First boat - need help making decision

[Gym]

Welcome @atldude. I own an 06SX230HO so am pretty partial to it but given the condition as you stated I might be a little leary. Usually if the appearance is suffering some maintenance items are also. The 06 trailers do have the folding tongues @itsdgm.

Wheras your family is young and speed is not a priority the 210 would satisfy your needs for a few years. I would also wait for a few weeks as many boats will be coming out of the water for the season and may offer more choices. Good luck with the search.

 

[atldude]

So would a head compartment or changing area be useful to you with a 2yo? If so maybe holdout for a 07 or later 230 which does have a head compartment. I don't think the 06 model has one but I could be wrong. Be patient and an 07-09 230 will come up for sale in the low $20s. That depends if you are willing to travel to purchase as well. Good luck!

That's a great point! I think for the time being my kid will be able to use the limited space under the port side on either boats. Once he grows up a bit that may be an issue but not in the next several years I'd think.

 

[atldude]

@atldude

I can't help you comparing the two boats, as the only boat I know anything about is my own (and I am still very much a novice at best). The great folks on this board will be much more helpful in the comparison dept.

I can tell you that I made an very conscious decision to go with the SX210. This boat is not for everyone, and will probably be upgraded in a few years (now that boating has seeped into my blood). For me, it was absolutely the right choice. For you, I don't know.

We've had 6 adults, and 3 kids (limit), and hit 35. Only reason was to outrun a rainstorm. Typically , could care less about speed, but easily hit 40 - 42 with 4 adults, especially when someone has to pee, and I gotta get to Sweetwater Cove....QUICK.

Funny..or maybe Sad note...I pay almost as much monthly for my dry-stack storage as I do for my boat. Again, conscious decision, but seemingly odd nonetheless.

All that said, I'd be more than happy to take you out on Allatoona next week. Maybe it will help you with your decision one way or the other. Just let me know.

I have called a few places around the area for storage and I see it's definitely comparable to what you'd pay if you financed a boat. I am still debating on if I want to finance or not. Would you mind which bank or credit union you financed? You can just PM me if you don't want to post up on the general forum. I checked out couple of places and one seemed reasonable the other was terrible

Really appreciate the offer for a test drive. We're going to test the SX210 once again next Saturday but I see your boat is newer and it might just make me go after the newer boats if I see it. What I am trying to say is that it may be even harder to keep this purchase modest :-D

 

[atldude]

Welcome @atldude. I own an 06SX230HO so am pretty partial to it but given the condition as you stated I might be a little leary. Usually if the appearance is suffering some maintenance items are also. The 06 trailers do have the folding tongues @itsdgm.

Wheras your family is young and speed is not a priority the 210 would satisfy your needs for a few years. I would also wait for a few weeks as many boats will be coming out of the water for the season and may offer more choices. Good luck with the search.

Thank you! Yes I am starting to think along the same lines on all points. Except maybe the waiting part .. that's a tough one

 

[MattFX4]

welcome @atldude. What part of Atl are you in and what lake do you plan on boating on? We boat on Allatoona, and also have a 2 year old son and he loves the boat. He woke up this morning saying "boat, boat" so I guess we will be taking him out on the boat this weekend since it's going to be sunny and 90. Good luck with your search!

 

[atldude]

welcome @atldude. What part of Atl are you in and what lake do you plan on boating on? We boat on Allatoona, and also have a 2 year old son and he loves the boat. He woke up this morning saying "boat, boat" so I guess we will be taking him out on the boat this weekend since it's going to be sunny and 90. Good luck with your search!

We're in the Cumming area on Lake Lanier. You should have seen the little sucker when we first test drove a boat together - he was screaming "Wow!", "I really like boat", " I want to sit with daddy" and the biggest ear to ear smile. He absolutely loved it and it just melts my heart knowing I can give him the level of excitement he was apparently experiencing that day. I am sure it won't last forever but I look forward to making that happen for him and the wife for as long as I can.

 

[MattFX4]

Ok sounds good. I hope to visit Lanier next summer. Never had time to get over that way this summer. Haha that's awesome. Mine will be actually be 2 next month so his vocabulary isn't that great yet! Good luck on the search, and keep us updated on what you end up going with.

 

[2nazt]

Makes me consider putting my 08 ar230 for sale. We may be selling next year though as we are waiting on job changes before changing boats. I love the 230 and tower is awesome for tubing. My nieces love it and they range from 7-18 months.

 

[*DMZ*]

if the interior condition of the 06 is really rough and needs recovering that can get costly from what I have heard. I want to say in the 3-4K range are the numbers I have seen thrown around on hear. I would try and find a 07 230 or newer or maybe go with the 210 the changes to the 07 are worth it from what I understand. I have a great 2011 sx240 with only 70 hours for sale in the classifieds for an excellent price 27,500 but that maybe more then you want to spend.

My friend has a newer 210 non HO and I have the HO...big difference in power and size. Personally I would go with the biggest, most powerful boat in the budget. I don't know many people that say I wish I had a smaller boat, or I wish my boat had less power. As for interior, I had mine completely redone on my 2006 SX230 HO for $1300 total. Same pattern, but colors changed/ added, and all marine grade vinyl. Plus the guy came and took everything out, took to his shop to recover and reinstalled. As for a bit of gelcoat work....better learn how to do it from the get go....you will probably be touching it up yearly if you use the boat alot. One recommendation is to find some good bumpers and ropes, the size you think you need....then buy the next bigger size.

 

[robert843]

Man @*DMZ* $1300 is a steal that's awesome. I grabbed my numbers from the thread below where the op paid 3k and there were others with quotes of 4-5k your guy hooked you up.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/seats-recovered.2981/#post-47943

 

[atldude]

My friend has a newer 210 non HO and I have the HO...big difference in power and size. Personally I would go with the biggest, most powerful boat in the budget. I don't know many people that say I wish I had a smaller boat, or I wish my boat had less power. As for interior, I had mine completely redone on my 2006 SX230 HO for $1300 total. Same pattern, but colors changed/ added, and all marine grade vinyl. Plus the guy came and took everything out, took to his shop to recover and reinstalled. As for a bit of gelcoat work....better learn how to do it from the get go....you will probably be touching it up yearly if you use the boat alot. One recommendation is to find some good bumpers and ropes, the size you think you need....then buy the next bigger size.View attachment 46598

@DMZ thank you! Just remembered something from my test drive and was hoping you could answer since you have the same boat. Does your boat steer easily at higher speed or do you have to make an effort to turn?

 

[*DMZ*]

Man @*DMZ* $1300 is a steal that's awesome. I grabbed my numbers from the thread below where the op paid 3k and there were others with quotes of 4-5k your guy hooked you up.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/seats-recovered.2981/#post-47943

If someone needs interior....come to DFW for a week and he will hook you up too. Off season is always best.

 

[*DMZ*]

@DMZ thank you! Just remembered something from my test drive and was hoping you could answer since you have the same boat. Does your boat steer easily at higher speed or do you have to make an effort to turn?

I just put on the Cobrajet Venom Ultimates with fangs and it is like "power steering". I can pull in and out of the slip with just the steering wheel, and I can do full throttle doughnuts...love em. but before that there was a bit of stiff steering with the originals....super glad I upgraded!

 

[atldude]

So guys just thought I post an update. Did decide to go with he '06 SX230HO that I took possession of yesterday. Decided that nothing can replace the acceleration and speed of this boat at this price point and it's impossible to get to that with a less powerful but nice looking boat. Bought it from a very decent guy, that I ended up befriending, who lives nearby and he was willing to understand everything that the boat had to be fixed and adjust the price accordingly.

With that said, there's plenty of work for me to do (I'm somewhat mechanical so this will be a great project) but nothing critical in the very immediate future. engines, pumps, impellers are rock solid just cosmetic and minor mechanical. Will likely start a thread on all the repairs, touch ups I do on it so maybe the next new guy won't be intimidated by a an older boat. Also very likely is that I will have plenty of newb questions Planning to enjoy with the family for a few more weeks while the season wraps up in GA and then go to town with the tools

Thank you so much for all the advice, it really helped me make my decision and I look forward to contributing to this awesome forum with whatever little I can!

 

[itsdgm]

That's awesome @atldude. Congrats on the new boat. I can't wait to read about all of your mods and fixes.

 

[swatski]

So guys just thought I post an update. Did decide to go with he '06 SX230HO that I took possession of yesterday. Decided that nothing can replace the acceleration and speed of this boat at this price point and it's impossible to get to that with a less powerful but nice looking boat. Bought it from a very decent guy, that I ended up befriending, who lives nearby and he was willing to understand everything that the boat had to be fixed and adjust the price accordingly.

With that said, there's plenty of work for me to do (I'm somewhat mechanical so this will be a great project) but nothing critical in the very immediate future. engines, pumps, impellers are rock solid just cosmetic and minor mechanical. Will likely start a thread on all the repairs, touch ups I do on it so maybe the next new guy won't be intimidated by a an older boat. Also very likely is that I will have plenty of newb questions Planning to enjoy with the family for a few more weeks while the season wraps up in GA and then go to town with the tools

Thank you so much for all the advice, it really helped me make my decision and I look forward to contributing to this awesome forum with whatever little I can!

Fantastic! Congratulations.

 

[0627Devildog]

Congrats and welcome aboard. . . .