Boat Pricing

[Riley144]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Got out of the watersports game a when we had our kids, they’re now at the age where we are ready to get back in the game. Looking at a 2006 Air Nautique 216 on FB Market. 700 hours for $29k (Ram-Lin trailer included). Boat is in good shape, however, the $29k seems inflated. What is reasonable these days?

[bturner]

You waited this long, unless this is THE boat, I'd keep looking to find a bit better of a deal especially if you're flexible on the model/color. Pricing starts dropping up here in Michigan after the 4th. By then if you haven't found a buyer you're priced too high or the market is bad. Any boat listed since June that hasn't sold the market is telling them the price is too high.

By August, which is just a couple weeks away, you should see prices dropping with September being when the fire sales start. You could easily see at least a $5K swing in pricing in those months. From here on in I also wouldn't hesitate to make a more aggressive offer, without trying to insult of course.

[Riley144]

I appreciate the quick response! We’ll see where things go but I’m excited at the prospect of joining this community.

[Riley144]

Should have added above: Anything specific to look out for at the 700 hour mark on these?

[FMSki 'n Surf]

I think that price is in range. We paid $27K USD for a 196 600 hours. Talking to a skier in WA state yesterday, they sold a club boat (mint) 08 196 for $35K usd.
Depends on colors, accessories in the deal and overall condition because those can't really change.

Check the gauges work, w back lighting. What speed control? That is a $1500 add on,if not on it.
Ask if the timing has been updated. Tensioner pulley at those hours. When the fuel cell was last drained or opened up.
tighten running gear nuts, steering cable change or stiffness. Condition of prop (bent blades, damage)
Stock towers of that era are ugly ...most buyers want towers unless it's a slalom boat. A more modern Roswell is $$

Boats can be cleaned, mech fixed.

Colors can be a bargaining chip. Neighbors just bot a barney-boat purple Malibu for a discount. Nice boat tho. The purple is more of a earth-tone than the Nautique ppl.
Yellows and purples I'd say are the discount shades.

[bturner]

A lot of people that own low hour or purchased low hour boats then put a bunch of hours on them will say hours don't matter, its the condition of the boat. To a large degree this is true and a properly maintained boat will be fine from a mechanical perspective, to a degree. For me, I'll repeat that, for me, this only holds true to a point. Once you hit a point with a any boat things are going to start going wrong. Doesn't matter if you changed the oil every month, that's not going to do anything for the vinyl, the display, seat heaters or ballast system.

Here would be my concerns or places to focus on a 700+ hour boat.....

Interior - Looks like you're in Michigan and not far away from me (I'm in Brighton). Buy anything with a sun lounger and get ready to pay $8K and up for a OEM quality interior. If you see something cheap look real close here. Any splits, tears or areas getting ready to go will cost you big. C&S is a sponsor for this site and will make you OEM quality skins. If you find a boat that needs some interior work, call them and get an idea what the cost will be but be sitting down for that discussion. Also, chances are that any replacement even from C&S with original OEM material won't match due to sun fading. I sold a MC 07 X2 we loved after getting an estimate for between $8K - $10K for a complete OEM quality interior from the shop that does Action's work and that was back in 2019.

Electronics - I chose a 2016 200V with conventional gauges over 2 similar boats with the screen. While I love the idea of that screen too many of them go bad for my risk adverse self to do the screen on a boat that I planned to keep for a long time. While there are shops that are rebuilding some of these now, relacing with new (if you can get one) typically starts at $5K and quickly moves of to $8K. The longer that display has been running, sitting out in direct sunlight or stored under a cover in 95 degree heat the more likely it's going to delaminate or (excuse the pun) have a melt down of some sort. Same goes with any other toys (options) the boat came with. Heating elements in seats, thrusters, tabs, retractable towers, you name it all have a MTBF number and the older the boat or more hours the boat has, the more likely you're going to hit it.

Trailers - Nobody ever seems to look at them when buying a boat but time, not necessarily hours, will take it's toll on them. Typically, if you're talking 700 hours in Michigan you're talking about a 15 YO boat averaging about 40 hours a year which is a good clip here on the mostly small inland lakes we have in SE Michigan. My best years on Pontiac Lake were about 30 hours a year. At 15 years for a boat trailer that's only been used to store the boat probably hasn't had much maintenance done to it and it probably sat outside all summer. Expect no brake fluid in the reservoir or a rust water mix instead of brake fluid. Also expect 15 YO tires and rotted bunks. This isn't always the case but I've bought or helped others buy quite a few used boats over the years and most trailers on anything over 7 years need work.

Stereos / Electrical - Again, not so much a 700 hour thing but more of an age thing on a 700 hour Michigan boat. Somewhere along the way with most of these inland lake boats the owner is going to try to upgrade the stereo or install a dual battery set up or worse yet install fish finder somewhere on or in the dash. Aside from aesthetics, get ready for some truly scary home made electrical ingenuity. I've seen tape balls, yellow home electrical wire nuts, speaker wire for power circuits and the list goes on. Look for any modifications and issues you're going to need to address. Oh yeah, even if a car stereo shop did the installation don't trust it. Chances are some 18 YO with no clue did the installation.

A lot people worry about engine and drivetrain but a good survey with at least a compression check will get you by that. The engine and drivetrain in these boats are really pretty bulletproof past bad decisions by the owners (not doing maintenance, poor winterization, etc.). It's the stuff above that will bleed you bank account if you buy the wrong boat.

[swatguy]

I don’t want to burst your bubble, but your senses. Are correct. 29k seems high. Tho 216 probably doesn’t have plethora of availability. What engine is in there? It’s not an absurd price depending on condition , it’s a premium price , at premium time of year, for very popular d drive boat.