the posters do it provides great knowledge pertinent to your question. Recommend starting there. I predict the starting point from those much more knowledgable than me will be to determine if your boat is rotten below decks before dropping 18K.

 

[Newbie@boats]

45k could get you bigger than a 20ft off shore boat where I’m at. Although putting a new motor on a boat that you love and suits your needs might not be a bad idea. Even if you spent 45k you may still need to invest money to make that boat 100% the way you want it.

 

[dingbat]

Not a bad budget if you take the time to find a good hull to repower.

You can get a good, low hour motor for $15k leaving you $25-30k for a good hull.

 

[alldodge]

Don't know what motor, but there are a pair of fresh rebuilt 500's for 12K each on OSO

 

[Scott Danforth]

Not sure what you have for a motor, however if its an I/O, you can build a new motor for less than you can buy one.

If outboards, find a low-hour fresh water motor

I always will side with refurbing what you have vs wasting money in depreciation

 

[dDDay]

Scott Danforth, right on. I didn't even think about looking at the great lakes region.

 

[Sprig]

What do you primarily us the boat for? Where do you use it? What kind of shape is the boat (excluding the engine) in? The answers could make a difference in whether the restore or get a new or newer boat. The saltwater environment can be devastating on boats that have been exposed to it as long as yours has ( 20 years)

 

[Texasmark]

Hi Everyone..

Need some insight. I have a 2000 20' proline walk around and the engine is shot. Wife gave permission to buy a new boat, but I was budgeting for around 45k and nothing more. Seems like anything in that range is not going to get me anything past 20' and nothing I can take off shore, unless you have some boats in mind that are new down here in Florida.

How insane would it be to invest around 18k in my proline? I know it's old, but I really like it since I can't find anything else within my price range.

Simple answers to a couple of questions: 1, do you like your current boat and 2 do you plan on keeping it for the foreseeable future? If yes, answer is a no brainer. Besides, you will enjoy the lower debt load or buy another toy that you really have been wanting with the $30+k you saved....including your lower insurance bill.

Edit: Oh........and you can take it out and USE it without worrying if you (or a passenger) are going to scratch something (like beaching it in the sand rather than anchoring out to keep the beach from scratching the hull)......been there done that on most of my boats over the years as I usually bought new. Now, after donating my last boat and for 5 years thinking I was out of boating at 78 (Ha), I just bought a 2002 boat which happens to be the most functional boat I ever had since I was a teen and it cost me a song. I can enjoy it without compromise. Aaaaaah, Life is good.

 

[dingbat]

Tried the Great Lakes route looking for my last boat.

Good offshore hulls are hard to come by. Most high HP outboards, when you find one, are gold plated.

Here are a couple local boats in your price range. Both quite a step up from your proline

https://m.powerboatlistings.com/view/63074

https://m.powerboatlistings.com/view/63553

 

[Scott Danforth]

best deals are not the great lakes, however in the Kansas/Missouri area/ 25% less than WI/MN/IL

 

[ahicks]

Unless it's spent much of it's time in the salt, and it's now displaying typical salty issues, I'm wondering about the potential for that "shot" motor to be refurbed as well. If it's a salty with salty based issues, I'd be looking at replacing it with something newer, even if it was just the power head. I would struggle buying a new motor for a 20 year old boat.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

I looked at a few Pro Lines in person and a lot on line. Not the same scenario I was looking at 22 to 26 maybe 28 foot boats. The Prolines all seemed to have less freeboard than I wanted. If your going to spend time in rough water or far from shore I’d rethink the whole thing and move up at least 2 to 4 feet 6 if you have the means to tow it and store it. Huge difference in a boat as you get over the 22 foot mark.

If your boat suits all of your needs and is in solid condition and your trailer is as well I’d shop for a new Suzuki OB and then price what you can find in low hours used from a fresh water area and weight that out. Nothing wrong with coming in under budget if your boat and trailer are solid and it is a boat that works for you.

And theres the other side of my story. I shopped for over two years new and used. There were two things that I wanted that i could not get in a boat that was very old, a toilet and a door in the side. I looked at boats without them but decided I have 20 years to spend in this boat and I wanted what I wanted. I bought new shopped very hard for it and I want to believe I got a decent deal on it. So before you commit to anything does this boat meet your needs long term and if not shop for another boat and then will this boat work for you till your done. I dont know how old you are or what your boat desires might be when this boats to old to be sea worthy. Are you going to wish you had upgraded in say 7 years but now boat prices are so batshit crazy that you wont or cant replace it then but a newer boat purchase today might see you through to the finish line. My new boat purchase is to get me to the finish line. And looking out long term it was more affordable to b up new now.