Buy or can I do better
 

Guys I'm thinking real hard about this boat.I think it's a great boat but can I do better for my money?this boat is a 15 hour drive for me?


http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o38144-en.html

Looks like a great boat.... only 301hrs in 12yrs.... and just by reading their ad,, it really seems very, very clean....

Keep us posted and GOOD LUCK...!!!!!:drink:

Guys I'm not questioning the boat? Just looking to see if I can get more boat for my money

looks good but i would ask to see the engine hour breakdown to see if the engine was babied or at full throttle the whole time, if 70 percent of the hours are below 3500 rpm then i would maybe consider it if not walk away if they are not going to budge on price

Keep looking ! For $ 27,000 I think you can do a lot better and have a twin engine boat to boot......This is a poor economy and if you are paying cash,you can probably get a really good deal. Do not be in any rush to buy something and get the boat surveyed before any money changes hands ........ 15 hr.drive,is that correct??? Look for something closer to home and dont take anyone's word for anything.If you still want to go and look take a person with you that will give you an honest
opinion without swaying you to buy it because it looks cool !

Good luck in what ever you decide.


Jim

Fogducker is right !!!!!!!!!

Just my humble opinion, but I see you're from NY. Plenty of great boats in NY, close to home. I'm not a fan of Baja either. I think you can do better as well based on pric point. I searched approx. 6 months to buy my current boat, looking at nearly 15 boats before I found the one. Patience is key! Good luck.

Guys I want to keep it a single engine with about that lenth and a windshield. Send me boats in ny that are fresh water.

You CAAAN do better. (IE. you can get my Infinity for half the price, but it's a few years older, for one.)
Run like hell from Grand Sport Ctr. for two.
Be very carefull whom you get advice from, for 3.
Buy what YOU want, not what "others" tell you, for 4.
Lissen for the imput, but make your own decision. You will be living with it not the one who recommended something. (but that SP is pretty nice for the $)

I'll pay someone to find me that boat.I need much help due to lack Of knowledge.

I believe a 272 is really like a 25....and there's been at least one Active Thunder 25 to go for less w/ similar power. So, I'd say yes you can do better!

I'd rather have a 25 AT, 24 Pantera, or a 27 Fountain etc rather than that boat. The styling just doesn't do it for me, and I don't believe they perform great either.....however they can be had for cheap usually.

I need all your help guys.

Tyson, sit down and make a list of things you want in a boat; organize info into features you "must have" and things that are neotiables to you. Shop the seller as much as the actual boat. You can learn a lot about a boat by learning and observing the person(s) selling it. Character is king.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o37202-en.html
I think this would be alot better choice than the Baja and seems to be priced well and has a windshield.

the is a 26 sonic prowler in stoney point ny on boattrader it looks like a nice boat

Fixx
 

That dealer is about 45 min from me,,if your really serious about it have it surveyed first,,they usually sell nice boats but in today's market i think you can get more boat for the money..thease 2 look nice but still pay to have them looked at if your a serious buyer

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o37799-en.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o34894-en.html

At 301 Hours the boat could be in need of a top end rebuild. Your post is neither helpful nor informed.

fctyson like a poster before said there was an AT that recently sold for simliar money. I guess it depends on how much that guy is willing to budge.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o37996-en.html
This seems like it would be comparable to the baja as far as money and hrs go. But alot better built boat in my opinion it and the formula I posted above are a step above the baja.

Is the price on the Baja a firm price? If not, kinda hard to suggest he could do better if that boat could be had for less. Appears he is interested in it for what ever reason. Tons of people are happy with their Bajas.

I dont think there Is anything wrong with Bajas. But I think If you could buy a similar vintage or newer Formula or or Fountain for the same price you wouldnt be doing to bad. Just a better looking and bult boat in my opinion.

Is your link to some antiques a better recommendation? Lets face it the kid has probably read just about every post on here. I'm sure he studies whats for sale with what power and prices. The guy was asking opinions, everyone has one. You like old v hulls, I like cats, and the next guy might like sail boats. It is what it is, cut the kid some slack. I enjoy reading some of his post. Probably the best recommendation for that guy is...save your money and just ride with a friend its a lot cheaper! But what do I know?

Agreed, I think this is a much nicer choice for the money and a similar style.

I know you've spoken to the previous owner of this 272. He would be the best to advise you on this particular boat. I do think a 272 is an excellent place to start getting into performance boating.

I would try to find a 25 Outlaw. The Outlaw is a much better hull than the 272. Also the 25 outlaw is comparable in size because its a full 25' not including the swim platform. the 272 is including the swim platform.You dont get the windshield with the Outlaw but worth the trade off for ride. I had a 2000 25 Outlaw that i was happy with, it is a great starter boat and most importantly as far as i can remember is faster than the 272 with equal power. Im sure you can find a better deal closer than 15 hours away.

I luv outlaw but no windshield

Remember to NOT trust hour meters, if it is a FI motor have the ECM scanned. When I was looking they never matched, the most I seen was 100 hours off.

Excellent advise. I had a 272 with 502 mag so I have experience. The Outlaw hull is much better. AT even better. :evilb:

That boat is underpowered with a 454. I would go for the Fountain with the HO over the Baja any day. Newer and much faster.

best advice I think is to at least sit in each one of these boats and figure out what YOU want, ride in as many as you can. Find one like that 272 or whatever close by if you can just to actually see it. That 27 fountain is a great boat, looks great, handles great but I personally hate the front seats and left side shifters and wouldnt want one, but thats just me, people who have them love them. Those older twin engine boats may be built better then a baja but "more then likely" will be much more expensive to maintain and arent for everyone. Thats why they make so many different ones. I had a baja H2X for 2 years and was absolutley great, put 120 hours on it and only replaced a starter and one battery then got every penny of my money back on it. If the 272 is really clean I dont think the price is far off, in 12 years a boat that was maintained compared to one that wasnt can be in 2 completely different price ranges.
BTW, I drove 12 hours each way for my first boat based on pics and was pleasantly surprised, my current checkmate I drove 7 each way and I flew to Fla from NY to look at a sunny once and didnt buy it, but it was middle of winter and I got to test drive it, realized that was the type of boat I wanted just not that particular one, worth every penny of the $400 plane ticket, left at 5am and was home by midnight seller picked me up at the airport. Have fun shopping and dont let anyone talk you out of a certain boat if you like it, most guys on here are into much more expensive nd high performance stuff then the average lake boater.

I bought a boat from GSC and although everything went great there, they didnt allow me a test ride. They put it on a prop dyno for me but that isn't the same thing. I bought it anyways and Ive had great luck with it so far. But anyhow, in the Baja forums here there is a gentlemen that was the owner that traded it in. There is a recent post on that particular boat.

Edit - (just now realized you were the one that started the topic in the Baja section. Sorry about that)

fctyson the 272 is a great boat and rides great from my experience I have one and absolutely love it. BUT I believe that one is priced on the high side. If it was a bit lower then I would say get it, their great boats, but not at the current price. Find out if they are flexible with that price, especially in today's market. If not then I too agree you can get more boat with that kind of money. Even though I love mine I just can't see myself spending that kind of money for the boat especially with the deals I have seen lately. I did a quick search and found this
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o37716-en.html

I'm sure there's plenty more out there too but for the price I don't personally think it's a good deal for you. Hopefully other people will chime in as well. Ultimately it's your purchase and your the one who's going to be enjoying it so as others have mentioned buy what you like and whatever boat fulfills your needs. Good luck with the boat searching!

Thanks everyone. You all have good advise. I looked at that formula over and over. Everyone aside that the trailer was junk and not to travel across the country with it but u add 4-5k to the price for a trailer and it's over my budget

Some of the enjoyment of boating is doing what you are doing right now, looking for your new ride.
So have fun doing it and dont make it angst, take your time.

If you lose a deal, relax, there are tons of boats out there.

Invariably 6 months after you find one and use it, you will get the evercommon disease.....onefootitus.

Good luck and have fun !!!

For what it is worth, I will add that some folks spend so much time looking, that they shorten thier time to enjoy. Educate yourself as well as you can, do your homework, narrow your choices, have a survey done, and pull the trigger! Just remember that when you buy, you have to be thinking about selling, so be in it right, and don't get anything too "kinky".

I have a buddy that gets what I call "Paralysis through Analysis". whether it be a boat or a TV, he gets so buried in comparing and afraid that he is paying too much that he never does anything! When he misses a killer deal through this, he measures all other deals against the one that he missed. He usually just shakes his head at me as I will buy and sell more stuff in a few years, as he will in his lifetime. he sure likes riding in my stuff, though! (and that is perfectly fine)

Don't buy any of the boats listed if you can not stomach spending at least 2k on it the first year. That is for repairs not maintenance.

That is of course assuming you are going to put some hours on it.

Good choice!! twice the boat the 272 is!!

That is a good point too.....for sure.

I have a friend like that also.

The other post re spending a couple of thousand in your first year is valid also.

If one or two thousand makes or breaks your lifestyle and will pisss you off, then boating aint going to be fun at all.

Boating will make your wallet yawn more than anything else based on my experience doing it.

I like this boat a lot but it's 1500 miles one way.

That is a good distance no doubt but dont rule it out completely.

Have the owner send you a lot of pictures of various areas and components- explaining your interest and distance.

Perhaps someone on the board here lives close to the boat and can give it a look for you??- just a thought.

I drove 900 miles to look at the boat we just bought and all I can say is that I am sure glad I did!!

Just my .02

Now that is one of only a few posts that I would agree with. some of the boats suggested or 10k more $$:eek: The one that is cheaper is 33 years old :eek:
A 454 mag is not ready for a top end rebuild after 300 hours, unless you never took care of it.

I have friends that have been treated very well by Grand Sport Center. A survey is always a good idea.

Good luck!

i love the look of a boat without a windshield but i am affraid that its going to to cold of a ride.we hane a lot of days with overcast and high 60 deg days so thats the reason for a windshield.also we get rain showers with wind most days.

link please