New Bowriders???

[babbot]

Re: New Bowriders???

Not the Glastron... Coming from a Glastron owner. Some put them in the middle but I put them in the bottom after owning this one. It is the entry level boat but still should have been build to keep screws in while driving....
Go for a a step up from there. The chapparals look very nice and have a great rep, same company that makes Robalo.
I have never owned a I/O so I can't help.

 

[briangcc]

Re: New Bowriders???

Brian you know that Volvo Penta has trouble with corrosion on their drives now too, right?

(Mercruiser's trouble were specifically on their Bravo 3s.)

Got any links? All I could find on a quick Google search were posts from '06 to '10 referencing drives produced in those years. Mostly DP drive series but an SX did pop up.

Mine's an '05 with 100+ hours on it, no signs of corrosion issues whatsoever.

 

[jkust]

Re: New Bowriders???

I looked at Chaparral, Monterey, Glastron (VEC is a selling point for me), Larson, etc. Anything that's Merc is tossed out immediately. Did I mention I don't like Merc??

I couldn't tell if you were running these sentences together but Chaparral offers both Merc and Volvo and VEC is a deal killer for me. VEC = mass produced, budget boat. Haven't heard that much dislike of Merc before and someone mentioned having had a bad Force which unfortunatly is situational as I have had one since 84 and it's been spectacular with zero (0) issues or anything related to an issue since then. My Mercurcuriser engine has been perfect and the Alpha 1 has had one issue that to me was several years premature that was a few hundred to have fixed.

 

[babbot]

Re: New Bowriders???

Yeah be careful with the VEC stuff as to which company has it. Glastron is no longer a Genmar product and does not use VEC any longer. Larson still does on certain models. I have no problems with the hull it was everything else where people were involved that doesn't seem quality material/labor.
Just my .02

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: New Bowriders???

Got any links? All I could find on a quick Google search were posts from '06 to '10 referencing drives produced in those years. Mostly DP drive series but an SX did pop up.

Mine's an '05 with 100+ hours on it, no signs of corrosion issues whatsoever.

Just like all the corrosion issues on Mercruiser are B3s. Ever wonder why? (hint it's the two big Stainless Steel props, mostly)

 

[QC]

Re: New Bowriders???

Wow brian, you can't even pinpoint the issue and all Mercs are junk? Force isn't a Merc in my book, and Bravo 1s, and their derivatives, are bullet proof. Today's Bravo 3s are a non-issue, and Volvo has had their galvanic disaster as well.

Plus if you wanna go fast, then well, uh . . . IMCO for you? The other big reason to consider Merc vs. Volvo (I have no serious preference between 300 and 430 hp) is service availability. Way more options with Merc depending on your wallet and local availability.

Looks like we chased off the OP, but I always say, chicks don't dig OBs, so if this is a family bowrider, OBs may be off the table. Anymore discussion requires a budget comment from the OP and I don't think we ever got that.

 

[briangcc]

Re: New Bowriders???

What I was asking was where the documentation was on Volvo's issues as all I could find was dated from '06-'10 referencing the DP models. IF you're trying to sway me away from Volvo, I need to see that the issue is continuing today.

As for pinpointing the issue on the Merc outdrives, yeah a google search would turn up the specifics but I really couldn't care less. I've formed my opinion of their products over my own personal experience and what family members had put up with when they had Merc products. I know none of my family members have Merc powered boats now - mix of Evinrude and Yamaha for OB's and I'm the lone I/O with Volvo. That's over 30+ years of boating experience.

I can see we'll disagree on this matter and be the better man to walk away.

 

[QC]

Re: New Bowriders???

IF you're trying to sway me away from Volvo, I need to see that the issue is continuing today.

I don't think anyone is trying to sway you away from Volvo, it is you swaying others away from Merc Seems like the same requirement of proof should be required in both directions. All good, man, no need to agree or disagree. Your preference is understood.