Muc why did they try to talk customers out of the DP? Repair cost?
Everything I have ever heard is that the performance is much better as is low speed maneuvering but if you hit something lots a luck gotta have insurance. My brother had a Cobalt with a Volvo DP (AQ style) and had a bottom strike that cost $6000 to repair, but they had insurance lucky for them.
No, not repair cost at all. Because if you own a boat you really need insurance. And if you hit something with a DP that costs $6000, that same hit with a SP will be over $5000 and your already in to your deductible at that point.
It’s because if your willing to spend that money, it will bring more fun spent upgrading something else. Under 23’ to 25’ a DP upgrade doesn’t help all that much. There are a few reasons to upgrade to DP on a smaller boat. On some hulls it will do a pretty good job of masking the flaws of an under powered engine and can be cheaper than a bigger engine. But only some hulls. Also years ago it would allow a runabout to do a fair job as a watersports boat.
A lot of people don’t understand how important hull design is to the overall enjoyment of a boat.
I’ve driven 1000s of boats. The first couple of surf drives I ran were really good and talking with the sales department afterwards I said “this is more of a game changer then when the DP first came out” the owner of the dealership said “yes these are good, but Wait a year or two when hull design catches up” and now after driving the latest versions, wow was he right.
Most boats are comprise, they will do a lot of things pretty good. A couple of exceptions are bass boats and wake boats, they do one thing really well but are really bad at anything else. A surf drive will function as a water sports boat exceptionally well and still work as good as any runabout.
This is is why I was asking the OP if they have access to a top notch sales department. Because their experience can be invaluable. They have been to all the dealer meetings and driven all the different boats with all the possible engine packages. They know “what’s worth it”.
I’ve been involved in more than a few special order boats. Sometimes people wanted a bigger boat but didn’t want to pay for the bigger power. Sometimes they want speed so they opt for the smaller boat with the bigger motor. It usually doesn’t work out well. ——- note that this only applies to I/O boats, if your getting a O/B, make sure the motor is at minimum within 10% of the max rating for the hull!
i know not everyone has access to a good dealer. In my early years I worked for a couple of places that sold on cost not value and there is a big difference. That’s what these boards are for. But remember some of the advice you get here will be “misinformed” it comes from people that have good intentions but don’t know your boating conditions or how you will use the boat. Please talk to a good dealer and other boaters in your area who use their boats the way you think you will use yours.
