Update- 1 more question-Hello, and please help me decide...
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 7:41 pm
Hi everyone,
This is a great forum and I'm looking forward to participating. I'm getting pretty close to buying my first ever 'toon or boat.
My situation: Family of six, including my wife and I. Oldest about to head off to military, two teenaged girls and a 7 year old girl. None of us are skiers, not plan to be, but definitely plan to do some tubing. Looking for a boat that will be fun on the water for tubing, cruising, some fishing and general goofing off.
My criteria are: 22', tri-toon, 150hp 4-stroke, strakes, under-shielding, ski/tube pedestal, "playpen" cover, trailer w/brakes, vinyl flooring, ~$35,000 to spend. I know, I know, the dealers all laughed too... The used market is tight, and I love the idea of having a warranty. I'm not useless, but definitely not a gearhead.
But after visiting a boat show, one local dealer, reading as much as possible on this forum and viewing 5,697 BoatTrader websites, I have the following options, in no particular order:
a) 2018 Sun Tracker Party Barge 22XP3 w/Mercury 150: $38630 + tax (no haggle Bass Pro), an hour away from home. I've heard Bass Pro can be hit or miss. I haven't actually seen this boat yet.
b) 2018 Landau 232 Island Breeze w/Suzuki 150: $37100 + tax. Includes all above plus a depth finder. This is after considerable back and forth, and I am considering it his best and final offer. It started out quite a bit higher, and I was surprised to see that the offer came in under Sun Tracker. I really like the people I met and have spoken with at the dealership, and this is confirmed by very strong customer reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Bad news is they are on the other side of state, 3.5 hrs away (tow speed). There is a service center they contract with 1.5 hrs. away (though they said they would definitely want me to come back for the initial maintenance). This dealership offers test rides.
c) 2017 (new) Manitou Oasis VP w/ Evinrude 150 2-stroke: $39000 + tax. This is the wild card. Seems like a really nice boat at this price point, but still most expensive. It's a 2-stroke and I wanted a 4. I have not seen the boat--it is at a dealership two states away and they would deliver it at no additional cost. This boat looks sharp in pics and gets great reviews. Actually, they all get pretty great reviews. This one includes third toon storage, the others want $1K more for that, and we would not pay for that feature on the other boats. There is NO Manitou dealer in my entire state. Nearest dealership is next state over, 3.5 hrs away (tow speed).
Before I really started looking, I figured I'd be at the $30K price point, planning to buy used. Started looking and talked the missus into $35K. Now I'm struggling to stay as close to that as possible. We are definitely "value" shoppers. We keep our vehicles and things for the long-run, and do not feel the need/desire to "trade-up" every few years--not that there's anything wrong with that.
Thoughts on the boats? On the Mercury/Suzuki/Evinrude? I'm reading that 2-strokes are good for high-end performance and ease of maintenance, but are also noisier, may (or may not) be smoky, may not be great for low speed cruising, and are closer to being on their way out than on their way in...
I've read that it's as important to pick the dealer as it is the boat, and that makes alot of sense. My local dealer seems great but sells Godfrey boats and the closest we can come is a Sweetwater which is still ~$5500 more than the next cheapest option. I'd love to buy from them, but it seems not to be in the cards--they aren't going lower, after a couple of attempts.
OK, what would you do...? And thanks in advance!
This is a great forum and I'm looking forward to participating. I'm getting pretty close to buying my first ever 'toon or boat.
My situation: Family of six, including my wife and I. Oldest about to head off to military, two teenaged girls and a 7 year old girl. None of us are skiers, not plan to be, but definitely plan to do some tubing. Looking for a boat that will be fun on the water for tubing, cruising, some fishing and general goofing off.
My criteria are: 22', tri-toon, 150hp 4-stroke, strakes, under-shielding, ski/tube pedestal, "playpen" cover, trailer w/brakes, vinyl flooring, ~$35,000 to spend. I know, I know, the dealers all laughed too... The used market is tight, and I love the idea of having a warranty. I'm not useless, but definitely not a gearhead.
But after visiting a boat show, one local dealer, reading as much as possible on this forum and viewing 5,697 BoatTrader websites, I have the following options, in no particular order:
a) 2018 Sun Tracker Party Barge 22XP3 w/Mercury 150: $38630 + tax (no haggle Bass Pro), an hour away from home. I've heard Bass Pro can be hit or miss. I haven't actually seen this boat yet.
b) 2018 Landau 232 Island Breeze w/Suzuki 150: $37100 + tax. Includes all above plus a depth finder. This is after considerable back and forth, and I am considering it his best and final offer. It started out quite a bit higher, and I was surprised to see that the offer came in under Sun Tracker. I really like the people I met and have spoken with at the dealership, and this is confirmed by very strong customer reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Bad news is they are on the other side of state, 3.5 hrs away (tow speed). There is a service center they contract with 1.5 hrs. away (though they said they would definitely want me to come back for the initial maintenance). This dealership offers test rides.
c) 2017 (new) Manitou Oasis VP w/ Evinrude 150 2-stroke: $39000 + tax. This is the wild card. Seems like a really nice boat at this price point, but still most expensive. It's a 2-stroke and I wanted a 4. I have not seen the boat--it is at a dealership two states away and they would deliver it at no additional cost. This boat looks sharp in pics and gets great reviews. Actually, they all get pretty great reviews. This one includes third toon storage, the others want $1K more for that, and we would not pay for that feature on the other boats. There is NO Manitou dealer in my entire state. Nearest dealership is next state over, 3.5 hrs away (tow speed).
Before I really started looking, I figured I'd be at the $30K price point, planning to buy used. Started looking and talked the missus into $35K. Now I'm struggling to stay as close to that as possible. We are definitely "value" shoppers. We keep our vehicles and things for the long-run, and do not feel the need/desire to "trade-up" every few years--not that there's anything wrong with that.
Thoughts on the boats? On the Mercury/Suzuki/Evinrude? I'm reading that 2-strokes are good for high-end performance and ease of maintenance, but are also noisier, may (or may not) be smoky, may not be great for low speed cruising, and are closer to being on their way out than on their way in...
I've read that it's as important to pick the dealer as it is the boat, and that makes alot of sense. My local dealer seems great but sells Godfrey boats and the closest we can come is a Sweetwater which is still ~$5500 more than the next cheapest option. I'd love to buy from them, but it seems not to be in the cards--they aren't going lower, after a couple of attempts.
OK, what would you do...? And thanks in advance!