test "drive"?

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ovidgsd

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I buying and think my wife and I have decided on a boat - the 28 release - used

I have 20+ years on the water and piloted upto 24 feet (my wife's never been on a private craft over 18 feet and that was aluminum :( LOL )

However, I have never even been on a 28 release under way - nor has my wife and dog --- I believe there have been plenty of threads here about the happiness equation - unhappy wife = unhappy husband. ;)

So how am I supposed to know that this boat is right for us? I'll avoid making any generalizations, but I can speak about my wife and she is not happy with a rough ride in rough water. I want to get just 30 minutes at least on this boat with my wife and dog without having to go to contract with a private seller or dealer - seems like most of these used are out of the water.

Any suggestions?

I have one, anyone out there in Maine, NH, MA, RI with a 28 release year 2003 or later (with 4 strokes) interested in playing host for 30min to an hour some time this month? Week days or weekends are possible. I'd pay $ plus gas $ for the privilage............. Just throwing this out there, if you might be interested send me a P/M. Thanks for your consideration. OVID :D
 
Ovid
based on my past experiences with boats and the Mrs, if you can give them creature comforts like a large head, a place to rest, a place to make a sandwich and most importantly, a place to hide in bad weather or seas etc, it will go a long way....the 28 release is a great boat...large enough to do any type of fishing you want....that being said...all you have for the Mrs is a head in a center console...no place to change clothes, take a nap, get away etc.......for strictly fishing, its a great boat..for you and the buddies its a great boat.......but for more family oriented activities I would PERSONALLY go with a cuddy style boat....both will have a newer SEAV hull but the room down below to do stuff will make her happy...everything above the waterline on a CC is for a fisherman, not the Mrs.......show her a few models and let her make the choice....
 
I agree with Richie, you should at least check out some of the walk arounds. Having said that, I think nothing turns off people more than rough water. I would make sure you pick your days carefully because even in that size you can get pounded. My experience has been some people who love boats and the water cannot be discouraged but most people will be leary to go out on the boat if they had a rough experience. Where do you intend to do most of you boating?
 
ah, the mrses ;)

rich and mhf,

when I first started on this quest for a bigger boat, I was right there in mindset of your recommendations. I was thinking cuddy cabin all the way. But like all women, mine always finds a way to surprise me...........

A little history first, we've had a nice small open fishing boat for the past 6 years (14' fiberglass Livingston - link - http://www.livingstonboats.com/boats_14.asp ), but when we go out in the saltwater, which is our favorite, we get our butts kicked -ok for me, not for her and the dog (aka only child). She actually loves the open boat, but for the butt kicking part. Also, we are the camping type - we do backcountry camping with very little or no amenities, so even the release 28 is luxury for us. A head with fresh water shower was her most important concern.

So, with that background in mind, we went to look at Gradys- we looked at 27 islander, 28 release, 30 bimini, 28 sailfish, 30 express, and 36 "cabin" (forget model) - the 36 is beyond our means or needs, so quickly dismissed. After walking these boats, she found the cuddy's too small inside and she was quickly 100% for the 28 release or 30 bimini - ! Go figure. Needless to say, I'm super happy because I do go fishing with the guys often and since I'm the only one with a boat, I'm psyched - now more friends can go fishing ;) :) The wife and I are thinking about having a custom-made large bow dodger made for the bow, with screen netting and all, to set up when we want to camp out over night - like a tent in the bow. Since we are camping enthusiasts, this should work perfect for us. I'm also going to do a zip up roll up t-top enclosure. Surprised? yep, but she is unique and that is why she is with me.

So that being said, the rough"er" water test is all that remains - I think. We go into this with the idea that the 28 release will be a nice ride in 2-4 foot seas. Scoff - I'm thinking that is no question going to be fine -probably fine to cruise at 3800 rpm - but again, SHE has to experience that to be sure. Note that My little Livingston boat can get its butt kicked in 1-3 foot seas if there is allot of boat traffic.

Thoughts/comments/laughs?
 
The Admiral prefers a center console?

Does she have any sisters at home?
 
yes, but not cut from the same cloth by my estimation - LOL

yes, but not cut from the same cloth by my estimation - LOL
 
Too bad!

How about cousins?

Have you taken the Admiral on the 283 for a boat ride yet? In chop and some wind /seas?

Until you do, don't cross off the cabin boats from list.
 
I'm trying to set up such a ride...........but how?

Honestly, I prefer to do test ride without having to go though all the effort of negotiating a deal, paying for an inspection and apprasial, only to have the admiral change her mind.

All the boats I've seen are out of the water, so I don't think the seller will put them in the water for me with out a deal in place (I sure would not)

This is my conundrum............. :?:
 
You shop for new or used (brokered) Gradys at your local Grady dealer, that's part of their job giving test rides.

Doesn't mean you have to buy there, but don't say so.

No different than buying a car, you have to try out different brangs and different models, no other way to do it.

Pick a day with wind and seas as you intend to go boating in, not the nice days the salesmen tend to prefer for test rides.

Then when you ( I mean, Admiral) have decided what model you want, then go shopping, to dealers or private. Dealers will likely be more $$, but there are advantages to dealer buying that may be of value to you.
 
just the advice I was looking for - thx!

just the advice I was looking for - thx!
 
BobP said:
You shop for new or used (brokered) Gradys at your local Grady dealer, that's part of their job giving test rides.

Doesn't mean you have to buy there, but don't say so.

No different than buying a car, you have to try out different brangs and different models, no other way to do it.

Pick a day with wind and seas as you intend to go boating in, not the nice days the salesmen tend to prefer for test rides.

Then when you ( I mean, Admiral) have decided what model you want, then go shopping, to dealers or private. Dealers will likely be more $$, but there are advantages to dealer buying that may be of value to you.
Click to expand...



You sure about that??
 
Wow! no-one here would buy a boat without doing the test run first.

Surely in the current market they should be supplying drinks with the test ride and paying for the fuel!

I have never sold a boat without taking the prospective owner for a test run usually 2 hours.

You certainly have a special missus, at least let her have a run in a cabin boat. If ride comfort is important I would think most of the Grady cabin boats with the added weight ride a bit softer than the CC'S.
 
Sure about what?

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When I sell, I don't give test rides.

I'm not a dealer nor salesman doing this for a living, I have a limited amount of time and expense for such transactions. Very limited

I advise callers who talk about test rides and how the boat rides, is it wet? etc, that the boat is being offered for sale where-is and to those who already know they want a Grady and this model.

At the same time (over the phone) I advise them to go to dealer to figure out what boat or model they want, then come back after they decided.

I go on to say dealers can answer all their questions and accomodate such needs.

This is my over the phone screening and flushing out process. Usually who is left, is "serious" the way I define it. Not the way others define it.

My boats have been sold in the driveway, every one of them. Little talk. And not one boat to anyone concerned with ride quality - at least not at this stage.

I do run the motors on muffs if requested, and offer them a ladder to climb into boat, and to bring a surveyor or certfied marine mechanic, must have business card pre approved by me.

Of the boats I've sold (my own boats), only one wanted me to start motor(s).

I sold the twin 200 Johnnies off the boat in driveway, never started one nor did the guy want any tests done. I measured and recorded the compression figures, but since he never asked, I never offered.
Readings were within spec.

In my experience, offering to do any more than minimal doesn't benefit me as a seller, acting unknowlegable and uninformed was more of a benefit. I learned this technique as a buyer.

And I will take no less than 10% as a deposit, no 100 buck bill and no refunds. If the guy demands a sea trial, I'll agree, no deposit refund still applies. Full amount must be paid with two business days, and boat gone by end of next weekend.

Let's say the guy's Admiral thinks the boat splashes too much and doesn't like the ride, does anything think BobP is going to take the hit on this wasted effort ? You'd be surprised how little respect others have for your time, as a private buyer, or perhaps a buyer's technique for seeing how desperate to sell I am?
 
When we had our other boat for sale, we would offer a buyer a sea trial once we had a down payment in hand, which was fully refundable-the cost to launch the boat and price of fuel burned if the buyer did not buy the boat. If they purchased the boat we would eat the fees just to make the sale. We felt this was fair, and it also sorted out the seriously interested from those who are just taking a peak but not ready to buy just yet. We did have one guy who took a sea trial, and he liked it but then had an issue with a bank loan and could not come up with the cash, so his down payment-the cost for seas trial was refunded and he totally understood and had no issues with it since we were up front about it and agreeded to it before hand.
Honestly I would not see an owner having an issue with doing so, and I know most brokers have similar policies or will be willing to do something like this for a sale, just make sure any contratc you sign into has sale pending sea trial in it, every boat we've ever bought we've had this done and never had an issue. An honest seller will be confident in his boat and not have a problem with that, and in this economy most sellers will be more willing to do things to sell their boats. Best of luck, hopefully it works out for you.
 
I think we all agree that you can.... absolutely should sea trial the boat you want to purchase. The original post, sorry don't know your name, was I don't want to go to contract to see how this boat rides. Bob, no offense, states that it's the same as buying a car. My point is, in my limited experience, test driving boats is alot harder then test driving a car. From my own experience and from what I've read a potential buyer usually has to negotiate price sign contract etc. So my understanding is the poster wants to test drive the Bimini before commiting to a sea trial and having to get locked in with a particular seller.
 
If you already sea trial a boat and like it, the same boat model you go out and buy, don't need to sea trial the boat of purchase if the same model.

Even surveyors don't ask for sea trials, nor do engine techs who do pre-purchase evaluations, unless they find something out of wack and ask for sea trial to verify condition.

There are those who buy new cars, never test drive the model, same goes for boats. The Grady dealer I bought brokered from, wouldn't sell any boats new or brokered unless buyer sea trialed.

The advse I read, if you are one who buys cars with no test drive, then you are a candidate to buy a boat model the same way.

Perhaps I should have said buying a boat is like buying a house, find one you like and get it surveyed prior to closing. You negotiate price first based on what is know, the survey verifies condition as you have been informed.
 
Except that the last 2 boats i have sold were not available in my city as new boats to seatrial. One was a classic and the other i had purchased it 1000miles away and there were no dealers in my town of that manufacturer.
So we always qualify them first. #1 Can they afford the boat?
#2 does it suite their purpose?
# 3 do they have a suitable tow vehicle?
if not how will they tow it?
#4 What other boats have they had?

I am in sales, and believe I have a reasonable nose for a genuine buyer.

Also I have made money on two of those sales and lost only 10% on the other after using it for 2 years and putting 400 hours on the motors.
I believe it is possible to do well on secondhand boats , but presentation and the sell is really important.

But I know one thing, none of the last three boats i have sold would have sold without a seatrial. And of those three boats we only ever did one seatrial that didn't end in the sale. I don't want to wast my time , but as a potential buyer I would always want to seatrial otherwise I'm wondering what there is to hide?
There are not many registered surveyors here. It would be more likely to bring a knowledgeable friend who will check out the transom and hull and maybe a dealer to get info on the motors.
 
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