2000 185 to 1999 215 EC

DAVECS1

New Member
Jun 11, 2007
31
Peoria, IL
Well I read the thread labeled:
Anyone with 215 Express Cruiser?
This got me thinking (thanks by the way). So I went out and did a search on the 215 EC. That looks like the logical next step. We are having are first kid and we are thinking a cuddy will be necessary and my wife would love a head, I must say I would like not having to hold it myself :wink: I have not sea tested one yet, so I am not sure how robust they are on the water. We are hoping to get something that can handle the waves and wakes a little better than the 185. Until that post we were pretty sure we were going to get a 225 SunDowner from that other boat company.

So.... I found a 1999 215 at a dealer a couple hours away. I told him about my 185, and he said they are desperate for bow riders. He is offering me 13,500 for my boat, and the non negotiated price for the 215 EC is 17K, without trailer, I am hoping I may get him to include it in the price.

At the moment I think the price for my boat is good, it is more than I paid for it, but the price on the 215 is not that great, it is a year older, and has no trailer. I am on the fence. My 185 is emaculate. You can do your hair looking into the gelcoat. The 215 has trim tabs and a camper canvas.

Help :huh:
 
Don't forget about the 225 if you are considering a Cuddy. It is essentially the same boat but it has an extended swim platform and a few other bells and whistles like a freshwater system. Also, an Overnighter might be a good choice as well. The 230 Overnighter was available thru the 2002 model year.
 
My 2000 - 215 had a freshwater system.
 
Thanks Dave, I will give those a look. My budget is kinda of limited due to an over abundance of toys. I think 20K is my ceiling unless the bike or the car go. I have not been able to bring myself to put a for sale sign on either, no matter how much I am starting to like boating :smt001
 
Well unfortunately the dealer has no trailer for this boat! I am still working with him, and my bank has already stated I am good for it. So I need to get this guy to commit to buy my boat and give me a trailer. Why does getting a new ride have to be so complicated. :smt017
 
The offer on your boat sounds great! I've got a 1998 185 and I've only been offered $7000 on a trade; which I would never take. Here are my thoughts... We had our 185 when our son was born, and while it took a little getting used to, the open cockpit was no problem. The bimini offers plenty of shade, or even under the console (in their carriers) when they are infants. I would hesitate to go with the small cuddy, only because you will run out of room fast. You won't spend any time in there, so you've essentially lost all that room. It's good for the few times you need to get out of the weather, but other than that, its just a big storage space. And it will be too hot to overnight in it. I would look for an older bowrider that has the head in the console. If you are getting 13,000 for yours, you should be in real good shape. Just my opinion!
 
I paid 15K for my 01 185 last year, can doo my hair in the gelcoat too....FWIW
 
Yea a couple people have told me that going to a cuddy may not be the thing to do. Many of our boating friends have cuddys and they seem to come in pretty handy, but it is true we will loose alot of space.

We are hoping though that the EC will be taller and heavier which will hopefully allow us to take the waves better.

firecadet613, I think the fact your gelcoat is also shiny is a testament to SeaRays in general. Boating here in the river I see many, many 5+ year old boats that just plain look beat. I think the shine is 2 parts good owner 3 parts good boat :smt001
 
Very true Dave. Have any pics of your 185 I can see? Are you looking at Chicago Sea Ray by chance...I was browsing there website the other day, I'm very tempted to try moving up to a 220....
 
Dave, I'm the one that originally posted the 215EC thread. Glad to hear it looks like a good upgrade to you. Same here, with my 175. My kids are 5 and 3 and my wife and I really think that maybe at this point, the cabin is the thing to get. I say cabin as I think the 215EC is a bit more generous in room that a standard cuddy. Could be wrong, I've never been onboard one. But that was why I have been gravitating to it.

I am also going to look at the 225, as the swim platform would be nice. There is a 215EC in NE Maryland that didn't sell on Ebay that looks beautiful with a $3,800 added swim platform (so the seller says anyway). It's still for sale for $18,900.

Anyway, keep me posted on what you find out about the 215EC.
 
I will put some pics up this weekend of the 185. If the deal goes well I guess they will be commemorative pics.

The 215 I am looking at is in Rock Island Illinois.

I have several trailers lined up what a pain. Buying a boat without a trailer is too much work. So my marina down here will sell me a custom made trailer for 3000. To get the boat home they are going to let me barrow a demo, hopefully it fits. So if this whole deal works out. I have to drive all the way home and get the demo trailer come back and pickup the boat. Hour and a half each way. Luckily my inlaws live up there.
 
I think I saw that boat when we were getting warranty work done. If its the one I saw it looks like a nice boat.
 
Well Unfortunately the deal fell through. I was lead to believe they were going to buy my boat because they needed clean bowriders badly.

I looked at the 215 and it was OK, It need cleaning very badly, and it could use a buffing and some minor maintainence. They looked my boat over and told me it was extremely nice, and had all the options.

Went in the saleman's office. I shot him a price on both boats and he quickly excepted. He left for a moment and then came back and said that he may not be able to buy my boat and had to talk to the owner. Then he offered to broker my boat saying it would sell really fast. That got me nervous. Then the owner came in and said there was no way he could buy the boat, since the one I was buying was brokered. He said they could sell my very quickly though??? :smt100

So me and the wife went for a ride to relax and see if a 215 was worth all this hassel. This was were things got interesting. They pulled the 215 down to the water (which was a couple miles away through town) on a trailer that was way to large. It only had one strap from the bow eye to the bow stop, that was a foot from the bow. No lights and no brakes hooked up.

THe ride on the water was nice and confrmed the fact I NEED a 215, but after all the goofy stuff that was going on, and the look on my wife's face. I decided to play it safe and take my 185 home and go boating the next day. Other deals will come.


Pics are taking to long to load
 
So my saga continues. Well now I have found another 215EC but it is a 1996. This brings up a number of issues. It is a nice boat, and me and the wife are convinved the 215 fits our needs for at least the next 2-3 years.

Here are my thoughts to this point.
-The dealer is asking about 1000 over avg book value
-The boat in shape and looks compares to others, in this catagory, but is a little high.
- The boat is far away but the pics look good maybe too good
- It has aftermarket graphics (I like them)

So right now I am thinking the financial side of this deal is not the best. the year and money do not sync up and I am going from a 2000 to 96. But the boat fits are needs. It is the style I am looking for, and has all the options I want.

Any suggestions
 
I would wait for something you can see in person. I don't know about up there, but where I live boats are not selling at all. As a matter of fact, I was looking at one this time last year, and it is still for sale. It's a buyers market right now, so I would just hold tight. Easier said than done I know!
 
I believe you mike on the buyers market, I must be the most terrible buyer out there. I have only gotten one marina to deal and then they backed out on the deal. Two other 215's I can't seem to get anyone to move on. I know good deals can always be found, but I get a little nervous when there are not many 215 to choose from. They seem to be few and far between right now

There asking 15200 out the door for 96 215 hours custom graphics
 
Yeah, the 215 is probably not one of the more common ones. I bet those sellers will get a LOT more flexible in October. Try to hold out! :thumbsup: Alternatively, have you looked into full canvas for your 185? There was a guy who was on the old Sea Ray board who had some made. It looked really good.
 
Not really the canvas me and my wife are after. She is pregnant, so a pottie and plce to change diapers seems attractive right now.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,862
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top