New to me boat recommendations?

[emilime75]

Wondering if any of you fine folks could help by making some suggestions of used boats that meet my criteria...and if my expectations at my budget are even realistic.

1. No more than $10k.
2. I/O and jet drives only.
3. Bow riders, v-hull deck boats... No closed bows and/or cuddies or center consoles. I've also been looking at SeaDoo and Yamaha jet boats, but not likely to go that route.
4. No wood, all composite.
5. Size...depends. I don't need much. Most times it'll be just me, sometimes my girlfriend will join, occasionally we'll bring on a couple of friends. With that said, I like the idea of a bigger and heavier boat. The lake I'll be on tends to get a bit rough and choppy, hence why I'm not too keen the smaller/lighter jet boats that fit in my budget.
6. Sun deck...this is important to both me and my girl. We prefer interiors with a bench and sun deck over the I/O. For this reason, if I was to go jet drive, it looks like a mid 2000s Yamaha might fit.
7. No Bayliners I know, they're likely no worse than many others in my price range, but I had a bad experience with the construction of one and have a bad taste in my mouth for anything with a Bayliner name on it.

The main contender right now is a 2006 SeaRay 185 Sport with a 3.0 for $9k. It seems to fit the majority of my criteria, but I have yet to find if they used any wood. If it had the 4.3, I'd be making the 1.5 hour(each way) drive to go and look at it already.

Anyone know if that boat has any wood in it? SeaRay's archive doesn't have that year, it seems to stop at 2002 for some reason.

Another option that I can't get out of my mind, even though it has no sun deck and would likely be a rough ride, is the 1998 SeaDoo Speedster with the twin 800s.

Thank you.

 

[Scott06]

You didn’t mention how many people you want to take out? I have a 04 sea ray 200 sport is a good size for a family plus a friend or two, usually out with 6-8 ppl and skiing or wakeboarding.

I’m not sure if I’d let your distain for bayliner limit your options. Newer ones are much better than back in the day, and are made on same assembly line as the sea ray you mention above.

 

[cptbill]

True statement, anything from 1999 and newer are pretty well built boats

 

[Scott Danforth]

you wont find all wood for $10k and under

generally under $10k is iffy

98 sea doo will be a balsa core hull and suck fuel faster than I can drink beer. its also a 22-23 year old boat with a design life of less than 15 years

for chop, you want a heavy boat with lots of dead rise. there isnt a jet-boat in your budget that fits that criteria

 

[JimS123]

That SeaRay 185 sounds like just the boat you are looking for. My friend had one and its a really nice boat. His also had the 3.0 and it was more than adequate for tubing with 4 people aboard. Of course, he had it propped in SS, with the pitch dialed in for performance.

Now, it IS a 14 year old boat so condition is everything. If it was kept dry and maintained, its probably worth more than the asking price.

Personally, I'd take a dry garage kept Bayliner over a outdoor covered Cobalt that always had a wet bilge.

 

[emilime75]

You didn’t mention how many people you want to take out? I have a 04 sea ray 200 sport is a good size for a family plus a friend or two, usually out with 6-8 ppl and skiing or wakeboarding.

I’m not sure if I’d let your distain for bayliner limit your options. Newer ones are much better than back in the day, and are made on same assembly line as the sea ray you mention above.

I did, it would usually be me alone, or me and my girlfriend. Occasionally we'd invite another couple.

I understand what you mean with Bayliner. It's a personal problem :/ Maybe I'll look at some, guess I could always peel the logo vinyl off.

 

[emilime75]

That SeaRay 185 sounds like just the boat you are looking for. My friend had one and its a really nice boat. His also had the 3.0 and it was more than adequate for tubing with 4 people aboard. Of course, he had it propped in SS, with the pitch dialed in for performance.

Now, it IS a 14 year old boat so condition is everything. If it was kept dry and maintained, its probably worth more than the asking price.

Personally, I'd take a dry garage kept Bayliner over a outdoor covered Cobalt that always had a wet bilge.

Right now it is. Pictures look good, but those can be deceiving. It does not look like something that was stored uncovered and exposed to the elements.

 

[emilime75]

you wont find all wood for $10k and under

generally under $10k is iffy

98 sea doo will be a balsa core hull and suck fuel faster than I can drink beer. its also a 22-23 year old boat with a design life of less than 15 years

for chop, you want a heavy boat with lots of dead rise. there isnt a jet-boat in your budget that fits that criteria

Agreed, it just looks fun, but not likely something I'd actually buy.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you may want to also check on insurance on the jet boat. back in 98, I was looking at a Sea Doo Speedster..... until I got the insurance quote.

I personally would skip 3.0 powered boats and move straight to a 4.3 or more

 

[JimS123]

3 liter I/Os are probably the worst thing ever invented! I find it curious that they were manufactured longer than any other model, and more were sold literally than any other marine powerplant, except maybe a 9.9 outboard..

I had one for 35 years. During that time period my son had a 4.3 on a very similar hull, though his weighed a few hundred pounds more. His had the stock OEM prop, while mine had a custom pitched SS prop, that was pitched to obtain max spec rpm.

My boat jumped on plane, had a higher top end and used less fuel. We easily did watersports and the engine was easy to service. As I recall 1450 engine hours and still running like a top.

Given all the alternatives, if i wanted an I/O and the boat was 19' or smaller, (and if GM still made them) I would buy another 3.0.

 

[Sea Rider]

His had the stock OEM prop, while mine had a custom pitched SS prop, that was pitched to obtain max spec rpm. My boat jumped on plane, had a higher top end and used less fuel.

Congrats, way to go, any boat correctly propped for motor to run towards max wot rpm range factory stated will Jump on Plane instantly and consume less fuel at cruising speed. A day/night water performance difference compared to the performance of any motor with factory delivered prop.

Happy Boating

 

[KD4UPL]

I don't see you finding a wood free boat for under $10,000. Really, most any fiberglass hull power boat under $10,000 is more of a project than a boat. I'm not saying don't get one, just expect it to need some work, some repair, and parts replaced all along during your ownership. My first boat was an 8 year old 20' and it cost me over $10,000. That was 15 years ago.