Boat Purchase Help North-East

essex credit is a financing house that is reputable. I use global marine insurance in traverse city MI for insurance.

Josh
 
Thanks a bunch Josh...will call them tomorrow to get info. Still waiting on an answer from State Farm, but I'm sure they're gonna be expensive.

You planted a seed with the 460 pricing. Looks like they are available around the same price but a little earlier in year. I'm finding 2000 and 2001's on the market. Any thoughts on what, if anything, I'd be giving up in electronics, costs to operate/own, etc by going with the larger boat in those years over a 2003 or 2004 420? I know the slip prices at my local marina change a bit over 45', but only by a few dollars. The interiors look more livable for a family of 5 like mine in the 460 and am now considering the cost benefit of the larger boat. Funny... I started at a 380 and am now out of control in size trying to find the best compromise for the family..lol
 
Here is the best advice I got when buying a boat and others will second this.

Buy your second boat first.

If you look at the overall lengths I think the 420 is 43’ and the 460 is 51’. To me it seems reasonable to spend a similar amount of money to get a bigger boat. Most of the 460’s have Cummins diamond 6cta engines so that’s not really different. They typically get 1.2mpg at Hull speed and .8 at cruise.

Here are some 460 facts.

2001 was the first year of a hardtop
2001 has a slightly different cabinet layout in the galley and an additional port light.
2003-2005 is the latest styling with a new salon table and tv mount on the port wall of the salon.
2002 the cabinet material is slightly different due to the issues with the previous vitracore.

The options were:
Hardtop
Hydraulic platform
Generator sound shield
Colored hull
Thrusters
Galvanic isolator
Volvo, cat, or Cummins engines
Bose in salon and vberth
I’m probably forgetting something.


As you go older there is more deferred maintaince. There really isn’t an exact science to this because it depends on the boat. The memebers on this board will help you once you narrow your search to 2-3 boats. We all have opinions and you know what they say about that ;).

Electronics wise.... again it’s personal but here is a real number. New electronics range from 7000 to 13000 for a basic charplotter and radar setup. Typically you can use some of what you have.


If you want a ride buy a plane ticket to Houston!

Josh
 
There are some major differences in the 460 line. They are mostly external as the cabin has remained pretty much the same. The desirable additions of a hardtop and hydraulic lift are recommended, but will ramp up the price significantly. Also some have cockpit air, how effective that is I do not know. It's also bigger so you will need a 50'+ slip for her, but the aft cabin is much more usable then the 420. The salon convertible berth in the 460 is a nice size as well. I like both boats, it's really a choice you have to make around how you want to use it and what you can afford to operate and maintain.

One item to look at in the 460 is the vitracore laminate on the cabinets. It is known to have issues that show up as black spots. It is cosmetic in nature but I've seen it to varying degrees in the 460. It is expensive to repair as the laminate costs a bit. It occurs mostly around curved surfaces. It is best to just live with it, but something to look for. I don't think there were issues in the years around the 420 you are looking at.

The models you are looking at for a lower price have a canvas top and no lift. Which is fine if you can get the boat at a good price to offset those options. Canvas tops will need to be replaced at a cost over time and no lift means you will need to pull up a dingy onto the platform. The 460 platform sits a bit higher off the water so pulling up the dingy will be more work then the lift.

Good Luck on the search!!
 
When purchasing get a list from the agent what is included with the boat. The first boat I bought it was owned by some one who was getting out of boating. He listed what he wanted off the boat and the rest stayed.
 
Thanks again to everyone for all of the advice and help! I plunked down my deposit and am in contract on an 03' 460DA http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2003-sea-ray-460-sundancer-103202412. I'm heading down tomorrow to visually inspect the boat and make a decision for Survey & Sea Trial. I'd like to have the engines surveyed by a cummins engine surveyor. Anyone have any leads on a good hull surveyor and cummins engine surveyor in the Baltimore area? Any idea what would be a fair cost for these inspections? Also, any general advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks again!
 
On the insurance issue, a question on every insurance application is: How much total boating experience do you have and what is the largest boat you have operated? NO matter what you tell the agent on t he phone, they will get to tthose questions sooner or later.

Don't accept no. Explain that you are very conservative and risk averse you you will have a licensed captain onboard for your trip home and on the boat with you when you take it out until you are comfortabe with the operation and systems. Most insurance companies will ad a rider making the captain on board a requirement for a period of time....I've seen 30 days and have seen 90 days and I think it depends upon how they appraise the "risk averse/conservative" impression you leave the underwriter with and to no small measure, your auto driving record, accident history and credit rating.

I've even seen the "Capt onboard" requirement on a move up trade where the buyer had experience but was moving up more than 10'-12' in size.

Don't try to fudge.......just factor the cost of a licensed captain into your budge and deal with it.
 

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