CONTINUOUSWAVE

Hello all! I'm new here (obviously) and was hoping readers could give me some boat buying and boat pricing advice. I've had boats most of my life but they've always been family vessels so I've never had to purchase one for myself. The process seems quite a bit different than car buying due to limited inventory and the lack of competition in the marketplace.

There is a Boston Whaler 210 Dauntless down my way that I'm quite interested in. It's a 2017 that MarineMax Pensacola seems pretty eager to move, and the boat meets most of my needs. Link below:

https://www.marinemax.com/find-a-boat/d ... -bahia-mar

MarineMax are asking $71,000 for the boat plus trailer and a few options that I asked for.

If you have first-hand experience with the boat itself I would love to hear about it. But I'm mainly looking for price and negotiating advice. I'm here to learn, so lay it on me. Thanks in advance!

So this is a new boat from last year. Presume there less than 5 hours on the engine.

Go to Whaler's site and build a new one to see price. https://www.bostonwhaler.com/build-your-whaler/?model=210-dauntless

When I added the gelcoat color and the VHF only I got to $78K. If so equipped, that is NOT much of a discount.

Are there any differences between the 2018 and the 2017? Don't assume the dealer knows. Research.

If it comes with a trailer, that's a great deal.

It seems to me, for a leftover 2017, 10% off should be easy to get (which it looks like you have already, assuming you don't get a trailer).

In our negotiations, I just kept the discussion going, asking questions, asking about price ranges, etc. We got to 10% off our (current model year, at the time) and they added some (inexpensive) items that I wanted and we made a deal. You could push for a bigger discount and see what they say. No harm in that, unless you really push hard, threaten to walk away, then you might lose the deal.

I really like that 210 Dauntless. If 2-foot-itis sets in, that's the one we'd move up to!

Options:
- 200 XL L6 DTS Black Mercury Verado FourStroke engine
with power steering and fuel/water separator
- Light Blue Hull
- Fusion® AM/FM with waterproof speakers
- Raymarine Ray52 VHF Radio
- Hardtop
- Electric trim tabs with indicators
- Hydraulic power steering
- White rub rail with stainless steel insert
- Bow cushion (bow, port and starboard cushions)
- Reversible pilot seat with livewell
- Freshwater with 12-gallon tank
- Trolling motor panel
- Trailer

I'm unsure about canvas. I also asked for the Raymarine Axiom 9 RV 9” package and the smart box. When I build it to these specs on BW's website it comes to $103,535.00. I just don't know what that number really means though.

Well that sounds like a fantastic deal to me, then. 30% off MSRP. There are a few used 2015/2016s for that price. I'd jump on that in a heart beat.

Seems like a good deal to me as well. Just felt too easy!

If you buy it today, you can be using it tomorrow.

Sorry -

I am a bit confused.

$71,000 for the boat plus trailer and a few options that I asked for.

The dealer is asking 71K for the boat shown in the link AND all the items you list?

The price on the website is close to the sale price of a new boat. There is not alot of haggle with dealers.

The boat they have has those options listed. The GPS and smartbox are other options I would like added, so they were included in the quote.

You better hurry and go buy that thing before I decide to hookup my trailer and head down there (1000 miles away) and work a trade up deal on my Montauk with them!

(I'm kidding. OK. Only 1/2 kidding. ;-) )

That seems like a GREAT price. You could buy it today, use it for the next year, and sell it for what you paid or very close to that.

Tacky79 wrote:You better hurry and go buy that thing before I decide to hookup my trailer and head down there (1000 miles away) and work a trade up deal on my Montauk with them!

(I'm kidding. OK. Only 1/2 kidding. ;-) )

That seems like a GREAT price. You could buy it today, use it for the next year, and sell it for what you paid or very close to that.

Like I said it seems like a good deal to me as well. Is it common to get 30% off the top without even asking? Too easy?

I agree - seems too easy, but as a big dealer, they are probably not too keen on sitting on a 2017 after Memorial Day.

I guess I'd just confirm with your sales guy the actual price, all the options, get it in writing and buy the darn thing!

Coincidentally, I was "building" a 210 Dauntless on-line yesterday and kept getting to that $100k price point and said to myself... no way can I swing $100k for a Dauntless. Somehow, even though $70k is a lot of money for a boat, it seems more palatable.

Let us know what you decide and make sure to take pics of your delivery.

mobroy - did you end up buying this Dauntless?

I did! I’ll try and post some pics a little bit later. We’re really loving it! Just got back from a 150 mile round trip to see the Blue Angels in Pensacola yesterday.

Congrats! Someday, we'll take a look at one, as it's probably the best boat for our family.

Looking forward to the pics.