New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

[capnharley]

We are making our first boat purchase this weekend. We are testing the following: Sea Ray 210 Select - 5.0 MerCruiser MPI(260hp), Four Winns H200 - Volvo Penta 5.0(220hp), and a Cobalt 202 - Volvo Penta 4.3 GXI/Dp(225hp). Any information would help.

Thanks

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

We are making our first boat purchase this weekend. We are testing the following: Sea Ray 210 Select - 5.0 MerCruiser MPI(260hp), Four Winns H200 - Volvo Penta 5.0(220hp), and a Cobalt 202 - Volvo Penta 4.3 GXI/Dp(225hp). Any information would help.

Thanks

I'd go with.......Buy the one you like?
You asked.

 

[jevery]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

All top quality boats. I'd stick to V8's on 20 footers.

 

[capnharley]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

Thanks. I was feeling the same way about the engine. I guess the test drive will tell.

 

[CatTwentyTwo]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

If you feel that you need advice asap on your first ever boat purchase, you should probably wait. It sounds like you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself to make a choice this weekend. It is a buyers market, take your time. There will still be boats for sale next weekend.

 

[rebars1]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

What ryoung said. You did not mention how much experience you have had with boats. Take your time. There's gazillion boats out there. They will still be for sale next week!

 

[fishmen111]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

Sea Ray.

 

[Firestar]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

SeaRay.
MPI fuel management is the best out of what you have listed.
V-8 for a 20footer.
I'm partial to Merc outdrives too.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

All new? I personally feel the Cobalt is the best quality of the 3. If it performs well with that engine, I would much rather own that.

 

[capnharley]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

Thank you all for the advice. We have some experience with boats, but not too much. Since we are going with a new boat, we have looked at all the local dealers in the area and narrowed it down to these three.

 

[tommays]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

Volvo Penta 4.3 GXI/Dp(225hp)


If that is in fact a duo-prop drive it is the best drive and will have very good performance

 

[capnharley]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

Really...? Our first sea trial is in the Cobalt tomorrow. I am really excited. It seems that we are getting more bang for our buck with the Sea Ray, but I have a feeling we will fall in love with the Cobalt.

 

[capnharley]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

Yes, all three boats are new.

 

[Firestar]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

Just like in cars, there is no substitute for cubic inches when it comes to power. A V-8 will just loaf along when a V-6 is straining it's milk.
MPI is really efficient too.
The 5.0 will have an easier time planing off with a full boat.
It will also pull water toys easier especially with a few people on board.

 

[capnharley]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

The Sea Ray will be the last boat we drive on Saturday. Since it is the more powerful engine out of all three, I am hoping to see a bit of a difference. My only worries about the Sea Ray is that it's the dealers last 2007 model. Why? It should have four speakers, but only has two.(???) Okay, no big deal, they are putting in two more for us. I am worried about getting a lemon. Does any of this make sense or am I being rediculous?

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

For your sea trials make sure you load the boat as if you were heading out for the day. Coolers, kids, water toys.....................friends and family if that's going to be the norm. Two constants with boats..............1, they get small when you add water.....................and 2,................................. they loose performance when you add weight. Good Luck.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

The Sea Ray will pay back dividends in years to come on resale, that the other two will not. This does not mean the other two are not fine boats, just that quality history keeps SRs values up. I love the VP Duo, but I love Sea Rays even more.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

The Sea Ray will pay back dividends in years to come on resale, that the other two will not. This does not mean the other two are not fine boats, just that quality history keeps SRs values up. I love the VP Duo, but I love Sea Rays even more.

I believe the Cobalt will also maintain its value as well as if not better than the Sea Ray................Cobalt is after all one of the premier boat lines.

 

[capnharley]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

We had our test with the Cobalt today. Man, you can definately tell the quality and craftsmanship of this boat. The vinyl is like butter compared to the other two. The ride was unbelievable! I was mistaken on the motor, it's a Volvo Penta 4.3Gxi Sx. That is the only thing we are concerned about with this boat. It did fine with three of us on the boat, but what about up to 6 people and tubing...? We were told that the Sx drive is equal to a Bravo one.

 

[pjrogers]

Re: New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

That Cobalt is not the kind of 18' runabout that a 4.3L motor will transform into a wonderful ride. For that size of boat, I'd say a 5.0L is the minimum power you'd want, especially if you are taking several adults and kids along. Friends of ours had a Sea Ray 210 with a 5.0L B3, and it performed very well even loaded with (rough guess) 600 lbs of people, a couple of coolers full of food, and a full tank of gas. A 4.3L would likely have been a bit of a dog with that load. As for quality, my vote is for the Sea Ray, but that is mostly because we have a 230 Signature 6.2L B3 that we like very much indeed.