Thanks for all the opinions and thoughts over on my newb boater thread, some of the things in there really made me take a harder look at what I'm buying here and spend a little more for something much nicer. I appreciate the help! So I believe I've narrowed it down to these two bowriders that are sitting next to each other at a local dealer. 2004 Bayliner 18' w/ 3.0 or a 1999 Four Winns 20' w/ Volvo 5.0. The Bayliner is listed at $500 more but he indicated there was room to move, so I'd say the pricing is close enough that's not a factor either way. Both have some pro's and cons to me. The Bayliner is obviously 5 years newer and appears very well cared for. There are a few small tears in the seams of the seats, thats the only things I can find wrong in the interior. The Four Winns is longer, and with the 5.0 I've got to think it's faster. It also appears well cared for, but its registration expired last year which makes me think it's been sitting a while. The Bayliner is still current on its sticker. The Four Winns has a very extensive high end stereo system (Likely $2500 or more), but I actually own a stereo shop and it's not a brand I sell so I can't really use it as a demo of what we do. The Four Winns gives me that extra two feet, and a tandem trailer with surge brake.
Here's what's really bugging me about the Four Winns: It is UGLY. The interior was recently re-done in this really ugly hunter green color, and boat has an ugly green stripe. It looks like a 1970's couch. The stripe I can cover with a wrap, but the interior is what it is..and it's ungoldy ugly. Also the Four Winns has the Bimini top that meet the top of the windshield instead of the more typical higher one, which I do not like. And it's also green. It feels very enclosed in the cockpit, which I suppose is the point of it but I prefer the open feeling of the higher top. But those are cheap, so that's not a deal breaker there.
I am a little concerned the resale value down the road of the Four Winns is affected by the ugly. I have to admit if everything that is green were blue or gray or something else I might have made an offer on that boat last night. On one hand it's a silly superficial thing, but on the other hand I want to at least like the boat, haha.
Both boats appear to be mechanically and structurally sound, and I took a friend who is much more familiar with boats with me and he agrees with that. We have not water tested yet, but I'd like to schedule that for Friday. Honestly I'd really like to test them both to feel the difference in power but I feel bad asking the guy to take me out on two different boats, both of which are low-priced crafts in the boat world.
If anyone cares to look at them they're here:
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...-200-102512828
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...ider-102480973
Edit to add: I wish the pic of the Four Winns wasn't in the shade...the stripe is actually almost the exact color of the top and it does have some fading going on toward the back. In the pic it almost looks black.
Thank you guys and gals!
Here's what's really bugging me about the Four Winns: It is UGLY. The interior was recently re-done in this really ugly hunter green color, and boat has an ugly green stripe. It looks like a 1970's couch. The stripe I can cover with a wrap, but the interior is what it is..and it's ungoldy ugly. Also the Four Winns has the Bimini top that meet the top of the windshield instead of the more typical higher one, which I do not like. And it's also green. It feels very enclosed in the cockpit, which I suppose is the point of it but I prefer the open feeling of the higher top. But those are cheap, so that's not a deal breaker there.
I am a little concerned the resale value down the road of the Four Winns is affected by the ugly. I have to admit if everything that is green were blue or gray or something else I might have made an offer on that boat last night. On one hand it's a silly superficial thing, but on the other hand I want to at least like the boat, haha.
Both boats appear to be mechanically and structurally sound, and I took a friend who is much more familiar with boats with me and he agrees with that. We have not water tested yet, but I'd like to schedule that for Friday. Honestly I'd really like to test them both to feel the difference in power but I feel bad asking the guy to take me out on two different boats, both of which are low-priced crafts in the boat world.
If anyone cares to look at them they're here:
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...-200-102512828
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...ider-102480973
Edit to add: I wish the pic of the Four Winns wasn't in the shade...the stripe is actually almost the exact color of the top and it does have some fading going on toward the back. In the pic it almost looks black.
Thank you guys and gals!
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