Input on newer used Larson please!

[Fastaction2853]

Hello again everyone,

I am going to take a look at some local boats Thursday but this one just popped in so I am adding it to my list and would love some input on the make, model, price etc.

It is a 2007 Larson Lxi 228

The price is a little high and would have to cut down about a couple thousand but it is in the ballpark for this area it seems.

Thanks for the input!!!

 

[Fastaction2853]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

Just got my value check request from Boat-US back and they place this boat with trailer at around $22,500 assuming great condition (to be determined) and the fact that I would need at least one season of quick launch service and some other extras I would say it should really be priced around $23-24K for this area. Just an FYI

 

[hostage]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

I see you are still looking and it looks like you answered your own question. It is overpriced IMHO for a boat that old, it is not much cheaper than when it was sold new.

 

[Fastaction2853]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

Which is why (should I like what I see when I see it) I would only offer what the boat is really worth of course.

Further research though concerns me. I was unaware that Larson's parent company filed for Chapter 11 which makes me wonder if they are still honoring warranties?

If not then the boat is worth much less IMHO.

Does anybody have more information on this?

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

I have a 2006 LARSON, and while they were going through their chapter 11, my warranty issues were taken care of. Hope that helps. (I have a good dealer, so maybe that had some influence in it).

 

[hostage]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

A lot of the millions of boat companies closed down after the recession. I know Maxum, who made my boat closed down, but luckily their parent company didn't. If I were you, I would be hesitant at buying this boat, from what little I read on the Larsons of that age, I didn't get a good impression.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

Prices can vary wildly by location and season.

FWIW, in this area that boat is significantly overpriced for the age. Even if it were in extremely good condition, it's several thousand over the top and that's assuming a lot for a used boat. I'd say $20-22.5k in good condition would be the value for this area. As always, YMMV.

Considering it's at a dealer, I wouldn't have high hopes that you can talk them down. Some dealers believe (and rightly too) that people will pay over the odds for used boats because they believe buying from a dealer gives them something beyond the boat. This may or may not be true, but the value of these benefits needs to be carefully considered and factored in.

Grouse

 

[Fastaction2853]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

If I were you, I would be hesitant at buying this boat, from what little I read on the Larsons of that age, I didn't get a good impression.

Just out of curiosity what have you heard?

 

[Fastaction2853]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

Considering it's at a dealer, I wouldn't have high hopes that you can talk them down. Some dealers believe (and rightly too) that people will pay over the odds for used boats because they believe buying from a dealer gives them something beyond the boat.

I do agree, I have been finding that it is easier to talk them down on new boats than used but this dealer I have to say will stand behind anything they sell and are very easy to deal with, based on the experience of family friends who have purchased from them.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

I have a 2008 larson 180 sport. It has the 5 to life warranty. I also had concerns about the warranty after they filed. I contacted larson and they e-mailed that they would still honor the warranty through its entirety. The e-mail contained my hull # and engine # along with their statement. The dealer also went out of business around that time. Larson said engine problems can be handled via a merc authorized dealer. Hull issues would be handled by a delaer up in Wisconsin.

As far as the quality, no issues over the last two years. Good performance. The boat has lived up to my expectations.

 

[hostage]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

Just out of curiosity what have you heard?

I did a couple of google searches and what i browsed didn't make me feel interested, though I would look a lot into if u r really cconsidering it

 

[hostage]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...archPage=/listing/cache/boats_for_sale_qs.jsp

Dealer around me some of there stuff isn't bad and the sales man said he could come down on a couple of things. I was interested in a couple of boats but I ended up going with a better deal on Craigslist. I enjoy the hunt, if your not that type then a dealer might be better for u but things can always go south with a dealer

 

[JimMH]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

I have a 2008 Larson LXI 208. I have not had any issues with Larson. The boat out performs what I expected and rides great. Genmar did go Bankrupt they were the parent company for Larson, Seaswirl, Glastron, Ranger, Triumph, and several other brands. They were broken up and sold. Half went to a company out of California and the others went to a group of investors headed by Irwin Jacobs, the former head of Genmar. Larson, Seaswirl, Triumph and a few others went to Jacobs, Glastron and the other brands went the group out of California. Only a couple of the brands went away, Larson didnot and in the press release the new parent group stated that all warranties would be honored as did the new parent company of Glastron and the other brands.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

Just out of curiosity what have you heard?

I haven't heard enough to allow me to make a general statement on the brand, but I will say I've read more than a few threads on here about Larsons with fiberglass issues of one kind or another.

 

[hostage]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

I have a 2008 Larson LXI 208. I have not had any issues with Larson. The boat out performs what I expected and rides great. Genmar did go Bankrupt they were the parent company for Larson, Seaswirl, Glastron, Ranger, Triumph, and several other brands. They were broken up and sold. Half went to a company out of California and the others went to a group of investors headed by Irwin Jacobs, the former head of Genmar. Larson, Seaswirl, Triumph and a few others went to Jacobs, Glastron and the other brands went the group out of California. Only a couple of the brands went away, Larson didnot and in the press release the new parent group stated that all warranties would be honored as did the new parent company of Glastron and the other brands.

Best answer so far +1

 

[mike343]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

I don't have a Larson but a 9 year old glastron built at the same factory. Very nice boat for the money. As above, the Genmar CEO still owns the Larson line and if you can confirm (as posted above) that they are committed to support original warranties you should be OK.
As an aside, a few months after I got the boat I got irritated when I got no response from the glastrom CS folks to some simple questions. Sent a letter to Jacobs and was overwhelmed by the response--but that wa before the bankruptcy.

 

[jgl1962]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

We have a 1999 Larson 206 SEI that we bought used in 2008. It was a very well maintained "could hardly tell from new" boat. We love it lots of room rides well and is quicker than I would have thought with a 4.3 190 in it. There are a lot of Larsons around the Finger Lakes in NY. I would certainly recommend one.

 

[Fastaction2853]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

That is great to hear, thank you all for all the information. I will be looking at that one today along with a few others so we will see how it looks and what I can learn about it.

 

[Fastaction2853]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

Well I looked at the boat yesterday and it exceeded my expectations. It looks brand new, super clean, low hours and a lot more extras on it then I originally thought and they are also going to warranty it for the first year also.

After seeing it I repriced it on NADA with the options that I didn't know it had previously and the average retail came out to be almost exactly what they are asking.

So I offered them a few thousand less LOL

I am waiting to hear back since it was just the owners son showing me the boat after hours and he could not make those kind of decisions. But truth be told I really loved the boat and it is the first one I have looked at that has given me that happy/excited gut feeling (is this what people talk about when they say boat shopping should be fun and exciting?).

Thank you all for your input and keep your fingers crossed for me

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Input on newer used Larson please!

I bought a '97 Larson 206 SEI in 2005. I had several people tell me in the next few years that they thought it was a brand new boat. I have had very few problems with the boat. I think it rides and handles quite well but my only real previous experience was with a Bayliner. I wouldn't hesitate to buy an other Larson but I hope this one continues to serve me well for many more years.