sea ray vs four winns?

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Your purchase broker should take some of the seller broker's cut....

Yes, which comes out of the price that you're negotiating with the seller.

Just because it's not a line item or you're not getting a bill for it, doesn't mean it's not getting accounted for in someone's part of the negotiation, particularly if it's the person doing the negotiating.

It always cracks me up when someone says "that item's price isn't negotiable" in a negotiation.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

Oh, if money is no object, I'd go Chris Craft or Cobalt.

Sea Ray and Four Winns are good bets at a mid-level price point.

I'd choose Sea Ray slightly over Four Winns simply because of the dealer network and the support. But if there was a Four Winns I just really preferred, I'd go that route. Also the Sea Ray Sundancers are made for real cruising and the Four Winns don't have the same usable space.

As to Chris Craft and Cobalt. Chris Craft really has day boats, not true cruisers. Now Cobalt we love and had on the lake, but there entry into cruisers contained building maybe the nicest factory in Venore TN and shutting it down quickly. Nothing that's more than a day boat and no diesel. The layout of their 33 doesn't compare to a Sea Ray cruiser.

[BandB]

On a new Sea Ray that will get you a 35' or 37' Sea Ray Sundancer

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by xcurrent

survey/broker on a new boat? or just used?

BOTH.

Unless you are an EXPERIENCED boater, you should do for new, too.

I have heard more horror stories than I care to admit (OK, so i just DID admit it, right?) with inexperienced owners on new boats. Complaints ranged from hoses falling off (who wouldn't check hose clamps for goo'ness sake?) to engine control linkages to all sorts of other things. Paco or Xintao at the factory coulda been coming in to work on Monday or wanting to go home early on Friday. Who knew???

There are all sorts of mobo forums dedicated to each of those boats that you can find owners' comments. Just takes a little bit of Google searching.

My son's thinking of buying a used motor scooter - he spent two hours online and found all sorts of goody information.

You can, too. Consider this forum just start.

Happy hunting and good luck.

[xcurrent]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

BOTH.

Unless you are an EXPERIENCED boater, you should do for new, too.

I have heard more horror stories than I care to admit (OK, so i just DID admit it, right?) with inexperienced owners on new boats. Complaints ranged from hoses falling off (who wouldn't check hose clamps for goo'ness sake?) to engine control linkages to all sorts of other things. Paco or Xintao at the factory coulda been coming in to work on Monday or wanting to go home early on Friday. Who knew???

There are all sorts of mobo forums dedicated to each of those boats that you can find owners' comments. Just takes a little bit of Google searching.

My son's thinking of buying a used motor scooter - he spent two hours online and found all sorts of goody information.

You can, too. Consider this forum just start.

Happy hunting and good luck.

OK tx good to know. and yes i'm working other resources/forums etc as well.

[xcurrent]

Originally Posted by BandB

On a new Sea Ray that will get you a 35' or 37' Sea Ray Sundancer

right, which i have heard good and bad about....a couple horror stories but thats prolly true of all brands right?

[xcurrent]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Here you go....

I didn't put any rays on here cause I think you've looked at 'em... Simply other options.... Ton's more...

Pick 'em apart and tell me what you hate....

2009 Mainship Pilot Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

2008 Regal 4460 Commadore-FRESHWATER ONLY Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

2009 Carver 43 Super Sport Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

2008 Tiara 3900 Sovran Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

2009 Tiara 36 Open Volvo IPS-500 Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

BRAND NEW...
2014 Regal 35 Sport Coupe Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

2008 Meridian 408 Motoryacht Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

great links tx! i'll do some homework and come back....cheers

[goboatingnow]

With out drives , make sure you undertake a very detailed examination of the drive and the drive shaft and bearings.

Any water in the leg oil is a major red flag

Dave

[xcurrent]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

With out drives , make sure you undertake a very detailed examination of the drive and the drive shaft and bearings.

Any water in the leg oil is a major red flag

Dave

TX! .............keep it coming (although the board has all ready convinced me to get a survey) but the knowledge for me is great!

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by xcurrent

Hi all

new to the forum. I have basic boating experience in mid sized I/O bowriders, most of my life.

I am looking at a cruiser between 35 and 40 foot range and sea ray and four winns look pretty good to me.

But with little experience with a boat like this i would love to get some feedback on which brand is better and what a newbee should be looking for.

It would be used in salt water (florida) and hopefully move around a fair bit (2 adults 2 kids max) with stay-overs no longer than a week.

Any feedback would be wonderful and appreciated, even if another brand/type would be better.

Thanks....

Some random thoughts:

Kids grow, so if you buy something with only adequate room now, it might not be large enough day after tomorrow

Kids get friends, and they also get bored if the friends aren't sitting right next to them; extra space for the peanut gallery might help

If you have friends, you may be rash and invite them aboard; got room?

New boats depreciate quickly, and may or may not be in as good condition as some used boats

Assuming you meant "express style" boats (many Sea Rays, all Four Winns that I know of), you might try to get a feel for whether you can live in a cave

Weather happens, so sometimes a bit of elbow room -- and some nifty windows you can see out of during the storm -- may make it easier to handle periods of captivity (Cave comment applies.)

Short and/or seldom trips often mean gas boats are fine; cost of acquisition is low, maintenance is possible, etc., although there can be some safety things to pay attention to. Long trips/often may suggest leaning toward diesel, and that also can mitigate some of those safety issues

Just as there are some pros and cons associated with gas and diesel engines, so too there are advantages/disadvantages of: twin engines vs. single; straights shafts vs V-drives vs. pod drives vs IO (outdrives) vs outboards; planing hulls vs demi-planning (or semi-displacement) vs displacement hulls; and so forth. (Home in on boats you like, and many here can discuss pros/cons.)

When you shop on a boat, imagine yourself using it. Imagine getting undressed at night (where do you hang your clothes?), cooking a meal, going forward to lower/raise the anchor, carrying a dinghy, boarding with a pet, etc etc etc.

Imagine also ACCESS to various systems, which will need periodic/routine service and sometimes bigger repairs and/or replacement. Can you get to the genset? Can you get to the AC? Can you get to the hot water heater? Can you easily check your batteries?

Many brands/models may satisfy; features that suit the way you'll use the boat, and access to fix it, are much more important in my mind than the brand.

(Although, yes, some brands are better than others.)

-Chris

[xcurrent]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Some random thoughts:


New boats depreciate quickly, and may or may not be in as good condition as some used boats

yes i agree and this is what i struggle with the most. Is the instant depreciation worth knowing its a new boat. I will definatley be investigating this further.

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Assuming you meant "express style" boats (many Sea Rays, all Four Winns that I know of), you might try to get a feel for whether you can live in a cave

Weather happens, so sometimes a bit of elbow room -- and some nifty windows you can see out of during the storm -- may make it easier to handle periods of captivity (Cave comment applies.)

Cave issue i am ok with but wife disagrees.....i assume you are suggesting more of a carver/silverton type cruiser as opposed to the express? Someone else used the term 'cocktail cruiser' for the express lol that seemed appropriate

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Short and/or seldom trips often mean gas boats are fine; cost of acquisition is low, maintenance is possible, etc., although there can be some safety things to pay attention to. Long trips/often may suggest leaning toward diesel, and that also can mitigate some of those safety issues

can you expand on the safety issues specifically please?




-Chris[/QUOTE]

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by xcurrent

great links tx! i'll do some homework and come back....cheers

You bet man!

AND TONS of other great advice has been given here.... Broaden your horizons.... Find out what you hate about some styles... and now "need to have" in others.... I personally think you were looking "too narrowly" before.... If it comes back to your original ideas??? You know for sure then!

You are more than welcome to PM me any time if you have a specific question or boat... as well as posting it here...

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by xcurrent

Cave issue i am ok with but wife disagrees.....i assume you are suggesting more of a carver/silverton type cruiser as opposed to the express? Someone else used the term 'cocktail cruiser' for the express lol that seemed appropriate

can you expand on the safety issues specifically please?

Well, not suggesting, really; more like just encouraging you (all) to explore various features so you can pick those that suit you (all) over time. There are pros/cons for flybridge boats, just as there are the same for express boats. Wander around some docks, see what you like.

The gas safety thing isn't a huge problem, as long as you pay attention. Mostly it has to do with evacuating gasoline fumes before starting engines, specific fueling procedures, etc. Do it right, no problem. You might invest in a Chapman's Piloting book (for example) for further discussion. Or a USCH boating safety course (or US Power Squadron equivalent) would be helpful, since the specifically train on that subject. (and others, of course, all useful.) Or BoatUS has an online course that probably treats the subject. If you check stuff like that out and still have questions, don't hesitate to ask!

-Chris

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Well, not suggesting, really; more like just encouraging you (all) to explore various features so you can pick those that suit you (all) over time. There are pros/cons for flybridge boats, just as there are the same for express boats. Wander around some docks, see what you like.

-Chris

My point... pointed out again... You don't just buy a 911 because it's shiny... Once in a while you may need to pick up 3 kids from school, or grab that plywood sheet from Home Depot....

[BandB]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

My point... pointed out again... You don't just buy a 911 because it's shiny... Once in a while you may need to pick up 3 kids from school, or grab that plywood sheet from Home Depot....

Wifey B: Oh but my 911 is shiny. Don't put it down. I love it.....oops.....so that's why we have an SUV too....hehe....

And your point is valid. I would never have a 911 as our only family car. And in a boat it's even more so. As much as I like style and flash, we've gone toward space and utility and comfort. Actually buying a boat for many is more like buying a house than a car so your analogy may miss a bit. But sometimes you look at a house that really is just super cool and instant love, but when you start looking closely you realize your furniture won't fit and the kitchen is too small and things that really affect your daily lives.

If you're buying a boat for a day on the lake, it's one thing. When we lived on an inland lake, pretty and fast were important. But if you're buying one to spend weekends, weeks or longer on, then it's more than just a piece of transportation.