If you bought a 208- later model vs 2000 era and a repower?

I'm about 18 months away from moving back to the states and going grady shopping. I'm pretty much set on a 208, unless I find a 228 that's a good deal. Towing with a '08 V8 Toyota 4runner with a 7300# capacity.

Either way, a late model with a 225 4 stroke yamaha is going to cost around $40k from what I see in the ads.

My dad's idea is to buy a 10 year old one, seems that there's quite a few with old 150hp 2 strokes on them, then just repower to a 250hp yamaha 4 stroke, which is the engine/hp I'd rather have. Those boats are around $20k, and a new 250 I've seen advertised for $15k, unknown how much the rigging, gauges, and steering would be though.

There's pro/cons to both, but I like the idea of having a brand new motor. But what other issues would I have- I'm already wondering about how you add the hydraulic power steering, smart gauges, etc for the new 4 stroke. Plus what do you do with the old oil tank you don' t need anymore? Then ther's the issue of having a boat that's 10 years old vice 5 years old...

Looks like either way the price would be about the same- recommendations? I'd like to stay around the $30k mark, but could push to $40k if it's really worth it in the long run.

Thanks for the info. I don't fish... yet. Never really tried it. I'm 34, recently married and have been around boats my whole life. I bought a '88 Donzi Classic 22 and had it for 5 years- built it into a supercharged, 86mph hot-rod, but it was totally impractical for social use. Wifey likes to cruise at 30mph and that's about it for speed, and she wants a porta potti too. I want a heavy duty boat that will handle as much rough water as a 20-22 footer can, and be a hose it out at the end of the day affair. I mostly just cruise around, hit the social spots- sand bars, beaches, water front bars, etc. Will probably tow some water toys too since I couldn't do that before. I'm really looking forward to having a fuel efficient and reliable motor- my donzi broke down about 50% of the time, including the day I proposed to said wife out on a lake. A fellow Donzi boater towed us back. My days of standing on my head in a tight engine compartment are over- just sold the Donzi last week.

I'll be boating mostly on the potomac river, which can get quite choppy if you head to southern maryland for the crab restaurants. Also will tow to some lakes (Lake Anna is nearby) which gets very choppy from heavy traffic. Being military, I want to be able to relocate with the boat- I had my Donzi in Pensacola (escambia bay), Destin, and Norfolk/VA beach, but the lower chesapeake and atlantic are awful scary in a low freeboard hot rod boat if the wind picks up. That boat didn't plane below 30mph the way I had it set up.

So, looking forward to joining the "grown up" crowd and getting a real useable "SUV on the water" boat.

I'm also hoping I can overnight occasionally on a 208. I'm 5'10" and she's 5'0", so hopefully we'll fit. We're used to camping in a tiny tent, so I'm not looking for much, just a place to crash if we party too much to drive home, wake up, have some pop tarts and head back. I'm imagining only doing that a couple times a season, or maybe never, but having the ability is important.