Please help buying decision maxum vs searay

[Keecho]

Normally i would opt searay all day but..
My budget on a boat is 5k
Going to be using it both for ocean fishing and lake towing cruising.
Ive narrowed it down to a sport cuddy cabin.
The 2 boats ive narrowed it down to are.

1. 1992 searay 200 20ft cuddy 4.3 merc and alfa one outboard. Clean condition 300 hrs. Single axle trailer.
$3900.00

2. 1997 maxum 2100sc cuddy 5.7 merc alfa one, stock freshwater cooling and efi i believe. Also clean 200+ hours dual axle trailer.
$5500.00

Normally i would pick the searay if packages were similar but one is a v8 and one is a six also 5 years newer and better trailer.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jack

 

[spoilsofwar]

Buy the boat in better condition, more well maintained, newer, all else being equal. Brands mean little in used boats.

If you have the money for the more expensive, newer, bigger, with larger engine, the Maxum seems a no-brainer to me. Do you really value the Sea-Ray name so much you would overlook all that in favor of it? Because to be honest, the name is worth nothing as far as construction goes. Also, if you weren't aware, the same company (Brunswick) built both boats.

 

[Thalasso]

Ocean fishing? Neither boat is suitable for this. There lake boats.
If your using it for tubing then opt for the bigger engine. Maxum was bought by SeaRay (Brunswick Marine) and then discontinued.

 

[Newbie@boats]

I completely agree, both boats will not be suitable for an enjoyable fishing trip, IMHO.

I had a 2001 19.5 Bayliner used it for a week salt water fishing, sold it, and bought a more suitable fishing boat instead.

But it seems the maxum would be a no brainer in this case

 

[southkogs]

I concur about the fishing boat ... you'd be happier with a walk around cuddy, I think. All things being equal otherwise, if the Max is in good condition I wouldn't be afraid of it vs. Sea Ray.

 

[Keecho]

I think ill buy the maxum, thx guys. But just curious why they couldnt they be used for ocean fishing? I dont mean hardcore blood and guts all over the place every weekend fishing. I mean once in a while if i wanted to take my son out 1-2 miles 150ft deep and put 2-3 rods in the water? Im not disagreeing but just trying to learn, is there a better choice of boat type for dual use? Whats a walk around cuddy? Ive seen center consoles but they look for like fishing boats. I think the primary use of this boat would be me + kids and wife pulling baloons and the ocasional maybe 2 times in 2 months fishing ocean with 2-3 people max.
Thanks for the input
Jack

 

[southkogs]

The hull on boats like the cuddys you're lookin' at aren't really designed to handle big chop. "Ocean" means a lot of different things, but I've been out on a 19' center console fishing in the Gulf and a storm caught us off guard. We were in big stuff coming back in to shore and it was pretty creepy. It wouldn't have been certain doom for the boat's you're looking at ... but it would have been "creepier," and would have needed a pretty experienced skipper to come all the way home.

Center consoles, dual consoles and walk around cuddy cabins are typically designed with a little higher deadrise and more bow rake to handle bigger water.

That's why we're all suggesting something other than the boats you're looking at. The consensus would probably be that they are a safer boat in big water.

What ocean are you going out on?

 

[Newbie@boats]

Not sure what bait you'll be using for fishing, but I was using squid/sand worms, and they drip...spill...etc and my boat REEKED of bait and as much as we tried to avoid it blood still ended up in the boat. If it has snap in/out carpets that would be ideal if that's the type of boat you're looking for. Like stated I bought a 19FT walk around trophy with no carpet and all fiber glass floors so it makes washing it a breeze. I took it out with 5 people over the weekend and it worked the same for me as my old Bayliner Capri did.

 

[airdvr1227]

I'll be the devil's advocate and point out the hours on both are suspicious. If the Maxum is EFI you might be able to get the hours from the ECU.

 

[drrpm]

The cabins on small cuddys generally just end up being used for storage space and they lose potentially useful bow seating/fishing space. While those boats could be used for the OP's stated purpose there are far better choices. I'd consider a fish/ski boat and stay off the ocean or maybe a center console.