Mariah boat....is it worth it?

[mapledoors]

Hello everyone, I posted a few weeks back in regards to a purchase of a bayliner, that sale fell through. I am know looking at the mariahs and I found a 1996. I have yet to see the boat but the owner states that its in excellent condition and has been well maintained. He's asking $10,500 and I threw an offer of $9500 (pending when I go see her shes in great shape as the owner states). Its currently at a marina and he will have a compression test, have the engine checked over and everything. Now my question is $9500 too much for a boat this old? Should I keep looking? I have seen a few mariahs but everytime I go put an offer they already sell so fast, it has the 4.3 merc in it. Here is the ad for the boat

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...-Drive-Excellent-condition-W0QQAdIdZ279193818

If everything goes well I think I will buy it , I just need some feedback to make sure I'm making the right purchase, any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

Its a heck of a lot more than I would pay for a 15 year old 18ft Mariah. Mariah's had a really nice interior that came with a huge premium, but otherwise its the same as any other 18ft runabout with a merc power package. My father in-law had a 185 Shabaz(?) with a 4.3L and it was a good but overpriced boat for what it was.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

Yes it's way too much. Problem is, you're in Canada and boat prices are ridiculous up there. I'm not a fan of the black on the seats on that boat nor of the bottom paint. Otherwise it looks quite cherry. Boat prices are high in your area. You either gotta drive to the state to pick one up, or pay the price.

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

Man....that is awful high for that year of boat.....It does appear to be in great shape, but that doesn't mean it is worth alot.

I doubt I could drop that much cash for that boat. I'll bet it wasn't much more than $15,000 new....back in 96'.

 

[jkust]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

if it is priced in Pesos then yes that is a good deal. In U.S. dollars, in Minnesota, I'd venture a $6,000 price tag. I don't know the CA exchange rate off hand. The pictures sure make it look nice but again sun and black seats are an invitation to a burned backside. Other than a few hull designs I see that make it look very dated, that looks to be a trailer queen. Are we sure that has a Vortec engine?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

For what it is worth, this is what Nada says about the boat value: (assuming it is a 183 Shabah)

Original price $16,598
Low retail $5,085
High retail $5,555

 

[Sodakrep]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

As far as pricing goes, you have to go with what you feel is right. I have a 95 Celebrity and our hull looks almost identical. I would check to see if there are any soft spots in the floor and if the stringers are starting to go. That would be my only concern about that boat otherwise it seems nice and looks sharp in the water.

 

[hostage]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

I got a 2000 Maxum w/ a 4.3L for $7500 USD last year. It wouldn't be to hard for you to drive down to New York and get one here.
(Rochester, NY)

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

For what it is worth, this is what Nada says about the boat value: (assuming it is a 183 Shabah)

Original price $16,598
Low retail $5,085
High retail $5,555

Hey Alright! My guess wasn't too far off!

 

[lkbum]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

I've been in Talari's and Shabah's of that size and vintage. The windshield on that model boat was a little low for me. I'm only 6' tall, but when sitting at the helm, the airflow over the windshield hit me right in the forehead. And there is not an adjustment to lower the seat. If you look at the add photo with the boat underway, you will notice that the captain's head is considerably higher than the windshield.

 

[Steve91T]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

I just picked up a 95 Z202 with a 5.7 Merc in it. I paid $7500 with no trailer. More money than it's worth probably, but I fell in love with it. These are great boats.

 

[jkust]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

I just picked up a 95 Z202 with a 5.7 Merc in it. I paid $7500 with no trailer. More money than it's worth probably, but I fell in love with it. These are great boats.

Yep and your 95 Z202 is a ton more boat and power. As for the windshield being low, 90% of the time I sit on my seat bolster so I can be fully above the windshield. I toss on a pair of sunglasses and only when I get cold or the weather turns do I ever sit behind the glass. I can't imagine that's too different than most. By the way that Z202 would look awesome with an SS rub rail and ss docking lights.

 

[lkbum]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

Yep and your 95 Z202 is a ton more boat and power. As for the windshield being low, 90% of the time I sit on my seat bolster so I can be fully above the windshield. I toss on a pair of sunglasses and only when I get cold or the weather turns do I ever sit behind the glass. I can't imagine that's too different than most. By the way that Z202 would look awesome with an SS rub rail and ss docking lights.

I do the same thing with my current boat. I don't think that vintage of Mariahs had bolsters (I may be wrong on that), I used a throw cushion on my 94' Talari 240z to get my head above the windshield. On the shorter models, I found it odd that I could not get below the windshield.

 

[mapledoors]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

alot of mixed comments here, I know everything here in Canada is valued way higher than the states, however I do not have anytime to drive down to the states. There was even a 1990 bayliner bowrider going for $7000 on the autotrader. If everything goes to plan i'll offer him $9000

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: Mariah boat....is it worth it?

If your target is 9k - I would offer him 8200 to start.....