Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 sport

[brettcanuck]

Hi I have been around boating most of my life and I am finally in a position to purchase my own. I will be boating on a large lake (about 550 square miles). The lake has some large sections of open water. Will be using boats mostly for cruising/relaxing and some fishing. All the models ive looked at have the sun platform at the back and the mercruiser 4.3 190hp engine. Im looking to spend around 20-22K canadian. The three boats i have looked at most are: 1. Bayliner 185- seems to have alot of features for price ex- full gauges tilt steering bolster seats but quality does not seem as high. 2. Fourwinns 190 LE (not h190) quality feels good but no rpm or tilt steering. 3. Searay 185 sport quality is great little more expensive at 25K very deep cockpit but feels like it has less room also. Would love to hear the opinion from owners of these type of boats or just opinions from fellow boaters. Thanks for you help!

 

[LeeCeeB]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

we just purchased a 2011 Glastron MX 185. It has all the specs you are looking for plus bells and whistles and is in your Canadian Budget. We pick up ours on Friday.

 

[jw438]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

Bayliners are junk.....Fourwinns are ok, but I've owned a Sea Ray for the last 12 yrs...3 words: quality, quality, quality!

 

[riptide09]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

There is no comparison between new Bayliners and ones 20 years old. All I know about Searays are what people have said. I have never owned one and don't know anybody who has. Flourwinns makes a good boat for the money. If the right deal presented itself I would have no issues buying another Fourwinns. I would look at the price, features and financing (if you are taking a loan) between the Fourwinns and the Sea Ray and take the best deal.

 

[LiFeStArTs@FoRtY]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

Bayliners are junk.....Fourwinns are ok, but I've owned a Sea Ray for the last 12 yrs...3 words: quality, quality, quality!

What are you, a troll or some idiot that has no clue? Your comment was rude and has no specifics to back it up.

 

[cribber]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

If you can, take all three out for a sea trial and then pick the one you like best within your budget. Go for room if you plan on going out on the water always with a crowd... or features if you'll usually hit the water with just a couple of people. Your price range is in the sweet spot for getting back into lake boating. Check out some of the deck boats too!!

 

[brettcanuck]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

Thanks for the comments. Im thinking if I got sea ray it will be a long term boat ( 10 years plus) I think if i bought fourwinns or bayliner it would be for under 5 years and then upgrade.

 

[haley]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

I think the NADA site includes original MSRP and their thoughts on current value. You may wish to check that out with your 5 or 10 year plan. If the Searay holds its value more it may be the same.

example:

Purchase Searay for $25k, sell in five years for $15k. Five years of boat ownership cost you $10k

versus

Purchase Bayliner for $20k, sell in five years for $10k. Five years of boat ownership cost you $10k

My values are totally made up. My point is I like your five year versus ten year plan but check your depreciation by brand in NADA. You may find that you could own the higher end boat for the same out of pocket money and enjoy the finer fit and finish.

I am happy with my Four Winns. I personally do not have a problem with Bayliner but see them bashed frequently. I personally think they earned a bad reputation more than ten years ago but it is old news. The finish will be lower than the other two I think though. Like my ski locker and bow storage areas are carpeted, the new bayliner 175's are painted (raw?) fiberglass. If you were selling a Searay or Four Winns you would not have to defend quality.

 

[jkust]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

Here's my take. None of those boats is going to do well in the open water of a body of water that size. You and more likely your wife will want a larger boat. As for the brands, you sort of get what you pay for. By that I mean the Sea Ray Sport models are overpriced compared to their direct competition. Bayliner does a respectable job and the smaller FW's are ok but still cut the corners for the money. Here is what I have noticed boating on small and big (for Minnesota standards) bodies of water. The small bodies of water, anything goes, but on the bigger ones I see a lot more of the heavy hulls being Chaparral and Cobalt here. Until I started boating on bigger lakes, I had only seen one Chaparral and one Cobalt and on the bigger lakes there will be entire lines of them in no wake zones. Now those boats may be out of your price range but like I said, you mostly get what you pay for and given you will be on a big lake, I'd at least consider a 20+ footer no matter what the make. As for the guy that said BL's are junk, that isn't the case any longer and they while not overly detailed, have made substantial strides over the last 10 years. If I am judging, I would down the smaller Sea Rays for daring to price their models at the level they do given what you actually get. In reality where our run of the mill bowriders are concerned, all the makers do a decent job compared to 10 and 20 years back.

 

[Chet labrozzi]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

I owned a 1991 190 freedom FourWinns bowrider for almost 11 years. It had the 4.3 liter motor, good solid running boat with little or no problems over the years. I can't speak on behalf of Bayliner or Searay as I havent personally owned on, today Im a proud owner of a 238db Crownline Deck boat. Good luck!

 

[Lakemeadan]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

Bayliners are junk.....Fourwinns are ok, but I've owned a Sea Ray for the last 12 yrs...3 words: quality, quality, quality!

Interesting my boat is about 12 years old. Do you work for them and installed the Rub Rail when you started.

 

[ulo]

Re: Buying first new boat need opinion Bayliner185 vs Fourwinns 190LE vs Searay 185 s

My boat is a lil smaller than what you are looking at (four winns h180ss) and we have no problems boating on Lake Michigan. I don't take it to the middle of the lake and always keep an eye on the weather, but none the less it's a big f'n lake and my lil boat handles it fine.