Best to Worst Bow Riders in Today's Market (Where is You Boat Ranked?)

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[@chiefkev]

Old classic Cobalt bowrider here....1987. Nothinig like it. Well built and absolutely gorgeous with all its teak notes . And very fast! We get lots of long stares as there is nothing like out there anymore. Great video, too, for us boat-addicted humans.

[@lukeoforcas]

A great way to judge build quality and value is to look in storage compartments and engine bay. Is it just spray painted or is it finished out. That build characteristic lead me too a Cobalt. The icing on the cake was ride quality in 1-2’ chop. No slamming no rattling and could still maintain low 30s mph.

[@JonezBuildz]

I currently run a 1979 Chaparral 244V-C. Solid boat, thick fiberglass construction, and very good craftsmanship. Transom/stringers are original, with the only downside being the side storage Teak had lost its shine and color from sun.

[@wranglercody8422]

My dad had 2 sea rays he bought new in the 80s. He sold his smaller speed boat in the early 90s. Still has his 22’ cabin cruiser to this day. It has held up great, even sitting in the desert sun for almost 40 years.

[@veritas6466]

@@wranglercody8422 I bought a late 80’s 22.5 SeaRay Express “Fish and Ski” in 1995. It was the greatest boat!

[@ncurc9766]

Just upgraded from a 1983 20ft webbcraft br (my first boat) to a one owner, low hour 2006 chaparral 246ssi, 350mag bravo 3, kept on the same freshwater lake its whole life, im excited

[@jefferymeier4676]

I’ve got a 1999 Mariah , full fiberglass and still a gorgeous wonderful maintenance free boat . 4.3 engine inboard. Swim deck , fantastic handling. See you on Bull Shoals in May . Woohoo !!!

[@TheStephenspann27]

Well done, so happy there is a video I can point people to, to get the info it took me months to gather from various forums

[@TheStephenspann27]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon 2005 cobalt 200

[@richmac918]

I'm going to agree with most of what you said but take issues with some comments. My first boat was a 1984 Regal 195 cuddy. When I bought my boat my younger brother bought a 16" 1984 Bayliner bowrider. We'd boat together and although I paid 4 times what he did his little Bayliner road like a Cadillac and mine like a truck with broken springs. Get into a chop and I used to think the Regal was going to split in half. It was nothing short of horrible. I did a lot of work on both boats and I noted some differences in the construction (more through bolting on the Regal versus screws on the Bayliner) and one piece continuous stainless steel rails on the Regal versus stainless steel rails pieced together on the Bayliner. Other that some minor stuff not all that different, certainly nothing to justify the cost differential. There are three basic parts to a boat - the hull, the motor and the trailer (if one is supplied). The trailer is a trailer, the motors are, as you pointed out identical, and then the hull. I've owned a lot of boats or have friends with different types of boats and I can say I have never seen a hull issue on any boat (with the exception of a big Sea Ray that split). Yes one manufacturer might use a better layup of glass but it can't, in my mind, justify the cost differential. And remember, that stern drive Cobalt is buying from Mercury (Brunswick) is the same company that owns Bayliner. Who do you think is paying less for the engine? And so it all comes down to the hull. Is it worth paying 5 times as much for a Cobalt as a Bayliner? Certainly not in my mind.

[@evans1pt]

Just brought home a brand new Bayliner VR6 with a Merc150 outboard, so this comment just made my day.

[@richmac918]

@@evans1pt Congrats, enjoy it, I'm cetain with a little care it will last many years. Don't be a dope like some of the people I've seen. When not in use, cover the thing and protect it from the elements. Just because it's a boat doesn't mean that you can let it fill up with water or leaves or let it bake in the sun. A little care goes a long, long way.

[@cody5090]

I have a 2012 Four Winns H210SS absolutely love it. I've grown up on boats my whole life and been on several. My Grandpa has a Regal and dad has a Cobalt. I can say if you are considering a four winns go for it. They are for sure up there in the top along with the others. All solid and great running boats, and build quality is fantastic.

[@phoenixarizona8441]

We have a 17ft 1986 Mark Twain MTB125 115hp Power Of Tower she's awesome

[@helenarusso]

Hi Cody how are you doing 😊

[@ralphschueler9437]

I have a 1992 Sea Ray overnighter 20 ft with a 210 horsepower. My dad purchased this boat it's a little over 30 years old and I'm telling you that it runs just as good as when my dad got it in 1992. The construction of this craft and I'm going to call it craft is outstanding I still have the original seats carpeting the wood is fantastic the whole boat is awesome. The fiberglass on this boat shines like a mirror over 30 years old it runs fantastic. I just changed the bellows two weeks ago after 30 some years I just changed them you do the math. It has a 4.3 L V6 cylinder and it is rocking. Sea Ray boats in my opinion are number one! Something to think about people the old Sea Ray boats are rocking too don't be afraid to purchase one.

[@BoycottChinaa]

Me too! Dad left a 1990 260OV that still looks great, just had it out last week looking at the fall fall.. cheers!

[@lukeoforcas]

I have a 96 Cobalt 253 with over 1600 hours. Still looks and runs like new. Extremely well built and designed boat.

[@lukeoforcas]

It’s a Volvo 7.4gi w/ DPS DUOPROP. All original other than exhaust manifolds. Dealer added closed coolind when new. I’m the 2nd owner and boat came with all records since day one. I feel fortunate to have found this one.

[@michaelcowan6254]

I bought a new 1997 Maxum 1700SR with the 3.0 LX mercruiser. I still have it now and it's been a great boat.

[@JamesSmith-bj9vk]

I think it was around 2000 when Tim Claxton (owner of Crownline then) had a Sea Ray off to the side in the plant and reverse engineered it to introduce the "Glass liner" in Crownlines. I think it was the 201 that got "Boat of the Year" in 2001.

[@TeachAManToAngle]

Cobalt. When my family bought ours in 1986 the dealer said all others are “disposable boats.“ I still have that boat in my garage today and it’s in immaculate shape. The dealer was right. This boat was built to last.

[@paulne1514]

Guess so if you put it in a garage! Have had my 1974 bayliner outside since 1977. Only have put in new seats once and carpet. But I agree, Cobalt boats are the best.

[@hulkhoganstights6596]

I feel sorry for you

[@richmac918]

I still have my brothers 1984 Bayliner. Still running strong. Guess the dealer was selling you

[@00700556]

@@richmac918 Most bayliners in the early days were just bad…. bad built boats.

[@socalifone3044]

@@richmac918 In the 80's to early Bayliner boats were complete junk. Maybe you got lucky.

[@ATLOffroad]

I had a 97 Baja 212 Islander for 8 years and loved that boat. Sold the Baja and then purchased a 02 Maxum 2300. The Maxum is just a better boat all around. More room, better quality, and a deeper V hull slices thru the waves so much better than the Baja.

[@YukariAkiyama]

I don’t even own a boat, but this was still a fun watch. Thanks

[@Frank71]

As a non boater. Chris-Craft reminds me of old 1920s wooden motorboats. Scarab..... Baywatch. Yamaha.... motorcycles and pianos. When i was child, i spend many weekends on a bayliner. It was my friend's father's bayliner boat. I never knew it was trash, but it meant fun weekends on the lake. My impressions.

[@nyinfamous2k2]

This was soooooo Spot on !!!! great job

[@rebeccawhitney3539]

Thank you for your informative video. I have a Crownline 2005 22.5 EX . Beautiful design and 30,000 less than the Cobalt that required me to empty my own head manually!

[@chrisdouglass2144]

You had ChrisCraft in your opening list, but left it out of all the rankings and didn't mention it. No longer made, but fantastic boats! You get your hands on a well maintained ChrisCraft, you've got yourself a solid boat.

[@Fljeff7]

I'm very happy with my Regal 196se. I bought it used off craigslist. Previous owner did a MPI repower. Super reliable fuel efficient and enough speed and power to be satisfied

[@jeffhill9089]

I own an immaculate 2004 Regal 2000. Best designed boat Ive owned. love it. Wont ever hesitate to buy another if I ever have the need.

[@mbferrari308QV]

I have a 2007 236SSX Chap, but you are correct, Cobalt's are awesome! I do love my bird though

[@korndawggy1801]

I feel that alot of the brands (even Bayliner) have stepped up their game compared to some of the boats 20 years ago. For awhile it seemed like alot of people were switching to Aluminum for the cost. Now it seems like SOME of the aluminum builders are lacking in quality. Campion seems to be starting to gain in popularity in my area now. A couple of dealers are dabbling in them.

[@mr.mr.3301]

This is the video I have been looking for. Thank you. If I need to find one on Tritoons.

[@MrNumbers88]

Have a 2007 Sea Ray 240 SD - absolutely love it.

[@MrNumbers88]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon - last year, in the midst of the Covid buying frenzy, the dealer offered to buy it back from me for more than what I had paid for it. Ha - Nice try, Mr. Dealer!

[@adavidson116116]

Great advice here! My wife’s uncles are big into boats. One has a 95’ Cobalt 24’ , the other has a 96’ Four Winns 240 Horizon, and I just picked up my first boat. A 98’ Larson 226 LXI. Athe cobalt is actually and sadly in the worst shape of the three. But all still great boats! Especially that Four Winns.

[@BurninRubber93]

It’s awesome I found this cause there’s some sweet crownlines with low hours for what seems like great prices around me and I love the style and engine

[@JamesSmith-bj9vk]

I worked at Crownline for years. After the Claxtons sold out back around 20 years ago, they really started going Downhill and the new owners aren't Nearly as generous to their employees like the Claxtons.

[@PeaceLoveVolvo]

Cobalt builds the best recreational boats in the world in my opinion. My grandpa was a lifelong boater, and he owned about a half dozen in his boating career. Somewhere in the 80s a friend told him about Cobalt, and that if you buy one it will be the last boat you ever own. He finally stepped up to one in 1999 when he got his 232 bow rider, and true to the word it was the last boat he ever owned and he loved every minute he spent on that boat. Everything about it just said quality. I was lucky enough to have piloted it numerous times as his eyesight started to fail and I absolutely loved the way that boat handled and rode. Grandpa passed away last year at the ripe age of 84, still think of him anytime I see a Cobalt puttering around down in Annapolis. If I’m ever lucky enough to have a boat of my own, it will surely be a Cobalt 23-25 foot Cuddy as I prefer them to the bow riders.

[@MattNEuem]

I think your lists are 💯 spot on

[@Quentin0352]

So, first time boat owner and after months of looking we couldn't find an outboard in our price range we liked. We took the recommendations against an I/O from the dealer and others online that agreed we needed to start with an outboard since it was mixed fresh and saltwater use. Ended up deciding on a 2022 Sea Ray IPX 190 OB we really do love. Sea trials went well, that day a short outing went well. Next trip the hydraulic hose for the steering vibrated so loose I stopped because we had no steering and it had a whole 2-3 threads attaching it. We got a tow and barely got it on the trailer but did damage the prop. Got it fixed at the dealership who also fixed the scratch and less than 24 hours later were back because the battery was dead. Test showed 9v and it wouldn't charge. So they replaced it with a nice lunch on them. So even a good quality new boat can have issues. Still love the boat and already am working to find a way to upgrade to something that we can hit the Gulf in.

[@Quentin0352]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon wife is getting less scared since she grew up in the desert and I was rivers and canoes until moving. I loved summers as a kid with grandpa in the Gulf and fishing plus just cruising. I may be 52 with a 9 year old but she loves water and the boat is her happy place! As for the dealer, MarineMax has been great for us. Honest and when I compared prices not the lowest or high. Can't complain especially with the service and support we have gotten.

[@leandrewwilliams554]

Welcome back! :)

[@thecheekof]

Cobalt, four winns and chaparral have always been the nicest in my experience

[@davemc162]

Excellent. Thank you!

[@Digiphex]

I agree with you but I love the look of the Four Winns H1 it is so sleek. I might throw caution to the wind a bit if I actually had a chance to buy a Four Winns but around here we don't. For me it would always be Sea Ray as a quality standard boat.

[@gransport4246]

The H1 looks a like a Cobalt from a design influence. Hardware and thickness of materials not on par, but cool that they look similar on the water. We looked at the Sea Ray SPX 19 and 21 and Four Winns H1 OB. Both SPX’s interior space felt cramped especially the bow. The seat and coaming cushions were thinner and more spartan compared to the Four Winns. The SPX had a nice helm and pretty scallop designs in the hull though. They also had more storage, but only because of the stern drive box which takes up a lot of space. The Sea Rays had very little bow storage though. Both are nice in the end, but the Mexico-built Sea Ray SPX are more expensive when equipped similarly to the Four Winns.

[@findiehard]

I'm very interested in the Chapparral 21SS1 but wondering why a high level, high quality built boat is so much lighter than others in it's price and range? Thanks, awesome video!

[@Thishandleisunavailable493]

I actually really like Tahoe boats I think the 700 has great lines and I love the features you get considering the price. Definitely not the best boats out there but if I was looking at brand new boats I’d strongly consider one considering I’d be on a budget. They’re new 210 ob looks great too

[@Thishandleisunavailable493]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I have not! I’ve only been on them at boat shows and whenever I visit a bass pro shop. But from my experience being on them the fit and finish is pretty good and the simplicity of the whole boat makes me believe they’d last a long time. Less to go wrong

[@Thishandleisunavailable493]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I agree. Personally I like just a plain boat with the bare minimum except maybe a stereo package and an upgraded engine package. That’s all I need. Some of these boats could be tens of thousands of dollars cheaper without all of that fancy stuff that won’t work right after 3 seasons in the elements. I’m also cheap so that fuels my opinion too lol

[@floridagirl386]

This made me love my 90 regal all over again

[@geraldkoth654]

Do you have any idea what the optimum length of fiber is for reinforcing any given matrix material? Each individual chopped strand is many thousands or millions of times longer than the optimum length. The difficulty with chopped strand is the compaction not the length of each strand. Vacuum compaction is better for any layup. In fact the cloth layering can be worse as a structure than the chopped if the layers are not compacted or if more of the matrix material is included than is optimum. The best combination is a layered technique that is not impregnated until the layers have been compacted with a vacuum system. Then the matrix is introduced with multiple injection points in the exact ratio of matrix to reinforcement.

[@WontSeeReplies]

Really great video.

[@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon]

Glad you liked it!

[@seangoodman665]

Please keep in mind that even with a given manufacturer quality can vary from year to year. Supply , demand , economy, availability of qualified workers, and a company’s financial position can greatly effect the quality of their products. I was a water tester for 4 summers at a large marina and got to drive many different boats, and many of the same model. There are poor quality new boats and excellent used boats out there. I liked driving some of the older boats that came in for service. The test of time reveals what boats have held up over the years and those that haven’t. Owner care and maintenance definitely play a part too.

[@seangoodman665]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon How do I contact you

[@leesmith5419]

Great video but I was disappointed to see Rinker wasn’t in there I have one I’m rebuilding now sad to see they’re out of business

[@chevyon37s]

I’d put Bayliner in the middle…. For some models. They had some less than stellar years in the late 80’s and early 90’s but by the mid 90’s and early 2000’s they were making a damn solid hull with good power plants and outdrives. Yeah they have plastic fittings here and there where your Cobalt and SeaRay are going to have stainless parts. (Pretty sure SeaRay is the nicer tier boat from the same parent company as Bayliner) out Bayliner has been solid. We run our ‘96 Bayliner nearly every single weekend for 6-7 months out of the year for the last 6 years and it’s been a great boat with no issues. 100% original interior, hull, and the engine has never been opened up.

[@phoenixarizona8441]

Awesome Video

[@scottmichael9221]

I just got a 89 Baja.Sun sport. Real good shape for its age. Fun and powerful yeah you'll hit easy

[@mannyruiz9011]

I am looking at a Larson LX 17 is something in particular than i have to check on? Is a 2007 Bowrider

[@semajniffirg230]

Tahoe has stepped it up since 2017 or so, they are getting nicer and nicer and the 2150cc is a super versatile family fun boat that's around $50,000. Not really just a value brand anymore.

[@dgvette1]

Sea Ray is now priced the highest. I bought a new 2012 Sea Ray 250 SLX. It was nice but not really as good as Cobalt, Regal, or Chapparel. I have had 2 new Regals as well. Plus a new Regal LS6 on order. I would Rank them Cobalt, Chapperal, Regal, Sea Ray

[@gransport4246]

The Sea Ray dealers here think their SPX models are value priced Cobalts, but they’re not close. The SPX are made in Mexico along side Bayliner. I would put Four Winns ahead of Sea Ray in your list when looking at boats under 24ft.

[@johnhiggs325]

Where would you put the original Mariah boats like the Z252 - Z302? 2001 was the end of quality Mariahs because Sea Fox bought the name and most of the molds, but refused to hand lay, aluminum back through hardware, ... Challenger did pick up some of the molds 25’ and up, but produced very few of the hulls because they were a boutique brand.

[@johnhiggs325]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I searched high and low for a good large Z model for several years with no real luck. My timing was never quite right. I ended up getting an early ‘90’s 260 Sea Ox that had been fitted out for family cruising. I’ll be dropping it in the drink in a couple months. Hoping it gets the job done for my huge family

[@jamesmatthewson9523]

Dude!! I'm sure you'd agree Ebbtide should be in your top grouping!!

[@freedomviafranchising]

Can you confirm that Malibu owns the Cobalt and Axis brands? What are your thoughts on the Axis A24? Looking as a second time boat owner with a lake house in Texas on a constant level lake.

[@BFG_2002]

Informative video. We’ve got an old Thundercraft Malibu 25th anniversary model inboard boat with a 3.8 gm v6 and an omc stringer 800 drive. There’s actually nothing wrong with it except for the fact that the lag bolts for the motor mounts keep coming out, my guess is the stringers themselves are rotted which is such a same considering how beautiful the thing is for it’s age. It’s actually the boat they used in the 1985 brochure. I’m no stranger to mechanical work but I have no experience with hull work. I wish I knew how to rebuild the stringers properly so it could serve us well for another 30 years.. sigh I miss tubing!!

[@user-ms2mr2mc3g]

You'd have to cut it open and hog out all the rotten wood with a chainsaw. Then you can mix up epoxy with chopped fiberglass and EPS balls and pack it in there. Then fiberglass the hole. Most of the strength of those stringer type components come from the fiberglass shell and not the wood inside, as you may have noticed. That being said, I still think it's important to have solid material inside.

[@kartboarder22g17]

Easily earned my subscription. I'm in the market for a bowrider.

[@kartboarder22g17]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon freshwater Minnesota. My Dad got his first boat for us when I was 15. So I've boated ever since. But now I have a family of my own and I'm 38 so finding an activity we can enjoy is on the mind and boating seems to be it.

[@TIMEtoRIDE900]

My Bayliner 175 is built thin and light - doesn't measure 17 and a half foot like the name suggests, it's only 16 and a few inches, but with the 3.0 Mercruiser it FLIES nearly 50 MPH and is faster than a "well-constructed" 17 footer with the same power.

[@seangoodman665]

I have a friend on my lake that has that same boat. It’s everything you say. We’re on a small lake that doesn’t get really rough. He bought it new several years ago and asked my advice at the time. He knew what it was but it was in his budget and he understood what he was buying. He’s been happy with it.

[@kipb2078]

Shout out to Mariah, still have my 1999 Shabah 182 in excellent condition. “Built and equipped like no other boat in the world”.

[@bradgregory3424]

Why exclude the Yamahas from your pick of brands? I wanted to hear how they compare.

[@Swoleheart]

Bayliner is low-end? I wouldn't have guessed that. Are they still ok? I've always thought they were aesthetically pleasing.

[@edtetzlaff8058]

Great PowerPoint presentation

[@AwesomeFuture777]

Just got a 1990 OMC Cobra Phantom 160 that's pretty nice!

[@AwesomeFuture777]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon thanks for the reply and I will! May have to take it to a shop as it's very irratic starting cold even after replacing plugs, setting points at .019 and timing 10° BTDC, and replacing electric fuel pump and rebuilding carb. Rochester two jet.

[@EdwardTilley]

Great video! At 13:45, did you miss the inside structural support "beams"? Or are there none up to a certain size of hull?

[@helenarusso]

Hi Edward how are you doing 😊

[@jurisavtschenko]

This video is top-tier! One thing I was left wondering, in the first slide you placed Glastron in the value-level, but in the summary sheet it was in middle category and not even at the bottom of the list. Has this brand gone up and down also?

[@jurisavtschenko]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Thanks for the clarification! For some reason there are lot of Sea Rays, Bayliners and Glastrons in Finland, but not a whole lot other brands. Really can't find Cobalts or Crownlines.

[@Fljeff7]

Was just at bass pro shops today the price of new boats is unbelievable

[@TreyWK]

I agree with sea ray, I own one and it is very high quality.

[@robweiss748]

I have 2016 19 SPX and have really enjoyed it. But there’s a caveat on the SPX 190 and 210 since 2017: pretty sure these two boats are made in Mexico now. The hull code will tell you; mine starts with „US“.“. The 230 is still US made. I’m seeing a lot of quality issues on SPX message boards in the190 and 210 lines, even Post Covid disruptions…

[@davidsammartano7920]

I have a 1999 Sunbird 17ft bowrider equal to a Bayliner i guess and still holding up great. Didnt seem to make your list.

[@TexansForChrist]

I've seen doormats in stores about as thick as the glass roving I've found in my 1974 Sea Ray SRV 240 Sundowner

[@Chillwaving]

sea rays are just beautifull

[@nickbaker5594]

Late to the party but I had a Larson 186. It rode so rough I couldn’t wait to get rid of it. Other than that it seemed pretty decent for build quality.

[@helenarusso]

Hi Nick how are you doing 😊

[@jsmrgen]

Can you do a video on pocket Cruisers. The Beneteau and Jeanneau type.

[@gregorytimmons4777]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I just bought a 1979 Lancer 29 and am very happy with my purchase of this boat in comparison to the Catalina 27 i tried to buy last year. A lot nicer cabin with much more natural finished wood. Also like the layout better. Catalina has the reputation of a cheap boat that is still very popular and accessible but it really has a cheaper look and feel up against this Lancer. Which has a warmer and nicer cabin. Has a second roof hatch on the Lancer and just seems better thought out in many of the design features and details. Lancer 29-3, my model is much rarer having a way shorter production run. Oddly enough the ad for my boat had it listed as a 27' when it is in fact a 29'. Actually it probably is just above a Cat in many ways. Still seen as an entry level sail boat which is fine with me.

[@sstipp4280]

What about Wellcraft? I have a Nova 23 XL,454 mag,I love this boat and seems very well built

[@JKH99]

Curious about your thoughts on Ebbtide boats? I bought brand new in 2006 when they were still hand laid in Tennessee. My family has grown and we have outgrown our 180 bowrider. My boat still looks showroom ready with only a few minor scratches. Obviously ive taken care of it but this still to me says how well this boat was built. Since they were bought and I think moved to the China market is there a comparable quality mfg in 2022 you would recommend? Fresh water only here.

[@JKH99]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Great, thanks!

[@gaznaz]

Not seen many Cobolt in person but my list would have Chaparral just a smidge ahead of Searay.

[@samslocombe5402]

As a Western Canadian, I have to give a shout-out to Campion. Great boats.

[@tismin2001]

BC or Alberta? just bought a Campion 2 days ago

[@sqlb3rn]

I have an Ebbtide Campione 190, that an obscure brand?

[@crosisofborg5524]

The build quality of my Sea Ray was unsurpassed.

[@jaseb3816]

Can we get one of these for pontoons?

[@blairdesjardine3822]

From reading here I have made a definite decision not to buy without a water test. Where I live in Canada those days are numbered as it probably would not be a fair test on ice. Hard to do your research and pull the trigger when 5 year old boats are being listed for the MSRP price the year it was built. Cant fault someone if they get the price but it won't be from me. Thanks again for the awesome videos and discussion on the channel

[@SLOCLMBR]

We like to see what's available at the end of the season, got a nice 18' searay with only 215 hours on it for under 9k last year

[@jameslonano5659]

I keep visiting my local boat dealer and (gasp!) have been looking over the Bayliner VR series Bowriders mostly with the 4.5 Mercruiser setup. I'm seeing quality stainless hardware and some nice materials and build quality all around. WIndshield is very secure. Checked out the hatches and under deck and it looks pretty tempting to me for an overall package as an average dude. Plenty of deck drainage, no wood construction.. Is this series a buy for a decent family lake runabout for general skiing? I swore off Bowriders in the early 90's when my 1989 Sea Ray 18 Seville developed some wood rot only a couple of years into ownership and by 1997 needed a new deck, stringer and major rework in other areas (side panels, seats). At the very least, the VR's are a monumental leap forward from my last bowrider or do I need to have my head examined.

[@semajniffirg230]

Look at Tahoe too.

[@richardc751]

I have a Crownline 264 cr I believe it’s a top tier boat construction features and price it’s superior

[@anthonymennella7169]

Bayliner VR6 is the better comparison being that its a 22 ft verses the VR5 at 18ft . VR6 with standard engine is 3,797 lbs . Excellent review BTW !

[@Jeep_van]

I just brought a 19 foot reinell it's awesome

[@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon]

Congrats! Have a great summer

[@ratherbeboating10]

I've got an 84 4winns. Aside from the plywood rotting on the original upholstery it would still probably have it... Not the best build out there but given all the boats I've driven over the years I'd be hard pressed to find another 19 footer... well I guess to be about the same size now it would a 21 or 22... that rides and takes a chop like it. Small consoles and offshore based boats do but strictly talking cuddy/bowriders I haven't found much better. That being said most new boats are much more stable at anchor... because of the hull design it rolls when stopped more than modern boats do. So it's a trade off. I like the squared off styles better but I will say, modern monterey is a very nice looking boat. I've never driven one but will to see how it does. I just can't believe how insane boat prices are over the last several years. 50k for a bayliner... And I thought the truck market went crazy lol. Great video.

[@samratime]

So sea ray with motor 3 better then wellcraft 175 with motor 5 litr mercruiser?

[@PH-dm8ew]

How does the quality of a NauticStar construction rate in your opinion?

[@jasonrcky4450]

Do you no anything about 1987 eptide?

[@markbokman3693]

Can we all agree that the new Crownline SS and XSS have some of the sharpest styling out there? Quality seems pretty good also.

[@gransport4246]

We owned a 2016 Crownline and they still use a lot of wood in the build process. The ride was just ok due to steep reverse chines which trapped water in choppy water. The injected molded helm on ours started cracking and falling apart. The latch on our head door pulled right out.

[@kurtlutzow4084]

I think that excluding "Dual Console" boats in this comparison is a mistake. However, I understand it due to time constraints. The "DC" boats really are better quality bow riders and should be compared to the boats in this video. Of course the other problem with doing that is the DCs are so much better it would not be a fair shoot out and their prices reflect that. And, maybe that is the real set point for the comparison... price vs quality, IDK.

[@str8chillin18]

love my crownline with my 454 😁

[@cobaltneodesha]

I have a Cobalt and indeed it is the number one boat. Quality is very good and it has a kevlar reinforced hull. Driven many boats but Cobalt is the rolls royce among the boats.

[@mikemeyerphotopro]

I think you get what you pay for, for sure. However, if you take care of your boat and don't ride it hard and put it away wet, they do last a lot longer. I have a '89 Tracker that still runs good and is wearing well. It's kept with a boat cover and under a boat port and then put into a garage for 6 months over the winter. Gotta take care of your toys :)

[@coastiedude4537]

What’s Kevlar used for in a boat ?

[@duncanjavidi8590]

Regal is definitely above sea ray and chaparral it’s up there with cobalt.

[@cocoloco2711]

The Regal line is just quality. My fav is the 38sav.

[@dustinberg1134]

I have a bowrider 160 bayliner with max 90hp, great boat, runs great, no problems at all. Its a 2016......now I never tried a cobalt or other high end. So maybe I'm driving a Toyota, perfectly happy with it, so I never drove a porsche Carmen, as an example. Very satisfied.

[@gregorytimmons4777]

Kind of adds credibility to his claim when he actually gets the model name wrong on the Porsche.

[@pacervault3350]

Im in the process of buying a very well cared for 2019 Bayliner 170. Test drove very nicely, nice finishes and seems very solid all around. Im essentially buying it for the same price the original owner paid for it 2 years ago, but a 2021 Bayliner 170 with the same options would cost about 6 to 7 thousand dollars more. I'm very excited to enjoy this boat.

[@helenarusso]

Hi Dustin how are you doing 😊

[@dustinberg1134]

@@helenarusso fine and you?

[@helenarusso]

@@dustinberg1134 Hi nice to hear from you Dustin, sorry for bothering you. Looking for someone to talk to that’s why i wrote you if you don’t mind😊

[@ZoneTelevision]

I just bought a 2007 Sea Ray 175

[@colenkas44]

What’s the white boat in the thumbnail?

[@whataqtify]

Bought a new Bryant Calandra 23 with a Forward Facing Drive last year and had issues with the dealership. When looking for an alternative dealer for some service I came to learn that Bryant went out of business. So I called Bryant and some manufacturing company answered the phone, apparently they still service them but no one there returned my calls. Don't get me wrong it's a beautiful boat but upon delivery I saw a small crack in the fiberglass near the windshield, the nav light on the Bimini top was cracked, the bilge pump started running constantly and drained both batteries, which taught me that you can't use just any marine battery because that Volvo requires a lot of power to turn over. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this before on Tyler boat but I have an issue where the digital display in my tachometer is giving me issues, when starting the engine there is a fifty fifty chance of it telling me, Check Engine Service Required! Then while driving it will randomly beep, shut down and reset the system. This happened the day after delivery and they promised to fix it, when speaking to the mechanic he had no idea what I was talking about. You have to love boat dealers, I know they are busy but when you spend over a hundred grand on a boat you hope for some service to come with it. I would recommend a Bryant but they are out of business, I should of known when I checked their website and only saw 2020 boats listed.

[@whataqtify]

@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I know that Correct Craft bought Bryant in 2017. Here's the Bryant Phone number for their headquarters in Sweetwater Tennessee, 423-337-3639. Call them and see who answers the phone. My dealership in Ohio didn't tell me the truth when browsing the Bryant website for other dealers I started calling around. The Bryant dealership in Indianapolis gave me the scoop. They said, their contract with Bryant was terminated and they would no longer be selling or servicing their boats. From what they understood they were done. Possibly working on a new boat for Ski Nautique. Yet there are not 21 models and no plans for 22 models. With this info I asked my dealership which finally agreed with them although they were more optimistic for Bryant's future. So my info is correct, it's sad because it's a beautiful boat and I just bought it.

[@user-wg5qg4vi1c]

Got here somehow while looking at boats. Fountain is down to my last two with cobalt. How are they in that first category? Beautiful bots at the same range with a lot of the same features.

[@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon]

Which Fountain are you looking at? They have been different over the years. Current Fountains are very different than current Cobalts What you mean by "they are in that first category?".

[@seangoodman665]

Definitely water test any boat you are considering buying. Any good marina should do this for you. A final deal should be contingent on a water test. Don’t buy a used boat without a water test. They all run fine on a hose in a driveway but may not get on plane , leak or worse once they are in the water. Don’t overlook the trailer. Tires , bearings , bunks , lights, winch etc. Your boat may spend more time on the trailer than anywhere else.

[@db3837]

I would take it one step further and bring the same amount of people you intend to normally have. That way you will see if the boat will perform to your liking. After I bought my 1st 18 ft bowrider, I realized that my boat was too small and under powered.

[@elliotwave9589]

when you say fiberglass liner... is that the 3 piece construction vs 2 piece?

[@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon]

The liner is the 3 piece - Hull, Liner & Deck

[@scottgas1299]

Last I heard Scarab took over Sea Doo's boat business.

[@hamzaa9972]

Hi, what about Monterey? Are they any good?