2016 SA - Thoughts?

[cadunkle]

I'm sure the wake is awesome and the convenience of built in ballast and quickly switching config for riders or activity is nice. I have said from a utilitarian perspective I'm sure it's great. Now if instead of riding behind one I had to repair one, I'd probably be fairly irritated at the unnecessary complexity. Riding in one, as opposed to behind one, I'd imagine would be comparable to my 26 year old boat. I'm sure I'd find the drive by wire irritating along with the lack of gauges and other nuisances but it's a boat, similar enough to any other large inboard.

Maybe you have the time to figure out ways to (hopefully) break even or make money on buying a brand new boat but I don't, and I'd imagine most people do not. Enlighten us as to how I can profit from buying a brand new boat every 20 months or so. Not that I would do that, I prefer to buy something I like and keep it for somewhere betweena long time and forever. Changing boats every year or two would be annoying and stressful for me, and I don't have the time to deal with the hassle. As an early retirement type interested in finances and investments, I'm curious.

Don't have time but have $100k+ to drop on a boat? Sounds like an easy solution. $$5k-$10k buys you a nice older inboard. $15k buys you a 700+ HP engine, and a couple grand for a trans. Another $6k for a stringer job with composite material. A few grand for upholstery and interior. That's maybe $30k-ish for a much more simple and reliable boat with a fairly minimal investment of time to outsource everything and define goals. You can even build in some ballast to switches on the dash or put a wedge on them. Not gonna compare to some new boats with instafill 4000 lbs but personally I'd not at the level to use that. It's awesome, but not worth $100k to me. You can buy brand new 460 and 454 blocks, heads, cranks, etc., they are still made. You can buy them off the shelf with a phone call for a 500+ HP package. CARB is irrelevant if you throwing it in a hull not going to California. Catalytic converters are a bolt on deal but irrelevant for a hull more than a couple years old... And while I've been harassed by police and coast guard a time or two for a general inspection and safety equipment, none have ever been concerned with checking emissions equipment. If you can afford to write a check and buy a $100k+ SA you can afford to write a check for a boat with far more power.

Those that enjoy classic boats (and cars, bikes, trucks, etc.) are a minority and a more close knit group. Start a thread asking for opinions on new stuff and I give my opinion. The masses want to have a payment forever and change boats (or other vehicles) as often as I change underwear. I think it's silly, but it's profitable so that market is catered to. Nothing against the fancy new electronic boats, they're pretty nice, but just not for me.

[Zim]

DBW irritating? You don't like smooth throttle control? What's irritating about that?

Also, these new boats have all the gauges as the old ones. The difference is they combine 3 gauges in one rather than having 6 or 8 gauges all over the place. Both the tach and speedo have other gauges built into them for stuff like oil pressure, temp, etc. Voltage is usually indicated right on the screen now, and hours are integrated into screens as well. There's no need for 10 gauges all over the place when you can put them all in easy view. Even my boat with like 9 gauges on it is annoying, because I'm never able to see my oil pressure or fuel level if im staring at my tach/speedo.

The fewer the gauges the better IMO.

[cadunkle]

In my experior more like sluggish and twitchy throttle control. Cables don't have lag, cables don't hold the IAC open to maintain RPM when snapping throttle closed, slowly opening the throttle when I put it wide open, or any other insanities that are either flaws or designed into the system. I like smooth and instant throttle control, hence why I prefer a mechanical linkage. No I've never driven a 2016 Indmar 6.2, but I have driven several DBW vehicles and hated every one of them.

Any pics of the multipurpose gauges? I'm not seeing what you're referring to in the only pic I could find...



And another dash pic at wider angle. I still only see tach, speedometer, fuel level, and wake plate position. Where is oil pressure and engine temperature at minimum? Hobbs, depth? Does a $100k boat really not come with those? I will add that I think those either pushbutton or toggle switches with the lighted ends are pretty slick.

[Zim]

Those are the gauges I was referring to. They must have integrated the vitals into the screen now. I've just seen pictures of those multi-guages.

[Tims]

Bought a 2011 Malibu VTX. Put 100 hours on it and sold it for 2 grand more than I paid for it the following spring.
Then bought a 2012 Malibu VLX. Put around 150 hours on it and broke even.
Now in a 2014 Supra SC but don't have any plans on selling yet. Might poke around next spring.

There is no secret formula and certainly not a wise investment strategy, but if you time the purchase, squeeze on the front end deal and take care of the boat, you stand a very good chance of getting most of your money back. I attribute this to the year over year substantial price increases on the new models. Also helps that I use dealers close to the factories.

Will it always stay this way? Probably not. For me, all things considered, I have got to enjoy new boats for a relatively low cost. Certainly has not affected my retirement strategy.

[MJHKnox]

Bought a 2011 Malibu VTX. Put 100 hours on it and sold it for 2 grand more than I paid for it the following spring.
Then bought a 2012 Malibu VLX. Put around 150 hours on it and broke even.
Now in a 2014 Supra SC but don't have any plans on selling yet. Might poke around next spring.

There is no secret formula and certainly not a wise investment strategy, but if you time the purchase, squeeze on the front end deal and take care of the boat, you stand a very good chance of getting most of your money back. I attribute this to the year over year substantial price increases on the new models. Also helps that I use dealers close to the factories.

Will it always stay this way? Probably not. For me, all things considered, I have got to enjoy new boats for a relatively low cost. Certainly has not affected my retirement strategy.

I agree with the spending the time on the front-end. My first boat was sold 2K over what I paid for it. Used it for 2 seasons.

There will be the hold-over 2015 boats when the 2016 boats are being pushed as new.
During this past boat-show season, as the show displayed 2015 boats, there were new 2014 models still at the dealers.

What motor does your SC have?

M-

[BamaMojo]

I am waiting for a demo from my dealer.


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[Tims]

I agree with the spending the time on the front-end. My first boat was sold 2K over what I paid for it. Used it for 2 seasons.

There will be the hold-over 2015 boats when the 2016 boats are being pushed as new.
During this past boat-show season, as the show displayed 2015 boats, there were new 2014 models still at the dealers.

What motor does your SC have?

M-

It has the LS3

[jclimie]

IMG_1377.jpgWas able to take out the new SA550 out yesterday and it may have been the best surf wake I have seen in a long time.IMG_1378.jpg

[jclimie]

Sorry for music choice.