Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

[jigngrub]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

You should consider buying new instead of buying someone else's problems.

 

[Lakes84]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

You should consider buying new instead of buying someone else's problems.

Oh brother, if I had a dollar for every time I've heard that! lol Take it off the lot...BAM! 15% loss in value, cuz it's now used.

If a person knows how to search for boats (or anything for that matter) You can save yourself a TON of money. Knowledge is power!

If I had a boat load of money...Sure! Why not buy new, but for the rest of us, well...you know Sorry for the hijack! Hope you find a good (used) boat you like soon! -Joe

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

Oh brother, if I had a dollar for every time I've heard that! lol Take it off the lot...BAM! 15% loss in value, cuz it's now used.

If a person knows how to search for boats (or anything for that matter) You can save yourself a TON of money. Knowledge is power!

If I had a boat load of money...Sure! Why not buy new, but for the rest of us, well...you know Sorry for the hijack! Hope you find a good (used) boat you like soon! -Joe

Uh-huh... and if they were happy with the boat they wouldn't be selling it!

Yeah!... gimme that 10 yr. old boat that has been slipped instead of trailer kept and covered, I love digging the rotten waterlogged guts out of a boat!!!

 

[Lakes84]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

Well, I guess you're richer than the rest of us! Congratulations!!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

You should consider buying new instead of buying someone else's problems.

Yes, I should . . . A new one of these is $220,000 MSRP with normal equipment. So, if I got a great deal then maybe $160,000.

Used ones are a fraction of that cost, depending on how used they are, etc.

I would think that the first year depreciation on a new one is about $50K. Depreciation on the ones that I am looking at is going to be about $3K per year.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

Sunday Update -

The Admiral and I looked at 2 more boats today . . . a Formula 280SS and a Cobalt 293. The Formula was in great shape, as was the Cobalt. They both were a bit newer than the ones in New Jersey. No trailers . . . so that is something to consider as I would like to have a trailer to pull the boat out of the water for maintenance and end-of-season haul-out, etc.

The Formula was in very good condition and had some extra electronics. The Cobalt was in good condition, but not quite as nice.

The Cobalt was a bit bigger all around, and one thing about the Cobalt 293 that we noticed was that the seats did not have as much depth to them . . . so you would need to have a small butt to sit in them. My thoughts were that they did that to make the cockpit a bit more 'roomy'.

Anyway, after looking at the Cobalt, we preferred the Formula.

So, in total, we have now seen 9 boats Formula 31PC, Formula F-311 SR1, Formula 330SS, Cobalt 293, and (4) Formula 280SS, and a Formula 280 BR.

It might be time to start the bidding . . .

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

Update -

I put a bid on a boat that needed a bit of work, all minor things, but quite a few issues nonetheless. After a little bit of back & forth, we could not come to terms. So, the search continues.

 

[Struc]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

Wow... In the economy you would think they would be eager to negotiate. Which boat?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

Wow... In the economy you would think they would be eager to negotiate. Which boat?

Formula 280SS is the boat . . . it needed about $7K worth of work. . . lots of small things but there were over 20 items total that i had noted during the showing. The asking price was fine for a boat in good repair. i offered the asking price minus the $7K;explained to the broker my rationale, etc, which was fine. It was a No-go with the seller. . . Then, I went up $1K. Still No-go.

The trouble that you run into is that some sellers are dead set on getting a certain (high) price for their boat, thinking that it is worth the price. It takes a while to wear them down . . . often months.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

I thought of this thread last night as I saw a 280SS in Maryland on Craigslist- it had twin 4.3L.
Keep up the search, Formula builds a great boat.

 

[canyonken]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

http://loz.craigslist.org/bod/3177240394.html

Not local to you - but there are a lot of nice fresh water boats to trailer home here in the mid west.

 

[canyonken]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/bod/3154298701.html

Here is a Sea Ray for you.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

I thought of this thread last night as I saw a 280SS in Maryland on Craigslist- it had twin 4.3L.
Keep up the search, Formula builds a great boat.

Yup, Arnold, MD. A slightly older boat and only 4.3's . . . quite a few in LOTO, but probably too far away. Some around the great lakes too.. Not much in my back yard . . . But I do have a list of about (10) 280 SS boats that I am keeping an eye on.

I had a Formula 242, so my focus has been on the Formula 280.

My buddy keeps trying to talk me into looking at a Sea Ray Sun Sport, but after owning a Formula, it would be tough to switch.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

Continuing my chronology of the 'boat search', I looked at another 280SS yesterday . . .

Blister rash on the hull, which I posted in a separate thread. . . . So, the search continues.

I am waiting for the "Fall market" and more boats to come on the market in anticipation of winter. One thing that I did notice, is that the "BUC Value" of the boats that I am looking at dropped about 7-8% over the past week. I am wondering if it is just the Fall market adjustment, or a reflection of the downward price pressure in the used market for these boats.

I did take some time out to go meet up with our good friend and trusted moderator, Bond-o. (great guy)

Here are a couple of pictures from the day . . .

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

It has been a week or so since my last update and I finally have an accepted offer on a Formula 330SS.

I had been searching for a 280SS and actually put in an offer on a boat in New Jersey this past Thursday. BUT . . . the Sales Manager at the marina had not gotten back to me in a few days.

Sooooo, I saw a 330SS come on the market up in Lake Winnipesaukee (NH) . . . it looked to be a good opportunity. The Admiral and I went up there today and met the owners . . . looked the boat over (and over) . . . and they even took us out for a ride (aka Sea Trial) We were out for about an hour and went all over the place.

The Owner let me drive for a while and I took the boat up to WOT . . . 54 mph. The boat seems to plane at a fairly low speed and stays on plane quite well. My 242 would always fall off of plane, if you let it get below 22 mph.

Anyway, when we got back to the slip and finished up, I made the guy an offer and we finalized things a little while ago.

Now time to get a survey and transportation for the boat to (hopefully) its new home on Cape Cod.

1996 Formula 330SS (33 feet) 8900 lbs
Twin Mercruiser 7.4 MPI 740 hours
Bravo 3 outdrives.

The boat looks half its age . . . probably in the best shape of any of the boats that we have seen over the past couple of months during our search. Here are a few pics that we took.

Interior/Cockpit



Walk-thru windshield up to the bow



Logo & Lettering looked to be new . . .



I was not sure how I would like the 'pink' accent on the hull, but in person, it is rather subdued . . . more 'coral' than pink.

Dual Helm seat and front bench seat along with the hatch to the cabin. . . . I like how Formula has a good set of steps up to the bow . . . pretty much goof-proof.



A view of the cabin & V-berth. There is a microwave, new fridge, and a stand-up head with shower. So, it will do for an over night on occasion. The bimini/canvas also has the full camper top.



As we were dis-embarking from the boat . . . I quietly told the Admiral that this one is not going to get away. In total, I believe we have looked at 12 boats . . . this was by far the best.

Anyone got some good referrals for a surveyor in the NH/Winnipesaukee area?

 

[NYBo]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Looks like a real beaut. Good luck!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Looks awesome. Congrats! Sorry we weren't able to get together on Winni today.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Congratulations! Looks beautiful!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Update: I found a surveyor that does both the vessel and the engines (a rare find) . . . so the sea trial and survey are this Friday (8/31).

I hope that there are no show stoppers . . . it would be good to not have to look at any more boats . . . at least for a while.

 

[emoney]

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

Re: Looking for a 'new' boat . . . Success !!!

I'd be surprised if you found any "show-stoppers" that weren't already at least an area of concern. From the pics, looks like a nicely kept boat. Good luck and I hope this is "the one"!