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Reggie Smithers wrote:
wrote:
Bryan wrote:
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Nute wrote:
Sorry for the double post - My fault.

Now I know that everyone will have their personal bias, and I don't
want
to
start another flame war here, but I'd wonder if there is some loose
consensus on what the pecking order is quality-wise of boat brands.

I'm new to looking at boats, and just got back from the boat show.
I was
pretty overwhelmed by everything I saw there, and would like to get
some
opinions on how the following rank, with regard to quality and
price:

Sea Ray
Larson
Regal
Glastron
Four Winns
Ebbtide
Rinker
Stingray
Bayliner

The order I listed them is about what my impression is at this time.
I
have
been trying to find a benchmark boat on all of their websites to use
to
compare prices, but can't seem to find a common config that lets me
compare
apples to apples.

Thanks
Nute

You're missing the 3 C's: Cobalt, Crownline, and Chapparal. These
boats
probably belong at or near the top of your list, depending upon
what's
important to you.

Personally have never heard of an Ebbtide.

Chuck,
I climbed around on a Chapparal when I was trying to find a less
expensive
boat and it had a cheap feel to it. I don't know nothin' 'bout
buildin' no
boats, but I didn't like it because of it's aesthetics and it's feel
on the
lot. The Crownline and Cobalt were nice, but out of my boating price
range.
Why do you include the Chapparal?

Chapparal is highly regarded by some folks I know who are pretty savvy
about smaller boats. Based entirely on their recommendations I would
personally put that brand on any short list, but I would also be
prepared to take it off the list if it didn't measure up to my personal
standards.

My personally favorite runabout size boat among brands I could discuss
at some length is probably Crownline, with Cobalt, Larson, and Sea Ray
scoring very highly as well. There are, (IMO) no boats in this class
that so obviously blow all other good boats away that they are *must*
buys- so personal taste and preferances as well as convenience of a
dealership for service, etc etc etc often become the elements around
which a final decision is formed.

Chuck,
Crownline makes a very good boat, but I can't believe you would place it
above a Cobalt. Are you using a cost/value analysis, or do you believe
a Crownline is a superior boat to Cobalt.

I think Chapparrel makes a good boat also, but when I was checking them
out (5 or 6 years ago), I saw some fit and finish problems on numerous
new boats.

--
Reggie
************************************************** *************
That's my story and I am sticking to it.

************************************************** *************

Crownline is my personal favorite, which doesn't automatically make it
the world's best boat.

Once you get down to a group of very well made boats, a lot of the
preferances become subjective. I would absolutely respect an opinion
than Cobalt is a "better" boat than a Crownline, precisely because
there will always be a number of subjective factors influencing the
final conclusions.

I might think that filet mignon is better than lobster. You would be
free to disagree. :-)

One without the other is good, but together, fan taz teak!