Need help finding my next boat

[Boatguy4607]

We recently sold our 1992 Celebrity 190 Br. We loved it and got great use out of it. She had been in the water on all sides of New York state. When buying the celeb there was very little research went into boat makes, models and mechanical proponents. Now with the boat gone we have started the search for a replacement boat for next season and that is where I am having trouble decided exactly what is good and what is bad. We have a budget of 5-6k and would much rather have a well maintained old boat than a poorly maintained newer boat. The time period the Celebrity was made is would do just fine.

Questions:
1.) Good and bad boat companies?

2.) Mercuiser vs Volvo Penta?

3.) We regularly boat in all sorts of water conditions from the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario and from research I know that a deeper v would handle rough water much better. How do I tell if the boat has a good V shape for my planned use, is it all observation or is there more to it?

4.) Is there a real difference between the handling of a 18 foot boat vs a 22 foot boat in a larger body of water and for towing activities? (ie: Lake Ontario)


From my research I have found the Follow

1.) Great Brands: Cobalt, Four Winns, Formula, Donzi,
Average Brands: Sea Ray, Crownline, Celebrity, Chris Craft, WellCraft, Chaparral
Entry Level: Glastron, Bayliner, Larson, Maxum
Am I missing anything or is something out of place? It's not to say that the lower ones are bad, looking at Original Pricing and build quality that is where they fall according to some people.

2.) Some say Mercuiser has more parts and mechanics around? Maybe Cheaper than Volvo Penta?
3.) I know that the Celebrity was a deep v than my friends 98' glastron 185 and the ride in rough water on the finger lake it's kept in is very apparent. I can't test every boat that I see how can I determine if it will be good enough to handle lake ontario
4.) We like the size of a 21 foot boat.

Any input would appreciated.

 

[Maclin]

I would move Crownline up to your top line I think.

MerCruiser v. Volvo Penta...:
Depending on how new of model years you can afford, Both are fine units. Sometimes the choice depends on where you live, and if you are doing the maintenance or a Dealer. If a Dealer, then depends on what the best Dealers close to you prefer to work on. For most, right or wrong, it ends up being MerCruiser.

 

[garbageguy]

Our 24+ ft Wellcraft with VP is the smallest of our boats I like to take on Lake Erie (and crowded weekend days on Niagara River). Have been on Ontario in friend's 18 or `19 ft Chapp - it was too small for that a few times.

But, there are many considerations - especially if trailering often/far

 

[briangcc]

Erie Canal you're in sheltered conditions - I've yet to see whitecaps there and I'm a block away. Lake Ontario you have to pick your days with either size boat. There are days you wouldn't want to be out on any sized boat - one of the recent forecasts was for 6-10' waves which was reminiscent of last year's flooding/storms.

Merc vs Volvo - check dealer support. When I bought my Four Winns there were at least a dozen local marinas that hung out the Volvo shingle. I think there's currently (3) in my area. Per one that I worked with their take is that Volvo makes it very difficult for dealers to find parts AND when they do they cost $$$. One of the major reasons I have a Merc boat now.

Personally, if the dealer support was there AND the cost of the parts were the same I'd prefer Volvo. It is night and day difference between the two in regards to shifting. Merc clunks while the Volvo is a very smooth transition. And the Merc temporarily kills the motor shifting into Neutral - I've yet to get used to this - Volvo won't.


From your price point...it's going to matter a lot less as to the make of the boat and a lot more as to the condition. The bonus is that right now owners are starting to realize that they have to winterize and store it so they're now looking to sell before they have to shell out $$.

 

[SkiGuy1980]

I agree with Brian, you should focus on condition. That said, I've found that generally the bigger boats ride better and handle chop much better. It may have been the hull shape of those I was on, but I feel more controlled in the longer length when running rough water.
I always thought the Volvo outdrive was too large and put the prop too far back. Just an observation of mine when looking to buy last summer. Smooth shifting would be a pleasant thing to experience though

Best of luck!