Purchasing new boat: compare 212SS, 212X, AR230

[agannole93]

Hi all, I'm new here to the site and am curious to get some of the more experienced opinions. I purchased an 05 Bayliner 185 last year. We were new to boating, it was in great shape and picked it up for $5k so it was really too good of a deal to pass up and seemed like a good starter boat just in case we didn't use it a whole lot. Well we are out on the water almost weekly and I'm now in a position where I'd like to upgrade and have settled on yamaha, since it seems like a consensus great value all around great boat brand.

I'm looking to stay in the $15k range so am generally looking at 06 to 08 models. I've got 4 or 5 that I'm looking at. A couple of AR230's, one 212SS and a 212X. Does anyone have any opinions on pros and cons of each. My wife and I take out her younger siblings (11, 14 and 16 year olds) and occasionally have nieces and nephews who are under 6 that come out with us. Everyone wants to ride the tube and the older kids would probably enjoy learning how to begin wakeboarding and/or skiing. I'd like to get into something that when we have kids of our own we can kind of grow into as a family as well.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

[BlkGS]

A few thoughts... The 23 foot is really the only option if you're bringing 6+ people IMO. My SX230 is cramped with 7 or 8 people on it, plus drinks and snacks.

A 212ss for 15k is worrisome cheap. Same for an AR230 unless it's like an 05, good ones of those are in the low to mid 20s around me.

Are you a mechanical person? Fixing these isn't hard but paying someone else to do it gets expensive fast.

That said, these are great boats and I think you've made a good choice on them. I always recommend spending a bit more than budget for a very good example.

 

[agannole93]

A few thoughts... The 23 foot is really the only option if you're bringing 6+ people IMO. My SX230 is cramped with 7 or 8 people on it, plus drinks and snacks.

A 212ss for 15k is worrisome cheap. Same for an AR230 unless it's like an 05, good ones of those are in the low to mid 20s around me.

Are you a mechanical person? Fixing these isn't hard but paying someone else to do it gets expensive fast.

That said, these are great boats and I think you've made a good choice on them. I always recommend spending a bit more than budget for a very good example.

The 2008 212SS is listed at 18k. He said his bottom dollar as is is $15k. He is installing new impellers this year and said it really needs a new bimini top put on. If he does those before selling, he said bottom is probably $16.5.
The 212X is listed at 20k and is 2008..
And the AR230's, one is listed at $15k (2007 model) and the other is listed at $18k (2006).

I'm not necessarily a mechanical person, but my brother in law has experience working on engines and generally cuts us a bit of a deal for work.

Since you said you have a SX230, how do you like that one? There's a guy selling one near me for $16.5. It's a 2004 model but appears to be in great shape. My only hesitation is that it doesn't have the HO engines or the wake tower. Do you ever feel like you're lacking power? Or wish you had the tower on yours?

 

[BlkGS]

Mine is an 07 HO. Lacking power? Not in the least. Hell, my boat has way more power than I need. Most of the time cruising we gor 15 to 25 mph, the extra 20+ mph the boat can do is fluff and usually unusable on our lake, there's just no room. I did let it rip one time out running thunderstorms, and the thing can RIP.. I don't have a tower, nor do I miss it. We can pull tubes behind the boat without issue using the tow point, the wake tower is only rated for a wake boarder truthfully. If I ever wanted a tower I could add an aftermarket one, but I don't feel that need right now.

The 15k 07 ar230 must be in crap shape, or have something majorly wrong. Like it had a few minor sinks. I would be concerned it will be a total money pit. Or it has like 2500 hours.

The sx230 you mentioned seems like it's priced well, not worryingly cheap, but not overpriced. It'd be worth a look, if nothing more than to realize you need the 23 footer, lol.

 

[agannole93]

Mine is an 07 HO. Lacking power? Not in the least. Hell, my boat has way more power than I need. Most of the time cruising we gor 15 to 25 mph, the extra 20+ mph the boat can do is fluff and usually unusable on our lake, there's just no room. I did let it rip one time out running thunderstorms, and the thing can RIP.. I don't have a tower, nor do I miss it. We can pull tubes behind the boat without issue using the tow point, the wake tower is only rated for a wake boarder truthfully. If I ever wanted a tower I could add an aftermarket one, but I don't feel that need right now.

The 15k 07 ar230 must be in crap shape, or have something majorly wrong. Like it had a few minor sinks. I would be concerned it will be a total money pit. Or it has like 2500 hours.

The sx230 you mentioned seems like it's priced well, not worryingly cheap, but not overpriced. It'd be worth a look, if nothing more than to realize you need the 23 footer, lol.

Lol thanks for the info. I'm leaning towards the 23 footers anyways, I just don't think the 20 or 21 is going to be enough of an upgrade over my 18 foot now seating wise. Here's a link to the SX230 I mentioned, let me know what you think: 2004 Yamaha SX230

My only question mark on it is it doesn't have the high output, but has the dual 140's in it. I know a lot of people say regardless yamaha underrated the HP of the engines, but real want to find a HO if I can.

On the $15k one, he claims it's only got 76 hours on it and they just don't use it. It has seen saltwater, but is on a lift. Some interior spots look worn and it needs the swim deck completely redone, all of the padding is basically worn away but to the eye all seem like minor fixes. Obviously would have to get a mechanic to do a run through on it given the low price tag.

 

[BlkGS]

Lol thanks for the info. I'm leaning towards the 23 footers anyways, I just don't think the 20 or 21 is going to be enough of an upgrade over my 18 foot now seating wise. Here's a link to the SX230 I mentioned, let me know what you think: 2004 Yamaha SX230

My only question mark on it is it doesn't have the high output, but has the dual 140's in it. I know a lot of people say regardless yamaha underrated the HP of the engines, but real want to find a HO if I can.

On the $15k one, he claims it's only got 76 hours on it and they just don't use it. It has seen saltwater, but is on a lift. Some interior spots look worn and it needs the swim deck completely redone, all of the padding is basically worn away but to the eye all seem like minor fixes. Obviously would have to get a mechanic to do a run through on it given the low price tag.

My opinion, the 15k one is too good to be true. My sx230 was in similar condition with slightly lower hours and was a good bit more than that. It may be just someone desperate go get rid of it, but it's likely a 20k boat if it doesnt have any stories or major issues.

The 04 looks nice. The later years have a little different interior, the dual captains seats might be nice for bringing kids out. Doesn't work for our use, we mainly go out as 20 somethings and 30 somethings to hang out. The convertible seat works way better for use. The 04 looks like the trailer and everything has been well kept. Doing it over, I would get a boat like that over a "better boat", stuff on these goes wrong from negle t more than anything else IMO.

 

[agannole93]

I may have to go take a look at it then. He listed it as OBO so if I could snag it for a little less may be worth it.