[BumbleBeeTuna]

Hello all,

I will soon purchase my first boat in the near weeks and have finally settled on a new '08 1800 SR3 with the 190hp Mercruiser. I live in Virginia and the local dealer has offered this boat to me for $19,400 and includes destination/prep fees and the Coast Guard package.

I've compared this price with other dealers and it seems to be a good value. Any information/advice you wish to share will be met with much appreciation.

Thanks

[ezmobee]

Sounds like a good price to me for a new boat with a V6.

[Chevysolid]

I would really recommend getting a nice used one, as there are tons on the market right now... You can get the same boat for a lot less AND being a new boat owner you are bound to scratch, dent, and run over a few things.... I have been driving friends boats for year and soon as I bought my own it took me about 30 seconds to run over something and srape a dock.

OR
if you buy the new one just be prepared to get it dinged up... not like a car where it takes some time for that to happen or it is often someone else's fault..

Enjoy

[ckone0814]

Originally Posted by Chevysolid

I would really recommend getting a nice used one, as there are tons on the market right now...

gotta go with Chevy here...

you're looking right in the wheelhouse where there a a lot of private sellers with biggerboatitis who are wanting something bigger. find one who is a boat person that has cared for it and you'll get a good deal and save depreciation.

being a newer boater myself, i'm thinking you want new because you don't know what to look at, or for, used-wise and you think this will be safer and easier? not always. educate yourself, ask lots of questions at dealerships, boat ramps, friends, here, there, anywhere. make sure you get a survey done on the one that strikes your fancy.

oh, and chances are really good you are going to get biggerboatitis too so why start with new? buy new when you are (pretty) sure you're shopping for THE boat.

good luck.

[CaptNCamille]

my recomendation is to take a boating safety course if you don't have any boating experience. There is a lot to know when you are out on the water. The main thing is a boat does not handle like a car, and there are lot of other safety considerations that you should be thorougly familiar with.

Check out USPS.org for a course near you.

Also, here is a series of short but very informative free videos you can download.

http://www.boattest.com/Resources/vi...px?Newsid=2872

[scjmc]

Originally Posted by ckone0814

chances are really good you are going to get biggerboatitis too.

He is right, happened to me 3 times now. Everytime I do it I swear it wont happen again too...

[ckone0814]

Originally Posted by scjmc

He is right, happened to me 3 times now. Everytime I do it I swear it wont happen again too...

ha ha... I've been out in mine a dozen or so times and... you guessed it!