What time of year is best to buy & is $31,500 for 2004 SV211 Fair Deal

[DM_NewBoater]

I'm seriously considering buying a ski boat, something I've been wanting to do for a long time now. I've been out a lot on friends boats, but they no longer have them. In the mean time we've been wake boarding and trying to ski behind my father in law's 17' Lund Fishing boat. Let's just say it nice to be on water, but not exactly equivalent to a ski boat, ha.

Is winter the best time to find a good deal? I think I definitely want a 211 as my family wants to ski/wakeboard, kneeboard, and tube. I have a 2 yr old and 4 year old. Probably will only have max of 4 adults and 4 kids at any one time on the boat.

I found a 2004 SV211 LE with 254 hours for $31,500. NAGA has value at $27,875 though. Also, the dealer who's selling it had to replace the fuel gauge, perfect pass guage, and a ballast pump. The trailer still needs to have the bunk boards and carpeting replaced ($600), and the brakes need to be serviced (master cylinder & backing plate $1200) seller not going to fix this. I'm leary of buying a money pit type of boat, are these repairs indicative of that?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated, this will be my first boat. Also I live in California, so there's not water anymore, which means i'm not gong to be able to use it til next spring.

Thanks,

Dave

[nukemustang]

Bunk board costing $600????? should be marine grade carpet, a few 2"X6" (maybe 8") and stainless steel lag bolts and nuts, maybe $100-$125 in materials.

The brakes, I completely overhauled for $600. That was new calipers, rotors, pads, bearings, grease.... for a tandem axle trailer.

Now, boat stands for break out another thousand, because they are going to require upkeep, and maintenance and things are going to break, so boats really are money pits, but the enjoyment easily outweighs that cost.

As for when to buy, I am not sure if the no water condition is "better" for you then the winter non-use cost. Might have to just look around.

[a0128]

. . . I live in California, so there's not water anymore, which means i'm not gong to be able to use it til next spring.

I would wait unless I came across a smokin' deal. If there is no water you may find someone who hasn't used their boat much for that reason and puts it on the market next Spring (or maybe this Fall). Plus, why tie up that money now if you can't use it?

[DM_NewBoater]

NukeMustang: Thanks for the feedback on bunk boards. $600 is what the dealer charged. I was thinking about tacking the bunk boards and brakes myself, but issue is where to put the boat while I work on the trailer. Bunk boards I can do at the lake, but not brakes. Did you jack up the trailer with the boat on it when you did the brakes?

a0128: thinking about buying now, because I like the SV211 model and the interior of boat is in good condition. Not sure what I'll find if I wait, or how much they'll be. If I wait till next spring could be more expensive, just not sure.

[a0128]

Might also take a look at a 226 if one is close to your area.

Brakes - just jack up the trailer enough to get the tire off. Boat will be fine remaining on the trailer.

IMO - $31,500 sounds a little high, but probably reflective of Summer pricing and the low hours. Obviously get it on the water for a water test. Has the dealer done a compression check on the motor? Have they serviced it (i.e. oil and filter, impeller, transmission oil change)? A reputable dealer should have already done this unless it is a consignment boat.

[nukemustang]

NukeMustang: Thanks for the feedback on bunk boards. $600 is what the dealer charged. I was thinking about tacking the bunk boards and brakes myself, but issue is where to put the boat while I work on the trailer. Bunk boards I can do at the lake, but not brakes. Did you jack up the trailer with the boat on it when you did the brakes?

a0128: thinking about buying now, because I like the SV211 model and the interior of boat is in good condition. Not sure what I'll find if I wait, or how much they'll be. If I wait till next spring could be more expensive, just not sure.

Yup, I have four 5-ton craftsman jack stands, so I gently jacked up the front and then rear axles just enough to get the wheels off. The axels and springs normally support the weight of the boat, so i didn't see too much extra stress on the trailer or boat that way. Plus my garage was much warmer in November than outside.

Tim

[DM_NewBoater]

How do you like your 211?

[nukemustang]

I love it! obviously if I had the coin, I would have a new 230, but... I am not that loaded. It is great for wake boarding, the boat will support my skills (mostly w2w stuff, nothing huge) for ever and it is "family" friendly because I don't have to scream at the kids for walking on the vinyl tearing it up, I have had 4 adults, 3 teens and 2 <10 yrs and have felt a little crowed, but that is about as deep as I go. It fits in my garage, which is a bonus too. I have had a few people ski behind it and it works well if it is just a 2-3 person crew for slaloming.

[DM_NewBoater]

Perfect that's what i'm looking for, but I think I'm going to pass on this one. I like the color scheme solid yellow hull, white/yellow interior, and the its clean but I guess I may as well wait till next spring to find something since there's no water in Nor Cal right now. I think I could redo bunk boards/carpet, not sure on brakes, but little high at $31.5. Do you think I could find one for $25k in the winter or is that too low? Also other concern is the ballast valve system on 2004. Apparently the valve shut off system under the dash break all the time, so the dealer recommends leaving the dash valves open and using the valves in the engine compartment instead. Which would be fine, but would be nice just to have controls at dash w/o worrying about them breaking. Heard they changed the system in 2006.

[nukemustang]

I don't know if it was 06, or 07 that went from aerator type pumps to the reversible jabsco ballast pumps, but yes, it is a known "issue" with the early 2000's and nautique using bait well valves trying to hold up against water pressure.

solid yellow, eh??? 25 would be an excellent (steal) deal. 04/05 and 28-30K seem to be a sweet spot right now, and it doesn't help that new boat prices keep going up and up....

If you have any basic mechanical skills, trailer brakes are very simple and there are lots of youtube videos to show you exactly what to do. I watched a guy with a bass boat, but they had the same "vault" style hubs, so I knew exactly what I was getting into before I knocked the dust covers off the bearings.