Ok so I have a 1997 maxum 20foot ski boat and I am looking to upgrade.
I have moorage on lake washington ( near seattle ) and so most of my
time is spent on the lake. I was thinking of buying a cruiser but I
have realised a new ski boat is the way for me.

So I went down to the dealship and fell in love with the bayliner 225.
This was a new model in 2004 and is AWESOME. It's got this fantasic L
shaped seating system, and comes with a 260hp fuel injected beast of a
engine. 22feet long and a uber wide beam of 9 feet makes it really
roomy.

but I found a problem, there arent any used available So now I am
stuck in this mode of actually considering buying new! This seems
insane to me since I would take such a depreciation hit.. but it's a
boat.. we dont buy these things to make money

So tell me if I am nuts or since I found the right boat I should just
go for it. To put it into perspective my signifigant other who is 100%
opposed to upgradeing the boat things the bayliner 225 is fantastic!

A little background thread:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...8b5b117c53a804

Let me know what you think!

What's your ownership style?

If you are a frequent trader who will be looking for another boat
within a couple of years, you will indeed
take a good whack from depreciation when you trade up. Maybe 20-30%,
and could be more. That makes a new boat very expensive on an "avg cost
per month of ownership basis".

However, if you plan to hang onto the boat for many years depreciation
needn't be such a critical concern.
Starting with a new boat allows you to avoid wondering what dirty
little secrets the previous owner
glossed over or concealed, and you will know from day one exactly what
type of maintenance the boat receives. Once you iron out the few almost
inevitable
new boat warranty bugs, you can expect perhaps a few years or so of a
blissful time where almost everything is almost always working. That's
about as good as it gets in the real world for most boats.

Owning a boat makes no economic sense whatsoever, whether it is new or
used, unless you somehow use to to earn a living.

If this Bayliner 225 is really the boat of your dreams and there is
nothing similar available used, I'd personally advise against buying a
used boat that you don't like nearly as well simply because it is
already partially worn-out (and depreciated).

Then there's the SO factor. The "Significant Other". Very important.
When we bought our present boat in the early 90's, we made the choice
we did because it was among the top 3 prospects on my list (1st, 2nd,
and 3rd place seemed to vary depending on daily mood and it was a close
contest), but it was clearly NUMERO UNO with the wife. Happy wife
makes a happy boat. After all these years I'm still very pleased with
our boat and have saved more than we paid for it by not repurchasing
another boat every 2-3 years like so many people seem to do. Turns out
my wife was pretty smart about picking boats- (too bad about her luck
with husbands!)

It may make less economic sense to buy new than used, but in a
transaction where "economic sense" is never a factor under any
circumstance, who cares?

wrote in message
oups.com...
What's your ownership style?

If you are a frequent trader who will be looking for another boat
within a couple of years, you will indeed
take a good whack from depreciation when you trade up. Maybe 20-30%,
and could be more. That makes a new boat very expensive on an "avg cost
per month of ownership basis".

However, if you plan to hang onto the boat for many years depreciation
needn't be such a critical concern.
Starting with a new boat allows you to avoid wondering what dirty
little secrets the previous owner
glossed over or concealed, and you will know from day one exactly what
type of maintenance the boat receives. Once you iron out the few almost
inevitable
new boat warranty bugs, you can expect perhaps a few years or so of a
blissful time where almost everything is almost always working. That's
about as good as it gets in the real world for most boats.

Owning a boat makes no economic sense whatsoever, whether it is new or
used, unless you somehow use to to earn a living.

If this Bayliner 225 is really the boat of your dreams and there is
nothing similar available used, I'd personally advise against buying a
used boat that you don't like nearly as well simply because it is
already partially worn-out (and depreciated).

Then there's the SO factor. The "Significant Other". Very important.
When we bought our present boat in the early 90's, we made the choice
we did because it was among the top 3 prospects on my list (1st, 2nd,
and 3rd place seemed to vary depending on daily mood and it was a close
contest), but it was clearly NUMERO UNO with the wife. Happy wife
makes a happy boat. After all these years I'm still very pleased with
our boat and have saved more than we paid for it by not repurchasing
another boat every 2-3 years like so many people seem to do. Turns out
my wife was pretty smart about picking boats- (too bad about her luck
with husbands!)

It may make less economic sense to buy new than used, but in a
transaction where "economic sense" is never a factor under any
circumstance, who cares?


Sound advice. I however would never buy new. Let the buyer of the new boat
work out the kinks for the first couple of years and take the depreciation
hit.

But why not consider a boat 5-15 years old? A much better value overall.
The money saved can be used to upgrade the cabin amenities, canvas and
electronics.....and possibly add on reverse cycle A/C and a generator if it
did not come with that..

Regardless of what you purchase get the boat surveyed (structural and
mechanical) by a reputable surveyor of your choosing. If older than 3 or so
years hire a mechanic to do a compression check on the engine(s) cylinders.

Also pay careful attention to maintenance records if you buy used.

Good luck and let us know what you purchased.

I am not looking old because I already have a perfectly good 1997 ski
boat. It runs great, looks pretty good, although after 8 years it's got
a few cosmetic issues. This new boat, the 225 has a totally different
seating arrangement then I have seen in any other boat and it would
suit my usage needs perfectly.

I put a offer in, they said no. Then I found a used 2004 but the guy
wants his loan payoff amount which is 28K. The local dealer has several
2004's left that they are "sales" price selling at 27K with a 1K cash
back reward from bayliner. The 2005 model "sales" price is 28K.

So right now I am basiccly hopeing my signifigant other let's me buy
the 2004.. it's freaking perfect.. but it's that one or nothing. Worst
case scenario is I use my boat for another season... not a big issue
really


JimH wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
What's your ownership style?

If you are a frequent trader who will be looking for another boat
within a couple of years, you will indeed
take a good whack from depreciation when you trade up. Maybe
20-30%,
and could be more. That makes a new boat very expensive on an "avg
cost
per month of ownership basis".

However, if you plan to hang onto the boat for many years
depreciation
needn't be such a critical concern.
Starting with a new boat allows you to avoid wondering what dirty
little secrets the previous owner
glossed over or concealed, and you will know from day one exactly
what
type of maintenance the boat receives. Once you iron out the few
almost
inevitable
new boat warranty bugs, you can expect perhaps a few years or so of
a
blissful time where almost everything is almost always working.
That's
about as good as it gets in the real world for most boats.

Owning a boat makes no economic sense whatsoever, whether it is new
or
used, unless you somehow use to to earn a living.

If this Bayliner 225 is really the boat of your dreams and there is
nothing similar available used, I'd personally advise against
buying a
used boat that you don't like nearly as well simply because it is
already partially worn-out (and depreciated).

Then there's the SO factor. The "Significant Other". Very
important.
When we bought our present boat in the early 90's, we made the
choice
we did because it was among the top 3 prospects on my list (1st,
2nd,
and 3rd place seemed to vary depending on daily mood and it was a
close
contest), but it was clearly NUMERO UNO with the wife. Happy wife
makes a happy boat. After all these years I'm still very pleased
with
our boat and have saved more than we paid for it by not
repurchasing
another boat every 2-3 years like so many people seem to do. Turns
out
my wife was pretty smart about picking boats- (too bad about her
luck
with husbands!)

It may make less economic sense to buy new than used, but in a
transaction where "economic sense" is never a factor under any
circumstance, who cares?


Sound advice. I however would never buy new. Let the buyer of the
new boat
work out the kinks for the first couple of years and take the
depreciation
hit.

But why not consider a boat 5-15 years old? A much better value
overall.
The money saved can be used to upgrade the cabin amenities, canvas
and
electronics.....and possibly add on reverse cycle A/C and a generator
if it
did not come with that..

Regardless of what you purchase get the boat surveyed (structural and

mechanical) by a reputable surveyor of your choosing. If older than
3 or so
years hire a mechanic to do a compression check on the engine(s)
cylinders.

Also pay careful attention to maintenance records if you buy used.

Good luck and let us know what you purchased.

Ok so I did it!

I bought a 2004 bayliner 225 runabout with the 260hp 5.0 MPI engine,
snap in carpet, bimini cover, upgraded speakers, etc. It's one of 3 the
dealer has left over, so it's brand new. I am buying a moorage cover
and a sunbrela bow/cockpit cover for it as well. Very excited to get
this thing on the water! I cant beleive my girlfriend actually went for
it

On a side note, I listed my 1997 maxum 2000srl in my company newspaper
on friday, saturday morning I got a email from a guy who wanted to see
it.. I showed it to him, he loved it, he's paying for a $300 mechanical
inspection this friday and if it passes he's buying it for what I
wanted to get out of it.

This is working out perfect! I will post some pics of the boat once I
get it.

On 15 May 2005 09:51:12 -0700, wrote:

Ok so I did it!

I bought a 2004 bayliner 225 runabout with the 260hp 5.0 MPI engine,
snap in carpet, bimini cover, upgraded speakers, etc. It's one of 3 the
dealer has left over, so it's brand new. I am buying a moorage cover
and a sunbrela bow/cockpit cover for it as well. Very excited to get
this thing on the water! I cant beleive my girlfriend actually went for
it

On a side note, I listed my 1997 maxum 2000srl in my company newspaper
on friday, saturday morning I got a email from a guy who wanted to see
it.. I showed it to him, he loved it, he's paying for a $300 mechanical
inspection this friday and if it passes he's buying it for what I
wanted to get out of it.

This is working out perfect! I will post some pics of the boat once I
get it.

Ok, who's going to be the first to tell him the bad news?

Later,

Tom

Hey, hey, congrats!

Here's hoping you enjoy the living heck out of your new boat.
As an acquaintance once said, "You're here for a good time, not for a
long time."

You'll find 40 people who will tell you did the right thing, and 40
more to tell you you screwed up, but if this is the boat you wanted
that's the only important phrase in the bottom line. :-)

Go for it. Having a boat you really like and know there are no issues w/
wiring, engine, trim, etc... makes for some great boating pleasure. Money
spent on the new boat overcomes maintenance, rework, hassel.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

-
wrote in message
oups.com...
Ok so I have a 1997 maxum 20foot ski boat and I am looking to upgrade.
I have moorage on lake washington ( near seattle ) and so most of my
time is spent on the lake. I was thinking of buying a cruiser but I
have realised a new ski boat is the way for me.

So I went down to the dealship and fell in love with the bayliner 225.
This was a new model in 2004 and is AWESOME. It's got this fantasic L
shaped seating system, and comes with a 260hp fuel injected beast of a
engine. 22feet long and a uber wide beam of 9 feet makes it really
roomy.

but I found a problem, there arent any used available So now I am
stuck in this mode of actually considering buying new! This seems
insane to me since I would take such a depreciation hit.. but it's a
boat.. we dont buy these things to make money

So tell me if I am nuts or since I found the right boat I should just
go for it. To put it into perspective my signifigant other who is 100%
opposed to upgradeing the boat things the bayliner 225 is fantastic!

A little background thread:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...8b5b117c53a804

Let me know what you think!

ya keeping the woman happy would really help here...man it was a
awesome boat.. I can see myself cruising around right now

ok thanks for the input guys, I will let you know in a few days what I
decide to do. First I need to sell my current boat.


tony thomas wrote:
Go for it. Having a boat you really like and know there are no
issues w/
wiring, engine, trim, etc... makes for some great boating pleasure.
Money
spent on the new boat overcomes maintenance, rework, hassel.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

-
wrote in message
oups.com...
Ok so I have a 1997 maxum 20foot ski boat and I am looking to
upgrade.
I have moorage on lake washington ( near seattle ) and so most of
my
time is spent on the lake. I was thinking of buying a cruiser but I
have realised a new ski boat is the way for me.

So I went down to the dealship and fell in love with the bayliner
225.
This was a new model in 2004 and is AWESOME. It's got this fantasic
L
shaped seating system, and comes with a 260hp fuel injected beast
of a
engine. 22feet long and a uber wide beam of 9 feet makes it really
roomy.

but I found a problem, there arent any used available So now I
am
stuck in this mode of actually considering buying new! This seems
insane to me since I would take such a depreciation hit.. but it's
a
boat.. we dont buy these things to make money

So tell me if I am nuts or since I found the right boat I should
just
go for it. To put it into perspective my signifigant other who is
100%
opposed to upgradeing the boat things the bayliner 225 is
fantastic!

A little background thread:

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...8b5b117c53a804

Let me know what you think!

On 9 May 2005 20:04:24 -0700, wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

First I need to sell my current boat

Which might be a whole 'nother adventure in and of itself.

Here's my opinion - buy what you can afford. Make the decision based
on disposable income. New or Used, that's the bottom line. A boat,
new or used, is going to do nothing but cost you money.

Later,

Tom