Newbie here - does this appear to be a good deal???

[rshearin]

I'm in the market for my first boat. I want something big enough to have a few people on and would mainly use it just for putting around the lake. I might want to take it fishing a time or too as well. I came across a 2002 Chaparral 186si very close to my current location. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I just want to get an idea of if he's asking approximately the right price.<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br /><br />YEAR 2002 <br />FUEL GAS <br />MAKE CHAPARRAL <br />BUILDER Chaparral <br />MODEL 186 SSi <br />LOA 19' 0 <br />PRICE $19,800.00 <br />BEAM 8' 2 <br />HORSEPOWER 230 <br />ENGINE HOURS 35 <br />LENGTH FEET 19 <br />MAX SPEED 50 <br />HULL TYPE FIBERGLASS/COMPOSITE <br />FUEL (GALLONS) 35 <br />ENGINE TYPE SINGLE I/O <br />CATEGORY RUNABOUT <br /> <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION <br />2002 CHAPARRAL 186 SSi, 19' 0'' 2002 CHAPARRAL 186 SSI,19' This is the Cleanest, Nicest 186 on the market. 35 hours on the boat, New condition, I am selling because I am getting a bigger boat. Never used in saltwater. MerCruiser V-8 230 HP I/O; JVC CD Sound system. Cockpit remote, and transom remote key bads; bow, cockpit & swim step ice chests; Lots of storage in boat. Docking lights, Depth indicator, RITCHIE compass; KIDDE FireWatch Automatic Extinguishing System; tilt steering, snap-in carpet; bucket swivel seats; fully equipped. Prestige Trailer, Engine under mfg warranty to 6/2007. CONTACT ME FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS. NADA book value $23,290

 

[KCook]

Re: Newbie here - does this appear to be a good deal???

Considering how loaded that boat is with options it looks to be in the right ball park. No doubt there are cheaper boats without so many bells and whistles. Depends on how important those options are to you.<br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[rufnek100]

Re: Newbie here - does this appear to be a good deal???

Hey Hog Islander - seeing as how you know about what it's got, check the following for an idea of what it's worth (it will spit out an "option specific" value provided you know all of them) and you can compare what you find with his listing:<br /><br />www.nadaguides.com<br /><br />You might also try Boat Trader Online to see what the market is supporting for similar boats. That's a ton of options for sure.

 

[rshearin]

Re: Newbie here - does this appear to be a good deal???

Cool. Thanks for the replies! I've done a little comparison shopping and this one seems to be priced lower than most comparable boats in this class.<br /><br />This seems to be a pretty good deal for a solid, well-made boat. It looks like it would be an awesome first boat for my wife and I. <br /><br />From what I understand, Chaparral is up there in terms of quality and workmanship. Is this correct? Any other features that you think I'm missing out on?<br /><br />I think I'm going to go check it out this weekend. <br /><br />Thanks for all your help.<br /><br />HI

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Newbie here - does this appear to be a good deal???

You are doing exactly what I would recommend, based on being strictly a used boat buyer: you just have to spend the time looking at a lot of boats in the area you live (or are willing to travel to). You have to be patient and also be flexible enough to understand that the best deal might be found in a boat that isn't exACTLY what you set out to find.<br /><br />There are huge regional differences in used boats. Some areas tend to over-value a certain type of boat and/or motor because of local usage - and of course it would probably be worth more to you for the same reasons. <br /><br />If you happen to be in the market for a type of boat that isn't super popular in your area, that's where you'll more likely find the "terrific deal" as opposed to just a decent, fair value deal.<br /><br />Most importantly, it's very difficult to do "apples and apples" type of comparisons because used boats have almost always been set up with accessories differently by their original owners and there's an infinite range of condition for both the hull and engine. New boats are easier because they are .... new and have easy to compare hull, engine and accessories such as top, trailer, etc.<br /><br />It's sometimes hard to remember that accessories may or may not have value TO YOU. No matter what they cost, they don't add anything to the value to the boat if you don't need them and therefore don't justify additional cost at all. A boat with accessories you don't need is worth no more than the same boat without them.<br /><br />On the other hand, accessories that you actually want can really be a good deal because they tend to add very little to the actual selling price of the boat. It's kind of like landscaping if your selling a house - it doesn't really add as much as you think it should to the appraisal, but can realy improve 'salability'. <br /><br />For instance, my current river boat has a hydraulic jack plate, a jet lower unit (in addition to original prop lower unit), and both propeller and jet impellor are stainless. All of these things were pretty much low hours, having been added recently by original owner. I needed or wanted all of these things. To buy them if the boat didn't have them would have cost around $4,000 - which I would have been very reluctant to do. Based on the market I was looking at, they really hadn't bumped up the price at all, compared to similar boats without them. In other words, the hull/engine pretty much (not totally, but pretty much) determine the price. <br /><br />In the end, you just have to get an idea of what the market is by looking at a lot of boats. You'll have to decide how the total package (a) fits your needs (e.g. has accessories that are actually worth something TO YOU) and (b) if the price seems to make sense given the local market and the unique mix of accessories (that are worth anything TO YOU).

 

[KCook]

Re: Newbie here - does this appear to be a good deal???

Very nice boat. Here is a thread on another 'board about checking over used boats -<br /><br /> Trailer Boats Boards » ... » First time buyer questions <br /><br />Kelly