new or used

OK needing to make a decision and would like a little advice Looking to upgrade my boat found a used (2006) with everything that I want a 2006 crownline ls 230 with tower, tower speakers, racks, 350 with bravo 3 outdrive and all the standard options of a crownline also looked at a 2013 Chaparral 216 with fiberglass tower and all the standard options of Chaparral. the used one is 10,000 cheaper how much will new boat depreciate and is the new one with a warranty worth 10,000 more thanks

Re: new or used

Buying a used solid boat is almost always smarter than new. How much smarter, really depends on the particulars. Both boats that you are looking at don't have very great re-sale right now at least, not up this way.

What i do is to start pulling NADA values for boats a few years newer, and a few years older to get a "feel" of depreciation.

Re: new or used

Well maintained used is the best. $10K will buy allot of gas, boat cover, accessories etc.

Re: new or used

go used

on a separate note i have a 7 year old BMW X5 sitting outside in the parking lot, my boss has a brand new X5 sitting next to it

mine is worth $20,000 his $100,000, they both do the same thing look similar, so the question is where's the $80,000 plus interest

its just not worth it, in my humble opinion, i can buy a lot of service for a lot less than that $80,000 plus unless you are paying cash there are those evil repayments to consider

Re: new or used

i'm with everyone above. pay cash for toys.

Re: new or used

The Crownline is bigger, more powerful and has a Bravo 3 drive which puts it in a category above the Chapparal in your comparison. If it meets your needs and is in good condition it will be the better value.

Re: new or used

On the other side of the coin, you could be just buying someone elses problems.

If you're going to spend that kind of money have a marine surveyor inspect the used boat.

Re: new or used

there's no shortage of stories about peopling buying new and having problems. like these guys have said, if that '06 has been well cared for i think it's a no brainer. they will both continue to depreciate but the new has further to drop. the used one has any kinks worked out if maintained properly and run regularly as opposed to being parked for years.

Re: new or used

Most guys like to save money by buying used, and you do pay a premium in increased depreciation by buying new, but 3 of my last 4 boats (including the current one) I bought new, and I'd do it again.

Early in my boating "career" I had old boats 'cause that's all I could afford. Spent as much time working on the boat as using it. As I moved forward in my career I had a little more money, but time became increasingly more difficult to find so I saved to the point that I could buy something new. The theory being I'd spend more time boating and less time wrenching....and that indeed has been the case.

Also, now that I'm not wrenching (and don't really want to) it is important to have a relationship with a dealer and/or mechanic so when the boat does need maintenance/repair I have someone that I trust doing the work. That's important too.

Is it more expensive to do it this way? Sure, but I feel I'm getting my money's worth. Boats NEVER make sense from a financial standpoint anyway, so might as well get the maximum amount of enjoyment for the least amount of effort.

All that said, in your case I'd still lean towards the Crownie. They're premium quality, and the BIII drive makes a huge difference.