Looking to possibly buy this 1999 Sea Ray 185 Bowrider w/ only 209 Hours, Need Advice

[naomi0713]

Hi, I am looking seriously at this 1999 Sea Ray that has 209 hours on it. That seems very low for a boat that is 13 years old. I just want to know what you experienced boat buyers/sellers think about this deal. Here is a link to the boat:

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/bod/3315738983.html

What other questions should I find out about this boat given its age? Would you guys purchase this boat at the price point it is being offered at? I notice its only a single axle trailer, is that a huge dealbreaker for some people? Thanks for any and all advice!

Aaron

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Looking to possibly buy this 1999 Sea Ray 185 Bowrider w/ only 209 Hours, Need Ad

A single axle trailer for that boat should be fine. Why did he change trailers to a galvanized trailer though? A 1999 boat with a 2001 trailer?

Perhaps the boat was used in saltwater? Otherwise it seems a fair price, not a great price, not a terrible price. Right around what I think that boat would be worth.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Looking to possibly buy this 1999 Sea Ray 185 Bowrider w/ only 209 Hours, Need Ad

When I bought my '03 it came with a new '05 trailer(non current). That was in '07. So maybe the boat the OP is looking at was always slipped and put on a rack when it was new. That engine compartment looks very clean for it to have been in salt. Although, I've always been in fresh so maybe not....

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Looking to possibly buy this 1999 Sea Ray 185 Bowrider w/ only 209 Hours, Need Ad

Price is Plenty high. Plenty. But on the other hand, go price a brand new Sea Ray 185! Yikes!

Hours are very low. My biggest concern with a boat like that is; What maintanence items did they skip, because "it didn't get many hours this year"? People seem to only read the part where it says to perform maintanence every X hours. They skip over (or in some cases Mercruiser is now omitting) the part where it say "Or YEARLY."
As laser points out, was it used in saltwater? That isn't a killer, but if it was, better figure those exhaust manifolds will need to be replaced REAL soon.
Single axle trailer is fine.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Looking to possibly buy this 1999 Sea Ray 185 Bowrider w/ only 209 Hours, Need Ad

That's possible. When I see galvanized trailer I immediately think saltwater. Likely because I use my boat in saltwater and wish I had a galvanized trailer.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Looking to possibly buy this 1999 Sea Ray 185 Bowrider w/ only 209 Hours, Need Ad

Priced too high....... do a NADA lookup.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Looking to possibly buy this 1999 Sea Ray 185 Bowrider w/ only 209 Hours, Need Ad

I'm thinking too high of a price too. The boat is worth a look though. I'd wanna' know how it was stored when it wasn't being used all those years. It looks good in pictures, but if it was sitting outside in someone's driveway for 4 or 5 years, it may have an issue or two.

 

[Quit It]

Re: Looking to possibly buy this 1999 Sea Ray 185 Bowrider w/ only 209 Hours, Need Ad

What to ask when looking/emailing is a thread I started on the types of questions to ask.

If this is your first boat I'd recommend getting a survey or boat owning friend to go along and a mechanical inspection.

I wouldn't worry about the single axle trailer as long as it's rated for the weight. A double axle is nice if you get a flat on one tire but I wouldn't sweat it if I were you.