Best to Worst Bow Riders in Today's Market (Where is You Boat Ranked?)
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- Опубліковано 15 лют 2021
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Cobalt. When my family bought ours in 1986 the dealer said all others are “disposable boats.“ I still have that boat in my garage today and it’s in immaculate shape. The dealer was right. This boat was built to last.
Guess so if you put it in a garage! Have had my 1974 bayliner outside since 1977. Only have put in new seats once and carpet. But I agree, Cobalt boats are the best.
I feel sorry for you
I still have my brothers 1984 Bayliner. Still running strong. Guess the dealer was selling you
@@richmac918 Most bayliners in the early days were just bad…. bad built boats.
@@richmac918
In the 80's to early Bayliner boats were complete junk. Maybe you got lucky.
My dad had 2 sea rays he bought new in the 80s. He sold his smaller speed boat in the early 90s. Still has his 22’ cabin cruiser to this day. It has held up great, even sitting in the desert sun for almost 40 years.
@@wranglercody8422 I bought a late 80’s 22.5 SeaRay Express “Fish and Ski” in 1995. It was the greatest boat!
I'm going to agree with most of what you said but take issues with some comments. My first boat was a 1984 Regal 195 cuddy. When I bought my boat my younger brother bought a 16" 1984 Bayliner bowrider. We'd boat together and although I paid 4 times what he did his little Bayliner road like a Cadillac and mine like a truck with broken springs. Get into a chop and I used to think the Regal was going to split in half. It was nothing short of horrible. I did a lot of work on both boats and I noted some differences in the construction (more through bolting on the Regal versus screws on the Bayliner) and one piece continuous stainless steel rails on the Regal versus stainless steel rails pieced together on the Bayliner. Other that some minor stuff not all that different, certainly nothing to justify the cost differential.
There are three basic parts to a boat - the hull, the motor and the trailer (if one is supplied). The trailer is a trailer, the motors are, as you pointed out identical, and then the hull. I've owned a lot of boats or have friends with different types of boats and I can say I have never seen a hull issue on any boat (with the exception of a big Sea Ray that split). Yes one manufacturer might use a better layup of glass but it can't, in my mind, justify the cost differential. And remember, that stern drive Cobalt is buying from Mercury (Brunswick) is the same company that owns Bayliner. Who do you think is paying less for the engine? And so it all comes down to the hull. Is it worth paying 5 times as much for a Cobalt as a Bayliner? Certainly not in my mind.
Just brought home a brand new Bayliner VR6 with a Merc150 outboard, so this comment just made my day.
@@evans1pt Congrats, enjoy it, I'm cetain with a little care it will last many years. Don't be a dope like some of the people I've seen. When not in use, cover the thing and protect it from the elements. Just because it's a boat doesn't mean that you can let it fill up with water or leaves or let it bake in the sun. A little care goes a long, long way.
A great way to judge build quality and value is to look in storage compartments and engine bay. Is it just spray painted or is it finished out. That build characteristic lead me too a Cobalt.
The icing on the cake was ride quality in 1-2’ chop. No slamming no rattling and could still maintain low 30s mph.
I have a 1992 Sea Ray overnighter 20 ft with a 210 horsepower. My dad purchased this boat it's a little over 30 years old and I'm telling you that it runs just as good as when my dad got it in 1992. The construction of this craft and I'm going to call it craft is outstanding I still have the original seats carpeting the wood is fantastic the whole boat is awesome. The fiberglass on this boat shines like a mirror over 30 years old it runs fantastic. I just changed the bellows two weeks ago after 30 some years I just changed them you do the math. It has a 4.3 L V6 cylinder and it is rocking. Sea Ray boats in my opinion are number one! Something to think about people the old Sea Ray boats are rocking too don't be afraid to purchase one.
Me too! Dad left a 1990 260OV that still looks great, just had it out last week looking at the fall fall.. cheers!
As a non boater. Chris-Craft reminds me of old 1920s wooden motorboats. Scarab..... Baywatch. Yamaha.... motorcycles and pianos. When i was child, i spend many weekends on a bayliner. It was my friend's father's bayliner boat. I never knew it was trash, but it meant fun weekends on the lake.
My impressions.
I currently run a 1979 Chaparral 244V-C. Solid boat, thick fiberglass construction, and very good craftsmanship. Transom/stringers are original, with the only downside being the side storage Teak had lost its shine and color from sun.
Well done, so happy there is a video I can point people to, to get the info it took me months to gather from various forums
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon 2005 cobalt 200
Just upgraded from a 1983 20ft webbcraft br (my first boat) to a one owner, low hour 2006 chaparral 246ssi, 350mag bravo 3, kept on the same freshwater lake its whole life, im excited
I’ve got a 1999 Mariah , full fiberglass and still a gorgeous wonderful maintenance free boat . 4.3 engine inboard. Swim deck , fantastic handling. See you on Bull Shoals in May . Woohoo !!!
I have a 96 Cobalt 253 with over 1600 hours. Still looks and runs like new. Extremely well built and designed boat.
It’s a Volvo 7.4gi w/ DPS DUOPROP. All original other than exhaust manifolds. Dealer added closed coolind when new. I’m the 2nd owner and boat came with all records since day one. I feel fortunate to have found this one.
I have a 2012 Four Winns H210SS absolutely love it. I've grown up on boats my whole life and been on several. My Grandpa has a Regal and dad has a Cobalt. I can say if you are considering a four winns go for it. They are for sure up there in the top along with the others. All solid and great running boats, and build quality is fantastic.
We have a 17ft 1986 Mark Twain MTB125 115hp Power Of Tower she's awesome
Hi Cody how are you doing 😊
I bought a new 1997 Maxum 1700SR with the 3.0 LX mercruiser. I still have it now and it's been a great boat.
I don’t even own a boat, but this was still a fun watch. Thanks
I think it was around 2000 when Tim Claxton (owner of Crownline then) had a Sea Ray off to the side in the plant and reverse engineered it to introduce the "Glass liner" in Crownlines. I think it was the 201 that got "Boat of the Year" in 2001.
Have a 2007 Sea Ray 240 SD - absolutely love it.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon - last year, in the midst of the Covid buying frenzy, the dealer offered to buy it back from me for more than what I had paid for it. Ha - Nice try, Mr. Dealer!
I had a 97 Baja 212 Islander for 8 years and loved that boat. Sold the Baja and then purchased a 02 Maxum 2300. The Maxum is just a better boat all around. More room, better quality, and a deeper V hull slices thru the waves so much better than the Baja.
I'm very happy with my Regal 196se. I bought it used off craigslist. Previous owner did a MPI repower. Super reliable fuel efficient and enough speed and power to be satisfied
I own an immaculate 2004 Regal 2000. Best designed boat Ive owned.
love it. Wont ever hesitate to buy another if I ever have the need.
Thank you for your informative video. I have a Crownline 2005 22.5 EX . Beautiful design and 30,000 less than the Cobalt that required me to empty my own head manually!
So, first time boat owner and after months of looking we couldn't find an outboard in our price range we liked. We took the recommendations against an I/O from the dealer and others online that agreed we needed to start with an outboard since it was mixed fresh and saltwater use. Ended up deciding on a 2022 Sea Ray IPX 190 OB we really do love. Sea trials went well, that day a short outing went well. Next trip the hydraulic hose for the steering vibrated so loose I stopped because we had no steering and it had a whole 2-3 threads attaching it. We got a tow and barely got it on the trailer but did damage the prop. Got it fixed at the dealership who also fixed the scratch and less than 24 hours later were back because the battery was dead. Test showed 9v and it wouldn't charge. So they replaced it with a nice lunch on them.
So even a good quality new boat can have issues. Still love the boat and already am working to find a way to upgrade to something that we can hit the Gulf in.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon wife is getting less scared since she grew up in the desert and I was rivers and canoes until moving. I loved summers as a kid with grandpa in the Gulf and fishing plus just cruising. I may be 52 with a 9 year old but she loves water and the boat is her happy place!
As for the dealer, MarineMax has been great for us. Honest and when I compared prices not the lowest or high. Can't complain especially with the service and support we have gotten.
I feel that alot of the brands (even Bayliner) have stepped up their game compared to some of the boats 20 years ago. For awhile it seemed like alot of people were switching to Aluminum for the cost. Now it seems like SOME of the aluminum builders are lacking in quality. Campion seems to be starting to gain in popularity in my area now. A couple of dealers are dabbling in them.
Welcome back! :)
I have a 2007 236SSX Chap, but you are correct, Cobalt's are awesome! I do love my bird though
You had ChrisCraft in your opening list, but left it out of all the rankings and didn't mention it. No longer made, but fantastic boats! You get your hands on a well maintained ChrisCraft, you've got yourself a solid boat.
Please keep in mind that even with a given manufacturer quality can vary from year to year.
Supply , demand , economy, availability of qualified workers, and a company’s financial position can greatly effect the quality of their products.
I was a water tester for 4 summers at a large marina and got to drive many different boats, and many of the same model. There are poor quality new boats and excellent used boats out there.
I liked driving some of the older boats that came in for service. The test of time reveals what boats have held up over the years and those that haven’t. Owner care and maintenance definitely play a part too.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon How do I contact you
It’s awesome I found this cause there’s some sweet crownlines with low hours for what seems like great prices around me and I love the style and engine
I worked at Crownline for years. After the Claxtons sold out back around 20 years ago, they really started going Downhill and the new owners aren't Nearly as generous to their employees like the Claxtons.
This was soooooo Spot on !!!! great job
This is the video I have been looking for. Thank you. If I need to find one on Tritoons.
I think your lists are 💯 spot on
Cobalt builds the best recreational boats in the world in my opinion. My grandpa was a lifelong boater, and he owned about a half dozen in his boating career. Somewhere in the 80s a friend told him about Cobalt, and that if you buy one it will be the last boat you ever own. He finally stepped up to one in 1999 when he got his 232 bow rider, and true to the word it was the last boat he ever owned and he loved every minute he spent on that boat. Everything about it just said quality. I was lucky enough to have piloted it numerous times as his eyesight started to fail and I absolutely loved the way that boat handled and rode. Grandpa passed away last year at the ripe age of 84, still think of him anytime I see a Cobalt puttering around down in Annapolis. If I’m ever lucky enough to have a boat of my own, it will surely be a Cobalt 23-25 foot Cuddy as I prefer them to the bow riders.
Great video! At 13:45, did you miss the inside structural support "beams"? Or are there none up to a certain size of hull?
Hi Edward how are you doing 😊
I actually really like Tahoe boats I think the 700 has great lines and I love the features you get considering the price. Definitely not the best boats out there but if I was looking at brand new boats I’d strongly consider one considering I’d be on a budget. They’re new 210 ob looks great too
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I have not! I’ve only been on them at boat shows and whenever I visit a bass pro shop. But from my experience being on them the fit and finish is pretty good and the simplicity of the whole boat makes me believe they’d last a long time. Less to go wrong
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I agree. Personally I like just a plain boat with the bare minimum except maybe a stereo package and an upgraded engine package. That’s all I need. Some of these boats could be tens of thousands of dollars cheaper without all of that fancy stuff that won’t work right after 3 seasons in the elements. I’m also cheap so that fuels my opinion too lol
Cobalt, four winns and chaparral have always been the nicest in my experience
I am looking at a Larson LX 17 is something in particular than i have to check on? Is a 2007 Bowrider
I'm very interested in the Chapparral 21SS1 but wondering why a high level, high quality built boat is so much lighter than others in it's price and range?
Thanks, awesome video!
Tahoe has stepped it up since 2017 or so, they are getting nicer and nicer and the 2150cc is a super versatile family fun boat that's around $50,000. Not really just a value brand anymore.
I agree with you but I love the look of the Four Winns H1 it is so sleek. I might throw caution to the wind a bit if I actually had a chance to buy a Four Winns but around here we don't. For me it would always be Sea Ray as a quality standard boat.
The H1 looks a like a Cobalt from a design influence. Hardware and thickness of materials not on par, but cool that they look similar on the water.
We looked at the Sea Ray SPX 19 and 21 and Four Winns H1 OB. Both SPX’s interior space felt cramped especially the bow. The seat and coaming cushions were thinner and more spartan compared to the Four Winns.
The SPX had a nice helm and pretty scallop designs in the hull though. They also had more storage, but only because of the stern drive box which takes up a lot of space. The Sea Rays had very little bow storage though.
Both are nice in the end, but the Mexico-built Sea Ray SPX are more expensive when equipped similarly to the Four Winns.
Can you confirm that Malibu owns the Cobalt and Axis brands? What are your thoughts on the Axis A24? Looking as a second time boat owner with a lake house in Texas on a constant level lake.
Great advice here! My wife’s uncles are big into boats. One has a 95’ Cobalt 24’ , the other has a 96’ Four Winns 240 Horizon, and I just picked up my first boat. A 98’ Larson 226 LXI. Athe cobalt is actually and sadly in the worst shape of the three. But all still great boats! Especially that Four Winns.
Curious about your thoughts on Ebbtide boats? I bought brand new in 2006 when they were still hand laid in Tennessee. My family has grown and we have outgrown our 180 bowrider. My boat still looks showroom ready with only a few minor scratches. Obviously ive taken care of it but this still to me says how well this boat was built. Since they were bought and I think moved to the China market is there a comparable quality mfg in 2022 you would recommend? Fresh water only here.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Great, thanks!
Do you have any idea what the optimum length of fiber is for reinforcing any given matrix material? Each individual chopped strand is many thousands or millions of times longer than the optimum length. The difficulty with chopped strand is the compaction not the length of each strand. Vacuum compaction is better for any layup. In fact the cloth layering can be worse as a structure than the chopped if the layers are not compacted or if more of the matrix material is included than is optimum. The best combination is a layered technique that is not impregnated until the layers have been compacted with a vacuum system. Then the matrix is introduced with multiple injection points in the exact ratio of matrix to reinforcement.
This video is top-tier! One thing I was left wondering, in the first slide you placed Glastron in the value-level, but in the summary sheet it was in middle category and not even at the bottom of the list. Has this brand gone up and down also?
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Thanks for the clarification! For some reason there are lot of Sea Rays, Bayliners and Glastrons in Finland, but not a whole lot other brands. Really can't find Cobalts or Crownlines.
Informative video. We’ve got an old Thundercraft Malibu 25th anniversary model inboard boat with a 3.8 gm v6 and an omc stringer 800 drive. There’s actually nothing wrong with it except for the fact that the lag bolts for the motor mounts keep coming out, my guess is the stringers themselves are rotted which is such a same considering how beautiful the thing is for it’s age. It’s actually the boat they used in the 1985 brochure. I’m no stranger to mechanical work but I have no experience with hull work. I wish I knew how to rebuild the stringers properly so it could serve us well for another 30 years.. sigh I miss tubing!!
You'd have to cut it open and hog out all the rotten wood with a chainsaw. Then you can mix up epoxy with chopped fiberglass and EPS balls and pack it in there. Then fiberglass the hole. Most of the strength of those stringer type components come from the fiberglass shell and not the wood inside, as you may have noticed. That being said, I still think it's important to have solid material inside.
Where would you put the original Mariah boats like the Z252 - Z302?
2001 was the end of quality Mariahs because Sea Fox bought the name and most of the molds, but refused to hand lay, aluminum back through hardware, ... Challenger did pick up some of the molds 25’ and up, but produced very few of the hulls because they were a boutique brand.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon
I searched high and low for a good large Z model for several years with no real luck. My timing was never quite right. I ended up getting an early ‘90’s 260 Sea Ox that had been fitted out for family cruising. I’ll be dropping it in the drink in a couple months. Hoping it gets the job done for my huge family
How does the quality of a NauticStar construction rate in your opinion?
Sea Ray is now priced the highest. I bought a new 2012 Sea Ray 250 SLX. It was nice but not really as good as Cobalt, Regal, or Chapparel. I have had 2 new Regals as well. Plus a new Regal LS6 on order. I would Rank them Cobalt, Chapperal, Regal, Sea Ray
The Sea Ray dealers here think their SPX models are value priced Cobalts, but they’re not close. The SPX are made in Mexico along side Bayliner. I would put Four Winns ahead of Sea Ray in your list when looking at boats under 24ft.
Can we get one of these for pontoons?
My Bayliner 175 is built thin and light - doesn't measure 17 and a half foot like the name suggests, it's only 16 and a few inches, but with the 3.0 Mercruiser it FLIES nearly 50 MPH and is faster than a "well-constructed" 17 footer with the same power.
I have a friend on my lake that has that same boat. It’s everything you say. We’re on a small lake that doesn’t get really rough. He bought it new several years ago and asked my advice at the time. He knew what it was but it was in his budget and he understood what he was buying. He’s been happy with it.
I just got a 89 Baja.Sun sport. Real good shape for its age. Fun and powerful yeah you'll hit easy
Shout out to Mariah, still have my 1999 Shabah 182 in excellent condition. “Built and equipped like no other boat in the world”.
I keep visiting my local boat dealer and (gasp!) have been looking over the Bayliner VR series Bowriders mostly with the 4.5 Mercruiser setup. I'm seeing quality stainless hardware and some nice materials and build quality all around. WIndshield is very secure. Checked out the hatches and under deck and it looks pretty tempting to me for an overall package as an average dude. Plenty of deck drainage, no wood construction.. Is this series a buy for a decent family lake runabout for general skiing? I swore off Bowriders in the early 90's when my 1989 Sea Ray 18 Seville developed some wood rot only a couple of years into ownership and by 1997 needed a new deck, stringer and major rework in other areas (side panels, seats). At the very least, the VR's are a monumental leap forward from my last bowrider or do I need to have my head examined.
Look at Tahoe too.
Great video but I was disappointed to see Rinker wasn’t in there I have one I’m rebuilding now sad to see they’re out of business
Excellent. Thank you!
Late to the party but I had a Larson 186. It rode so rough I couldn’t wait to get rid of it. Other than that it seemed pretty decent for build quality.
Hi Nick how are you doing 😊
What’s Kevlar used for in a boat ?
I have an Ebbtide Campione 190, that an obscure brand?
Was just at bass pro shops today the price of new boats is unbelievable
Dude!! I'm sure you'd agree Ebbtide should be in your top grouping!!
sea rays are just beautifull
I have a 1999 Sunbird 17ft bowrider equal to a Bayliner i guess and still holding up great. Didnt seem to make your list.
Great PowerPoint presentation
Just got a 1990 OMC Cobra Phantom 160 that's pretty nice!
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon thanks for the reply and I will! May have to take it to a shop as it's very irratic starting cold even after replacing plugs, setting points at .019 and timing 10° BTDC, and replacing electric fuel pump and rebuilding carb. Rochester two jet.
As a Western Canadian, I have to give a shout-out to Campion. Great boats.
BC or Alberta? just bought a Campion 2 days ago
Why exclude the Yamahas from your pick of brands? I wanted to hear how they compare.
I have a Cobalt and indeed it is the number one boat.
Quality is very good and it has a kevlar reinforced hull.
Driven many boats but Cobalt is the rolls royce among the boats.
Can you do a video on pocket Cruisers. The Beneteau and Jeanneau type.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I just bought a 1979 Lancer 29 and am very happy with my purchase of this boat in comparison to the Catalina 27 i tried to buy last year. A lot nicer cabin with much more natural finished wood. Also like the layout better. Catalina has the reputation of a cheap boat that is still very popular and accessible but it really has a cheaper look and feel up against this Lancer. Which has a warmer and nicer cabin. Has a second roof hatch on the Lancer and just seems better thought out in many of the design features and details. Lancer 29-3, my model is much rarer having a way shorter production run. Oddly enough the ad for my boat had it listed as a 27' when it is in fact a 29'. Actually it probably is just above a Cat in many ways. Still seen as an entry level sail boat which is fine with me.
love my crownline with my 454 😁
Not a direct bow rider question but do you have an opinion on Yamaha 21 FSH 255 E? I have a deposit on one as I am new to the Sarasota, FL area. Feel it is a decent value for the layout, electronics and 500 HP. Thanks!
You're going to love it. If it's your first jet boat, you'll discover the learning curve with docking. After you master it you'll will love it. I'm a yamaha jet boat owner, this is our second boat and we love it. My is much smaller, we have a 2019 SX 195.
My friend just got a brand new one about two months ago. It is fast and very responsive. The one thing he is a little disappointed in is the rough sea feel. It is a bit bangy in chop. It feels light. It is a great smooth water boat. It is not the boat to take out on a windy day with 2 foot chop and expect to blast at 40 mph. The other thing already mentioned is learning to come into the dock with wind and current. Remember that jet boats have almost no steering when power is off so the boat tends to slide around in funky ways just when you are trying to maneuver up to a dock or get it in a slip working against the wind. One of the good things is that it is one of the most inexpensive ways to get into a twin engine configuration that gives you zero radius turning and engine redundancy to get home if you lose an engine.
@@blaster-zy7xx The 25’s are not out yet, he must have a 210. The 255 has a deeper V for offshore.
@@Lonewolfx959 Sorry, my bad. I confused the year number with the length. The 21 foot FSH is a very light boat. The 25 will be a MUCH more substantial boat. And a deep V will do better in chop, I would be very interested in how that boat shakes out. I've only seen pictures and it is a very attractive boat. Sarasota is a great boating area. We are down in Punta Gorda, but do day trips up there with our jet skis. Great waterfront restaurants in your area. Love the seafood festivals at St Armonds circle.
Hi, what about Monterey? Are they any good?
Easily earned my subscription. I'm in the market for a bowrider.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon freshwater Minnesota. My Dad got his first boat for us when I was 15. So I've boated ever since. But now I have a family of my own and I'm 38 so finding an activity we can enjoy is on the mind and boating seems to be it.
Bayliner is low-end? I wouldn't have guessed that. Are they still ok? I've always thought they were aesthetically pleasing.
So sea ray with motor 3 better then wellcraft 175 with motor 5 litr mercruiser?
Really great video.
Glad you liked it!
I've seen doormats in stores about as thick as the glass roving I've found in my 1974 Sea Ray SRV 240 Sundowner
What about Wellcraft? I have a Nova 23 XL,454 mag,I love this boat and seems very well built
hey matt, talked to my guy again.. he said they use 24 oz woven roven fiberglass. and they use 7 layers of fiber glass. he said there 10-12 inches of overlap and the keel is reinforced with kevlar and the gel coat is 18-20 mils thick. Is this good for a boat, average for a boat? or bad
That's good
What size bow rider would you run for lake Michigan waters?
no less than 24' and that's pushing it
I have a 89, 18' lazer bowrider with an omc 4.3 made in paxton Illinois. Do you know about those?
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon They are also known as Bee boat company of paxton Illinois. The hull number starts with LZR.
Hi James how are you doing 😊
The build quality of my Sea Ray was unsurpassed.
From reading here I have made a definite decision not to buy without a water test. Where I live in Canada those days are numbered as it probably would not be a fair test on ice. Hard to do your research and pull the trigger when 5 year old boats are being listed for the MSRP price the year it was built. Cant fault someone if they get the price but it won't be from me. Thanks again for the awesome videos and discussion on the channel
We like to see what's available at the end of the season, got a nice 18' searay with only 215 hours on it for under 9k last year
Regal is definitely above sea ray and chaparral it’s up there with cobalt.
The Regal line is just quality. My fav is the 38sav.
Awesome Video
Your video has conflicting information on the ranking of Glastron and Stingray. Which of these brands is better quality for their current models and are they considered more mid tier or value boats? Thanks
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Hi Matt. I have been enjoying your videos for a while and subscribed. New. The options are the Glastron GT 205 or the Stingray 208LR. Specs seem similar except motor in Stingray is 200 whereas the Glastron 205 has a 250. Glastron is about $3k more but I'm guessing that is for the difference in motor. What do you think?
Definitely water test any boat you are considering buying. Any good marina should do this for you. A final deal should be contingent on a water test. Don’t buy a used boat without a water test. They all run fine on a hose in a driveway but may not get on plane , leak or worse once they are in the water.
Don’t overlook the trailer.
Tires , bearings , bunks , lights, winch etc.
Your boat may spend more time on the trailer than anywhere else.
I would take it one step further and bring the same amount of people you intend to normally have. That way you will see if the boat will perform to your liking. After I bought my 1st 18 ft bowrider, I realized that my boat was too small and under powered.
What is the consensus on chaparral sunesta 232? Got a 2000 lined up for around 20k? Any advice
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon how are the Volvo penta dual prop out drives? Anything to look for specifically? Also, I signed up for your boat buyer guide.
Opinions on Caravelle 186? Around 2008 models
I agree with sea ray, I own one and it is very high quality.
I have 2016 19 SPX and have really enjoyed it. But there’s a caveat on the SPX 190 and 210 since 2017: pretty sure these two boats are made in Mexico now. The hull code will tell you; mine starts with „US“.“. The 230 is still US made. I’m seeing a lot of quality issues on SPX message boards in the190 and 210 lines, even Post Covid disruptions…
I’m looking at a 15yo 190 SSI Chaparral with a VP carb 4.3. Do top tier boats tend to hold up better in the long run all things being equal? Since build specs change overtime other than elimination of wood have design specs and hull toughness improved in say 15 years?
I was gonna say the same thing as this guy who made the video. Chaparral is a boat I have lived with for almost all my life. The first chaparral we ever got was a 19 foot fish and ski, and it was a big step up (we thought) from our 157 scout. Me and my dad used to fish the crap out of that thing, and in addition pull skiers and tube. If you want to buy a used boat make sure it’s not had too many owners, and check the damage if it’s had any over the years. By that I mean get a boat report, they are very cheap and tell you everything about the boats history. We now have a 267 ssx, and I can say that the 19 foot chaparral led to many times of fun. If it’s in good shape I would say get it if that’s the boat you want.
Do you no anything about 1987 eptide?
Not seen many Cobolt in person but my list would have Chaparral just a smidge ahead of Searay.
I just brought a 19 foot reinell it's awesome
Congrats! Have a great summer
You completely skipped over VEC construction. When I purchased my Larson I was fairly new to fiberglass boats except for a 17.5 Wahoo outboard. After reading so many horror stories about rotting wood I figured I would eliminate that problem by buying a VEC boat. One of the things I really like about VEC is everything inside is smooth gel coat just like the outside. My engine compartment shines like new. Some of the IOs I see the engine compartment is just black with grease and oil and the rough fiberglass is beyond cleaning. What are your feelings on VEC? I believe GENMAR stopped using VEC in 2017 because of the cost.
Hi Anthony how are you doing 😊
Do you have any information on Lowe Deep V's?
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Thank you very much for your response.
2020 sea ray 21 outboard. What do you think? Being used in salt water merc 150
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon thank you for the info
I have a 2018 Sea Ray 210 SPX with 150 Mercury O/B and it’s a good boat.
150 HP on a 21 is underpowered unless you never plan on having more than 4 people or doing any type of water sports.
I think you get what you pay for, for sure. However, if you take care of your boat and don't ride it hard and put it away wet, they do last a lot longer. I have a '89 Tracker that still runs good and is wearing well. It's kept with a boat cover and under a boat port and then put into a garage for 6 months over the winter. Gotta take care of your toys :)
Got here somehow while looking at boats. Fountain is down to my last two with cobalt. How are they in that first category? Beautiful bots at the same range with a lot of the same features.
Which Fountain are you looking at? They have been different over the years. Current Fountains are very different than current Cobalts
What you mean by "they are in that first category?".
I think that excluding "Dual Console" boats in this comparison is a mistake. However, I understand it due to time constraints. The "DC" boats really are better quality bow riders and should be compared to the boats in this video. Of course the other problem with doing that is the DCs are so much better it would not be a fair shoot out and their prices reflect that. And, maybe that is the real set point for the comparison... price vs quality, IDK.
I have a bowrider 160 bayliner with max 90hp, great boat, runs great, no problems at all. Its a 2016......now I never tried a cobalt or other high end. So maybe I'm driving a Toyota, perfectly happy with it, so I never drove a porsche Carmen, as an example. Very satisfied.
Kind of adds credibility to his claim when he actually gets the model name wrong on the Porsche.
Im in the process of buying a very well cared for 2019 Bayliner 170. Test drove very nicely, nice finishes and seems very solid all around. Im essentially buying it for the same price the original owner paid for it 2 years ago, but a 2021 Bayliner 170 with the same options would cost about 6 to 7 thousand dollars more. I'm very excited to enjoy this boat.
Hi Dustin how are you doing 😊
@@helenarusso fine and you?
@@dustinberg1134 Hi nice to hear from you Dustin, sorry for bothering you. Looking for someone to talk to that’s why i wrote you if you don’t mind😊
Can we all agree that the new Crownline SS and XSS have some of the sharpest styling out there? Quality seems pretty good also.
We owned a 2016 Crownline and they still use a lot of wood in the build process. The ride was just ok due to steep reverse chines which trapped water in choppy water. The injected molded helm on ours started cracking and falling apart. The latch on our head door pulled right out.