New boat purchase...Advice needed asap!

capnharley · #1 July 23rd, 2008, 08:16 PM

We are making our first boat purchase this weekend. We are testing the following: Sea Ray 210 Select - 5.0 MerCruiser MPI(260hp), Four Winns H200 - Volvo Penta 5.0(220hp), and a Cobalt 202 - Volvo Penta 4.3 GXI/Dp(225hp). Any information would help.

Thanks

Pierutrus · #2 July 23rd, 2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnharley

We are making our first boat purchase this weekend. We are testing the following: Sea Ray 210 Select - 5.0 MerCruiser MPI(260hp), Four Winns H200 - Volvo Penta 5.0(220hp), and a Cobalt 202 - Volvo Penta 4.3 GXI/Dp(225hp). Any information would help.

Thanks

I'd go with.......Buy the one you like?

You asked.

jevery · #3 July 23rd, 2008, 08:27 PM

All top quality boats. I'd stick to V8's on 20 footers.

capnharley · #4 July 23rd, 2008, 08:46 PM

Thanks. I was feeling the same way about the engine. I guess the test drive will tell.

ryoung · #5 July 24th, 2008, 01:22 AM

If you feel that you need advice asap on your first ever boat purchase, you should probably wait. It sounds like you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself to make a choice this weekend. It is a buyers market, take your time. There will still be boats for sale next weekend.

rebars1 · #6 July 24th, 2008, 02:07 AM

What ryoung said. You did not mention how much experience you have had with boats. Take your time. There's gazillion boats out there. They will still be for sale next week!

fishmen111 · #7 July 24th, 2008, 02:45 AM

Sea Ray.

Firestar · #8 July 24th, 2008, 03:07 AM

SeaRay.
MPI fuel management is the best out of what you have listed.
V-8 for a 20footer.
I'm partial to Merc outdrives too.

mattttt25 · #9 July 24th, 2008, 09:51 AM

All new? I personally feel the Cobalt is the best quality of the 3. If it performs well with that engine, I would much rather own that.

capnharley · #10 July 24th, 2008, 10:09 AM

Thank you all for the advice. We have some experience with boats, but not too much. Since we are going with a new boat, we have looked at all the local dealers in the area and narrowed it down to these three.

tommays · #11 July 24th, 2008, 11:12 AM

Volvo Penta 4.3 GXI/Dp(225hp)

If that is in fact a duo-prop drive it is the best drive and will have very good performance

capnharley · #12 July 24th, 2008, 12:14 PM

Really...? Our first sea trial is in the Cobalt tomorrow. I am really excited. It seems that we are getting more bang for our buck with the Sea Ray, but I have a feeling we will fall in love with the Cobalt.

capnharley · #13 July 24th, 2008, 02:49 PM

Yes, all three boats are new.

Firestar · #14 July 24th, 2008, 03:20 PM

Just like in cars, there is no substitute for cubic inches when it comes to power. A V-8 will just loaf along when a V-6 is straining it's milk.
MPI is really efficient too.
The 5.0 will have an easier time planing off with a full boat.
It will also pull water toys easier especially with a few people on board.

capnharley · #15 July 24th, 2008, 03:35 PM

The Sea Ray will be the last boat we drive on Saturday. Since it is the more powerful engine out of all three, I am hoping to see a bit of a difference. My only worries about the Sea Ray is that it's the dealers last 2007 model. Why? It should have four speakers, but only has two.(???) Okay, no big deal, they are putting in two more for us. I am worried about getting a lemon. Does any of this make sense or am I being rediculous?

Limited-Time · #16 July 24th, 2008, 05:07 PM

For your sea trials make sure you load the boat as if you were heading out for the day. Coolers, kids, water toys.....................friends and family if that's going to be the norm. Two constants with boats..............1, they get small when you add water.....................and 2,................................. they loose performance when you add weight.

Good Luck.

fishmen111 · #17 July 24th, 2008, 05:13 PM

The Sea Ray will pay back dividends in years to come on resale, that the other two will not. This does not mean the other two are not fine boats, just that quality history keeps SRs values up. I love the VP Duo, but I love Sea Rays even more.

Limited-Time · #18 July 24th, 2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishmen111

The Sea Ray will pay back dividends in years to come on resale, that the other two will not. This does not mean the other two are not fine boats, just that quality history keeps SRs values up. I love the VP Duo, but I love Sea Rays even more.

I believe the Cobalt will also maintain its value as well as if not better than the Sea Ray

................Cobalt is after all one of the premier boat lines.

capnharley · #19 July 25th, 2008, 08:23 PM

We had our test with the Cobalt today. Man, you can definately tell the quality and craftsmanship of this boat. The vinyl is like butter compared to the other two. The ride was unbelievable! I was mistaken on the motor, it's a Volvo Penta 4.3Gxi Sx. That is the only thing we are concerned about with this boat. It did fine with three of us on the boat, but what about up to 6 people and tubing...? We were told that the Sx drive is equal to a Bravo one.

pjrogers · #20 July 26th, 2008, 01:50 PM

That Cobalt is not the kind of 18' runabout that a 4.3L motor will transform into a wonderful ride. For that size of boat, I'd say a 5.0L is the minimum power you'd want, especially if you are taking several adults and kids along. Friends of ours had a Sea Ray 210 with a 5.0L B3, and it performed very well even loaded with (rough guess) 600 lbs of people, a couple of coolers full of food, and a full tank of gas. A 4.3L would likely have been a bit of a dog with that load. As for quality, my vote is for the Sea Ray, but that is mostly because we have a 230 Signature 6.2L B3 that we like very much indeed.

tmh · #21 July 26th, 2008, 06:40 PM

From only boat shows (not test drives) i think you're getting mixed up advise on quality here, as Cobalt is in a different league than the other two. No way is Searay a higher quality boat than a Cobalt for this size family boats. As was said, Cobalt has upholstery that anyone can tell is byond belief high quality. Searay vs. Four Winns is a fair fight for SECOND place, not first of these three.

Unfortunately, the different engines can make or break how well the boat fits your needs. I'd really test the 4.3L with a true load and someone skiing (or whatever) before i bought it.

capnharley · #22 July 26th, 2008, 08:12 PM

Well, we ran all three boats today in the same weather and water conditions. The Cobalt is by far a better ride. We had 5 people, one of which is 320+ lbs (so you might as well say 6) and the boat performed just as well as the Sea Ray. The Four Winns wouldn't start, that was nice! Honestly, the Sea Ray beat us up. Talk about rattling and not feeling safe....So the Cobalt it is! I am confident we made the right choice for us! Thank you all for your advice and I will post some pics when we get the boat.

Pierutrus · #23 July 26th, 2008, 09:54 PM

Good luck with your purchase Captain Harley.

And welcome to Iboats.

F16TJ · #24 July 26th, 2008, 10:12 PM

And another thing...don't do a sea test on a silky smooth sea state day. If possible, do it on a day when the "surf" is up, so you can get an idea about the ride quality when the winds and seas kick up. Hard thing to plan, I admit, but it may pay dividends.

mtnrat · #25 July 27th, 2008, 01:43 AM

Volvo always