Low use vs knowledgable owner

[jshaley]

I am looking at 2 utopia 205's. One seems to be low use. The other seems to be higher use but knowledgable owners - they already replaced the intake grate and have an aftermarket impeller. Otherwise both '02's with 240 engine. Both have no problem with a sea trial / mech. inspection as part of the deal.

Is a boat that has been well used but well taken care of better than on that may have sat idle for much of it's life?

John

 

[Craigmri]

John,

We're talking about a 7 or 8 year old boat here. What are the hours on both boats? On a scale of 1 to 100(100 being perfect) how do both boats rate cosmetically?

Since we're talking Mercury powered boats, we all recommed having the engine evaluated by a good Mercury shop.

Need more info to properly answer your question.

Craig

 

[jshaley]

Info

Thanks Craig, I can provide a bit more info but am working off of photos.

Both boats are 2002 Utopia 205's. Both show a very slight water mark.

The 1st boat is the well used one. Owners tow to launch. The owner says that the speakers are blown, but is including new ones that have not yet been installed. The hydro surge grate has been replaced and it has a solas impeller and the brakes / hubs on the trailer have just been replaced. The owner says it has a few scratches and a few minor tears in the seats - as could be expected with a boat of this age. They have a SeaDoo mechanic within an hour, but have service done regularly at the local marina - which can do any mechanical inspection I wished. I mentioned having service done as well (replacing filters, oil, etc.) but they said I could if I wanted but nothing should be needed as they have it serviced regularly and have the bills to show. They mechanic could run a compression test, or they could do it in front of me themselves as they have the equipment. They provided the phone number of the local marina so i could set something up if I so wished. Owners had this boat for 3 years and it was fresh water, but think original owner might have had it in salt.

The 2nd boat is a cottage boat. Sits in a boat house on a lift. Owner lives in WI and boat is in NY - it does not look like it is used much. He is "guaranteeing" boat is in better shape than any other but I have not gotten back in touch with him to poke through this bluster. Freshwater boat. To me it sounds like it is a toy that went unused. I am not sure lack of use is good for a boat though.

I thought these boats had hour meters that only service techs had access to? Is there one where the owner or myself would see it?

John

 

[Craigmri]

John,

From your description I like boat#2 so far. The Utopia 205's do not have a visable hour meter but the hours are recorded on the engine computer. When I first got my Utopia 205 I immediately installed an hour meter because I am anal and nuerotic. Some owners install them some don't. No matter, when you get it checked you will know what your buying.

Have boat owner #2 send you many high res pictures of every angle and perspective of the boats interior and exterior. Tell him you want to see the hull keel all the way back to the stern to see if the boat had been beached a lot. You want to see the vinyl quality of the seats. Seadoo wasn't known for installing the best quality vinyls in the past. You want to see a few angles of the engine compartment and if the owner has a good camera try and get a picture of the intake area illustrating the wear ring and impeller condition.

Of course pictures can be misleading if the photographer stinks. I've traveled all over Florida to see boats I "thought" were in tip top shape to find out they were ragged.

No matter how clean the boat looks be sure to have that mercury engine inspected by a mercury technician as the Seadoo dealer knows nothing about the Mercurys.

Craig

 

[jshaley]

Photos

I uploaded the photos from the two owners onto flickr.

Boat 1:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jshaley/sets/72157622009699336/

Boat 2:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jshaley/sets/72157622009710200/

John

 

[Bdt1967]

With a scum line like that I would assume that it sits in the water alot, so i would defiantly look for dock rash, it can be hard to spot unless your looking close, look for stress cracks along the side of the boat, rope burns on the fiberglass where the cleats are. You really need to have more than just pictures to go by with these boats, nothing beats your own eyes, when you go, take a knowledgeable buddy with you, preferably one that doesn't get excited easily. Inspect both boats and make your decision. As far as your initial question goes, alot of hours is not a bad thing, there are several people on these forums that have boat that have alot of hours but still run like new. But on the other side, low hours is never a bad thing, and should be considered when purchasing.

 

[Craigmri]

John,

Interesting....Are both boats the same year?? The cockpit seating is different between the two. Boat#1 looks fairly clean. Doesnt look like its used much as the port side trailer wheel appears sunken into the ground. Boat#2 has significant staining on the hull. This isnt that difficult to clean off with Muriatic acid. Its from NY......was it all fresh water???

of the two I like the Boat#1 however the picture resolution is not that good so you cant really get a strong feel for the quality of the boat. I'd ask for more higher res pipcs of boat #1. did you say #1 had more hours????

Craig

 

[jshaley]

Thanks

I am loving the speed in which this forum gets you good info!

Yes, boat 1 is the one that I believe has seen more use based on how the owner describes it.

The dock rash on boat 2 surprised me since he has a lift in the boat house - maybe the lift is new.

The bench seats / bucket seats was an option, and one of the things I really like about the Utopia 205. Wife would prefer a pontoon boat , but if I can offer seating arranged for conversation under a bimini with handy access to a cooler (and possibly even a head) I think she wold be happier. I have seen models with both bench, both bucket, and split. I also see either listed as a part option at the various parts suppliers listed with this forum. So I could move from a bucket to a bench if we wished to do so.

Sounds like the next step is a long drive. Ideally this would be one trip - tentatively agree on a price subject to inspection/sea trial. Go out there. Like the boat. Pay the guy. Drive home with big poop eating grin.

John

 

[Bdt1967]

If you tell the guy your going to look at another boat on the same trip he may get nervous and drop some chips off the price.

 

[jshaley]

Toys

Good point. His initial add mentioned additional toys (skis, tubes, etc.) that would be for sale as well. My thoughts on that were that I would be happy to leave them in his garage unless they were rock bottom. We do not ski (yet), and Wal-Mart has tubes < $100. I also wish to invest in a floating tow rope - seems they are more dangerous than a barge full of Somali pirates. So that could be an incentive.

Right now they are both between $10-$11k. The well used boat has the replaced surge grate and new impeller and recent service. I was not goiy to fiddle with the impeller but not having to replace the hydrosurge saves bucks right away. I was thinking I'd replace all filters, oil and such but if they can show me a service slip that is cash saved as well.

 

[Craigmri]

Do all negotiations prior to seeing it. Nada prices are on the low end so use that to your advantage and present that. If you drive several hours to see it and the owner see's that you like the boat and just did a huge trip to see it he knows you will not leave without it so your in your best position to negotiate prior to seeing it. The owner will want you to make the trip and offer his best price.

Nothing wrong with saying, Here is Nada retail price $X,XXX, Are you negotiable and if so would you accept this value? Whatever you negotiate then all you have to worry about when you go see the boat is if it up to your standards, Sea trials well and gets a clean bill of health from Mercury.

Craig

 

[jshaley]

Negotiating

Yes, I actually prompted both with a range before getting into things. Then I would make an offer contingent on the sea trial / mech inspection. I am not to keen on traveling with $10k of cash so would probably have a bank check or something similar for the agreed upon amount - that would sort of lock it in. But it also cuts by ability to say "well heck, the seat is ripped up more than expected, how about knocking $300 off the price." Hence the importance of the pictures. I guess the bank check would also cut into that "this is the second boat I am looking at today" leverage.

John

 

[Craigmri]

John,

I had to return three seperate bank checks before I found my boat. There is nothing wrong with walking away if it was mis-represented. The more you grill the owner on the phone the better.

Craig