Purchasing a power boat in about a year.

[Jimwhall]

Just looking for some guidance, as the last boat I purchased was in '95. I'm looking for something that's going to be better for my family than my current 16' Sylvan. I love the Sylvan, it's just a bit small. I'm thinking something in the 18' to 19' range with a 4.6 or a 5.0. I've checked out and lurked a bit, but specifically, I have a few questions:

* There are boat brands I've never heard of! I'm used to Four Winns, Bayliner, Crownline, Rinker... but I'm seeing 'Astro' and 'Larson' (Which I've heard of, but nothing modern...) and a few others. Are there boat lines to avoid? Good values? Bayliners look nice, and are cheaper, but what's the catch? I like the Four Winns alot, but I'm not sure if they are decent boats? I'd love a Crownline, but can't afford one...

* I've only known people who have owned Mercruiser. The 4.6 and 5.0 liter motors seem nice and the outdrives seem solid. What about Volvo Penta outdrive? I've heard they are good but are they expensive to maintain?

* The Marina's near where I live have very mixed reviews. Some people have luck with them, some people don't. I was hoping to buy off craigslist and get a Marine survey done on the hull. But what about the motor? I have a car mechanic I trust very much. Given the 4.6 and 5.0 liters are originally car motors could a car mechanic look at one and give me an idea as to how good they are?

Thank you for any help!

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard:

If you're buying used, condition is the winner over nearly everything else. Do some reading HERE, and then take your time looking. Don't worry so much about brand, and watch more on how the previous owner took care of the boat and what kind of shape it's in now.

Brands like Four Winns, Rinker, Glastron, Sea Ray, etc. have always lived in the middle. Not the premiums, but not the cheap seats either. Nothing wrong with them, they can be very good boats. Brands like Crownline, Century and Chris Craft have typically enjoyed the premium category (and they are very nice), but they can be ridden hard and put up wet like anything else. A brand like Bayliner, Tracker or Stingray will be considered an entry level brand. Admittedly, sometimes they lack the fit and finish of the more premium brands, but well cared for they can be excellent boats.

If you stay with Volvo or Mercruiser drives with Chevy based engines in front of 'em, you'll be in pretty good shape. I've not had any experience with Volvo directly, so I don't know about the added expense of taking care of them. Avoid OMC unless you're prepared for owning something vintage, and doing your own work.

Car mechanic and marine won't be the same thing. They should get the general workings and probably are very capable, but marine engines have some specifics to them that you need to know about. Not that the car dude can't do it, it's just not going to be covered under their certifications - they'll be digging up information the same way you would.

 

[cptbill]

Having owned VP and Merc in the 2000 time frame I'll say that the VP parts tend to run a little higher than the Merc part but in my experience the VP is easer to work on. While your looking don't rule out outboards, these days there putting out some very large boats and they've gotten very advanced.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Are you looking to buy new or used? If used, what vintage and/or price range?

 

[bchaney]

I have heard the twin prop volvo outdrives are nice but the issue is not the cost of repair but finding a dealer/shop that works on them. Many more shops are familiar with the mercruisers.

 

[Jimwhall]

Are you looking to buy new or used? If used, what vintage and/or price range?

Definitely used. In my price range I'm looking from '05 up.

I've seen some nice boats that old that were well taken care of. I've seen some pretty nasty ones that look like they were left outside in the winter.

 

[Jimwhall]

Welcome aboard:

If you're buying used, condition is the winner over nearly everything else. Do some reading HERE, and then take your time looking. Don't worry so much about brand, and watch more on how the previous owner took care of the boat and what kind of shape it's in now...

Thank you very much!

 

[Jimwhall]

If a boat is well maintained, how much does the age matter?

 

[southkogs]

Possibly not at all. Bear two things in mind: 1) as things age, they tend to break / wear out easier. And 2) technology changes quickly. A boat made in the 1960s will have significantly different technology built in than what is used, or possibly just available today.

I owned a boat originally sold in the early 1970s, and it was relatively easy to keep operational. The biggest hitch on that was the drive system was antiquated and difficult to service. But the boat itself was in fine shape and did pretty well for me in a variety of situations.

 

[Scott Danforth]

If a boat is well maintained, how much does the age matter?

boats are designed with a finite life expectancy. on small runabouts, etc, that is about 15 years

that is when the motor will need some work, the drive will need to be torn down and re-sealed, the interior will have started to break down, all the plastic bits within the boat will start to break. the windshield glazing vinyl will have started breaking down due to UV

Manufacturers know that most new boats will be kept thru the warranty period or maybe a year or two after and re-sold. to keep manufacturing costs down, there is no financial incentive to make a boat last much longer than this and be able to keep making boats.

since you are looking at 15 year old boats, keep this in your mind.

also, any fiberglass boat in the sub $10,000 range this time of year should be considered a project. if you buy a boat in fall, most people selling are dumping their boats to buy new in the spring.

older boats that have been well maintained will have been kept indoors to minimize UV damage, will have been washed and cleaned after every use, will have the drive removed every year for the annual inspection and alignment, bellows will be redone every 3-5 years, raw water impeller ever 2-3 years, and the engine will be immaculate. Interior will have been treated every 30-60 days with a protectant on all the soft surfaces.

Well maintained and properly used boats will accumulate between 50 and 100 hours of use per year.

 

[H20Rat]

Possibly not at all. Bear two things in mind: 1) as things age, they tend to break / wear out easier. And 2) technology changes quickly. A boat made in the 1960s will have significantly different technology built in than what is used, or possibly just available today.

I was actually about to say the opposite! Things in the boat world tend to move very, very slowly. Carbs were still in use until at least 2002 or later. Alpha outdrives barely changed for 30+ years, and are still pretty much identical. Even modern boat technology is 10 years or more behind the automotive world.

For a 2005+ year boat, it is condition, condition, condition. Ignore brand, ignore hours, ignore year. It is all about the maintenance and condition of the boat.

 

[kpg7121]

Definitely used. In my price range I'm looking from '05 up.

I've seen some nice boats that old that were well taken care of. I've seen some pretty nasty ones that look like they were left outside in the winter.

Don't even think about buying anything without a sea trial.You cant tell how a boat will perform in the water hearing it run in someone's yard. Also, if you buy anything going back to '05 or so, rot may be an issue. If you find any soft spots in the decking walk away. I don't think you want a project boat. And if you know someone with some knowledge of boats ask them to go along on that sea trial. Best of luck.

 

[southkogs]

I was actually about to say the opposite! Things in the boat world tend to move very, very slowly. Carbs were still in use until at least 2002 or later. Alpha outdrives barely changed for 30+ years, and are still pretty much identical. Even modern boat technology is 10 years or more behind the automotive world.

I think we're kind of saying the same thing: I was thinking fit and finish items on the wear and tear, and electronics, lights and such on the others. Don't disagree with what you're saying at all.

 

[briangcc]

Just a point of clarification...in used you're looking at either 4.3L or 5.0L (possibly 5.7L). If you see 4.6 I don't think that's correct. Mercury just brought out their 4.5L in the last couple of years but those are most often found on catalytic engines - yes they are installing catalytic convertors now on boats.

In terms of smoothness the Volvo Penta will beat the Mercury hands down. If you're doing a few quick F-N shifts you could stall out a Mercury engine - I've done it and my boat has a whopping 16 hours on it. Non issue on Volvo. Mercury sounds like a blender going in/out of gear, again not so on the Volvo. On the flip side, Mercury parts and dealers abound, not so with Volvo and be prepared to pay a premium for Volvo parts...if the marina can find them. First hand experience, its why I don't own a Volvo Penta boat right now.

As for Bayliner, they have come a long way since their early years. I wouldn't hesitate if one was in your price range as long as its a newer model.

Stay away from anything you can find in one of the big box fishing stores - you know the ones with a big old bass on them. These are entry level boats and the trim/fit/finish shows it. My admiral can tear one apart in 10 minutes and she didn't grow up in a boating family.

 

[Jimwhall]

Thank you everyone for the advice!

I will do a sea trial; we have a couple of surveyors around that I was hoping to use to inspect the purchase.

I'm definitely looking for something I can use sooner than later, so maybe I'll save up a significant downpayment and get a loan too. The whole point is to have a boat I can take my kids out on during the HS years while I have them home. Getting something and just dumping money and not having the boat is pretty sub optimal.