Need help deciding

Hello All,

This is my 1st post and I could really use some input.

I'm in the process of looking for a used V-Drive. My last boat was a 1990 Malibu Euro F3. It was a pretty good first boat and we definitely got some great use out of it. We sold it last year with the intention of upgrading and now it's time to pull the trigger.

I've only ridden behind a one V-Drive, it was a MC X-30 and it was a very nice boat. I'm not biased towards any one brand and am open to looking at all boats.

Here's my needs.

I want to spend no more than $27,000.000, I have cash, so I'm hoping to have room to negotiate.

I want a boat large enough for my family, there's 4 of us and enough room for friends to come and play, ideally large enough to seat 10 comfortably.

I'd like a boat that's 21'-23' long and 100" beam or less.

I'd like a good all around boat for wakeboarding, surfing and some skiing.

I want a boat that will last for a while and won't need to upgrade in 2 or 3 years. Build quality is important and I don't want to be working on it more than I'm using it.

Here's what we have been looking at so far.
2002 - 2004 Malibu LSV's
2002 - 2005 Centurion Avalanches

I haven't seen any Tige's or Moomba's yet and I think MC might be out of my price-range.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. I know there are a lot of boat owners who have tons of experience.

Thanks,

-Tom

A quick search of boats between 20k-30k on onlyinboards.com reveals that you have quite a few choices in V drives including some Super Air Nautiques which some people (a lot of people) swear has the best wake of all time. Not sure where you live and if you are willing to travel to pick up a boat but you have lots of choices. It would be best if you could go check some boats out and ride behind them/drive them and then decide which one you like best.

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=819687

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=820644

Yeah... I would think that you should be able to find a boat of just about any brand in that range and that criteria. Wait a few months into the fall or winter and you will start seeing some good opportunities. Good luck

Also this boat is in the classifieds.

http://www.wakeworld.com/classifield...g.php?view=822

I have no idea what the beams are on the boats I posted up but I imagine they are all right around the 100" mark.

Tom,
I have a 2005 Centurion I am getting ready to get rid of inside your price range. If your intersted, I'll get you some details.

I wouldn't think you'd have any problem finding an earlier X-30 during the off season for under $27k

You could most certainly find something like a Maristar 230 VRS (X-30 w/o the tower and the ballast) for well under $27k, throw a tower and ballast on there and still come in under budget.

Mine was a bit of a freak deal and it had a few minor mechanical issues to address but a couple of months ago I got an '00 MariStar 230 VRS w/ 270 hrs for $13,300. I put about another $600 into it fixing those issues and it's spectacular.

I saw a few other circa '00 V-drives with around 300 hrs for under $20k. Some even had towers and ballast systems.

I was about to go look at this one:
http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=820113

but the '00 Maristar came up and it was a much better deal.

At $27k you can find some really nice boats though.

BTW, a lot of the 21' boats have really small bow seating areas relative to the X-30 that you rode in. Behind the windshield my neighbor's '08 SAN 210 have about the same amount of space. In front of the windshield there's a noticeably smaller amount of space. Just something to consider if people capacity is high on your list.

Thanks everyone, your input is a great place for me to start. I'm located in Burbank, CA and I'm willing to travel to pick up a boat.

If you guys had your pick on what boat to buy in this price-range, what would you choose?

-Tom

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for your input. Ideally I'd like to get something a little bigger than a 21' because of the small bow. So, that's why I'm also looking at the 22' and 23'.

Ok, here is what I found within 500 miles of me.

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=820644

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=820238

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/1894585477.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb...896467454.html

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/1890736822.html

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/1884744625.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1896888015.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1891019423.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1889782384.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1887236341.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1885734505.html

This is a great looking option. It looks like it probably has all the same features as an X30 except PP and it may even have that. It is also a good color with tower speakers, bimini and low hours to boot. I am not sure if these are really considered an awesome wake or surf boat but it will be a great all around family boat and be of very good quality.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/boa/1885704446.html

I like this one!


http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1887236341.html


I'll tell ya though, I have a 1996 Super Sport Nautique, which is basically the same exact boat and seating 10 people would be really cramped! Comfortable is 6ish....

Wow, that 2006 centurion is a really good deal. It will probably be the worst for skiing but is a great rough water boat, has lots of room, surf's incredibly well and can throw a solid wakeboard wake. Again, it looks like the best deal to me. Skip the 05 moomba. They changed the Mobius LSV in 2006 and it got much better. That 06 LSV is a pretty good deal as long as it has a fuel injected motor. The 02 Super air looks nice but I am not sure it is that great of a deal. The 04 Super Air is a great boat but is probably priced where it should be with that high of hours. Like I posted above that Maristar is a big, nice, quality boat. If you could get that for 22.5 or so I think that is a good deal. I think I would rank them like this: 2006 Centurion Avalance, 2002 Maristar, 2006 Mobius LSV, 2002 SAN.

Yeah, I was thinking that 2006 Centurion might be the way to go especially if I could get it for around 27-ish... I'd also be willing to drive to pick up the 2002 Maristar as well and I'll look at the 2006 Mobius as well.

I found 2 Malibu's that are close to me as well and might go and look at them this weekend. When it comes to negotiating, how much of a discount can reasonably be taken off the asking price?

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...r-LSV-97103352
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...u-LSV-96975211

Also found these.

http://modesto.craigslist.org/boa/1824964445.html

http://modesto.craigslist.org/boa/1884805338.html

http://monterey.craigslist.org/boa/1894524924.html

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/boa/1891238857.html

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/boa/1820383856.html

I will be very biased because I have really enjoyed our boat so you might also want to look into Supras. I just bought a '06 Launch 21V that was pretty much loaded with everything we would need including 2,400 lbs of ballast. We got for just under your budget.

All of those are probably great options as well. Good luck with your search. If you see any in New Mexico I will can go check it out for you.

Originally Posted by twelve02

When it comes to negotiating, how much of a discount can reasonably be taken off the asking price?

You're the one with the cash and almost unlimited options. They're the one with the 4,000 lb hunk of fiberglass in the garage that they need to get rid of (Potentially desperately in this economy).

You'll have to feel them out and be ready to walk away no matter how cool the boat looks if you're not comfortable with the price. Every $1 less that you pay for the boat (relative to its "value") is potentially $1 less that you'll have to eat in depreciation when it comes time to sell.

If the seller seems desperate start at 20-30% off of their asking price and go from there. The lady I bought my boat from was tired of dealing with it. Her price was already great (Below NADA private party) but I got her down another 20% without much effort.

Originally Posted by bkey79

I like this one!


http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1887236341.html


I'll tell ya though, I have a 1996 Super Sport Nautique, which is basically the same exact boat and seating 10 people would be really cramped! Comfortable is 6ish....

Yeah, we like that one as well, but the amount of hours on it are a bit high, considering that there's cheaper and newer boats with way less hours. Ideally, I love to pick up a boat that has been babied.

Originally Posted by twelve02

Yeah, we like that one as well, but the amount of hours on it are a bit high, considering that there's cheaper and newer boats with way less hours. Ideally, I love to pick up a boat that has been babied.

Keep in mind that the Super Air Natiques are not the biggest or most family friendly. They are basically known for their super abrupt world class wakeboarding wake. That and I like how they look with the FCT.

Those Malibu's are nice but they are the same year as the Maristar but for 5k more. If they were the same price as the Maristar then it would be tough to decide between the 3.

Originally Posted by Jeff

You're the one with the cash and almost unlimited options. They're the one with the 4,000 lb hunk of fiberglass in the garage that they need to get rid of (Potentially desperately in this economy).

You'll have to feel them out and be ready to walk away no matter how cool the boat looks if you're not comfortable with the price. Every $1 less that you pay for the boat (relative to its "value") is potentially $1 less that you'll have to eat in depreciation when it comes time to sell.

If the seller seems desperate start at 20-30% off of their asking price and go from there. The lady I bought my boat from was tired of dealing with it. Her price was already great (Below NADA private party) but I got her down another 20% without much effort.

Thanks Jeff. That's what I was thinking, Cash is King, especially in this slow economy.

I like the sanger V230 in monterey for 24K and you could prbably do better on the price after all said and done.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1891019423.html

In my humble opinion, this is the best boat you have linked. A Sanger 210 with 140 hours for $21,500. As long as it hasn't been beat to hell, you aren't going to find much better a deal than that. Now its not a huge boat, but for the $ the Sanger 210 can not be beat.

The Sanger 230 you linked is much larger and would hold all the people you need. Like MAtthew said, a very good deal as well.

Also that '02 Malibu LSV is a pretty sweet deal. I'm always a fan of boats with lower hours. Reduces the risk of some jack ass beating his boat to death and then dumping his problem on you.

This one's right in there http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1892290285.html

I know it's older than 2002, but same hull as the 2002 lsv you mentioned in the OP, so ... (btw, you know that the lsv hull changed between 2003-2004, right? 04s will probably be more expensive). It's got perfect pass, ballast, and wedge.

Ok, so I got some pics of the Sanger V230 and posted up a web gallery of them, let me know what you think.

http://www.twelve02.com/2003_Sanger/

I also went out to see the 2006 Avalanche yesterday and that boat was very clean. We couldn't agree on a price, so I walked away and told him to give to give me a call if he wants to talk again.

Sounds like you have a good buying aptitude! Good on ya! Looks like the Sanger needs a lil TLC..

Well, I've been working on a MasterCraft that I bought 2 months ago at least 5 nights a week trying to catch up on deferred maintenance and some neglect in the most recent couple of years. It was in a lot better shape to begin with than that Sanger and it has been a ton of work and I'm still not done. I'm a bit of a perfectionist though.

So, assuming the price is right, I would only consider the Sanger if one of the following options sounds appealing to you:
1) Use it like it is and be happy with it
2) Spend a lot of hours and some money sprucing it back up
3) Spend a lot of money having someone else spruce it up

Originally Posted by Jeff

Well, I've been working on a MasterCraft that I bought 2 months ago at least 5 nights a week trying to catch up on deferred maintenance and some neglect in the most recent couple of years. It was in a lot better shape to begin with than that Sanger and it has been a ton of work and I'm still not done. I'm a bit of a perfectionist though.

So, assuming the price is right, I would only consider the Sanger if one of the following options sounds appealing to you:
1) Use it like it is and be happy with it
2) Spend a lot of hours and some money sprucing it back up
3) Spend a lot of money having someone else spruce it up

Yeah, I've been there with older boats, we had a Malibu Euro F3 that seemed like it always needed something... It was a good boat, it just needed TLC.

On a side note, we went to go see a 2002 Malibu 23' LSV. I've never seen an 8 year old boat in such good condition, the thing was immaculate and it had all the bells and whistles. It's a bit more than I want to spend and there was already a deposit on it, but the other buyer was still trying to secure a loan. I have cash, so if the other loan falls through and I can get a discount off the asking price, I will def. be buying that.

I also want to go see this one as well:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/1845135598.html

If I can get it under 30k, I may have to pick it up, but 1st I need to go see it.

Originally Posted by twelve02

I also want to go see this one as well:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/1845135598.html

If I can get it under 30k, I may have to pick it up, but 1st I need to go see it.

That is the newer hull that they made from 04 to 07 or 08. If you can get that for under 30k and the boat is in pretty good shape you made out very well.