decent deal on a new Javelin? Opinions needed!

[gajpb]

I have a buddy looking to buy a 20.5 foot Javelin with a 200 Johnson HP , all the bells and whistles--the boat is a '94 and the motor is a V6 200 around model year '97. The seller is willing to sell for as low as 7900. Is this decent? What else should he know or ask or do before buying? Thanks in advance for help.

[jdw174]

You could do worse than a Javelin.  On the water test is a must, and a check up by a mechanic as well.  Make sure everything on the boat is working, no stress cracks, etc.  Check the NADA guide for used boats (available here on the website).

[flyphisher #]

Unless it is immaculate....I would give more than $5500-$6500...I have seen/heard of alot better 97-98's rangers and tritons go for $7500-$8000, depending on the area they are in..

[cart7t]

Unless it is immaculate....I would give more than $5500-$6500...I have seen/heard of alot better 97-98's rangers and tritons go for $7500-$8000, depending on the area they are in..

97-98 20' Ranger or Tritons for $7500-8000?  

I'm from Missouri, show me.  

[flyphisher #]

The boats I have looked at were 18-19'6 with 150's.not comanches..... The boat i am going to buy soon is a 98 19ft ranger, getting it for $7000. loaded... Except for a little fading carpet it is perfect..... Those boats are out there, not going to find a 96- 98 20ft ranger  with 200hp for under $10000 though....They are out there, you just have to look.

[Way2slow]

It's an ok deal if everything checks out good.  Depending on the year and make of the motor.  If it's an OMC, the 97 would be a much more prefered year model than the earlier years.  The 94's - 96's have a bad problem with ring locator pins coming out and blowing the motor.  They modified the pistons in late 96 the significatly reduced this problem.  

It's kinda the wrong time of the year to be looking for great deals but there are deals to be had. Three years ago, I paid $5000 for a 1999 Javelin Renegade 20 dual console (20.5') with the 99 225 Evinrude ficht.  I spent $800 on motor and a couple of hundred on the boat so for $6,000 I have a nice boat.

[RobDar]

I have a buddy looking to buy a 20.5 foot Javelin with a 200 Johnson HP , all the bells and whistles--the boat is a '94 and the motor is a V6 200 around model year '97. The seller is willing to sell for as low as 7900. Is this decent? What else should he know or ask or do before buying? Thanks in advance for help.

My father in law is selling his 97 Javelin with a 225 for $10,000. Dealers told him as high as $12,000.

water test...and a visit to the mechanic.

[RobDar]

Unless it is immaculate....I would give more than $5500-$6500...I have seen/heard of alot better 97-98's rangers and tritons go for $7500-$8000, depending on the area they are in..

97-98 20' Ranger or Tritons for $7500-8000?

I'm from Missouri, show me.

no kidding....I have been watching boats for two years now and have never seen a deal like that!!! I would have bought it if I did! Good lord there are folks selling late 80s  and early 90's Tracker Alum's for as high a $3000.

[Garnet]

As allways get a compressin check and take the lower unit screws out look at oil color and chuckes of metal.

Garnet

[Jig Man]

That price is well below NADA guides.  If it is in decent condition, it seems like a pretty good deal.

[gajpb]

Just to follow up on all this--I saw the boat last night and we took it for a spin. Runs great. Some carpet wear, but that's to be expected. No major issues so it looks like the boat will be his. Thanks for all the tips.

[flyphisher #]

The economy sucks, gas is outrageous...I dont look until winter time, preferably coldest times of year here, if you know of people in tournament circles, etc. that want a new boat really bad,having $ trouble, or the best deal is DIVORCES, nice boats will get cheap in a hurry.If you want to spend a little more some of the pros get demos for big discount and under contract have to have a new one the next year so they end up dumping the for alot less than you can get them elsewhere.A local guy I know has 4 stratos' and rangers in his yard and the new one behind his truck, most people here wont pay what he needs to get for them...Getting the perfect boat, without spending 50K is going to take luck, patience, and research. Even my gheenoe list for close to $1000 new, I paid $275...My aluminum bass boat was 1/2 price of a new one a year later.....

There are alot of used boats in GA and Fla and they have not been moving in recent years and they get cheaper, I saw a like new G3 start at $15,000 and end up selling 6 months later for less than 10k. There is one dealership I found on goggle, that is around atlanta, cant remember the link...that has great deals and probably 100 used boats of various year models...

[Jig Man]

Actually August is a good time to buy a boat. The dealers ordered them last summer and have been sitting on them for several months paying floor plan interest. Most bass boats sell from mid winter to early summer (boat show to hot weather). Boats in inventory during August-Dec are not moving. Many dealers will sell them close to cost to get rid of them before the new ones arrive. If they are new noncurrents they will sometimes sell them below cost because they have been paying interest on them for over a year.

Contrary to what many believe, cash won't get you the best deal. Dealerships arrange financing and get a kick back from the banks. So if you are buying and can get a financed deal with a no penalty payoff it is better to finance for a month or so then pay the bank off with no penalty. It could save you at least a new reel and a Gloomis rod. They also get as much as 50% kickback for extended warranty, so there is a barganing point if you know how to use it.