Boats - New vs Old opinions please

[rockinj]

Even though we only bought a new (to us) boat at the beginning of the year we have started looking again. We really need a bigger boat than what we have. We dam fish and also want to be able to 'close' off shore fish. Hubby is 6 foot 3 and built, our 8 yo is as tall as many 12 yos so looking to the future here is important.

We have been looking at second hand boats but have not seen anything like we want so have also got a price on a brand new Sea Jay that seems to be what we are looking for. Size, high sides, lay out etc.
We then found a second hand boat that 'seems' to be the bees knees. It is already fitted with elec motor, bimini etc, etc. This boat is in great condition but is now almost 10 years old. (Mako brand)
The two boats, new and second hand, are exacty the same price. The new boat is bare of course and the second hand has all the extras. If we buy new, we would have to be looking at at least another $4k for extras probably more when labour in involved.

Just looking to get opionions from people with a lot more knowledge/experience on what you would recommend. For the huge investment that we are looking at, the next boat needs to be one big enough/good enough to keep for the next 15 years. 
 

[scrapsD40]

S/hand boats with extras that have been looked after can be quite ok but there are traps to look out for.  I've had 6 boats so far both old and new but I'm no Mechanic (or Carpenter - well actually I am).

My current boat was 7yo and well looked after when I bought it.

My main experience on s/hand that might still cost you money above the purchase price are:

Existing batteries will more than likely need to be replaced and marine batteries are more exe than car batteries. If going off shore any distance, never scrimp on these. Get a quote to replace in first year.

Trailers will have travelled and as a minimum you will need at some stage to replace the winch strap, maybe lights and wiring and of course definitely wheel bearings. Not overly expensive but worth considering and bearings will definitely have a cost in year one that the new one won't.

Steering - on my current boat, the steering system ceased up over winter non use. Didn't realise it was happening. Cost me several hundred $$'s to have it removed and replaced.

Boat hull - fibreglass look for bruising and dents. This may be hiding minor structural damage or be letting water seep in and need repair and re waterproofing.

Aluminium - usually pretty safe however remove floor board and check under floor if you can  for bracing rigidity. Also older aluminium will have some level of pitting which may let water seep in.

Motor - this is the biggie in s/hand boats. Ask to see the service history and also check for any recall notices that may apply. Confirm that these have been done and if not, budget for repair replacement. Oil and moving parts need attention just like a car and if these haven't been maintained, then your first service could cost you $1,000+

Having said all of the above don't not consider the s/hand option, just consider the cost and match it against the new one with the extras that you won't spend any money on in the first 2 years except a minor service.

[chester ver2.0]

I have found with the likes of things such as cars, boats, jetskis and motor bikes the following

If you are looking for second hand that is only 1 to 3 years old dont bother the difference in price between top brands in new and second hand is small so i always go new

I say this holds true for the TOP brands once you get to lesser know  the economies of scale may alter

For example when i bought my Kawasaki jet ski it was only 4k difference between second hand and new for a 2.5 year old model so with that i went new which got me new jetski new trailer and warrently

[broncos11]

Budget will dictate a lot here as to how you go

[rotare]

I don't know either of those boat brands very well, so not sure whether you're comparing apples with apples.  Are the two boats the same size, same type of boat, same engine size, similar specifications etc?  How many hours has the second hand boat done?  Is it in as new condition?  More details may help uncover what the real differences are.

Like anything though, some brands are a known better quality and have a better reputation, and therefore will command a better price than a comparable product - even though they may appear similar.

Maybe talk to some boat dealers or even google the second hand boat in question to find out what they sold new for, and read any reviews to determine why it would still be worth as much as a comparable, new boat - if indeed they are comparable.

Only other thing I'd say is that even though the second hand boat has a lot of extra features, are they all new and in good condition?  What about the engine?  Nothing worse than buying a boat with outdated electronics, and finding all the 'extras' are nearly due to be replaced anyways.  At least buying new you get to choose exactly how to fit out your boat, plus you get peace of mind of having some warranty on your hull, motor and trailer.

Good luck with your decision.

[archer63]

Lots of 4-5m tinnies on the market...with quintrex being just one of them.

Whatever you get...make sure it is a four stroke or at least an etec or something as a lot of dams don't let older two strokes on them.

Plus they will be worth next to nothing very soon.

[paulo]

Hi,

If you are looking to keep it for 15 or so years, I'd try and go the new. You'll know the boat from day dot, get all the warranties etc, and can fit it out to suit your style, and fishing wants and needs.

+1 on the four stroke also. Dad's got one on his boat (it's second) and it's a beaut. My cousin upgraded from a two stroke which was going well but getting long in the tooth, to a four stroke of the same HP, and wishes he'd done it sooner. Couldn't be happier.

The four strokes really shine if you're trolling in the dams (which is what we do a lot of). Quiet, smooth as, no stink, and use hardly any fuel.

All the best.

[Pete79]

Assuming you're only looking at alloy, then no issues with second hand in my mind.

Any structural faults or repairs are pretty obvious to spot on Tinnies.

Agree with the others about 4 stroke, they are a little heavier, but they use half the fuel.

We bought our Quintrex Hornet new 13 years ago.
It's had a hard life, never been garaged for 12 years and always lived one street back from the beach in NQ.

I'm just about to fit it's 3 lot of timber flooring and carpet. Once that's done it will be like new again. Well apart from a few dents and scratches here and there.
But there's not one crack or repair done. I reckon it's as structurally sound as the day we bought it and I expect it will be for many more years to come.

[AdrianLR]

Both Sea Jay and Mako Craft boats have a solid reputation.

If the boats are the same price now then I'd expect the Mako to have been much more expensive when new and bigger/better/stronger/faster etc.

Agree with everything said above. Our current boat is a 24 year old Malibu Euro F3. It's never seen salt water, the engine has 465 hours and it's been maintained. It was well ahead of it's time in 1992 so there's minimal compromise even now. Two boats ago was a Pride Pacemaker. Half the age of the Malibu but felt much older. All the add-ons age quicker than the hull - motor, controls, electronics in particular. Like Scarps, the steering sieved but the parts were hard to get and therefore a complete replacement wasn't much more.

If you're going to keep is for 15 years then you'll have a 25yo boat at the end. The value will pretty much only be in the hull.

[GBC]

A second hand decked out boat and $4k in the pocket goes a long way toward replacing anything which may fail in the future. Only you can assess each boat on its merit. Have you got a link?

[rockinj]

Please view this ad:

Mako Frenzy 500 Side Console,
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/robina/motorboats-powerboats/mako-frenzy-500-side-console/1128882982

Price: $26,500

Download the application from the Google Play Store.
 http://goo.gl/7NzhP
I am not sure if this link will work from my phone, if not I will put one up on the computer later. Thanks for all the replies, you have made very valid points, some we hadn't thought of.

[Steffo1]

That's a sweet looking setup but, $26,500 for a 9 year old vessel!
I'd be making an offer of no more than $20,000 on it, if you're really interested.
Steve

[rockinj]

Thanks steve for the guidance.
it is just what we want...

[GBC]

$20k would be a bargain. If you could get 10% off it would look very good. The fitout is all high end and well in excess of your $4k budget. Etec ecu's can be interrogated by a dealer. I'd recommend getting it checked out. We have a 225ho in the family which has over 1000 hours but has had the odd issue. I'd look at it. As a rule big guys are always better on the centreline of small boats but where there's a will.....

[Steffo1]

$20k would be a bargain. If you could get 10% off it would look very good. The fitout is all high end and well in excess of your $4k budget. Etec ecu's can be interrogated by a dealer. I'd recommend getting it checked out. We have a 225ho in the family which has over 1000 hours but has had the odd issue. I'd look at it. As a rule big guys are always better on the centreline of small boats but where there's a will.....

Yes, I did mean to mention that!
I have a 4.54 plate, side console & come in at 93 kg & it is noticeable at lower speeds but nothing too dramatic.
Steve

[AdrianLR]

Nice boat. Certainly reinforces the saying though BOAT - Bring Out Another Thousand! In this case you'd be happy if has all been done. Does suggest it's had quite a bit of use.

[rockinj]

side consol is the only negative, would prefer centre.
I thought I was being conservative. We just put an electric motor on our boat. With buying the motor and having the boat modified for it was $1600. We have only used it twice and we already want to upgrade to minkota for spot lock lol.

[rockinj]

Nice boat. Certainly reinforces the saying though BOAT - Bring Out Another Thousand! In this case you'd be happy if has all been done. Does suggest it's had quite a bit of use.

I agree with both points.

[GBC]

Yes, I did mean to mention that!
I have a 4.54 plate, side console & come in at 93 kg & it is noticeable at lower speeds but nothing too dramatic.
Steve

If it actually hits a genuine 40kts you'd need your Sh!t together in the trim department. My signature 542 centre console topped out at 40 one up on the planing plank running a 135 h.p. Not fast for proper fast boats, but plenty fast enough to get a tinny out of shape real quick if it doesn't land straight.
My old man has a 4.8 side console (75 Honda) and I find it unrewarding to drive because of the seating position.

[rockinj]

is that due to too much uneven weight gbc?

[GBC]

Yep, like loading trailers away from axles, boats don't love bigger loads away from centre lines. If you don't ski or drive boats hard it's no big issue, just shove the esky on the wife's side and away you go. Something to be aware of though. You gain a lot of space and other options with a side console too so maybe that compromise is worth it for you guys?

[Steffo1]

Something else to consider is that getting out of the hole is a bit different with a side console with a bit of weight.
Not trying to frighten you, just advising.
I had a 6m Sportfish c/console for years & while my Bluefin side console is a little bottler, I still prefer a centre to side console.
Just my opinion though.
Steve

[listo]

Bloody hell, I've been thinking of selling mine for a smaller boat, but reading this makes me want a bigger one 

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Yeah Listo, 12M - 15M Bertram and does that come with/without a Crew and Captain?

[listo]

It would have to come with a captain at least. Otherwise I need a tin boat to suit my driving style