Re: Sea Ray--the Cadillac of Boats!
Lots of good info here. I just completed the process of buying a new boat and looked different manufacturers. I was in the market for a 24-26 foot vessel. Here are a few impressions from me. I also check resale values for the past 5 years. Mind you, this is JUST MY opinion and am not bashing any manufacturer. Your results my vary.
Note: I look at the bones of the vessel. I look closely at the stuff you don't normally look for, like how the fuel tank is mounted, how easy will it be to maintain (No one likes to pull an engine to change spark plugs). I poke a flashlight and mirror around areas most would never look at to see what kind of craftmanship is there. While I did not look at ALL the manufacturers, I looked at most major brands within a 50 mile area of Tampa. I was looking for something to use on the bay and trips down the Gulf, so I cannot answer for sport/wakeboard types. I also researched the different manufacturers/boats online first efore seeing them in person.
Cobalt: Like stated before, cream of the crop. Lot's of bells and toys, top of the line materials. Higher prices than the rest. This would be the "Caddy of the crop". Lots of useful things, but some things you would not really need. I did not sea trial one, but have been in one a few years ago. I remember it being rock solid. Resale value seems strong, even from 1st year.
Chaparral: Also top of the line. Excellent quality. Very nice cockpit layout and materials. Manufacturing company very interested in customer service (I had the son of the founder call me on his cell phone to answer questions I had). Things like cup holders that drain to the outside of the boat, a deck drain systen that drains to the outside, not the bilge, etc. are great touches. Ride and response excellent. Jumped on a plane quick and seemed to be traveling slower than it actually was. Took waves/wakes like nothing. Resale value strong, but first year depreciation seems steep. After year one, hold strong.
Sea Ray: Well made solid boat. Lots of nice stuff. Strong customer service. It appeared to be priced a higher than it should be, and they would not budge that much on price. Nice ride and response in the bowrider tested. Took time to plane. Resale value really takes a nose dive within the first 5 years.
Monterey: Seemed like a decent boat, but I saw a lot of build problems. Loose parts, screws pulling out of the fiberglass (I saw this on multiple boats built by them). Interior quality OK, but not impressive. Ride and response good, but a little sloppy. Price seemed to be in the right area for what you get. Rode good, but a little rough. Seemed a little "loose" when hitting waves and such. Resale value better than Sea Ray, but still steep.
Regal: See Monterey. Non impressive build quality, and priced a little high for what you get. Did not sea trial. Resale value drop average.
Four Winns: Comp to Regal in all areas.
Rinker: Impressive vessel. Quality built. Great interior, but not as nice as Sea Ray or Chaparral. Priced below Sea Ray, so you get a great boat for good money. Ride and response better than average. Resale value better than Sea Ray, but not as great as Chap. Resale value drop better than Sea Ray.
Bayliner: Better than the bad reputation they got in the past, but still a cheap (no, economy) boat. Will do fine for the money, but interior is subpar, and hull seems cheap. In fact, the entire line of boats I looked at seemed cheaply built compared to the rest. Sea trial showed a loose noisy ride and I felt most waves and bumps. For a first time boat owner, could be worth it. Resale value steep drop.
Stingray: see Bayliner.
Tahoe: Bass Pro cheap *** boat. Enough said.
I ended up buying a Chaparral. I bought a left over 2007 255 SSi (You will be surprised how many different dealers have unsold 2 year old boats)and just could not beat the price. I got a vessel that rides great, is built right, and I can maintain without too many issues. I am not going to say what I paid, but it was far less than NADA value for a used one, and I got a trailer included. The full factory warranty is intact like any new vessel.
I could not afford a Cobalt so it was out. Sea Ray was nice, but they were proud of their prices, and did not offer a cuddy. Out of all of them, it was between the Chap, Rinker and Monterey. The others in my opinion were not built well enough for the money.
With the economy like it is, boat sales are down. Dealers are hurting and have to move inventory. You can get into a great boat for a lot less than you could a few years ago. Just take your time and don't get pressured. Let the salesmen know you are interested, but you are the one in control. It took about 4 months for me to go from starting to look to actually bringing it home. (Well, I actually take delivery next week).
But after this summer spending a lot of time on our boat, figuring out our wants and needs, next season the wife and I will be upgrading, and most likely will be going for a used 220 Cobalt. No way we could ever afford a new one...
