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Author Topic:   18 Ventura

merc125 posted 11-15-2003 03:30 PM ET (US)
Local dealer in NJ (OBM) Gave me a price quote on a 150 hp optimax 18 Ventura, 36700. Has any one done any better? Would like to get the boat in the door for under 30000.
Is it worth it to by a whaler? I can purchase a generic 18 w/ 150 merc xr6 for 15900. I'm in the process of cutting up my 1974 generic, stringers finally gone after 30 years of abuse. The boat has had 2 transoms , thats only 5000 in glass work. MartyD
TRAFFICLAWYER posted 11-15-2003 04:41 PM ET (US)
I had a 1998 18' Ventura with the 135 Opti and a aluminum trailer, paid $24k NEW with extended warranty in 99. Call Bobby Cooler or Miles at Sea Island Marine in Beaufort, S.C. You'll get the best deal on the east coast, one of Whalers oldest dealers and tell em I sent ya!
sarnuk posted 11-15-2003 07:40 PM ET (US)
marty,
i bought a 2003 160 ventura with a 90 carburated merc, bimini top and bow cushion from OBM this summer for 21,600 exluding tax, reg, as well as excluding a trailer. hopefully that is a point of reference for you. im pretty sure i could have bought it cheaper if i had the time to make the trips somewhere and pick it up.
unlike cars these BW's that we love don't seem to have standardized pricing or MSRP stickers to compare. from people i talked to the dealer margins are about 30-35%.
unfortunately in this bull market where everybody on the shore has been buying shacks for crazy sums, and buying yahoo and csco...the boating market has also been considered a luxury market. it has been frustrating for me because i know how to buy cars new.....but buying new boats is perplexing. i would bet your boat cost the dealer no more than 25k....and it seems logical in these tougher economic times they would love to make sales with a 20% profit (ie 30k). id love to hear how others advise you to deal with OBM, as I have been talking with them about upgrading my boat.
good luck..........
dauntlass 18 posted 11-15-2003 08:01 PM ET (US)
Try the website www.yachtworld.com they have five used Venturas listed.
Drydock posted 11-22-2003 12:48 AM ET (US)
I have a 1999 18' Ventura with a 135 HP. I bought it used in 2001 for 20k after going to a boat show and seeing new 2001's for in excess of 30k. After getting a few minor bugs worked out (more credit to this forum than to any dealer)it has been a great boat. But I have been trying to sell it because I have another boat and do not have time for two. I tried listing for 18k and 16k with no takers. Was offered 11k by a dealer who told me the Ventura is a very unpopular model and no one wants two stroke engines anymore. It is a freshwater boat that is in mint condition. The fact it was a Boston Whaler meant just about nothing. I've decided to keep it for the time being but my advice is that if you are concerned about a good money deal. Be very careful about purchasing this boat.
(It's a sweet family boat though! Even if everyone else thinks its a lemon)
Best of luck.
lhg posted 11-22-2003 01:26 AM ET (US)
That generic sounds like too good of a deal to pass up. It may not be worth it to buy a Whaler. What the heck, the last one lasted 30 years. Why spend a lot of money for a boat you're going to abuse?
merc125 posted 04-02-2004 09:33 PM ET (US)
Update, I found and purchased A 97 20' Dauntless,dual console, 98 175 carb evinrude. I paid far above nada, but below most other asking prices. Sea trial was on the Raritan bay on a very snotty, cold afternoon. Pretty happy so far.
A couple of questions. Does any know the deadrise angle of these hulls? It appears much to be a much deeper v than the new Dauntless. Is this hull still made? What is the circuit breaker in the passenger side console battery compartment for? Has any one had a cracked anchor hatch repaced by BW?
My old merc 125 is sold and waiting to be picked up, the evinrude v6 seems much louder, but smoother without the 2/4 shift. I hope the noise doesn't become an isssue.
If anyone has this boat with different power I would like to here how your boat performs.
I couldn't destroy my old starcraft, I did a quick repair on the stringers and floor, ugly but serviceable. I gave it to a co worker's teenage son who will put an old 50 hp on it. Its a light 19',will it plane with only 50 hp ? MartyD

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Author	Topic: 18 Ventura
merc125	posted 11-15-2003 03:30 PM ET (US) Local dealer in NJ (OBM) Gave me a price quote on a 150 hp optimax 18 Ventura, 36700. Has any one done any better? Would like to get the boat in the door for under 30000. Is it worth it to by a whaler? I can purchase a generic 18 w/ 150 merc xr6 for 15900. I'm in the process of cutting up my 1974 generic, stringers finally gone after 30 years of abuse. The boat has had 2 transoms , thats only 5000 in glass work. MartyD
TRAFFICLAWYER	posted 11-15-2003 04:41 PM ET (US) I had a 1998 18' Ventura with the 135 Opti and a aluminum trailer, paid $24k NEW with extended warranty in 99. Call Bobby Cooler or Miles at Sea Island Marine in Beaufort, S.C. You'll get the best deal on the east coast, one of Whalers oldest dealers and tell em I sent ya!
sarnuk	posted 11-15-2003 07:40 PM ET (US) marty, i bought a 2003 160 ventura with a 90 carburated merc, bimini top and bow cushion from OBM this summer for 21,600 exluding tax, reg, as well as excluding a trailer. hopefully that is a point of reference for you. im pretty sure i could have bought it cheaper if i had the time to make the trips somewhere and pick it up. unlike cars these BW's that we love don't seem to have standardized pricing or MSRP stickers to compare. from people i talked to the dealer margins are about 30-35%. unfortunately in this bull market where everybody on the shore has been buying shacks for crazy sums, and buying yahoo and csco...the boating market has also been considered a luxury market. it has been frustrating for me because i know how to buy cars new.....but buying new boats is perplexing. i would bet your boat cost the dealer no more than 25k....and it seems logical in these tougher economic times they would love to make sales with a 20% profit (ie 30k). id love to hear how others advise you to deal with OBM, as I have been talking with them about upgrading my boat. good luck..........
dauntlass 18	posted 11-15-2003 08:01 PM ET (US) Try the website www.yachtworld.com they have five used Venturas listed.
Drydock	posted 11-22-2003 12:48 AM ET (US) I have a 1999 18' Ventura with a 135 HP. I bought it used in 2001 for 20k after going to a boat show and seeing new 2001's for in excess of 30k. After getting a few minor bugs worked out (more credit to this forum than to any dealer)it has been a great boat. But I have been trying to sell it because I have another boat and do not have time for two. I tried listing for 18k and 16k with no takers. Was offered 11k by a dealer who told me the Ventura is a very unpopular model and no one wants two stroke engines anymore. It is a freshwater boat that is in mint condition. The fact it was a Boston Whaler meant just about nothing. I've decided to keep it for the time being but my advice is that if you are concerned about a good money deal. Be very careful about purchasing this boat. (It's a sweet family boat though! Even if everyone else thinks its a lemon) Best of luck.
lhg	posted 11-22-2003 01:26 AM ET (US) That generic sounds like too good of a deal to pass up. It may not be worth it to buy a Whaler. What the heck, the last one lasted 30 years. Why spend a lot of money for a boat you're going to abuse?
merc125	posted 04-02-2004 09:33 PM ET (US) Update, I found and purchased A 97 20' Dauntless,dual console, 98 175 carb evinrude. I paid far above nada, but below most other asking prices. Sea trial was on the Raritan bay on a very snotty, cold afternoon. Pretty happy so far. A couple of questions. Does any know the deadrise angle of these hulls? It appears much to be a much deeper v than the new Dauntless. Is this hull still made? What is the circuit breaker in the passenger side console battery compartment for? Has any one had a cracked anchor hatch repaced by BW? My old merc 125 is sold and waiting to be picked up, the evinrude v6 seems much louder, but smoother without the 2/4 shift. I hope the noise doesn't become an isssue. If anyone has this boat with different power I would like to here how your boat performs. I couldn't destroy my old starcraft, I did a quick repair on the stringers and floor, ugly but serviceable. I gave it to a co worker's teenage son who will put an old 50 hp on it. Its a light 19',will it plane with only 50 hp ? MartyD