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Random Quote: If it were an easy fix I'd have done it myself!
There is a 04 2500 se maxum for sale That seems like a good deal with some proper negotiating. I know very little about the brand. The nada lists 21,000 - 24,000 which is 1000's less than other boats in that class and year. I think sea ray 240 is listed at 37,000.
anyone have thoughts on brand or model. I know they are not making new ones but most boat companies are going the same way and on an 04 it doesn't really matter
Using it for salt or fresh....that makes a world of difference for cruiser type boats? If you are real serious about buying this boat.....send more details of what you will use it for. You'll get replies.
I have a maxum 2400 scr, had it since I bought it new in 2001. Haven't had any problems with the boat, you have to tab it down some in a head wind or stiff chop, but it doesn't ride bad. PM me with any questions.
The boat has been in fresh water (I think only in fresh) it has low hours I think 80 hours they are asking high 30's for it.
I will be using it in salt in the north east. Gloucester to be exact. AS a family boat (wife 2 kids)
I will be keeping it in a marina wet in a slip summers and dry stored winters.
I like the sea ray better and I am looking at 2 this weekend but the maxum looks like a sharp boat with lots of space. I had no idea about the brand and quality and google has very little info.
If I choose to buy one I will most likely get it surveyed as well
The general consensus from boaters is NADA is not a good reference.....at all. As you stated Salt use.....I'd suggest including other boats in your search. The Maxum Bayliner comparison is not too far off to be polite. I'm guessing you'll get more feedback from the 'cruisers' guys in the coming hours. Good luck!
then my wife got involved at the newport boat show and sat on a crownline cruiser.
now my search as you can see is different
but I like the ocean either way, had a boat most of my life so I can deal a little cruiser for the family until my boys are older and really want to go out and fish. right now they are 3 and 5
most marinas here in the north east are 50 / 50 cruisers and other.
I have a 2003 Maxum 2700 and have been very happy with it. Moved up from a 2004 Sea Ray 220, which is a very different boat, but gives me experience with both brands. Honestly I think most Maxum models are better designed than similar Sea Rays. The Sea Rays have higher quality parts (e.g., more stainless versus plastic latches, thru-hull, etc. on the Maxum), but layout and design elements were poor.
I looked at a lot of cruisers in the 26-28 foot range when I was shopping. Sea Ray has a great reputation, but the designs do not make good use of space. Berths, heads, engine access -- everything is tight. Bayliner makes good use of space, but the materials are often shoddy and every bayliner I ever saw has leaky windows or stanchions. Maxums (at least in the 2001-2004 range) made very good use of space, had good design, and don't leak. They don't have the reuptation of Sea Ray, however, and they do use cheaper parts for stuff like latches, but they use much higher quality materials than Bayliners and in some cases, Maxum used better material than Sea Ray -- e.g., Sea Ray tends to use a lot of marine plywood backing on seats, etc.., whereas Maxums uses Starboard or plastic.
Personally, I would stay away from Bayliners only because I was not impressed with materials, backings, leaks, etc., when I examined several. Sea Ray is a good boat, but not quite as great as their reputation. Maxum is a good boat, and in my opinion better than its reputation. If you like the Maxum, I wouldn't hesitate.
Incidentally, not sure if its within your range but, if you can, take a look at the 2700 model from 2001 to 2006. It is a 28 foot boat with a 10 foot beam, which makes it far more spacious its competitors.
I believe that Sea Ray and Maxum were both using wood stringers at that point. (In fact, I think most manufacturers were still using them at that time on express cruisers. But someone may correct me.
I dont know about cores.
As long as they are properly glassed, wood stringers should not be a problem. But check out David Pascoe's page for some scathing reviews of older Sea Rays in that regard.
You don't know what you are talking about. In many aspects they are provided with hardware on par with or better than Sea Rays.
As part of its ongoing cost-cutting initiatives, Brunswick Corp. announced recently that it is discontinuing its Maxum boat line, which it established in 1988. The Maxum brand was created just two years after Brunswick bought Bayliner from its founder, Orin Edson, for $470 million, the largest amount every paid for a recreational boat company. From the beginning the Maxum line seemed to be searching for an identity or a solid reason for being. For the most part, Maxum hulls were the same as those of Bayliner, with different decks and interiors to differentiate the brand. It was marketed as an up-scale version of a Bayliner which also cost more, but not as much in many cases, as Sea Ray models with which it also competed in the Brunswick family. http://www.boattest.com/Resources/vi...px?NewsID=3694
Jun 19, 2000 - based company's new Maxum Marine unit launched its first new boat model to be designed independently from sister company Bayliner. US Marine executives split the Maxum line off from Bayliner in January to help Maxum develop a more distinct identity. http://www.google.com/search?q=maxum...itle&resnum=11
Quote:
And what is wrong with Bayliners? Please be specific.
Did I say anything was wrong with Bayliners?
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That is crap.
Which idiot told you that CO2 only makes up 0.039% of the atmosphere?
As part of its ongoing cost-cutting initiatives, Brunswick Corp. announced recently that it is discontinuing its Maxum boat line, which it established in 1988. The Maxum brand was created just two years after Brunswick bought Bayliner from its founder, Orin Edson, for $470 million, the largest amount every paid for a recreational boat company. From the beginning the Maxum line seemed to be searching for an identity or a solid reason for being. For the most part, Maxum hulls were the same as those of Bayliner, with different decks and interiors to differentiate the brand. It was marketed as an up-scale version of a Bayliner which also cost more, but not as much in many cases, as Sea Ray models with which it also competed in the Brunswick family. http://www.boattest.com/Resources/vi...px?NewsID=3694
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Wow, I guess that proves your initial comment............not!
I owned a 3200 SCR and docked next to a 32 foot Bayliner of similar vintage. Hulls were not the same. Hardware was upgraded. Railing was welded. Cabinets in cabin were higher quality. The boat shared very little features on the 32 Bayliner.
The 24 eastern, 25 C-Dory, 23 welcraft coastal, 23 seaswirl and 25 parker are all excellent boats. The Maxum is a more cushy/comfortable boat, but not necessarily better riding or better built. I'd agree that the Maxums are fairly comparable to Sea Rays, but for a lot less $$$$$.
any thoughts on Maxum 
