All,

I need to choose between a 2005 Crownline 216LS w/220HP merc for
$25,500 or a 2005 Cobalt 200 w/260 merc for $30,200. Neither comes with
trailer and I don't need one. They come with wood trim, bimini top,
snap-in cparpet, 5 year warranty on the motor, basic stereo, etc.

Questions:

Are these good prices?
Is the 220hp motor enough for the 3800lb Crownline?
Is it worth savung the $5K and live with the smaller engine and lesser
quality/reputation?

This boat will be used for family cruising on a lake and some
watersports---mostly knee-boarding, tubing, and some skiing.

Thanks in advance.

If the extra $ will not break your bank then I would go w/ the Cobalt. It
is a better boat and the extra HP and Torque will be great forwhen you try
to ski.

Not sure why you way you don't need a trailer. How do you plan on having
the boat serviced? Where do you plan on storing it? Do you really never
want to go to another lake? How will you ever sell the boat?
Bottom line - you will need a trailer at some point. You either buy it now
or buy it later.
Make sure you get Surge Disk Brakes on the trailer also.


--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com
"ilander" wrote in message
ups.com...
All,

I need to choose between a 2005 Crownline 216LS w/220HP merc for
$25,500 or a 2005 Cobalt 200 w/260 merc for $30,200. Neither comes with
trailer and I don't need one. They come with wood trim, bimini top,
snap-in cparpet, 5 year warranty on the motor, basic stereo, etc.

Questions:

Are these good prices?
Is the 220hp motor enough for the 3800lb Crownline?
Is it worth savung the $5K and live with the smaller engine and lesser
quality/reputation?

This boat will be used for family cruising on a lake and some
watersports---mostly knee-boarding, tubing, and some skiing.

Thanks in advance.

ilander wrote:
All,

I need to choose between a 2005 Crownline 216LS w/220HP merc for
$25,500 or a 2005 Cobalt 200 w/260 merc for $30,200. Neither comes
with
trailer and I don't need one. They come with wood trim, bimini top,
snap-in cparpet, 5 year warranty on the motor, basic stereo, etc.

Questions:

Are these good prices?
Is the 220hp motor enough for the 3800lb Crownline?
Is it worth savung the $5K and live with the smaller engine and
lesser
quality/reputation?

This boat will be used for family cruising on a lake and some
watersports---mostly knee-boarding, tubing, and some skiing.

Thanks in advance.


Consider rephrasing your question: Is it worth an additional $5,000
because the builder claims to produce a higher quality boat?

If you get down to brass tacks, IOW "What makes you boat so high
quality, beyond your claim that it is a high quality boat and some
bank of awards or another? (Everybody can trot out a long list of
awards) What specific construction techniques, materials, features, and
standards of fit and finish are worth an additional 20% in the purchase
price?"...you may find that other lines spending a bit less on
marketing can offer very comparable boats for somewhat less.

Cobalt is a very fine boat, not doubt about it, but it hardly belongs
on a pedestal as the only extremely good choice available. Crownline
would be among my personal finalists if I were shopping for a trailer
boat, but I wouldn't buy in that category without first looking at
Cobalt and Sea Ray, either.

I understand. If it was just the name I would not hesitate to buy the
crowline but the cobalt also comes with the bigger motor. The real
question is how well would the 220hp work with a realtively heavy
boat--for a 20 foot anyway???

Not so much the hp but the torque is the real issue. Get the bigger engine
in the Cobalt. You won't be sorry.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com
"ilander" wrote in message
oups.com...
I understand. If it was just the name I would not hesitate to buy the
crowline but the cobalt also comes with the bigger motor. The real
question is how well would the 220hp work with a realtively heavy
boat--for a 20 foot anyway???

Well, I've decided to go with the Cobalt. Upgrading the Crownline to
the 260hp motor would add $3,350 and at that point the difference would
be less than $1500. I like the looks of the Cobalt better and if the
sentiments continues in favor of cobalt...warranted or not...I will get
that back if/when I decice to trade/seel. Thanks for all the input.

Tony, to your earlier question, the reason I dont need a trailer is
that the boat will be kept in a slip and maintenance will be performed
on the spot. The next closest decent lake is 4 hours away so I don't
see myself doing that and if I want to sell it and the person wants a
trailer, I will look for one then. I certainly don't want to get one
and pay for storage for the next however many years. I really think in
my situation it's better to go without.

Thanks,
ilander.

There is no comparison between Crownline, SeaRay and Cobalt. It would be
like trying to compare a Chevrolet with a Mercedes.


wrote in message
oups.com...

ilander wrote:
All,

I need to choose between a 2005 Crownline 216LS w/220HP merc for
$25,500 or a 2005 Cobalt 200 w/260 merc for $30,200. Neither comes
with
trailer and I don't need one. They come with wood trim, bimini top,
snap-in cparpet, 5 year warranty on the motor, basic stereo, etc.

Questions:

Are these good prices?
Is the 220hp motor enough for the 3800lb Crownline?
Is it worth savung the $5K and live with the smaller engine and
lesser
quality/reputation?

This boat will be used for family cruising on a lake and some
watersports---mostly knee-boarding, tubing, and some skiing.

Thanks in advance.


Consider rephrasing your question: Is it worth an additional $5,000
because the builder claims to produce a higher quality boat?

If you get down to brass tacks, IOW "What makes you boat so high
quality, beyond your claim that it is a high quality boat and some
bank of awards or another? (Everybody can trot out a long list of
awards) What specific construction techniques, materials, features, and
standards of fit and finish are worth an additional 20% in the purchase
price?"...you may find that other lines spending a bit less on
marketing can offer very comparable boats for somewhat less.

Cobalt is a very fine boat, not doubt about it, but it hardly belongs
on a pedestal as the only extremely good choice available. Crownline
would be among my personal finalists if I were shopping for a trailer
boat, but I wouldn't buy in that category without first looking at
Cobalt and Sea Ray, either.

Are you saying that Cobalt AND Searay are the Mercedes equivalents or
just Cobalt?

On 21 Feb 2005 10:00:49 -0800, "ilander"
wrote:

All,

I need to choose between a 2005 Crownline 216LS w/220HP merc for
$25,500 or a 2005 Cobalt 200 w/260 merc for $30,200. Neither comes with
trailer and I don't need one. They come with wood trim, bimini top,
snap-in cparpet, 5 year warranty on the motor, basic stereo, etc.

Questions:

Are these good prices?
Is the 220hp motor enough for the 3800lb Crownline?
Is it worth savung the $5K and live with the smaller engine and lesser
quality/reputation?

This boat will be used for family cruising on a lake and some
watersports---mostly knee-boarding, tubing, and some skiing.

Thanks in advance.

I currently own a 2002 Crownline, and a 2003 Colbalt. I perfer the
Crownline, and let my kids and mounds of friends play with the
Colbalt.