About to buy a 2020 Sea Ray 19SPX...am I making a mistake?

[MrHappy]

I think you would do a lot better in a little older, bigger boat. Especially one with a bathroom. You live in Minnesota. I live in Indiana where it is a little warmer.

I wanted a boat with a bathroom. We put the boat in the water around April 1st. The Captain is not about to “go” in the water until it gets warm, end of May. You do not want to have to go back to the marina or go in the woods on shore every time the kids or the Captain needs to go.

Oh, please do not forget this rule. The first one to use the bathroom, cleans it, for the lifetime of the boat.

 

[Moondoggie]

I think you would do a lot better in a little older, bigger boat. Especially one with a bathroom. You live in Minnesota. I live in Indiana where it is a little warmer.

I wanted a boat with a bathroom. We put the boat in the water around April 1st. The Captain is not about to “go” in the water until it gets warm, end of May. You do not want to have to go back to the marina or go in the woods on shore every time the kids or the Captain needs to go.

Oh, please do not forget this rule. The first one to use the bathroom, cleans it, for the lifetime of the boat.

This is what we use on our 21. Just have to grant them a little privacy. The freeboard is high enough to block the view from outside. Looks like you are just sitting on the deck.
https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Pro...et&qid=1588815262&sprefix=Loo+,aps,212&sr=8-1

 

[Confused]

I am on Minnetonka also. While the 19 will certainly work, it will be a wet/wild ride at times. My vote is for the 21. As was said, buy your second boat first.

 

[Docmaster1]

Hey all,

thanks again for the input. We took out both boats and we went with the 19’. It was a hard decision and there were a ton of good points made by members here (19’ versus 21’, new versus used). The bathroom thing was also huge thing for us too. Also good point in the 19’ being “smaller” compared to other boats on Minnetonka. We did talk about that and noticed there were decent waves and much larger boats once we got out in the big water. But in the end we went with the 19’ because it did everything we needed it to do and we kept our loan under 30k. I just didn’t have the guts to have a $50,000 boat loan on our first one! Anyways we are happy and I pick her up on Sunday from Marine Max. Too bad it’s going to be cold this weekend! I will post lots pics once I get it.

Thanks again to everyone who helped and gave advice and info.

Dave

 

[Jeremygavin]

Congrats on the new boat and enjoy. The 19 is a great boat and does what it was intended for very well.

 

[sbw1]

While I think a bigger boat would be a nicer choice I applaud you for looking at the financial aspects of a boat purchase with your green eye shade on. If the $50,000 loan made you uncomfortable, this was the right decision for you and your family. Boats are toys meant to be enjoyed. Being over extended in any way takes the joy out of the purchase. We have always purchased new boats and maintained them by the book. That is a formula for trouble free boating. Have fun with your new boat.

 

[ttmott]

You didn't say if you are in salt water or fresh water... The IB's in salt water are a problem and maintenance ends up being rather significant for a 5 year outlook. Resale value for the IB's don't track well compared to the OB's for a salt environment. So, if like many of us (especially me) you will suffer with footitis and be wanting a larger boat within a couple of years; the marketability of your now new boat will become important.
Some thoughts for your purchase.
Most importantly make this purchase a fun experience!

 

[ygbsm]

Congratulations on the new boat. I hope it gives you many years of reliable family fun!

 

[sbw1]

You didn't say if you are in salt water or fresh water... The IB's in salt water are a problem and maintenance ends up being rather significant for a 5 year outlook.

No salt water in Minnesota.

 

[Docmaster1]

Congrats on the new boat and enjoy. The 19 is a great boat and does what it was intended for very well.

thank you! We are excited for this weekend!

dave

 

[paulswagelock]

thank you! We are excited for this weekend!

dave

Enjoy Dave. Go make lasting memories.

 

[Docmaster1]

While I think a bigger boat would be a nicer choice I applaud you for looking at the financial aspects of a boat purchase with your green eye shade on. If the $50,000 loan made you uncomfortable, this was the right decision for you and your family. Boats are toys meant to be enjoyed. Being over extended in any way takes the joy out of the purchase. We have always purchased new boats and maintained them by the book. That is a formula for trouble free boating. Have fun with your new boat.View attachment 84255

Thank you for the kind words. Yes we didn’t want to feel overwhelmed as we hadn’t even planned on getting a loan in the first place. Although we had originally planned on renting a slip for the summer (we are not doing that now) so that helped add to our down payment. Although one thing that we did have to purchase was a trailer-hitch for my wife’s SUV to pull it. So it was kind of wash i guess. We will also be making sure to keep it in tip top condition!

Dave

 

[Docmaster1]

You didn't say if you are in salt water or fresh water... The IB's in salt water are a problem and maintenance ends up being rather significant for a 5 year outlook. Resale value for the IB's don't track well compared to the OB's for a salt environment. So, if like many of us (especially me) you will suffer with footitis and be wanting a larger boat within a couple of years; the marketability of your now new boat will become important.
Some thoughts for your purchase.
Most importantly make this purchase a fun experience!

Thank you for the info, No salt water. We are fresh water lakes up here! I have read that salt water is bad for boats.

Dave

 

[Docmaster1]

Congratulations on the new boat. I hope it gives you many years of reliable family fun!

thank you!

 

[Docmaster1]

Enjoy Dave. Go make lasting memories.

Thank you sir! And thank you again for the advice and info! I am glad it all worked out.

dave

 

[MrHappy]

Congratulations on your purchase. Have a wonderful summer with family and friends.

Next year you may want to think about a slip. We had one for 10 years.

The problem in Indiana is that we do not have that many lakes. We live in Indianapolis and rented a slip 1 1/2 hours away on the largest lake in Indiana, Lake Monroe.

I always keep a log and most summers we averaged going to the slip 32 times. It was nice not having to drive the Suburban, saving gas. No stress, pulling up to the marina, getting the cooler and picnic basket out, walking down to the slip.

Since ours was a day boat we had to head home at the end of the day. Our marina slip fee doubled since we first rented. If the lake was less than a half an hour away I would rent the slip. Boating is a great way to spend time with family.

 

[Docmaster1]

So got the boat today. It’s about 45 and over cast. So not the best day. But we took it out anyways! Couldn’t help ourselves! The boat drove amazing. It was everything would could want.

I thought the hard part would be backing it up to launch and then backing the trailer up. Those things were surprising easy. Although getting the boat back on to the trailer...yeah super hard!! Way harder than I thought! Almost drove my boat into a bunch a rocks, couldn’t get the boat centered, and took me about 20 minutes all in. Finally a guy has mercy on me who was waiting to load his fishing boat up and helped me out. It was a major fail! So we will need practice on that for sure. Although now my wife wants to rent a slip now. So we will see what happens! Can’t wait to get out this weekend!

i post some pictures here as well.

Dave

 

[Docmaster1]

Some photos

 

[Docmaster1]

Congratulations on your purchase. Have a wonderful summer with family and friends.

Next year you may want to think about a slip. We had one for 10 years.

The problem in Indiana is that we do not have that many lakes. We live in Indianapolis and rented a slip 1 1/2 hours away on the largest lake in Indiana, Lake Monroe.

I always keep a log and most summers we averaged going to the slip 32 times. It was nice not having to drive the Suburban, saving gas. No stress, pulling up to the marina, getting the cooler and picnic basket out, walking down to the slip.

Since ours was a day boat we had to head home at the end of the day. Our marina slip fee doubled since we first rented. If the lake was less than a half an hour away I would rent the slip. Boating is a great way to spend time with family.

thank you! We may be getting a slip too. My wife is shopping as we speak. I think we would have a lot more fun and plus my wife can take the kiddos out when I am at work too.

dave

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

Docmaster.
Congrats and welcome aboard. I trailered for several years when i had my 19 ft sea ray. As i got older and my boat got bigger it was more of a pain and a fun day on the water can be ruined in the last hour at the ramp. I now have a 290 sundancer and keep it in the slip from mid may to mid oct. You will find yourself spending much more time on her when all ya have to do is park the car, walk to the boat and go. Plus nothing like a nice night out just sitting on the boat at the dock with a drink enjoying your dock mates