I saw the Pachanga in the showroom last week, nice looking boat!! The ER has a TON of space. Yes you can get a steal on a new boat, but you can also get a great price on a used boat as well.

Good luck with your search!

 

Do it now and don't wait for a boat show. Brunswick has told dealers that their reserves for rebates is used up and they are not extending them past the currently announced series.

Add to that the cash flow pressure on dealers by floor plan lenders to reduce inventory (floor plan rates are up to 4X what they were a year ago) and if you can find a new Pachanga in stock somewhere, you are in the driver's seat.......for a few days or weeks anyway.

 

Do it now and don't wait for a boat show. quote]

I'd assume you are saying, no matter what boat I am going to end up with, do it now and don't wait till the Spring, right?

 

If it is a new boat and a dealer has what you want in inventory, then yes.

The key facts are:

1.Brunswick is discontinuing rebates very soon.

2.The dealers are under a cashflow strain caused by many fewer lenders for floor planning and higher interest rates being charged by those who do still make floor plan loans. The dealer's immediate need to to sell what they own for about anything they can get. Sea Ray dealers pay for their boats before they leave the factory or are unloaded at the dealer's store. Once the current inventory is gone, the floor plan cash flow problem is solved and their need at that point will be to make a profit, not just sell the inventory. The industry will move to a "make to order" situation when the inventory is gone. So, very soon prices will be driven by cost/profit and not by the need to eliminate floor plan debt at any cost.

 

Fwebster..
Appreciate the response. I agree that soon this industry is going to move to an order by order basis. I was just having the same convo with someone this past weekend. All about supply and demand. With all the supply, they are in the hole and need to unload inventory, once that's gone, they dont have any incentive to cut prices because nothing is coming from their pockets. Def agree!

As far as ordering taking the boat, still worrys me what kind of hit I might take the first year and what I could get out there for the same money

 

Lets face it - you will always take a huge hit new or used, one of the best things I learned here (I think from Gary) is my highest boating expense each year is not fuel or the slip or maintainence but depreciation - I bought my 300 used almost 2 yrs ago and figured someone else had taken most of the hit........As others have said we dont do this for the "investment" we do it because we (our families etc) enjoy it. That said there are some great deals out there right now just be prepared for the number they put on your trade!

 

The new vs. used point isn't lost on me...........I let the first guy take the big hit on both my Sea Rays. The 390EC had 120 hours on it and was 18 months old; the 450DA was 9 months old and has 78 hours on it ...when I bought them. I have never, and will never, buy a new boat.

But, the original question was only about trading a '95 250DA for a new 22 pachanga........used boats were not part of the question.

 

The new vs. used point isn't lost on me...........I let the first guy take the big hit on both my Sea Rays. The 390EC had 120 hours on it and was 18 months old; the 450DA was 9 months old and has 78 hours on it ...when I bought them. I have never, and will never, buy a new boat.

But, the original question was only about trading a '95 250DA for a new 22 pachanga........used boats were not part of the question.

Either way I have to trade in my 97 SD. I didn't bring up used Vs new because I wanted everyone's opinion about the Pachanga. Problem is with the Pachanga, there are no used 1 or 2yr olds. So I'm either going with a brand spanking new one, or looking at something like a used donzi.

Been going back and forth for a few weeks now...need some opinions

 

Yeah already got that number....not jumping for joy but at the same time, selling for 2-4k less and saving 4k on winterization plays a part also not to mention, with this mkt and time of the year, any boat could be out there for quite awhile if you are trying to sell privately

Agree that you dont dol it for an investment, but at the same time, I dont want to buy a 22' pachanga fully loaded for 65k if i can get a 2007 27' Donzi for 10k more and look back and say that the donzi was the smarter choice

 

I may be different, but we had some experience at boating when we shopped for a diesel boat so we knew what we were looking for and we ended up with one of the best designs Sea Ray ever offered. I can honestly say, for our use and location, that there is nothing in the line with I would trade my old 450DA for. Sure, there are some features I'd enjoy, but for every 1 of them, I'd have to give up features our boat has but the new one does not.

 

We bought new, because I just like to be the first to maintain any mechanical device. The boat, our cars, everything is always new. The exception are things like quads and snowmobiles since they are easy enough to repair on my own...newer cars and boats I am lost.

I also loved the fact of getting what I want on order and the anticipation of it being built for us...like xmas in October. The right color, options, engine, drive etc...

The depreciation...meh. Whatever. If I am willing to spend $X I am spending $X and not worrying about what I can sell it for down the road. All I factor is, can I afford $X? If the answer is "yes", then thats all I care about.

IMO everything depreciates that isnt some kind of collectible. Just to what degree they depreciate is the difference.

 

I bought my first boat this year. 2005 280DA. I knew 0 about boats when i was shopping (actually never even opened the bilge). All i had to rely on was survey and dealer reputation. Now, after learning so much on CSR, i realize that Sea Ray's are so well built that with proper maintenance on the engine it is perfectly fine to get an older boat. In hindsight, i wish i would have went bigger and older. Ohh well. I have a family of 4, its amazing how crowded it gets on my boat even with 1 family as a guest.

My opinion (granted i am new to all this) is get a survey on an older boat and go that route. If you buy through a dealer you should still be able to trade the 250DA. Even a new boat is going to have problems, don't think you are avoiding them by buying new.

Good Luck!!!

 

Even a new boat is going to have problems, don't think you are avoiding them by buying new.

Good Luck!!!

Yup, agree there. Two exhaust manifolds.

But...I didnt pay a dime for either. Warranty :smt001

 

Soooooooo I take it no one cares about the Pachanga haha