Used Boat Hunting Questions

[jobofly]

Hey Everyone,

I am looking for the largest boat i can fit into my budget (Thanks CSR Members for that advice). What i am finding is that i can get the boat i want but it is always a salt water boat. Fresh water boats are usually 30% more. I can go smaller and stay within my budget but i dont want to regret that decision. Should i be concerned about buying a salt water boat?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Golfman25]

Yes and no. Depends on how well it's been maintained. But it will be harder to sell, especially if you're in a fresh water area. If you do go salt water, make sure it's closed cooling and price in riser replacement so you start fresh.

What size you looking for?

 

[All's Well]

I would tell you that's all based on the condition and care that the previous owner(s) have taken.
You can find crappy fresh water boats that haven't been maintained but you can also find some that have been in salt water their entire lives that have been cared for and maintained properly and to a very high standard.
You'll probably have to look at several to many to determine what you're willing to accept. There are some great boats out there

 

[bajturner]

Will this be purely a fresh water lake boat or do you plan to make your way to salt water and do some distance cruising?

 

[El Capitan]

I would. I will never buy a salt water used boat. There are more Sea Rays around the Great Lakes to buy salt.

The 30% premium you state I have not seen, quite the opposite on boats I’ve looked at.

 

[jobofly]

I will be boating in fresh water only. The finger lakes actually. I’m looking at early 2000’s 280’s and 290’s. I will get a survey on any boat that looks good. I do ask for all maintenance records ahead of time. That usually gives you an indication of how well it has been maintained. Ok I will pursue some good looking salt water boats in and around Long Island and New Jersey.

 

[bajturner]

I had a 2004 280DA. It was my first "big" boat...really liked it. It became a little tight with our growing family though! When shopping for it I limited my search to fresh water boats. During the Hunt I was on vacation in Virginia Beach and went to check out a few 280s there. I noticed a big difference in the amount of wear and tear on the ocean boats as compared to the lake boats.

At the time, there was about a 10% drop in price for salt water boats.

I ended-up buying in Chicago. When I sent to sell and potential buyers asked about the history, it was obvious that had the boat been in salt water it would have been a big detractor.

Same process when I bought the 300DA in Eddyville, KY.

Now, when I went looking for a 44DB, the situation was different. I was aiming for a 2008 or 2009, and there really aren't that many to choose from. Almost none came along that were fresh water, and navigable back to the Great Lakes easily. That, combined with the fact that I planned to take the boat to salt water, changed my criteria. I ended-up finding a well-cared for boat in Plymouth, MA.

I have compared my boat with a couple others on the lakes around me, one 2006 and one 2007, both 100% fresh water boats, and you can tell the difference...but you really have to look, and I am slowly eliminating them!

 

[Gofirstclass]

When I was looking to upgrade I wouldn't have bought a salt water boat. No Way, No How. Freshwater only.

My search disclosed very little price diff between west coast salt boats vs Great Lakes fresh water boats. In many cases the salt boats were more spendy.

Great Lake boats have several advantages:
-short season, Memorial Day to Labor Day so generally low hour boats.
-exteriors were in much better condition. Almost no pitting on stainless (think bow rails, etc., fiberglass in much better shape, etc
-no matter how much maintenance is done on a salt boat, after several years in salt it does show. The longer it's in salt the more it shows.

Now, that being said, I always offer a piece of advice to new boaters looking to buy: BUY YOUR SECOND BOAT FIRST.

By that I mean take your time, do your shopping and due diligence, don't rush in. Many people fall in love with a boat and buy it without doing their homework, only to find out a couple of years later it doesn't suit their needs.

They sell it, take a financial beating and then buy the boat they should have bought in the first place. That can be a VERY expensive lesson.

 

[Stee6043]

When I was looking to upgrade I wouldn't have bought a salt water boat. No Way, No How. Freshwater only.

My search disclosed very little price diff between west coast salt boats vs Great Lakes fresh water boats. In many cases the salt boats were more spendy.

Great Lake boats have several advantages:
-short season, Memorial Day to Labor Day so generally low hour boats.
-exteriors were in much better condition. Almost no pitting on stainless (think bow rails, etc., fiberglass in much better shape, etc
-no matter how much maintenance is done on a salt boat, after several years in salt it does show. The longer it's in salt the more it shows.

Now, that being said, I always offer a piece of advice to new boaters looking to buy: BUY YOUR SECOND BOAT FIRST.

By that I mean take your time, do your shopping and due diligence, don't rush in. Many people fall in love with a boat and buy it without doing their homework, only to find out a couple of years later it doesn't suit their needs.

They sell it, take a financial beating and then buy the boat they should have bought in the first place. That can be a VERY expensive lesson.

+1. I think the impact of the typical fresh water season duration is sometimes understated. Of course there are some fresh water boats south of the mason dixon, but if you're looking in the northern half we're only using our boats 50% of the year.

Shoot, I bet you lucky boaters from Florida don't even remember what the late 90's Sea Ray OEM tan canvas looks like! You can still find it all over the place in the Great Lakes...20+ year old canvas...

 

[sbw1]

Great maintenance on salt water boats does not eliminate salt water issues which can be subtle but are noticeable. Salt air causes oxidation of electrical systems and there is little you can do about it. It also turns bronze fittings blue in the bilge and pits stainless steel which are the initial visual cues that you notice immediately when inspecting a salt water boat. This is not a big deal but does give you a clue as to what wiring connections that are out of sight are subjected to. Expect to spend extra money fixing hidden problems that show up from time to time. Fresh water boats don't have those issues. Interestingly, fresh water boats are more prone to stringer and transom rot, so you need to be on the lookout for those issues. Also, fresh water boats do not need to have the cooling manifolds serviced or replaced. These last the life of the motor in the clean fresh water found in the Great Lakes.

 

[Mknupp]

I will be boating in fresh water only. The finger lakes actually. I’m looking at early 2000’s 280’s and 290’s. I will get a survey on any boat that looks good. I do ask for all maintenance records ahead of time. That usually gives you an indication of how well it has been maintained. Ok I will pursue some good looking salt water boats in and around Long Island and New Jersey.

HELLO, I have a 1997 290 sun dancer for sale in the fingerlakes, a fresh water boat her whole life,

 

[rcknecht]

I have a salt water boat with FWC, and I maintain my boat very well... That said, given the choice between a salt water boat and fresh water boat, I would buy the fresh water boat, if I boated in fresh water. In salt water, what is important is FWC, and inboards (if you don't have lift). If you never intend on boating in salt water, buy a fresh water boat. Look in the great lakes for deals. I would stay away from LI and NJ, for a 20-30% discount. There is one exception, if you buy a boat that if fairly new, no older than a 2013. Sandy hit in 2012... Then, it may be worth the savings, as the salt water will have less long term effects.

 

[jobofly]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will continue my search in fresh water only.